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.
