Another Christmas Story

By Dave Benneman

You're never too old to believe...

 

Tim Blake waits for his sixteen-year-old daughter, Sylvia, to arrive home on Christmas Eve. Snow is falling and he's worried about her new driving skills. Sylvia is a bright girl and he is confident in her judgement, so he sit by the phone in case she calls.

 

He drifts into a restless sleep and dreams about the year he turned sixteen. It was early Novemeber and the corner lot was setting up to sell Christmas trees.

 

It is a year he'll never forget.

 

It is the year he started to believe in Santa Claus.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dave Benneman
• Release date: Jul 13, 2022
• ISBN: 9781948884617

Book preview

Another Christmas Story

Another Christmas Story

DAVE BENNEMAN

Celtic Moon Press

Contents

Another Christmas Story

Something’s Amiss

The Ghost of Thomas Packard

Coming Soon

Also by Dave Benneman

Readers are talking…

Who is this guy?

Another Christmas Story

Christmas Eve always messes with my head, and tonight, as I sit in my comfortable home watching a fresh snowfall through the window is no exception. The tree looms in the corner, guarding the mountain of gifts beneath it. I stare at the driveway, waiting for my sixteen-year-old daughter to return home. She’s a good driver, but I worry about her driving in the snow. My right hand clutches my phone. I’ve already embarrassed her by calling her cell twice. Both times, she assured me she could handle a little snow.

My gaze slides across the many books I’ve accumulated over the years. The library has floor-to-ceiling shelves and an old-fashioned rolling ladder. This is my favorite room in the house. So here is where I will keep my vigil until Sylvia arrives home safely.

Too many sleepless nights in the past week come to collect the vig, eyelids flutter closed against my will and the Sandman comes calling. The phone slips from my hand and thumps to the floor.

Excuse me, sir. Last year you told me to come back and you’d give me a job, I said.

Go away, kid. Mr. Goldman snarled. Come back when you’re older.

How old do I have to be? I asked.

You have to be at least sixteen. Now, scoot, I hear your mother calling you.

I presented him with my learner’s permit.

He handed it back to me without a smile. Thanks for the heads-up, kid. I’ll stay off the streets.

I’m sixteen, I said, hoping he would grasp the significance. You see?

I can read. I’ve got a truckload of trees due here any minute, so if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got work to do.

B—but, you just said I could have a job when I turned sixteen.

Mr. Goldman scratched the stubble on his face and looked at me for a long minute. I never said any such thing, kid.

You did. You said—

I said, come back when you’re older.

Well, I’m older.

"Yes, and you’ve come back. That would be the end of our contractual agreement. I haven’t promised anyone anything since the day I promised the former Mrs. Goldman that I would love, honor and obey her. I won’t make that mistake again."

But you said… my voice cracked.

Hey, kid, look in here for me.

He brought his face down next to mine and pulled the skin down below his bloodshot eye. I moved in closer to look into his eye. His foul breath made me gag.

Are you looking real hard?

Yeah, I peered into his eye.

Do you see anyone in there who gives a damn? He let go of his eye and straightened up.

I just thought, you know, maybe you could use some help, I pleaded. "Let me help you set up. If I don’t do