Author's Note: I originally posted this story in the winter of 2015, but had subsequently taken it down when I found out there had been other sites mirroring . Luckily that has passed, and I will be reposting all of my old stories! My apologies to my followers who will be bombarded with "New Story/Chapter" alerts. Enjoy!


1887

Five-year-old Grace sat on the bed she shared with her mother. The smell of the Christmas Eve dinner they just finished still hung in the air. Grace's belly had never been so full.

"Pearl!" Mrs. Conlon yelled. "You and your daughter partook in this meal, you better get in here and help me clean it up!"

Gracie heard her mother walk back into the apartment. "I was just taking out the first load of garbage," she responded graciously.

"Good. I hope you weren't expecting to free load tonight just because it's Christmas Eve," said Mrs. Conlon. "My husband doesn't work all the hours he works just to support you and your daughter."

"Of course not," said Grace's mother.

Grace ran her hand over her doll's yarn hair, trying to ignore Mrs. Conlon's berating of her mother.

"Psst, Gracie," said a voice. Gracie looked up and saw Patrick Conlon's mischievous grin poking through the sheet that divided the two halves of the living room.

"Hi Patrick," she grinned.

"It's Christmas Eve!" He beamed. "Are you excited about Santa coming tonight!"

Gracie furrowed her brow and tilted her head. "Who's he?"

Patrick frowned and walked into the makeshift room. "You mean you've never heard of Santa Claus?"

Gracie shook her head.

"He's the one that brings presents, silly. He comes into people's houses and leaves presents."

Gracie held her doll closer. "I don't want anyone coming into our house."

Patrick rolled his eyes. "He's not a bad guy, silly. He's gonna leave us presents!"

Grace looked at him suspiciously. "I've never gotten any presents from him."

"Really?" Patrick scrunched his nose in confusion. "Well maybe this year you will!"

"Patrick, you better be washing up for bed like I told you!" Mrs. Conlon yelled.

Patrick sighed. "Yes, ma'am."

"She scares me," Grace whispered.

"Don't let her," said Patrick, glancing over his shoulder. "She's all bark and no bite. Nothin' like my real mother."

"What was she like?"

Patrick walked over and sat next to Grace. "A lot like your ma. She was really nice." He looked down at his hands and Grace rested her head on his shoulder.

"Patrick, I don't hear you getting ready!" Mrs. Conlon yelled.

Patrick hopped off the bed and walked through the sheet. Gracie hopped off the bed and changed into her nightclothes, knowing her mother would be calling for her to do so at any moment.


Later that night, when the apartment was dark and still, Gracie lay in bed next to her mother, unable to sleep, afraid that every little noise was this Santa Claus man trying to break into their apartment. Every noise caused her to whimper a little.

"Gracie."

Grace held her doll tighter at the sound of someone whispering her name.

"Are you still awake?"

It was Patrick. Grace exhaled a little. "Yes."

"Are you okay?"

"No. I'm scared."

Grace heard rustling and little footsteps before Patrick's face appeared through the sheet.

"There's no need to be scared, silly. Come wait for Santa with me."

Grace crawled out of bed, clutching her doll and followed Patrick into the Conlon's side of the living room. Patrick's small mattress was on the floor. They crawled onto the mattress and under the covers.

"Santa isn't scary," Patrick whispered. "He's a happy, jolly man who brings presents. I think if you were scared, he would want you to not be scared."

"How do you know about him?"

"Everyone knows about him."

Grace was quiet for a moment. "I don't."

"Well, he wears a red suit, and rides in a sleigh with reindeer." Just then they heard bells jingling from outside. Patrick grabbed her hand. "Shh."

"I'm scared," Grace whispered.

"Don't be. Listen." The bells began to grow slightly louder. "He's coming. Quick pretend to be asleep, or he won't come."

Gracie shut her eyes tight. She and Patrick lay silent and still, listening to the jingle bells.

Soon, they both drifted off to sleep.