My dad; he
wouldn’t get off my back about this and I’m glad!
My mom; this is
for you, mom. I wrote this for you. Oh yeah, and Ashley’s based off of you!
My imaginary
friends; you guys always gave me ideas. Especially you, Maximum! Thanks!
My real friends; A lot was based off of you
guys. Thanks so much. Love you all!
Mom,
I decided to write
you a small story for Christmas (dad helped me decide). This is for you, and I
hope you like it. Remember SNOW 2: BRAIN FREEZE? It gave me the idea for the
plot!
Sierra
MERRY CHRISTMAS,
MOM!
Christmas 2008
“Ashley! Get up!”
Bells rang through the entire courtyard and the girl woke groggily to a new
day, white snow glittering in the morning sun. Soon, she was heading for the
stairs of the large, wooden mansion, smiling brightly as her family prepared
for December, which was coming in today. Ashley Clause wore white denim Capris,
a red shirt that had white long sleeves coming out from under it, and black
Etnies.
Brown hair was
pulled into a ponytail and her rosy cheeks complimented her light red eyeshadow
and lip gloss. Mascara completed it all. Ashley slid down the banister, one
hand catching the end and swinging her around as she jumped off. She crashed
into her father, Santa Clause, and grinned sheepishly.
“Ashley, what have
I told you about the banisters?” he scolded softly.
“That they’re sole
purpose is to slide down.” Ashley replied cheekily.
“Ashley…” Santa
said seriously. Ashley crossed her arms.
“Not to slide down
them.” she muttered.
“Yes,” Santa said.
“Now just run along and help your mother.”
“Gotcha.” Ashley
darted away, grabbing tinsel from her mother and stringing it up on the tree
absentmindedly. She climbed the ladder and placed the star on the tree. When
she got down, her elf friend Max plopped a candy striped Santa-hat on her head.
He wore one as well and she laughed.
“Thanks,” she
said. Max shrugged and wiggled his pointy ears. They high-fived and walked out
the door into the courtyard. A snowball whizzed past Max and he yelped. Ashley
held another snowball in her hand and chucked it at Max. It hit him in the
face. Simon Jay, a human boy, looked over and watched with slight interest.
“What the heck are
they doing? Wait- is that Ashley? Ashley Clause? Santa’s daughter?” he
wondered to himself, in a very low whisper. Ashley was like a superstar in Tinsel Town.
“I will get you,
Ashley!” yelled Max. Ashley giggled and another snowball hit Max in the face.
He tossed one but she ducked it.
“Hey!” yelled
Ashley towards Simon. “Wanna play?”
“Me?” asked Simon.
“Yes, you!”
giggled Ashley, smiling.
“Sure.” said
Simon, walking over slowly, blinking green eyes and shaking shaggy black hair
from his face.
Ashley, not meeting
his gaze with her brown eyes, ducked another snowball. Simon’s hit the back of
Max’s head. Ashley smiled at him again and suddenly said, “What’s your name?”
“Simon. You’re
Ashley.” said Simon.
“Yes.” said
Ashley. “Um, well, would you like to possibly… maybe… um… meet the reindeer
today?”
“Sure.” said
Simon, surprised. Ashley beckoned and ran off towards the stables.
Nine reindeer
lifted their heads, one with a glowing red nose.
“Whoa.” said
Simon.
“Yeah. Meet
Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Doner, Blitzen and Rudolph.” said
Ashley, pointing to the reindeer in turn. They brayed in welcome and he smiled.
“I quite like
Rudolph.” said Simon.
“Me too. If I’m
ever in a single spot of trouble, he could find me instantly.” said Ashley.
“Cool.” said
Simon. Ashley nodded.
Over the next week
or so, they began becoming the absolute best of friends. They were nearly
inseparable. The 19 year olds were also falling in love. Then, one day…
“Wouldn’t you come
and spend the day at my place?” asked Ashley.
“Sure.” said
Simon. They ran to her pleasant house and exchanged a look at the doorway as
her parents greeted them.
“So you’ve found
‘im?” asked Santa.
“Yes.” said Ashley
quietly. Simon, puzzled, just smiled and listened.
The dinner was a
feast and they laughed and talked for hours after and long into the night.
“My parents’ll be
worried about me.”
said Simon.
“It’s a blizzard.”
objected Ashley. “You are not traveling to town in that weather!”
“But…” said Simon.
“You’ll take the
couch.” said Mrs. Clause.
“Well… okay.” said
Simon and he did sleep well. He woke in the middle of the night to see Ashley
sneaking downstairs, a candle in her hand. She walked out the door and into the
stable nearby. He followed and watched as she sat by Rudolph. Then she began
talking.
“Ru, I met Simon
and it was one of those love-at-first-sight kinds of things. I don’t know if he
likes me back, though, and I know Bryan
does. But I don’t like Bryan
at all… I like Simon. I don’t know how to tell Simon, though. And if I do, Bryan’ll think Simon
stole me from him and… well, I wouldn’t put murder past that guy.
“Ru, I think I
should tell Simon… The Christmas Eve party won’t be the same unless I bring the
guy I like. I would never even consider Bryan
but I’d willingly drag Simon along. I’m 19 now; it’s the time. It’s traditional
for the girls and boys to do this!
“What do you think
I should do?”
“I think you
should listen to your heart.” said a new voice. Rudolph!
“I never could get
a straight answer from you.” said Ashley.
“You’ll know what to do.” said Rudolph.
“I guess I do. I’ll tell him tomorrow.” said
Ashley after a pause.
“Good.” said Rudolph. Simon ran back to the
house and pretended to be asleep when Ashley came in.
“Sweet dreams.” whispered Ashley. Simon
thought about what he had heard and eventually fell asleep.
“Morning, sleeping beauty.” snorted Ashley
when he joined her outside the next day. She wore blue jeans, black felt boots
and a blue sweater.
“Morning.” said Simon.
“Um, I have to tell you something.” said
Ashley. “Follow me.” She led him into the town and nobody was out- almost, at
least. She took his hands and said, “Simon… I love you.” Simon pulled her
closer to him.
“Hm… I love you, too.” he said.
“You do?”
“Yes.” and with that, Simon kissed her.
Nearby, a blond boy with blue eyes scowled.
It was Bryan, the boy who thought he could try and make a move on Ashley. So now this boy wants my girl? Fine! He
won’t get her!
When Simon pulled away, Ashley said, “Bring
your family. You’ll stay with us.”
“Follow me.” said Simon. He led her to a charming
cottage and introduced her to his mother. They all walked back to the manor.
“Welcome to my home.” said Ashley. The
talking and laughing truly represented the Christmas spirit that everyone felt
here all year round!
“The Christmas Eve party’s coming up. Let’s
begin getting ready!” said Ashley one day. Everything was bought the next two
days.
“Max, you take your friends and cook with
Mrs. Clause.” said Ashley. “Simon and I’ll take the main rooms. Santa, Simon’s
mom and Rudolph will work on the sleigh and other reindeer.”
Everyone split up and began work on the
various activities.
Max and his five friends (Riley, Connor,
Mary, George and Patricia) helped Mrs. Clause in the kitchen, preparing the
turkey, ham, green beans, mashed potatoes, carrots, apple sauce, pork, shrimp,
cocktail sauce, chicken, bacon, baked potatoes, sauerkraut, cranberry sauce,
zucchini and rolls. They planned drinks and set the tables.
Santa, Simon’s mom and Rudolph worked in the
stables. Santa loaded the sleigh, Simon’s mom Polly polished it and cleaned it
and Rudolph and the reindeer practiced for the night of extreme speed flying.
Ashley and Simon erected another tree in the
dining hall. Ashley strung lights and tinsel while Simon placed ornaments and
bows and candy canes all over it. They placed the large star on top together.
Ashley placed candles and garland on the fireplace mantle and shelves. Simon
strung garland and holly over doorways. Ashley began hanging stockings and
placing presents under the tree. Both of the two placed candles on the
windowsills and Ashley placed mistletoe at the doorway.
Ashley was carrying a box out and Simon was
carrying a box in. They bumped into each other under the
mistletoe and both set their boxes down, looking up. Simon and Ashley leaned
towards each other. Their lips met for a long moment before they both picked up
their boxes and walked away quickly.
Simon began putting cotton on the shelves
and mantle around the candles and garland. Ashley came in with new lights that
she began stringing all around.
Max, his friends, Mrs. Clause, Santa and
Polly walked in and gasped with delight at the finished product. It was perfect
and cheerful. All that remained was guests, food on the table and music.
The party night came too fast. They all got
ready. The boys (even the elves) wore tuxedos. Then Ashley came down the
stairs. She wore a dress the color of Rudolph’s glowing nose. Her hair was
curled and let down everywhere. Her eyes were sparkling in the Christmas
lights.
Simon froze inside and stared at her, his
breathing ragged after being stolen. Ashley took a seat next to him and he,
without thinking, scooted closer. She blushed but nobody noticed all this.
Bryan, meanwhile, was making plans.
“I heard that if the bag heard a name, it’d
give the person with that name whatever he wanted.” said a friend.
“It’s true.” said another.
“Hmmm…” Bryan thought then he snuck to the manor,
waiting just behind the dining room with a black reindeer next to him.
“Let’s dance.” said Santa and everyone got
to their feet. Simon led Ashley to the dance floor as ‘Breaking the Habit’ by Lincoln Park (chosen by
Ashley) began playing. Their dance wasn’t slow at all; they had some pretty
hard moves that they finally figured out.
Bryan burst through the door in a tuxedo (what a
way to crash a party) and his reindeer Moonlight knocked Simon unconscious.
“Ooh! A Party? Well, sorry but I’m gonna
have to steal the hostess.” said Bryan,
grabbing Ashley around the waist and hefting her over his shoulder.
“Hey!” screamed Ashley but they all were
gone. Santa and his wife fainted, Polly and Max’s friends screamed and Max
shook Simon to get him up.
"Simon! Simon!" yelled Max.
"What?" asked Simon, groggily
getting off the floor. His head hurt.
"Bryan
stole the bag and kidnapped Ashley!" yelled Max. Simon instantly leaped
up. He paced for a while and then jumped.
"Rudolph." he said. "She said
Rudolph could always find her!"
"Let's go!" yelled Max. Soon,
Simon was riding Rudolph, in the air.
"Where is she?" asked Simon
"Near." said Rudolph.
"Near?"
"There!"
"SIMON!" it was Ashley! She was on
the black reindeer, behind Bryan,
hands tied behind her.
"Ash!" said Simon. Ashley was
trying to work off the ropes. Simon sped forward through the blizzard, Rudolph
eager to reach his mistress.
"Not happening, buddy!" said Bryan, landing the
reindeer. He jumped off but kept Ashley on, putting an arm casually around her
waist.
"Let her go!" said Simon.
"I don't think so." growled Bryan. He grabbed the bag
that was tied around the reindeer's neck and said into it a name: "Bryan
Muller."
"No..." whispered Ashley.
"He'll get exactly what he wants! Simon, quick, untie me!" Simon ran
over and worked at the ropes, finally freeing Ashley. She yelled a name this
time: "Ashley Clause and Simon Jay!" Her voice made the bag's magic
cancel out what it was doing before and began working on what she wanted.
Bryan yelled but it was cut off by him vanishing.
Ashley was then wrapped in Simon's arms and they were back on Rudolph, flying
back to the manor and the Christmas get-together.
And it was a happily ever after.
EPILOGUE: 15 Years Later
Ashley Clause looked up from decorating the
large tree in the center of the room. A 12 year old boy was smiling up at her.
“Mom? Can I put the star on?” he asked.
“Sure, Nick.” Ashley handed him the star and
helped him onto the ladder. Nick, or Nicholas, stuck the star on top and
clapped his hands.
“Thanks, Mom!” he said.
“Nick, can you help me put up garland?”
asked Simon from nearby.
“Sure thing, Dad!” said Nick, running over.
Ashley chuckled.
During the feast that night, Ashley murmured
to her husband Simon, “Nick’s grown so much. You’ll have to let him practice
with the sleigh soon.”
“After I get back.” said Simon.
“Dad, can me and Mom go tonight too?” asked
Nick at a wink from his mother.
“Ashley, you did this!” accused Simon
teasingly. “Hm, I guess.”
“Sweet!” said Nick.
“Come on, then.” said Simon. Dinner stopped
and they all climbed into the sleigh. A middle-aged elf waved from among the
crowd.
“We’ll be back tomorrow, Max!” called
Ashley. He blinked and nodded.
“Bye, Ash!” he called back. “See you
tomorrow.”
And they flew off into the night, into the
stars and a new story began.
In The Future:
Max and his friend Mary married and had a
child they called Chrissie.
Ashley and Simon had a girl called Grace
after the next Christmas Eve party.
Nick took over a while later and met his
girl Angela on his first year.
