AUTHOR'S NOTE: I wrote this about four years ago and re-discovered it so thought I'd post. Hope anyone who reads enjoys the trip down memory lane! :)))
***chapter 1***
How It All Began
Dark were the forces of evil that night.
Oh, there was a moon, round and full, admiring its own reflection in the black midnight waters. And there were glistening stars too and, now and again, the curving sweep of headlights of some vehicle, and the glow of streetlights shining on the faces of the late-night revellers passing merrily by. So, you see, all was not quite lost.
Not yet..
For the large, large house was the most brightly lit of all. After all, it was Xmas. And a very, very special Xmas. Tiny twinkling lights decorated the two huge old trees that stood like sentinels on either side of the porch and in the vast garden a giant inflatable Santa Claus danced gently and rather alarmingly in the breeze. Some of the townsfolk had frowned and said irritably that the Santa was gross and some of the townsfolk had smiled and said indulgently "Well, it IS Xmas!" but the children of the town had stared in wide-eyed delight (most of them, that is; I'm afraid one or two of the very little ones cried in fear) when they saw him.
Inside the glass porch of the large, large house a pretty little fibre optic Xmas tree glowed proudly in different shades of lilacs and greens and blues and above the door (old-fashioned, I know, but the couple who lived here were very fond of tradition) hung a sprig of mistletoe, ready to catch out any unsuspecting visitors.
But the Xmas tree in the window!
It was a real Xmas tree, the most expensive there had ever been in the store, and so big and so important that it demanded attention. It was decorated with ribbons and baubles and chocolates, and fairy lights to dazzle in a myriad of wonderful colours. And at its top was a silver star and at its bottom fresh-smelling pine needles fell down on dozens and dozens of Xmas gifts of all shapes and sizes. Small wonder that the children who saw it sighed and wondered worriedly if Father Xmas would have anything at all left for them on his sleigh!
Inside the large, large house with the very expensive Xmas tree a mother and father looked fondly down at the crib where their beautiful baby daughter lay sound asleep.
"We called you Angela because you were born so close to Xmas just like the little angel you are," said Father, gently stroking the baby's soft, smooth forehead with his finger.
"And because, our special angel, we've waited so long for a child of our own," said Mother, kissing the baby's cute button nose.
"We've bought you lots and lots of presents, little Angie, because we love you very much," said Father, wiping a tear from his eye.
"And because, little Angie, you shall have everything you want," said Mother, kissing the baby's downy head.
Oh, it truly was a Xmas tableau to gladden the heart. And if that wasn't just asking for a meanspirit to cast a meanspell, then I don't know what was!