Happy Holidays

Written with all rights reserved and exclusively by:

Kree8Tion

Kree8Tion@softhome.net

Holidays. Who invented them anyway? There really was no point that Sam could see. She’d lost her parents long ago and there was no one left to even come close to calling family. So what was the big deal?

Sam turned her chair to look out the window of her office. The buildings rose ominously in the darkness echoing her solitude. The loneliness she felt right now really was her own fault and she knew that. She’d been invited to party after party and had she accepted, the whole month of December would be booked. Sam thanked each one and politely backed out. She couldn’t deal with watching happiness anymore.

Sam sat straight up in her chair as her eye caught a movement in the night sky. A small flash of light that took no longer than a few seconds but seemed to light up the world in her view. Sam felt her skin crawl as she stared at the light. She blinked to be sure of what she was looking at but in the tiny span of eye movement, the light had disappeared. Sam blinked again and the darkness engulfed her again. Shaking her head, the turned her head back to her desk and began to pack up her things.

“Probably a shooting star,” she told the empty office. Sam’s mind couldn’t place what she’d just seen. No matter what happened in her life, she needed a full explanation and used any means necessary to secure one. Unexplainable occurrences did NOT exist in her world.

She walked through her office and down the hall towards the elevator. She couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling in her stomach and attributed it to not knowing what that light had been. She’d find out through research when she got home. Content the problem was tabled in her mind, Sam turned her thoughts to the tasks she needed to accomplish before reaching home.

Once on the crowded street, Sam almost growled at the passers by. Snow crunching. Kids bunching. This is Santa’s big scene.

“Certainly not mine!” Bundling the collar of her coat tighter around her neck, Sam tilted her head to push her way through the swirling snow. Two weeks before Christmas even arrived and the hoards were going crazy. Happiness dripped from every smile. Friendly faces shouting greetings to each other. Sam felt nothing but anger. Who the hell invented the holidays anyway?

She walked with determination, stopping at stores on her way, practically glaring at each merchant’s holiday wish. One man in particular grinned far too much for her comfort.

“Thank you and Happy Holidays!”

“Yes. I’m sure the holidays make your pockets quite happy.” Sam didn’t wait for the idiot’s reaction. She simply turned and walked away.

Back into the safety of the crowds, Sam could easily slide by without having to deal with any one on one well-wishers. She started grinding her teeth as she walked, the sounds drilling through her ears and really starting to get on her nerves.

Streetlights. Stop lights. Blinking bright red and green. Good grief! Even traffic lights had turned traitor on her!

“WATCH IT LADY!” Sam stopped short as she bumped into what could only be described as a ragamuffin to her calculating mind. She couldn’t tell if the short person was male or female through its wrappings. Old tattered coat, shoes that lost their shine years ago from too many scuffings, large mittens that one could tell in an instant didn’t do anything to stop the bitter cold. Sam wasn’t sure why all of that registered in her brain and she shook her head as she realized the filthy little thing had touched her coat!

“How dare you? Get away from me!”

“Geez Lady. Don’t get your shorts bunched. But YOU was the one who bumped me!”

Sam stared as the …… she still wasn’t sure if it was male or female. What ever it was, it raised its hands in the air as if Sam were pointing a gun at it.

“Trust me! I don’t gotta touch you no more!” With that, the ragamuffin turned and walked away. Sam’s eyes looked to the sky as once more, the same light appeared, flashed for an instant lighting the world, and disappeared just as quickly.

Shaking her head for the umpteenth time that night, Sam walked into the last store. Reaching into her purse to get her wallet found her fingers searching fruitlessly. Her wallet was gone.

“That little bastard!” Sam slammed her purse shut and ran out the door, her destination the same direction the ragamuffin took. She ran through the snow, feeling it melt on her face as she moved and her eyes scanned the sidewalks and the streets. Spotting the ragamuffin a block ahead of her, Sam broke into as much of a run as her heels would allow. She neared the ragamuffin but he turned his head towards the sound of her shoes crunching the snow and took off leaving Sam no choice but to follow.

They ran for two more blocks before Sam caught up to him. Its not that she ran faster but merely the fact the ragamuffin slipped on some ice and fell face first onto the pavement. It let out a howling sound just as Sam grabbed the collar of its coat. At least it used to be collar. Now it was merely rags.

“Stop your sniveling. You and I are going to find a policeman now! Stealing is against the law!”

The ragamuffin howled and had no choice but to go with the woman dragging it down the street, its mittened hands covering its face. Sam finally became irritated at the howling and stopped, shaking the collar she held in her hand.

“Will you knock that off? Its your own fault your about to get arrested and crying isn’t going to help!”

“Its …… not …… that Lady! You broke my nose!” Sam stared at the mittens covering the face and saw the blood starting to soak it. She moved the mitten away and sure enough, blood was dripping from a very dirty nose. Not letting go of the collar, Sam reached into her purse and grabbed her handkerchief. The white lace became soaked faster than Sam thought and she finally reached into one of her shopping bags, retrieved a new tablecloth she’d just bought and used that to try and stop the flow.

The ragamuffin wouldn’t stop squirming.

“Here now. Keep still. You’ll only make it worse.” The ragamuffin settled and as Sam wiped the blood from its face, she found herself staring into the deep brown eyes of a small boy. He couldn’t be much older than eight years old but his eyes spoke of years of wisdom. Sam stared at him and he stared back.

Sam finished cleaning the blood and stooped low so her eyes were level with his.

“Give me my wallet back.” Sam waited for the boy to respond.

“Come on. Give it back.” Sam extended her leather-gloved hand and waited. Reluctantly, the boy reached into his thick dirty coat, retrieving her monogrammed wallet and placed it in her hand.

“Good. Now tell me why you’re out here all alone.” The boy looked up into Sam’s eyes then bolted. It’s the only word Sam could think of. He was gone from her sight that fast. Instinct made her check inside her wallet. All her credit cards were there but the cash was gone. Sam hoped he’d buy himself a clean coat.

One week before Christmas. Sam couldn’t wait. Soon this holiday cheer stuff that gagged her throat would be over and life could return to normal. She nodded to people as she walked out of her office. Normally she left after everyone but tonight, she didn’t want to be the last one to go. Sam didn’t even know why.

Her eyes searched while she walked and she wouldn’t admit it to herself, but she knew who she was looking for. She hadn’t seen the boy since the night he’d stolen her money but somehow, he kept entering her thoughts. Curiosity more like it. She’d never remembered meeting anyone face to face who was truly poor.

Sam’s eyes would move to the sky once in a while. The light she’d seen twice that night hadn’t appeared since and she needed a definite explanation for that. She could not accept any connection to the boy and needed proof before she could move both the light and the ragamuffin as a past memory.

Sam made it to within mere yards of her stone porch steps with neither the bright light nor the boy making an appearance. Pausing, she lifted her purse and began to rummage for her keys. She moved forward while her fingers felt their way through the contents and she nearly walked into a figure standing at the foot of the stairs.

“Careful,” a voice drooled. Sam had looked up at an instant just before actually bumping him. He stood a bit shorter than her and there was something familiar about him. Strange. This boy had to be nearer to seventeen yet he wore the same dirty outfit the ragamuffin had on. The bright light whirled beyond the boy’s head and Sam tilted her own head to look around him in order to see the light.

Sam stared at the dirty coat, wondering what this time. The boy simply reached out, grabbed Sam’s purse and dug out her wallet. He kept his eyes boring into hers as his fingers pulled out the cash. Silently, he placed her wallet back into the purse, handed it to her and bolted. Sam did nothing but stare open mouthed.

“Shit!” Sam didn’t even give chase. She knew it would be useless. “Whatever the hell is going on, it’s starting to get bloody expensive!”

Sam made it a habit to keep no more than a twenty-dollar bill in her wallet. She didn’t know what was happening and didn’t really believe any of it was connected but she certainly wasn’t going to take any chances either. One thing Sam believed in was protecting herself. Whatever was going on, it was time SHE took charge of it.

A few days before Christmas found Sam in her office, covering her ears. The office party was in full swing four hours before the allotted time and she hadn’t even had time to escape. People would burst in, swishing liquid in their plastic cups and irritate her with their “Happy Holidays” wishes. Finally, Sam got up and locked her office door.

Holidays. Sam silently cursed some long dead inventor of the phrase. Probably some broken merchant who came up with one hell of a gimmick to ensure a good selling season at least once a year.

Sam mumbled while she held her head in her hands. If she didn’t get out of her office soon, she’d be screaming louder than a banshee. Finally, she stood and slammed her hands on the desk.

“ENOUGH!” She gathered her belongings, wrapped herself in her coat and practically stomped her way out of her office. Pushing her way through the half drunken revelers, Sam growled responses to the “Happy Holidays” thrown at her. The events of the past two weeks ground her nerves to a pulp and the jolly co-workers were only succeeding in fraying her nerves even worse.

By the time Sam’s shoes crunched the snow outside, she was ready for a fight. She closed her eyes and turned her face upwards, hoping the falling snow would cool her anger. It didn’t help. She was wound so tight, she gripped her purse until she heard the beep of her cell phone inside. Releasing her purse, she opened it to turn the phone off. She wanted solitude tonight. Complete solitude.

Sam took a deep breath and started to walk. The cold air did nothing to change her mood and when the man approaching her moved to one side to block her path, Sam was ready.

She’d seen him walking towards her and at first, erased him from her mind. When out of the corner of her eye, she caught the light twinkling brightly in the sky, she turned her attention back to the figure. He was an old man, his clothing the same as the others. He moved until his nose nearly touched hers, his brown eyes staring into her own.

She didn’t speak. She reached into her purse, grabbed her wallet and opened it, offering him the contents. He smiled then. The first one who had. He shook his head from side to side, took the wallet and placed it back into her purse.

Sam stared at the old man. He obviously didn’t know the rules. First the light appears, then a ragged figure appears, then they steal her money, then they disappear. Sam’s confusion must have shown on her face. The old man laughed a deep hearty laugh. The first word Sam thought of was ……. Jolly? The light twinkled again and Sam moved her head to look at it. When she turned her eyes back, the old man had vanished.

Two days. In two days it will be Christmas Eve and then this whole holiday crap can be a bad memory. Everyone in the building had learned by now not to wish her a happy anything. The angry stares and growls they’d received in return taught them well. Sam was content with that.

As she left the office, her head bent to watch where she was going, Sam’s mind whirled. She forced herself not to look up towards the sky just to see if some bright light were flashing there. She really should start getting a grip on herself. Her orderly world was falling apart, all from lights and ragamuffins.

It took her two blocks to realize she’d headed in the wrong direction. Lifting her head, she was at first, confused with her surroundings. She’d never bothered to walk in this direction before and the change was drastic.

Instead of the tall metal buildings that somehow made her feel safe, she stared at dilapidated wooden houses, no higher than one story. Picket fences with missing wood tilted one way or the other, almost screaming out for help. She moved forward slowly, glancing from one side of the street to the other. She’d never been here before yet ……..

There it was again. That star or giant flashlight or whatever the hell it really was. Sam glanced up and saw one ray of light emanating downward. Her eyes followed the ray and saw the building it rested on. She squinted. Why did she know that building?

Sam moved towards it, already knowing its contents and the layout of the rooms. She didn’t feel danger, just a sense of …… déjà vu? No. It was more than that. Sam didn’t know what more, but it was more.

“Pretty sad looking isn’t it?” Sam whirled to find herself facing a man not much taller than she was herself. Amazing since she was barely taller than five feet.

“Yes. Its sad looking.” That seemed the best way to describe it. Sadness. Sam knew somehow that’s what the house was feeling. She turned back towards the man standing there beside her. She didn’t feel fear. “Who are you?”

The man offered his hand for a shake and his smile lit up the night almost as much as the star did.

“Name’s Jonathan. Jonathan Powers.” Sam took the hand he offered and shook it. She knew that name. Why?

“Nice to meet you Jonathan. I’m Samantha Nichols.”

“I know.” He let go of her hand and climbed the wooden porch steps.

“What do you mean you know? Do I know you? Have we met before?”

“I mean I know. Yes you do. Yes we have. Are you coming or not?”

Sam simply stared at him. Who the hell was he? She’d been put through the wringer lately and playing mind games was the last thing she needed right now.

“No. I’m not going anywhere until I get some answers!” Sam crossed her arms and planted her feet firmly in place. Somehow her memory didn’t register any previous nonchalance Jonathan was showing right now. Sam didn’t know why.

“Suit yourself.” Jonathan shrugged his shoulders and pushed the broken door inward, disappearing into the dark interior.

Sam stayed put. No one told her what to do since her parents died long ago. Not the orphanage. Not any of the foster homes. No one! She'd stay here until she got answers and that was final.

Sam wondered what was in the house. She wondered who the man was and why he seemed so familiar. She wondered why her life was being turned upside down. She refused to move.

Sam’s foot began to tap against the cold ground. Jonathan had left her standing there all alone. What if she was in danger? Sam somehow knew she wasn’t but that wasn’t the point. What WAS so interesting inside that run down building that he refused to come back out? Sam growled and mumbled under breath. The female inside her couldn’t resist. She HAD to know what was inside and uncrossed her arms while she walked up the crooked wooden porch steps.

Walking through the doorway, Sam found herself in the front parlor. Well that’s how she remembered it anyway. Remembered? Sam glanced around. The broken furniture was as familiar to her as her right hand. Sam felt her shoulders sag. She knew the house well. She’d called it home for most of her young life.

Turning her head to the right, she saw it. The place where many a times, she was told to stand and squirm with a menacing promise from her Mother.

“You just wait until your Father gets home young lady. We’ll see then now won’t we?”

Sam felt her eyes water. It was her corner. She’d come to call it that just as her parents had.

“Get to your corner young lady.”

“Sam! Your corner. This instant!”

“Samantha! You just march yourself right into your corner and THINK about what you’ve done!”

Strange. Staring at HER corner brought calmness she hadn’t felt since she was little. Hearing her parents voice from oh so long ago brought a yearning she didn’t think still existed in her heart. Sam stared at the corner and wanted more than anything to turn her head to see if ‘it’ was still there too.

Dad had made a special hook for it. He’d carved it out of wood they’d found on one trip to the beach. He spent days working on it and when he was finished, the hook was shiny and new, the varnish gleaming in the light and he’d even taken the care to carve her name right above the hook itself. “SAM.” She had to know if it was still there.

Turning her head slowly, her eyes moving along the wall, she turned her body a little to follow where her head was now facing. Sam’s mouth dropped open. Not only was her hook there but it was as shiny and new as the day Dad placed it there. Hanging from the hook was a little leather string, attached to the paddle that had also become known as hers.

Sam could barely see through the blur of tears as she reached out one shaking hand and walked towards the paddle. She remembered the fear and dread of that paddle while standing in HER corner waiting for her Father to come home from work. But today, she only remembered sitting on his lap afterwards, spanked and forgiven, his strong arms around her while he kissed the top of her head. Sam’s fingers trembled even more while they ran down the smoothness of the wood, most of it caused from meeting her bared bottom.

“You seem surprised its still there.” The voice startled her. She’d forgotten all about Jonathan and she whirled to face him, angry he’d broken the first warm memories she’d had in too many years.

“Yes I’m surprised! Look at this place!” Sam’s hand reached out in an arched swing, pointing around the room. “Everything in here is dead, broken or rotted. Everything except that.”

“Makes you wonder don’t it?” Jonathan stepped forward and gripped the back of a straight back chair. He carried it in one hand and placed it right in the center of the room.

“To your corner young lady.” Sam stared at him incredulously.

“Wwwhat?”

“Your corner. Go on. Get going. You get to the corner and think about what you’ve done and what’s about to happen.”

“Are you crazy? I’m a grown woman! Who the hell do you think you are?”

“I am not crazy. I’m not the one standing lost in a past world wishing for what use to be so bad its taken over my heart and turned it into stone. Now march young lady. YOUR corner. NOW!”

Sam stood wringing her hands. How had he known that? Why were his words making her feel all mushy inside? Why did he care? Why was she finding her heart beating loudly in her ears and liking that he cared? Who the hell was he?

She wouldn’t go. No. She wouldn’t put herself into the corner where’d she spent so much time waiting to be punished for some misdeed. She was an adult now. That part of her past was long gone.

“Samantha Nichols. If I have to put you in that corner, you’ll be spanked while standing there AND spanked over my knee. Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes Sir.” Sam moved forward on instinct and found her nose pressed into the crease of the wall. Those words had been uttered by her Dad many, many times, but he’d only had to follow through once. He kept his promise and spanked her hard while standing in the corner and she’d waited a lifetime with a sore bum bared and shining until it was time to go over his knee. She never made him spank her while standing there again.

“You know what to do now Samantha. Now do it.”

“Yes Sir.” Again, Sam moved solely from instinct. She lifted the back of her coat and dress at the same time and lowered her panties to mid thigh. Not once did she remember it was a full-grown man behind her. She only knew Daddy was angry and that she was in trouble AGAIN.

“Good girl.” Sam heard the creak of the wooden chair and knew he was sitting himself on it. “Now then. Let’s get a few things straight here shall we?”

“Yes Sir.” Sam could only whisper. She hated this part almost as much as the spanking itself. He always did it the same way. She would stand in her corner, naked bum on display and Dad would take his time explaining the why of things. Sometimes, he would take a very LONG time explaining. By the time he was finished, Sam would always be sobbing.

“Some very important people have been worried about you Samantha. They aren’t very proud of you right now. Did you know that?”

“Nnnnnnno Sir.” What the hell was he talking about?  Sam knew the voice speaking behind her didn’t belong to her Father and that did register enough to bring her back to the matter at hand. Yet she found herself caught in the middle of yesterday and today. She was a child again. She was an adult. She was a little girl. She was a full-grown woman. All Sam knew is that she was confused and torn between two worlds and felt trapped.

“You’ve grown up to be a very intelligent woman. You’re strong. You’re successful. You’re quite pretty. Even from this view.” She heard his soft chuckle behind her but didn’t turn to glare at him. “Your only drawback seems to be your lack of reasoning. That’s not making an awful lot of people happy right at this moment. You’ve become a major disappointment and I’ve been sent to straighten things out.”

Sam did turn when he said that. What the hell WAS he talking about?

“My reasoning works quite well thank you and just who the hell are you to judge me?” Sam watched as he lifted his hand and twirled his finger in a motion that meant she should put her face back into the corner. She seethed as she followed his silent instructions.

“Your reasoning is NOT working well, Samantha. Otherwise, your heart wouldn’t be so cold. It IS cold right now, isn’t it Sam?”

Sam felt the tears well again. She knew he was right. Not since her parents died had she let anyone near her. She swore to herself back then that she wouldn’t get close enough to anyone to hurt if they went away. Her parents’ death had hit her that hard. She worked hard to keep that vow and she’d succeeded.

“Yyyyyyyyyes Sir.” Sam leaned her forehead against the corner. How did he know?

“Alright then. That’s wrong Sam. You have a beautiful heart and so much love to give. Many people who care about you are feeling their own hearts breaking wishing for what you could be. I think its quite selfish of you to do that to them, don’t you?”

“Mmmmmaybe.” Who was he talking about?

“No maybe about it at all. It’s quite simple really. Your selfishness is causing pain to people who happen to love you very much. I’ve been chosen to help you change Sam. We’ve decided that its gone too far and you can’t bring yourself back all by yourself. I’m going to help you come home.”

Sam stood silently. Help her? She was standing in a corner, her naked butt on full display and he was talking about helping her?

“Bring me your paddle Samantha.”

Sam’s heart dropped and her hands started to shake as the sweat tickled her palms. She didn’t move. She knew what Jonathan had just said was all true. She knew, or almost felt she knew who he was talking about and guilt settled into her chest harder than anything she’d felt in a long time.

Not since she was a little girl had anyone taken the time to care anything about her. No one cared if she came or went. No one cared what she did. No one cared about who she was or what she thought. She’d seen to that all by herself.

Sam thought about what Jonathan was waiting for. She had a choice to make now. She could simply get up and walk away from all this. That would be easy enough. She’d walked away from emotions from so long, she was an expert now.

Her other option was to walk to her paddle, pick it up and hand it to him. She knew that would result in the unpleasant feelings across her bottom but she thought harder before deciding. The one thing her father’s spanking brought beside the pain and humiliation, was love. Love that he cared enough about his daughter to put her on the right path. Love that he cared about her enough to teach her right from wrong.

Sam always felt that love while squirming over his knee, waiting for the first impact. She felt it in the strength of his hand as it wrapped around her waist, securing her close to his body. But never did she feel it stronger than when he turned her right side up and snuggled her on his lap, letting her tears flow and her shame and guilt ebb away.

Sam’s tears rolled down her cheeks. She stood in her corner knowing now that making sure no one got near enough to inflict the hurt she’d felt when her parents died also made certain she’d never again feel the warmth and safety either. Sam knew now she needed that more than anything. It was a matter of survival.

Jonathan made no noise behind her. She was grateful for that. The turmoil raging in her thoughts and mind were so confusing, she would start to move, stop, start to move again, only to stop one more time. What DID she want to do? Did she really want to run or did she really want the freedom Jonathan seemed to be offering her?

Sam thought even more. The freedom was being offered in a manner that would be completely embarrassing. Could she handle that? No. She couldn’t. But that meant life went on as before. Listening to Jonathan talk earlier made Sam realize she didn’t want that either. Not anymore anyway.

Sam did the only sensible thing she could think of. She started crying.

Sam never heard Jonathan rise from the wooden chair. She only knew he was near when she felt his hand on her shoulder. She cried even louder when she felt it.

“Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Its all right Sam. It will all be all right. You know what you want and you know what you need. I’m here to help you.” Sam felt his hands holding her shoulders and gently turn her out of her corner. She stood facing her paddle and her eyes lifted from the floor until they rested on the shining wood. “You can do it Sam.”

Sam moved forward while her sobs shook her shoulders and raised her hand, lifting the paddle from its hook. By the time she turned around, Jonathan was already seated back on the chair. Sam walked to stand by his side, handed him the paddle and without a word, lay over his lap.

She almost sighed when Jonathan’s lap gave her the comfort she knew she’d missed. It was the first step towards the love she hadn’t felt for years and it was as familiar to her as the nose on her face. She squirmed to get into the right position and gasped out loud when his left hand held her tightly at her waist.

The first crack of wood meeting flesh echoed in the near empty room. She’d forgotten how well a paddle sent a message.

“OWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!”

Jonathan didn’t spank quickly. He landed each whack and paused while it sank into her naked cheeks and aimed right where she knew she’d be sitting uncomfortable for a while. After three spanks, Sam had enough. She made every attempt to push herself from his lap but Jonathan held tight.

By the time the tenth spank landed, Sam gave up fighting and simply gave in to the inevitable. She was sobbing again and the fire being ignited on her bum made her forget she was a full-grown woman with a heart of stone. She only knew she’d done wrong and knew that it was her own actions that brought her here.

Jonathan spanked again and again and again. Sam was screaming so loud by now, she knew the entire world could hear her. Her legs started kicking in the air, her panties went flying somewhere, her fists pounded the side of Jonathan’s leg and still, he spanked.

Sam felt it then. That moment between stubbornness and guilt. That precise second in time that takes one from knowing it all to understanding they knew absolutely nothing in the first place.

Sam let it go. She sank across Jonathan’s strong knees and let it all go. She sobbed and her shoulders shook so hard, her coat collar fell forwards across her neck. She let it go and simply gave in to the release of the moment.

“I’m soooooooorrrrrrrrrryyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!” Sam screamed her words through her hiccups. She meant them. She knew she’d been wrong. Oh god, so wrong in her thinking. She knew she deserved this and she knew this was the only way she would achieve forgiveness.

Sam sagged lifeless over Jonathan’s lap and simply cried waiting for him to finish. She didn’t know how he knew the moment she gave into her own feelings but the next thing she knew, she was sitting upright, strong arms engulfing her, soft kisses were being planted on the top of her head and she wrapped her arms around a strong body and cried harder still. She was home. She was loved. She felt nothing but love from the man she held on to.

“Shhhhhhhhhhh. It’s over now Sam. There’s my good girl. All is forgiven now. Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.” Sam felt herself rocked softly and cried until her tears were spent.

The light was hurting her eyes. Sam had to blink to stop the tingling the bright light was causing and the blaring horn made her look up quickly. The cab spun on the icy road and Sam had to jump to the sidewalk quickly and did just in time. The cab’s horned blared as it whizzed past her, almost touching the hem of her coat.

Sam put her hand to her heart and felt it pound. The idiot had almost killed her! She felt strong hands on her shoulders spinning her around fast.

“Are you all right? That cab almost killed you. You okay?”

Sam found herself staring into the most beautiful pair of male eyes she’d ever seen. She nodded silently and smiled at him. That felt good. She hadn’t smiled at anyone in a long time.

“Yes. I’m fine. Thhhhanks.”

“Well you’re still shaking. What do you say we get a nice warm cup of hot chocolate in you? Come on. My treat.”

Sam nodded and let him lead her to a bench on the sidewalk. The man made her realize she was back within her familiar world. It had all been a dream. She’d had a nightmare while standing right there in the middle of the street. The man led Sam to the bench and held her elbow while she began to sit.

“Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!” Sam’s bottom was sore!!!!!!!!!!!! She jumped up from the bench, placing both leather-gloved hands on her butt. What the ……..

The ragged clothed boy ran right in front of her. The fingers of his right hand rose to his dirty head in a mock salute, a major grin across his face as he ran. The light flashed in the sky and Sam lifted her head to look at it. She knew the boy would be gone when she turned back.

“What? What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”

Sam’s smile grew wider as she turned to the man.

“Yes. I’m going to be just fine now. You promised me a hot chocolate remember?”

“Sure thing. Oh. My name’s Jonathan. Jonathan Powers.”

Sam offered her gloved hand in a handshake.

“I’m Samantha. Samantha Nichols. Nice to meet you Jonathan.”

Jonathan shook her hand then smiled as he walked off to get the promised hot chocolates. Sam forced herself to sit on the bench, her sore bottom somehow a comfort that it HAD been real and not a dream. She glanced across the street and saw the teenager and the old man, each leaning their dirty rag covered shoulders against the side of a lamppost. Sam smiled.

Lifting her gloved hand, she blew them both a kiss. They saluted her as the boy had and in a grand flash of light, they were gone.

Sam lifted her eyes to the sky.

“Thank you.” She whispered. “And Happy Holidays!” Funny. Sam didn’t cringe this time.