This one is for the weekly picture prompt on The Writer’s Mess, shown below, and I will tell you that this one is a response to a challenge of “cozy horror” that I discussed with the Mess group a while back. Sit back and enjoy the holiday season with this lovely little Christmas story.
Ernest lowered the needle onto the record, and stood eyes closed, as the opening baritone washed over him. He took a deep breathe, and released his remaining tension along with the exhale.
He sat down on the couch clad in his favorite wool Christmas sweater, glass of eggnog in hand, staring into the roaring fire, as the crackling accentuated the feeling of the Christmas music.
His Christmas tree was decorated, and stockings for him and his love were hung on the mantle with the utmost care. Every surface of the cabin was adorned with Christmas, whether it be the Santa Claus placemats on the table, or the sock reindeers that sat on the back of the couch.
Some people would say he had gone overboard, but this was his favorite time of the year, and he deserved to go all in. It was after all, just a month, one perfect month.
He was sure his love would agree, the sounds of her chains coming up through the floorboard like the jingling of sleigh bells. She would love it… Or the next one would.
Either way, it would be the perfect Christmas.
Anne McSommers' Writing Nook 