A Dream for the Holiday

Every year, I take part in the Extra-Life charity Gaming Marathon. One of the things I do is choose a random name from the folks who were kind enough to support me in this and use their name as one of the characters in my story. This year that person was named Marianne.  

I was inspired to write this by how many people I've seen sad about not getting to be with family this year. My goal was to give folks a little bit of hope in these times.

Enjoy the story.

A Dream for the Holiday

by Steve Mayne

 

Once upon a time, a young boy named Hudson sat at home on Christmas Eve and he was very sad. Hudson missed his family. It had been a long time since he had seen his grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. He missed them all, especially Molly his favorite cousin and their dog, a beagle named Daisy. Even his older sisters couldn’t come home for the holiday. They’d all talked on the computer, but it just wasn’t the same.

His parents had done all they could to try and make the holiday memorable and fun. They’d cooked his favorite foods, and played games with him. It was a fine evening and he had enjoyed it. But now it was getting late and he felt a sadness at missing his family.

His mother came out of the kitchen with a plate and glass of milk. She sat next to him on the couch and gave him a one armed hug. “How are you doing honey?” asked his mother.

Hudson smiled up at her. “Fine,” said Hudson.

His mother handed him the plate, it held a single cookie. The cookie was a large star covered in white icing with a line of blue around the edge and white sparkly sprinkles covered the top; a Holiday Wishing Cookie.

“Do you know what you want to wish for?” asked his mother.

“Yes,” said Hudson.

“Well then,” said his mother, “eat the cookie, finish the milk, and then it’s off to bed with you.” She kissed his forehead, hugged him again, stood up from the couch, and went back to the other room.

Hudson looked at the cookie, his mother made him one every year. Holiday Wishing Cookies are special. You have to make a wish before you eat it and you can only have one each season. They helped make holiday dreams come true. Hudson knew they didn’t always work, but this year he really wanted it to; more than anything. He hadn’t seen his family in so long. He’d missed every holiday, birthday, sport, and special occasion. He hadn’t even been to school in several months and missed everyone.

Hudson closed his eyes and wished harder than he had ever wished before. “I want to see my family.” Then, being very careful to not spill any crumbs, just in case, Hudson ate the cookie, drank his milk, brushed his teeth, and then went to bed.

No sooner had he set his head on the pillow and closed his eyes he was startled by loud music and a bright light. He sat up in bed and found his room had been replaced with a great white space of nothing. There were no walls as far as he could see, no ceiling above him, and he leaned over the side of his bed to see only thick fluffy clouds where the floor should be.

“Hello Hudson,” said a woman.

Hudson sat up and looked around. At the foot of his bed hovered a fairy with metallic silver-hair.  She was no taller than Hudson’s knee which was probably why he hadn’t seen her right away. She was wearing a green dress with a tan pouch hanging from her belt. Her wings were the color of gold coins that sparkled when they fluttered.

“I’m Marianne,” said Marianne. “How are you tonight?”

“Sad,” said Hudson sliding back from her to keep a proper distance. “I miss my friends.”

“You can come closer if you want,” said Marianne. “This is a dream and we don’t have to worry about that here.”

Hudson smiled and got out of bed. The cloud floor was soft like the thick carpet at his grandmother’s old house. He curled his toes and watched tufts of clouds break away and float up.

Marianne laughed, it rang like the bells on a carnival game. It was fun and filled with joy and excitement. “We just have to wait for your parents and then we’ll be off.”

As if summoned Hudson’s parent’s bed faded into view. His mother and father sat up wearing the bright red holiday pajamas they wore every Christmas. They climbed out of bed and walked to Hudson and Marianne.

“What’s going on?” asked Hudson’s father.

“First, this is a dream,” said Marianne. “The rest of it will have to wait until we’re underway. We don’t want to be late.”

There was a loud bell noise and a bright red trolley car rose out of the clouds. It was sturdy and covered in brass poles and wooden benches.

Marianne floated up to the controls and called out, “All aboard.”

Hudson hurriedly climbed onto the trolley and sat near the front so he could see where they were going. His mother and father followed taking seats on the same bench. His mother placed an arm around his shoulder.

Marianne reached up and rang the brass bell that hung near the controls and then pushed a lever into position. “Here we go,” said Marianne as the trolley began to roll forward.

Marianne turned back to her passengers. “As I’ve already told Hudson, My name is Marianne and tonight I am an honorary Sandman. Normally, I’m a luck fairy. I’ll be guiding your family to the dream tonight.”

“I’ve met a sandman,” said Hudson thinking back to a previous Christmas. “I thought they were all large bearded men who carried sand in pillow cases.”

“Normally that’s true,” said Marianne. “But tonight is a bit special. The Slumber Lord came up with a magnificent idea, but in order to do it he needed to enlist as many magical creatures as he could find. There are so many of us taking part, even your friends Amelia and Stephen. The Slumber Lord called in every favor owed and promise made. We all joined up to make the grandest dreams in the history of dreaming.”

“What dreams?” asked Hudson.

“Almost everyone wished for the same thing for the holiday,” said Marianne. “They want to see their families and we’re going to make it happen the only way we can.”

“I thought that would be impossible,” said Hudson.

“In the waking world it is impossible,” said Marianne. “But we are in the dreamlands and here everything happens. Sometimes it just takes a bit of work.”

“So we’re all having the same dream?” asked Hudson.

“Yes,” said Marianne. “Amelia was right, you are quite clever.”

Hudson smiled to hear his friend had talked about him.

“Normally, people can’t share dreams,” said Marianne. “Tonight we’ve accomplished it by placing all of the dreams next to one another in a giant wheel. At the center of the wheel we’ve placed a single dream that your entire family is being brought to. It’s where we’re going now.”

“That’s amazing,” said Hudson smiling broadly.

“But first,” said Marianne, “we will have to pass through each of your dreams and maybe a couple of others. Are you ready?”

Hudson nodded.

Marianne turned and pulled another lever on the trolley, spun the steering wheel, and rang the bell. “Here we go.”

The trolley was enveloped by a huge cloud bank. Fluffy white puffs of clouds to burst out in all directions. The clouds cleared and they found themselves jaunting through a massive space battle. Ships hurtled around them firing on one another.

Hudson stared at the universe around them. Huge battle cruisers fired on smaller fighters as they darted in and out of the larger ships field of fire. Hudson smiled; he knew who the good guys and bad guys were. He wasn’t sure how, but he knew. When a large moon sized space station exploded Hudson cheered.

Then they slammed into more clouds and appeared on a long beach. He saw a familiar old cabin and boat half remembered. He thought he could even remember a picnic area over the hill just past the edge of the woods.

More clouds and they were rolling down a football field. The quarterback hiked the ball and backed up. He dodged one defender, then another, and then a third. He stretched back his arm and hurled the ball towards the end zone. One of his running backs still sprinting down the field veered slightly to line up the catch. The running back realized he wasn’t going fast enough and dove; hands outstretched. The ball slipped into his hands as he slid into the end zone. They won. They won the big game. Hudson’s father pumped his fist in celebration.

More clouds and they were racing down the highway next to someone on a loud heavy motorcycle. The bike’s engine screamed like an angry metal falcon. The rider popped the bike up onto its back tire and then dropped down to speed away.

Hudson marveled at the rider. “Whose dream is that?” asked Hudson.

“Your grandmothers,” said Marianne. “She’s always wanted one since she first rode back when she was a girl after the war.”

“Wow,” said Hudson watching the rider fade into the distance.

They passed through other dreams. Hudson saw dinosaurs, racecars, a police chase, an amusement park, and in one dream Marianne and his mother quickly covered his eyes with their hands. Then they were riding down an empty city street.

The street was well lit and snow fell but never seemed to cover the roads. It was cool but not cold. Every lamp post held a wreath and strands of twinkle lights wrapped around the pole. As they rolled down the street Hudson could just make out music in the distance. As they moved along the music got louder and louder until Hudson could recognize it as the songs that his uncle played at every Christmas.

The trolley turned a corner and a huge banquet hall came into view. It was covered in colored lights that flashed in time to the music. A long red carpet led up the sidewalk to the front doors. The sidewalk was lined with huge trees covered in decorations. Hudson could hear the sounds of laughter coming from inside the hall.

As the trolley approached the curb Marianne began pulling levers and switches. The trolley slowed and with a final pull on the brakes it came to a gentle stop at the red carpet. Marianne rang the bell.

“We’re here,” said Marianne.

Hudson’s parents climbed off the trolley and turned to look at him. His mother held out her hand. “Come along honey,” said his mother.

“I’m worried,” said Hudson. “I don’t always remember my dreams. What if I don’t remember this one?”

Marianne fluttered over and stood on the bench next to Hudson. “You might not,” said Marianne. “It’s possible you won’t remember this dream. However, I promise you that even if you don’t remember it here.” Marianne rested her hand on his forehead. “You will always keep it here,” and she set her other hand on his heart. “You will always feel the love from tonight in your soul. That will never go away.”

Hudson smiled at the luck fairy, slid off the bench, and took his mother’s hand. He walked towards the hall with his parents and only stopped to turn around and wave when he heard the trolley bell ring as Marianne began to drive it away.

 As they walked up the sidewalk Hudson looked at the trees covered in lights, ornaments, strands of popcorn and cranberries, and multicolored candy canes. Hudson reached out and took one from a nearby tree, it was swirled green and brown. He licked the end and smiled; mint chocolate, his favorite.

Inside, the hall was massive. His entire family was scattered before him. On one side there was a play area where all of his younger cousins ran and played. Some played tag on a huge indoor jungle gym. Others played board games from a huge wall of shelves. Others sat in front of a bank of screens playing their favorite video games.

Along another wall was a dance. Bright light up multicolored squares flashed to the music that came over the speakers. Hudson watched as the older kids danced and moved in time to the music. Though he noticed they were moving to a different beat than the music he could hear and he wondered if they were hearing the same song he was.

A huge table sat along one wall stuffed with all of his family’s favorite foods. Not even just the holiday foods. A large tray on his uncle’s favorite nachos sat next to his a crockpot of his cousin’s famous chili. A bar-b-que grill smoked silently in the corner covered in his grandfather’s best burgers. Near one end of the table was Hudson’s favorite pigs in a blanket next to a dish of that special dipping sauce his mother made.

Against the last wall was a series of comfy chair, soft couches, and small tables filled with snacks and drinks. This is where the adults all gathered happily talking to one another. He could hear snippets of how their year went, sports, movies, and the news. They laughed and smiled at one another.

In the center of the room was a huge fire pit in a small recessed area of floor. It was surrounded by soft couches built into the edge of the recess. The brick lip of the fire pit had small holders for roasting forks. Located around the edge of the couch at even intervals were small trays of marshmallows, chocolate bars, and graham crackers.

Hudson looked around the room at all of his family. Everyone was there even the ones from out of state and a few who had been gone for many years. Hudson saw his grandparents and ran over and hugged them. He talked to everyone he saw. Moving around the room trying to see everyone. He found each of his sisters and hugged them deeply.

After a while he heard the telltale jingling of a collar. Daisy the beagle trotted up to him, jumped up, and licked his face.

“Hello Daisy,” said Hudson hugging her.

“Woof,” said Daisy.

Hudson also found his friend and cousin Molly playing in the video games. She was just dropping from the battle bus when he walked up. She dropped the controller and hugged him too.

The rest of the night went by in a blur. Family talked to him, walked up and away, and hugged him. He ate far more pigs in a blanket than he should along with more foods than he could hope to remember. He danced with his cousins. The dance floor had different music from the rest of the hall. He even played games with some of the others. At one point his family settled around the fire and sang carols while making s’mores.

After a while he lay down next to his mother and rested his head in her lap. She sat there and ran her fingers through his hair. He stayed like that smiling until he woke the next morning.

 

Remember reader that this dream is coming for us all. We will get to see our loved ones in our dreams. And even though we might not remember it in our heads, I promise you the love and joy will live on in our hearts and souls.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.