The Missing Mistletoe

By Reginald Murray

The Missing Mistletoe are eight exhilarating fables about Christmas experiences in righting a moral wrong. All end on a high note. Life is rough. But we have to navigate through difficult times. I', quite sure these short stories will inspire my readers for many years to come. Peace and blessings!

• Language: English
• Publisher: The Regency Publishers
• Release date: Sep 12, 2022
• ISBN: 9781959434061

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Copyright © 2023 by Reginald Murray.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author and publisher, except by reviewers, who may quote brief passages in a review.

ISBN: 978-1-959434-07-8 (Paperback Edition)

ISBN: 978-1-959434-08-5 (Hardcover Edition)

ISBN: 978-1-959434-06-1 (E-book Edition)

Some characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to the real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

Book Ordering Information

The Regency Publishers, US

521 5th Ave 17th floor NY, NY10175

Phone Number: [phone] ext 1007

Email: [e-mail]

www.theregencypublishers.com

Printed in the United States of America

Contents

The Enchanted Snow Forest

The Forest Avenue

The House Withstanding

The Grumpy Ole’ Man

A Christmas Conundrum

Shelby

Two Worlds

A Christmas Miracle

Chapter 1

The Enchanted Snow Forest

Danny Watkins has awakened from a sound night’s sleep. He looks out his bedroom window at a vague forest, where there are tall evergreen trees. Those neighboring trees pretty much blocks the view of what else is beyond. For quite some time, this forest has been a mystery to him. It is Christmas morning but a dreary gray day. Danny wonders why. He cannot worry about things he has no control over (the weather for one thing). Danny is not ready to open his presents, yet! If only he can get a glimpse of the remote woodlands to satisfy his curiosity, that would do the trick! He quickly gets dress, putting on his wintry outfits. He heads straight for the front door. Danny, where are you goin’? his mother, Sara, asks. I wanna play in the snow some, before I open my presents! the adventurous person says.

But it’s Christmas, darlin’! You have the rest of the day to do that, she says. I fixed some breakfast for you. It can’t wait.

It can! he impatiently adds. I won’t be long. He closes the door behind him. Danny has lied to his mother with a straight face. Playing by himself in the snow is quite boring. Now a thought enters his mind. If he could build a snowman - if only he could! Perhaps, the world’s tallest one will suffice his needs. He needs help. He has none. Building the world tallest snowman, facing his house, is a great idea whenever he looks out his window. It would fascinate him. I have no help! he muses the thought casually. He gives himself a reality check.

Danny walks that much deeper into the silent woodlands. He wants to witness what it’s like being in cahoots with one of Mother Nature’s treasures. His curiosity isn’t satisfied. Far from it! He sees the bare trees. Winter’s stinging breath has stripped fall of her variegated trees. So much for little Danny’s good wishes! He has to wait another three hundred and sixty-five days to see the sheer beauty of them.

He notices the forest squirrels, rabbits, chip monks, beavers, and raccoons quickly scampering here and there, off in the distance. They cut across snow-covered paths, and run through rotten, fallen logs as their safety net. Those haughty birds, fly off to wherever. His eyes catch a deer (perhaps lost in its way). The deer senses little Danny’s proximity. He bounds away, fearing harm might come to him. Danny tries keeping up with the forest creature. But the animal’s four strong legs are too much for the fragile legs of Danny to overtake it. Come back! Come back! little Danny pleads with the deer. I won’t harm you! It does no good.

Following that animal is done for a purpose. Something else catches Danny’s sight. Just up ahead is a gigantic snow creature. It sits inland to the left, off of the path. It looks to be made out of seven hundred pounds of snow. It is neat looking. Danny is always fascinated on how snow creatures are made. His mother reads him bedtime stories of snowmen coming to life and aiding those in trouble. This intrigues him. This one really takes the cake! He inches that much closer and closer to the snow creature, getting a firsthand glimpse of what he is really like. He touches it. Instantly, the snow sculpture comes to life. It’s Danny, the undersize person against the gigantic snow creature, perhaps, the tallest snow structure in the world. My gosh! Danny says. I’ve read stories about abominable snowmen, other hideous snow creatures, and the likes of many more. I must have dreamt him up. I’ve never seen any come to life with one touch.

The huge snow structure peers down at him with his piercing eyes, saying, Yes, I am an abominable snow man! My deeds are good ones. Who are you?

I’m Danny! he replies, introducing himself. What’s your name?

I’m Larin! the abominable snowman adds.

Who made you? he asks.

If I told you, you wouldn’t believe me! the snowman answers.

Do tell! Danny urges.

A long time ago, he begins, some children were playing here in this exact spot. You should know! We have all sorts of people who love the outdoors, winter life. It chanced one Christmas day they decided to build the largest snowman in the world. It was with the help of parents and friends, jus’ for kicks. They built me. My rash thinkin’ is for me to scare off any foe or beast. They might come here unawares. Even the wild forest animals would stay their courses.

What happened next? Danny asks.

As you might have guessed, an evil wolf, by the name of Gwalin and his miscreants, caught everyone off guard. He has some dark powers. He and his cohorts penalized us.

How?

He used his dark magic to subdue us, the gentle snowman said. I was alive. He turned me into a snow sculpture. He blew is stinging breath on me Then his bandits kidnapped my friends. My gosh! Were they ever jolly with big hearts?

Where did they take ‘em?

To a place deep in the backwoods some seventy miles east of here, the snowman responds. To be exact, they are somewhere there. He’s taken them in as his hostages.

Why? Danny wants to know.

He has no Christmas in his dark heart, Larin answers. Poor soul! He’s never experienced the true meaning of Christmas. I guess there is no Christmas in his heart. There never was. Perhaps, there never will be!

Fate would have it that we crossed paths for this reason. I will assist you in findin’ your lost friends and returnin’ them to their rightful parents, Danny admits.

Perhaps! Larin said.

Well then, let’s get a move on! the gleeful child mandates. I will help you but I don’t want to be late comin’ home. My parents are waitin’ for me to open up my Christmas presents.

You won’t be late! You’re in an enchanted forest, Larin confirms. Our time here is different from yours. Seconds in mine is but an hour in yours. Excuse my ambiguity!

The two new friends trek through the snow, going deep into the vast, unknown forest. They soon get lost in its bosom. Snow doesn’t bother Larin, since he is made out of it. Danny gets his winter chills, now and again. It is chilly to a certain degree but not biting cold. But his mind stays focused on capturing the lost children - and the fiendish wolf, Gwalin! The two adventurous souls want to bring the evil wolf to justice."

Seemingly, getting lost in this wood is like a Christmas paradise to him. He is glad he ignored his mother’s wishes. The thought of him opening his presents and playing with his toys all alone bores him. Danny is that kind of person that, when fully grown, he wants some outdoor adventure and company. Already his precocity is in the making. He makes friends easily. He can adapt quick to new surroundings. Yes! Larin and Danny have their eyes and sights set on destroying the villain.

Watkins happens to glance up at the sky, noticing it is a dismal gray. That bothers him. On Christmas day, the burning sun should be shining in its brilliancy. Adding that with the freshly falling snow from the night before compliments each other. This wonderland would really be a haven of Christmas. These distance thoughts, in his open mind, are vague. Why such a dreary day? He asks his newfound friend.

That wretched wolf cursed the sun by puttin’ a nasty spell on it, Larin confirms. The minute he absconded our beloved children, the sun went behind those dark clouds. It’s been that way ever since. If we are victorious, the clouds will go away and let the golden sun shine its warmth. If we are defeated, I’m afraid we may never see the likes of it, on Christmas day - or any day hereafter!

A sad thought! Danny objects. It seems to me it’s always a dreary, gray day here!

Indeed! the snow creature agrees. Gwalin has all sorts of crazy ideas in his head. We have to be careful, when dealin’ with him.

Perhaps, that beast stole our children, but he can never steal our spirits, Danny says so in the affirmative, cheering up some.

You’re right, my boy! You’re right! Larin agrees. They keep walking for quite some time. Danny is overwhelmed by the wintry forest. Even though it’s dead winter, it’s like hiking in the woods on a mid-summers day. On his right just off the path inland some, are snow angels.

Gee! They’re neat! Danny confirms.

Make one and see what happens! Larin suggests. Danny obeys. Instantly, a real angel emanates from it.

My dear Danny, you have been called here for a reason! the angel says in its echoing voice. A dark side is now hoverin’ over these cherished woodlands. I know your heart and mind far better than you do. You will assist Larin in capturin’ the lost children. When you do, you will be rewarded for your bravery and integrity. I will be watchin’ from the windows of Heaven. The snow angel ascends high in the air, disappearing.

They pass by some frozen ponds and frozen lakes, and ancient stoned bridges. They look like they are from the middle ages. But they are neat looking and look sturdy. Even the bare trees add to the sheer beauty and originality of this isolated wood.

They then come to the borders of the forest. They are standing on the edge of a small hill, overlooking a valley far below to the east. The houses are blowing smoke freely through their brick chimneys. The smoke evaporates in the icy cold air. The quaint village seems at perfect peace with itself. Neat place! Danny says.

Get on my back! Larin orders him. Since it is winter and snow is on the ground, it won’t hurt Larin. He helps the petite Danny on his back. Quickly, they glide down the hill’s slope at an accelerated speed. In mere minutes, they hit the foot of the hill. Larin and Danny walk