Blurb:
At Christmas time, everyone deserves a miracle!
Excerpt:
“It’s not about you, it’s about him, Joan.,” a grumbly voice said. “You’re looking at this all wrong.”
Joan turned so
fast she almost lost her balance. She glared at the old man who had spoken. He
was around seventy, with ruddy cheeks and twinkling blue eyes. And thick white
hair. Lots of white hair. Flowing over his shoulders, winding up in a
very lush beard. On top of his head was perched a brightly colored red knit
hat. She frowned. “Wait a minute. You’re Santa Claus. Without the red suit, but
clearly, you’re him. I’d know you anywhere.”
The man bowed and
with a smile, said, “At your service.” He gestured toward a park across the
street. “Let’s take a walk.”
Santa laughed. “My dear, I have been dispensing advice
since I was old enough to talk and make people listen. God chose my role a long
time ago and I have gotten very good at it.” He looked toward the heavens.
“Sorry, old boy. Still working on that humility!” He chuckled. “Man never stops
reminding me.” He smiled at Joan. “Do you sense any ill-intentions from me? Of
course not. I’m Santa. All I want to do is talk.”
Joan reached out
and touched his shoulder.
He laughed again.
A laugh that came directly from his belly. “Yes, I’m real. Well, as real as a
centuries-old spirit gets. I even eat all those cookies children leave me each
year. And let me tell you, that’s a heavenly feat.” Again, he looked skyward.
“Yes, sir, I am well aware that borders on gluttony. A sin. You know darn well
it has nothing to do with gluttony and everything to do with the magic of
Christmas, an affirmation that Santa is real. I do it for the children.” He
smiled at Joan. “Sometimes, He gets a little overbearing with his
angels.”
He smirked. “Even
God has his faults. He is by no means perfect.” A strong wind swirled through
the plaza, nearly catching his knitted cap. He clapped his hand on his head to
hold it down. He whispered, “And he doesn’t take criticism too well, either.”
Joan stared at the
man. Surely, she was losing it. Santa a spirit, an angel? He and God didn’t
even travel in the same circles. She shook her head, trying to make the
hallucination go away.
Santa sighed. “I
know, I know. You’ve been taught that I’m not real. That I’m a myth. That’s a
rumor started by Satan himself, the old devil. He can’t stand the fact that
people embrace the goodness in the world. And that I spread good cheer. He
would much rather unleash a plague and make people miserable. He hates
Christmas. He hates that the birth of Christ is celebrated, and his birth,
well, is not. He really can’t stand the fact that love binds people so tightly
during the holidays.” Santa shook his fist toward the ground. “The fool pouts
all through the holidays.” He then sat up straight and gazed at Joan.
“Christmas is really about love, you know. All kinds of love. The type of love
he’ll never have. Love of family, love of children, love of—”
“What the heck do
you want?” Joan blurted. “People are starting to stare.”
Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxQgCiHO4S4
Preorder: https://www.extasybooks.com/978-1-4874-2999-7-the-last-christmas/
No comments:
Post a Comment