For today’s Monday Moment, I pulled another card from my Story World: Christmas Tales set. I pulled this out last night and thought about what to write, but ended up just too tired to think of anything (I had a very long week).

I usually prefer to post these Monday Moments earlier in the day, but I just came to a point where I knew I wasn’t going to write anything worth reading last night. I hoped to have time to write something today, but the card hadn’t sparked any ideas, so I decided to look elsewhere.

Then I picked the card up again and reminded me that what I write doesn’t have to be taken directly from what’s on the card, but can go anywhere, inspired by the images.

Here is what I came up with:

---

Christmas was always his favorite time of year. It was also the time of year he was the most unbearable. She had grown accustomed to his jovial nature, his generous attitude, and his childish spirit. She could even pretend to like it. But it all went into overtime during the Christmas season. She was most in danger of revealing herself then.

She knew there were risks, but she had the sleeping powder for a reason. Granted, it wasn’t just to give herself a break, but somehow, every year, there was that one night that she had just had enough. She couldn’t handle it anymore. She couldn’t handle him.

After the first two years, she found that she was looking forward to the night she’d treat herself by putting him to sleep for a while. The type of sleep she knew he wouldn’t shake himself out of no matter what little goblins and demons worked around him. She could have her peace, get her work done without hiding, and even have a visitor over.

Maybe this year, she’d treat herself a second night. Or was that too greedy?

---

For today’s Monday Moment, I pulled a card from my Story World: Christmas Tales set. I got this a few years ago, but have never done much with it. For one thing, I am definitely the type of person who prefers to keep Christmas-related things for the Christmas season. And I guess I just never think about this during that time. But last night I realized I needed to write something to post for today’s Monday Moment (I prefer to post something I wrote new during the last week, to push myself to do some actual writing practice, even during the revision phase), and I realized this was the perfect time to use this.

---

“Did you tell her about your dream?” Max asked.

“I told you it wasn’t a dream,” Clark said through gritted teeth.

“What dream is this?” Cathy questioned with a smile.

Clark sighed. “It wasn’t a dream.”

“Well, it certainly wasn’t the ghosts of your dead parents,” Max muttered, going back to his work.

“Ghosts?” Cathy echoed.

“I saw them, Cathy,” Clark insisted. “Standing right here, plain as you and me.”

“Surely you don’t believe in ghosts,” Cathy said with surprise. She had always thought Clark to be much more level-headed than that.

“Why not? I can do many things that would seem supernatural to some people. Sali was able to bring people back from the dead. Who says ghosts are completely impossible?”

“Sali wasn’t exactly…that doesn’t matter right now. What did your parents say?” She might not believe that he actually saw the spirits of his dead parents, but the encounter still meant a lot to him. It was worth hearing what he had to say about it.

“They didn’t say anything. Not with words. But they were together, and they were happy. Somehow I just knew that they were both happy wherever they are now.”

Cathy frowned but tried not to be very noticeable in her reaction. “Why do you think you saw them now?”

“I have no idea. And I knew you wouldn’t believe me, which is why I didn’t plan to tell you!” His last few words were aimed at Max, who chuckled without turning back around.

“This time of year…it’s always hard on people who have lost loved ones,” Cathy pointed out.

“I know. I’m sure it’s hard on you too, though at least you still have some family to spend it with.”

“Hey, I’m standing right here,” Max protested.

“I know.”

“Was Christmas a big event in your family when you were young?” Cathy asked.

“Wasn’t it a big event in everyone’s family when they were kids?”

“Not mine. My parents barely acknowledged the holiday.”

“Really? Why?”

Cathy pulled a chair out at the table and sat down. “They didn’t think the original purpose behind the holiday had survived enough, and decided that it was too frivolous now. When I got older, I tried to convince them that we could simply make sure we focus on the true meaning of the holiday, but they didn’t want to do that.”

“But you are celebrating with them this year, right? I thought you said you were going to be with them for Christmas.”

“Yes, things have changed since my mom died. My brother and his family love celebrating the holiday, and even my dad joins in with them now.”

Clark walked over to sit next to Cathy. “I’m glad you’ve reconnected with them.”

She smiled at him. “Just as I am glad that you have your uncle to spend the holiday with.”

“Oh, not Mr. Scrooge here,” Max said, turning back to face them. “He said he wants nothing to do with Christmas this year.”

“Clark?” Cathy questioned.

He shrugged. “What’s the point?”

Cathy looked at Max who nodded at her.

“Listen, you are going to celebrate the holiday this month, and I’m going to be right here with you.”

“What about your family?” Clark asked, uncertain about how he felt about her declaration.

“I will be with them on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. But the day after, I am coming here, and we’re going to have a traditional Christmas Day, just one day late.”

“You don’t have to do that, Cathy,” Max said. “I appreciate it, but you really don’t have to.”

“I don’t have to, but I’m going to. She looked from Clark to Max, and then back again. “After all, you two are my family too.”

---