Christmas+Mini+Stories+2013

Ten years trying to discover where my brother had hidden his letter for Christmas and last year I found it by chance when I was browsing through a book. But what on earth was that? “Dear wise men: This year I´ve been as good as always. However, I don´t want any more “surprises” as presents. Instead, I have an accurate list of wishes: - Leather gloves for climbers of fences with blades. - Foam bullets for elephant hunters. - Respect for the women to decide by themselves. - Honesty for our employees: the rulers. - An honorable job for those who carry helmets, shields and truncheons. - A pleasant doctor for grandma and a nice teacher wearing a green t-shirt for Alicia. - Peace for those who seek it and pitch-black coal for those who don´t. I´m aware of how heavy this burden must be so don´t hesitate to ask Santa, the Grinch or whoever you knew for help. Hugs.” (Ricardo López, NA1)
 * LETTER TO THE WISE MEN **

We were finishing dinner; it was a fantastic Christmas Eve. Everybody was happy because one year more all the family was together. Everything was ready for the call from Papa Noel. My children played and laughed with their grandparents, singing and running all over the house. They were nervous and really excited because they knew that soon, as every year, we were going to get the great surprise -Papa Noel was going to knock at the door and he was going to leave there gifts for all of us! Suddenly, a thunderous noise left us astonished and then, we couldn´t believe what we were seeing - a car, driven by a drunk man, crashed into our home and entered our living room! It was not a nice Christmas surprise, actually, but it was a really big and unexpected surprise on that Christmas Eve! (Conchi del Nogal, NA1)
 * A CHRISTMAS SURPRISE **

I think something isn´t right in the world. When I watch the news I can´t help feeling ashamed of myself. How many children left with nothing crying because of the typhoon in The Philippines! How many women being sold away as slaves! How many young men waiting to jump the fence! How many people suffering because of wars! How many families without jobs! But it doesn´t matter. I´ve already bought my solidarity pen. I´ve sent my message to the charity, and I´ve put some foodstuffs in the box for the Food Bank. I´ll go to church after my Christmas Dinner wearing my warmest coat and I´ll pray to God for all of them. Meanwhile, my great worry is to find a hundred and fifty words in order to write a nice Christmas Story. (Natividad Recio, NA1)

Charlie finished his long day at the office and he had to stop in the bakery, because his wife had to go to buy some gifts, so he needs to go there and buy a cake for Christmas’s Eve. When he went inside the shop, he was amazed at the Christmas decoration. It was spectacular, but he couldn’t take his eyes off the hundreds of pictures on the shelves, all of them about Christmas from a long time ago. He recognized himself in one of them. On it he was with an acquaintance from his school days, who now was working as an artist in an important gallery in London. Suddenly, a lot of memories of past times spent with his friend came to his mind: when they were hidden away from the grouchy old neighbour, when they went on foot to school, ... “Excuse, who is next?", the bakery man said.  “I wish I’d never grown old” Charlie answered.  “What did you say?”, the bakery man asked.  “Nothing”, Charlie said.  (Ana Lago, NA1)

While I was alone at home, I decided to go out and feel the snow in my face. I was in a Parisien street walking alone, far away from my family, on Christmas’ Eve. Suddenly, I saw a little black cat running down the street towards a little pile of blankets. Right then, I realized that there was a man underneath. I started to talk to him and he told me that "Noisette" was his only friend and that it went to warm him every cold night. He didn’t have any place to go and I decided to spend these Christmas with him, and I tried to help him in his life. Now he's living in Canada, he has got married and "Noisette" continues spending every night with him. Sometimes I think about how a little cat was able to change both lives. If you pay attention to the little things, life can be awesome. (Senén Vuelta, NA1)
 * THE BLACK CAT **

Locked in the attic room, David had been painting her portrait for twenty years, but he hadn’t got to paint her smile. He saw Marta for the first time in the gallery where he used to exhibit his works. “Nice paintings, I like them. Great artist! “. It was the last time he saw her. Then he started to paint her, but never finished his work. “I wish I’d never grown old. I’ve spent my life looking for a stranger”. He hid away the portrait in the rubbish bin and never painted again. Marta got a gift for Christmas from an acquaintance. The moment she set eyes on the portrait, she realised he had painted it. She looked for David around the city, but she couldn’t find him. On her way home, she saw him lying on the street with a bottle in his hands. From then on, they have lived together. (Jesús Sánchez, NA1)
 * Christmas portrait **

**THE THREE WISE MEN MEET SANTA CLAUS** Once upon a time, in a far away land where nobody had been before, three wise men were putting the finishing touches on their oncoming journey all over the world. The following day they were due to start with the delivery of all the gifts that the children asked for in their sweet letters. Everything seemed to be under control: camels were well fed, their humps were full of water, presents were wrapped with beautiful color papers and, above all, the notebook with all the addresses so everybody could receive their gifts in time. Everything seemed to be under control, except for one detail… Baltasar, the black wise man, remained in bed, although it was already noon. −What’s wrong with you, Baltasar? Are you ok? –asked Melchor. −I don’t know. Last night I started shaking as a kitten and I had nightmares. −Let me see... You are hot! I thing you’ve got a temperature. Oh my God! What are we going to do now? We are supposed to deliver all the presents and tomorrow night is the deadline! Melchor was the oldest wise man (no one knows exactly how old he is) and he was on the edge of a nervous breakdown. Fortunately, Gaspar, the second wise man, was a peaceful man with a nice and positive attitude. −Don’t panic. Let’s find a solution. Let me think for a while… Then, he remembered Santa Claus. He wasn’t exactly a good friend of him, just an acquaintance he met long time ago in a magic symposium. «I’ll call him and maybe he would help us», Gaspar thought. A few minutes later, he could find him in his attic room, in Laponia, keeping an eye on Rudolph, who liked to hide away from time to time. Santa Claus received the visit of Gaspar and, after hearing the story, he decided to help the wise men under one condition: −Ok, no problem. I’ll go with you if after work I can have a piece of Christmas’ “roscón”. I’ve heard about it and I would like to taste that cake. It seems delicious! And, like this, the three wise men could keep their promise to bring joy and happiness among children, and as for Santa Claus, he took a big “roscón” full of cream on his way home. (Rocío Pérez-Mínguez, NA1)

In Christmas time, the tea table was always full of plates with nougat, nuts, marzipan, shortcakes and big panettones. The little granddaughter asked: <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1.5;">- Granny, do you want a little piece of “panettone”? <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1.5;">- No my darling; fortunately I don't need a “sonotone”. Yesterday I visited my doctor and she told me that I am hearing very well. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1.5;">So, very sadly, they wrote down "a sonotone for grandma" on the Christmas gift list. <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1.5;">(Susa Cerviño, NA2)