ASMSG Scifi Fantasy Paranormal Emagazine May 2014 | Page 29

SFP Indie Issue 2

Warm Wishes
A.P. Gilbert
“It’s Christmas,” Andy whispered to his brother,
Philip. It was still early and Andy’s bleary eyes tried hard to
focus as he looked with happy anticipation at the five year
old sitting up in the bed opposite his own.
“Do you think he has been?”
“Of course he’s been!” Andy smiled at his brother,
who was four years his junior; he was so naïve it was
funny. “Father Christmas comes every year.”
“Can we go downstairs then?”
“Okay, but we’ve got to be quiet, Mummy and Daddy
might not be awake yet.”
“Okay.”
Philip and Andy slowly pulled back the covers of
their beds and stepped softly onto the carpeted floor of
the bedroom they shared. By now, both of their eyes had
become accustomed to the poor light and they crept to the
door, being careful to avoid the toys that they had left on
the floor the day before. Philip bent before they reached
the door and picked up his favourite bear, Bob Bear, and
held it by the paw.
“I’m cold,” Philip said, a little too loudly.
Andy put his finger to his lips and made a shushing
sound which sounded louder than Philips small voice. “Put
your dressing gown on then.”
Andy took Philips’ Spiderman dressing gown from
the hook on the wall and passed it over to his brother
before putting his own blue one on. They tiptoed to the
door and Andy opened it, being careful not to pull too
quickly for fear that the bell decoration that hung on the
handle would ring. It didn’t and they walked out to the hall
and to the top of the stairs. Looking down, Philip saw that
the lights that had been wrapped carefully around the tree
still twinkled, sending coloured flashes of red and green
onto the wall of the stairway. They began to creep down.
There was a breeze coming from somewhere that brushed
bare ankles beneath their gowns as they reached the
middle of the stairs. The brothers were both too excited to
pay much mind to it but Andy did find himself pulling his
dressing gown tighter around his small frame.
The two brothers reached the foot of the stairs and
Philip grabbed Andy’s hand in excitement at the sight of
the treats that had been deposited beneath the tree. Boxes
and packages of all shapes and sizes surrounded it, all
wrapped in bright coloured paper and shiny ribbons. The
fireplace behind the tree still held glowing embers from the
night before and four fur rimmed red stockings hung from
the mantelpiece above. The stockings were packed full of
gifts, nearly spilling over onto the hearth beneath. On top
of the mantelpiece, Andy saw, was the plate of cookies and
the glass of whisky; half eaten and fully drunk; that he and
Philip had left out for Father Christmas the night before.

Philip saw that half of the dog treat that he had left out for
the reindeers had fallen on to the cream carpet beneath.
“Where’s Lucky, Andy?” Philip asked realising that
the family Labrador had not done his normal friendly
attack as soon as the children came downstairs.
“I don’t know,” said Andy, looking around
confusedly and walking towards the kitchen. It was then
that he noticed that the front door was open. “Mum!” he
shouted, “Lucky has run away!”
Tears sprang instantly to Philips eyes and he began to
sob quietly. Andy rushed past him and started up the
stairs.
“Mum! Dad!” he shouted a nd Philip followed his
lead, calling between small sobs.
“Mummy!”
Andy had already reached the top of the stairs before
Philip had climbed half way and he burst in to his parents’
room.
“Mum! Dad! Lucky has run away!”
There was no movement from beneath the covers
and Andy rushed around to his mum’s side of the bed as
Philip reached the doorway. Andy pulled back the cover
expecting to see his mum’s sleeping face, but she wasn’t
there. He pulled the cover firmly down, uncovering the
side of the bed where his dad always slept.
“Philip, turn the light on,” he said in a shaky voice.
“Daddy won’t be happy,” he said, his sobs more
under control now.
“TURN THE LIGHT ON!”
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