As Warm Mulled Kisses, our new Christmas romance novella collection, continues to close in on the top spots in the Amazon rankings, we have some notes from some main characters that reveal the “rest of the story.” While yesterday’s post shared Carly’s letter to Santa (from “A Christmas Mosaic”) today’s note spans miles and eras back to Christmas 1944.
Dear Santa Chuck,
I suppose you’re wondering why I started my letter to you like this. Well, my dear sister Daisy talked me into writing the entire fourth grade class of Madison Creek Elementary Santa letters. That would be working through 62 letters in all.
There was George who asked for a bike which he knows is kind of selfish because all the metals are being used to build tanks. But he thought Santa might be able to pull a few strings.
Or from sweet Sally who wrote: “I’ve been good so can I please have the dolly that has curly hair like Shirley Temple?” Evidently, she is tired of the corn husk dolls her older siblings make for her, poor dear.
My heart hurts for them, in a way. We’ve all sacrificed so much to help brave men like yourself win this war. Even this year’s Holiday Hoopalooza has been downsized, but your Ma refuses to let it die. I saw her with a group of ladies in front of the post office the other day, insisting they needed to keep morale up. They simply needed to find a way to still celebrate and keep it trim.
“We could all use a bit of tightening our belts!” She said. And she actually lifted her sweater and pulled the belt on her own pants in a notch. Yep, right there in front of the statue of Ol’ Markus Madison himself.
But I’m sure he’s smiling down on his great-great-grand-daughter-in-law (or whatever it is.) You would have loved it.
Then I read that one letter. Of course there had to be that one that said:
“Dear Santa,
I doubt there’s much you can do about that mean ol’ Hitler fella, but I bet, being how you’re so important and all, that you pass on our deepest, hardest to fill wishes on to God. That’s what Granny says. God needs to make that big bully stop bossing everyone so my Daddy can come back home to us. That’s all I want. Nothing else. Thanks, Barty.”
Oh, Chuck, my heart broke! And if I had a wish to make, that’s mine too. I want all the fighting boys to come back home right now. Especially you my dear friend. So stay safe and know when I wish upon a Christmas star, it’ll be filled with prayers for your safety and speedy return.
With much love,
Emma Rose Carter
About the Author
Jackie Castle is the author of the White Road Chronicles and The Sentinel Archives series, and has published articles and short stories in numerous magazines. She’s been through many misadventures from working as a hairstylist, to her bravest quest: teaching young children in daycares and elementary schools; before taking on a somewhat safer pursuit of being a bookseller.
Now she lives in her comfortable Texas home where she spins marvelous tales and enjoys relaxing in the evenings with her husband Bob, their children and grandchild, and her faithful writing pal-dog, Ginger.
Her favorite pastime, besides reading, is traipsing through the worlds of Alburnium or Fae in search of another story.
She looks for the extraordinary in the ordinary in everything she experiences.
Find out more about her shenanigans over at Jackie Castle’s Story World: http://www.JackieCastle.com
Marji Laine 