BlogFestivus, Day Two: Seasons Change

Thanks for coming back to this year’s BlogFestivus writing challenge. Nine stories that are supposed to take inspiration from the nine reindeer on Santa’s sleigh. Today is Day Two – Dancer.

Previous chapters: 1

2

The following evening, Holly and Nick were scribbling out Christmas cards when she noticed movement in the front yard.

“Nick! It’s HER!” she said, leaping up from her chair, Christmas letter copies fluttering to the floor. The woman was holding a chain of beads extended before her like an offering and swaying back and forth on their grass.

Nick furrowed his brow, “What’s she doing? Some sort of tai-chi?”

Holly was out the door and into the front yard. The woman was wrapped in a striped blanket and mumbling something that Holly couldn’t make out as she moved back and forth. Holly shivered, the hair on her arms standing up from more than the cold.

What the —

She started as Nick moved past her, stopping between her and the woman, who seemed oblivious to him.

“Ma’am… Are you okay?”

She paused for a moment and slurred, “A reindeer,” and returned to her beads and rhythms.

Crap. She’s drunk. Or crazy. We don’t even have any friggin’ reindeer.

A man trotted towards them. Tall with dark, ponytailed hair and an expensive-looking cashmere coat. He stopped and grabbed the old woman, though it wasn’t clear whether in anger or relief.

He turned to the bewildered couple, “I’m sorry about my mother. She gets this way around Christmastime.” He then said something to her in a language Holly didn’t understand and started to usher her away from the house.

“I’m afraid it’s getting worse,” he said.

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