By Matthew Allen Lin Ugh. I really should have planned this better. I thought the lines back home in California were bad. Looks like everyone in Paris waited until the last minute to do their Christmas shopping. I checked the time on my phone. 10 a.m. Good thing Melanie was still asleep at our hotel. … Continue reading Achat de Noël
The Wreath
By Jim Bates The old man pulled back the curtain and peered into his front yard. It was covered with dirty snow, the stalks of forgotten annuals bent and frozen. He frowned. Should have pulled them last October. Who cared anyway? He let the curtain fall back and made his way to his worn armchair. … Continue reading The Wreath
Driftwood
By Neil Brosnan Angela isn’t exactly sure when her loathing of public holidays first began, when each impending break from work had become a source of anguish rather than joy. She had once adored such breaks, and had perfected the art of manipulating isolated bank holidays into an extra week of annual leave – providing … Continue reading Driftwood
Watching Cricket with My Father
By R.B. Simpson Unsurprisingly, and like all my fellow boarders, the highlight of our school year was the Christmas holidays, straight after we had written our last end-of-year exam. Six weeks of unrestricted mayhem lay before us! We would rip our ties off and would be playing a last game of touch rugby on the … Continue reading Watching Cricket with My Father
Academy Classics: O Tannenbaum
By Thomas Page The tree sort of slumped over. Ornaments scattered all over the ground. On the way down, the tree took out several pictures on the mantle. The ground was covered in broken glass, clay, and porcelain. Their dog, Sparkles, was trying to eat the remains of a surfing Santa. “Well, I’ll get some … Continue reading Academy Classics: O Tannenbaum
A Sampling of What’s to Come
By Lynette Murry Christmas Is Vastly Different Christmas is vastly different, since you’re not here A somber season, no laughter or holiday cheer Our lives are shattered, nothing’s the same Memories recalled, with the mention of your name Thanksgiving was difficult, but that’s just the start An empty chair in remembrance of you, broke my … Continue reading A Sampling of What’s to Come
Poem by Ian Copestick
By Ian Copestick God, at this time of year, these Sub-zero nights can really Get you down. I wonder what It must be like to live somewhere Like L.A. where it's Sunny all year round and They've never seen snow. Except in the excruciating Xmas movies that they churn Out each year. Right now, … Continue reading Poem by Ian Copestick
Christmas Contest: 3rd Place Fiction
"Christmas Presence" By Andrew Paul Grell “It’s time, Nick. Are you up for it?” Josh assessed the old man’s visage. It wasn’t like the old days. Larger territory. Vast increase in audience. Security. Changes in entrance and exit protocols. Not that any of that mattered; it was Nick or nobody. “It’s been a while since … Continue reading Christmas Contest: 3rd Place Fiction
Christmas Contest: Poetry 1st Place
"The Ghosts of Christmas Past" By Micah Singleton The Ghosts Of Christmas Past As a cold wind blows, the hour comes fast, to a time when Christmas, will be part of the past. With no tree of lights, and no gifts to bear, a man sits alone, as a chill fills the air. His fire … Continue reading Christmas Contest: Poetry 1st Place
Christmas Contest: Fiction 1st Place
A Christmas Gamble By Matt McGee Christmas is giving. It’s surprises. The unexpected. Maybe, some years, there can be just a little bit of magic thrown in. Some people need to be alone to feel that. Chris loves to lie in her room, lights off or at least dimmed down to little more than a … Continue reading Christmas Contest: Fiction 1st Place
Academy of the Heart And Mind 