Cranberries and turkey

Unsure what woke her up first: the salient smell of roast turkey, the crackling of the fire, or the humming in the distance, she ran downstairs with a smile so bright it would make the sun feel abashed.

"Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!", everyone exchanged in joyful and jittery glee. The energy was palpable, and the family did not know what to do with themselves. They all at once felt a surge of inspiration so great, they had to heed it. Father, mother, sister, brother, cousins, aunts, uncles, and other, locked hands together in a perfect circle around the fire and they danced.

They danced how the inspiration told them to. They danced and danced and the fire grew to enormous proportions: magnitude and heat so extreme it would make the sun feel abashed. Merry Christmas, and to all a good night.

Dec. 11, 2024, 6:04 a.m.