PLINK!
Kim suddenly realized that someone was throwing pebbles at her window. She frowned again and threw the blanket back. Sliding her feet into her slippers and she pulling her robe back on, she walked to the window. Glancing out at the yard, she didn't see anything unusual but the pebbles hadn't been throwing themselves. She stalked down the stairs, grumbling, and yanked open the front door. Kim had been preparing to yell out at whoever was there and was so annoyed that she nearly stumbled over the bag which was sitting on her porch. She stopped, looked at the bag and then glanced around. There was a muddled array of footsteps in the snow but nobody around to claim ownership. Kim looked at the bag again and finally spied a note attached the cord that was holding the bag closed.
She detached the note. Her gaze slid over the envelope, which was a plain crème paper. There was no writing, or markings on it. Opening the envelope quickly, the cold making her fingers shake, Kim withdrew a card. It had laughing children on the front and curving letters of script that read "Merry Christmas!” She opened the card and read the message that was printed in plain block lettering three times. Letting the meaning slowly sink in, Kim clasped a hand over her mouth; her eyes were watering. She searched the card and bag for any sign of who could have left it on her doorstep. There was nothing and she realized that the person didn't want to be known.
She gripped the bag and pulled it inside. Sitting down heavily on the couch, she stared at the card. It read simply: I know how hard you've been working this year, how hard you try to make your children happy. Things have been hard for you, and I want to help. So I've left this gift for you, and hope that it helps you. Merry Christmas. Keep being an amazing mother. Kim set the card on the coffee table and pulled the bag towards her. Glancing within, she had to bite her lip to stop from crying out. The bag was full of toys and gifts, divided equally for each child. There was an array of gifts: book, skates, boardgames and more. There was also a little golden bag with a tag on it that read in red script: Kim. Kim gripped the bag and withdrew it. Staring at it, she slowly pulled apart the string and withdrew a plain black box. With shaking fingers, Kim opened the box slowly and felt such shock that she nearly dropped it. Inside was a slip of paper that read: I know how much this meant to you and that you sacrificed it for your family. I hope it makes you smile. Inside the box, shining brightly against the velvet lining, was her mother's watch. She couldn't speak, tears spilled from her eyes and gratitude flooded through her.
The stairs creaked and Kim turned to see Jessica and Dustin standing at the bottom of the staircase. Jessica ran to her.
"Mommy, are you okay? Don't cry, everything is alright,” Jessica said, hugging her tightly. She rubbed the tears off of her mother's face, which made Kim laugh.
"I know baby, it's alright, mommy is crying because she is happy.” Dustin came over and fell onto the couch next to them.
"Crying because you're happy? That doesn't even make sense,” he said. Kim smiled and ruffled his hair.
"Maybe not, but don't think about it too much. Are you ready to open presents?” Kim's voice with bright with excitement, knowing it would encourage the kids to be more excited.
“Yes,” Jessica yelled out, clapping her hands.
"Sure," Dustin grinned. Kim got up and sat Jessica down. Gazing at her kids with love, she pulled the bag into view.
"Santa sure brought a load of presents this year for you guys! Take a look.”
Kim backed away as Jessica and Dustin began digging in the bag, yelling with excitement at the gifts. Kim felt a surge of joy at seeing the happiness on their faces and sent a quick prayer of thanks to whoever might be up above listening. She had a feeling this might be their best Christmas yet.
THE END
© 2013 Madhu Kalyan Mattaparthi
Time To Go
By
William O’Brien
In the room of
Mystical trades
Spells press through
Creating doorways
Pixies, star-elves
Take to the floor
Frosty ice crystals
Stick to the door
Witch and a wizard
A small smelly man
Glowing in the room
As only fairies can
The world of crazy
Little makes sense
Bizarre, disturbed
Look over the fence
Revealing a love
Along the way
Touches the heart
Tale for another day!
***
© 2013 William O’Brien
About The Authors
Madhu Kalyan Mattaparthi
Sheryl Seal
Alan Hardy
William O'Brien
Sonya C. Dodd
Chris Raven
D.C Rogers
Peter John
Jim Murdoch
Greatest Poet Alive
Kristina Blasen
Shemeka Mitchell
Carolyn Bennett
William O'Brien
Living in a small village in Lancashire, England, William O'Brien has written his second book, Peter, Enchantment and Stardust. In the 1990s, the author had twenty-one articles published, both nationally and internationally. After gaining an honours degree in Geosciences, doing post-graduate study in Occupational Health and Fitness, and earning a masters degree in Science Communication, he developed an interest for simple communication. A passion for writing again emerged, and combining various interests in fine art, museum exhibition display, biology, geology, poetry, and the mystical led to the story of Peter: A Darkened Fairytale. The author still retains a childlike vision of the world, which is conveyed throughout his books.
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Madhu Kalyan Mattaparthi
Madhu Kalyan Mattaparthi is an IT professional from Hyderabad, India, born on 16th January 1989. He is a philanthropist, traveller and pursues writing as a hobby. Sensitive and observant, everything that happens around him is an inspiration to do something new. His knowledge in the world of technology has earned him appreciation and success and he now considers writing his new passion. He has worked in Google, India as a CEA and also the owner of a start-up company, Green Turtle Software Solutions.
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Sheryl Seal
Sheryl Seal, with her husband of 30 years lives in Greeley Hill, California, a gateway to Yosemite National Park. I write Paranormal/Fantasy and I am currently working on a series of ghost stories. With six children and six grandchildren life has been full of fairies, dragons, shape shifters, and a whole world full of magic where there's still hope for a new generation of young readers.
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Alan Hardy
Alan Hardy: I'm a Brit. Director of an English language school for foreign students. Married, with one daughter. Poet and novelist. Poetry pamphlets: Wasted Leaves, 1996; I Went With Her, 2007. Comic, bawdy novel GABRIELLA available on Amazon as Kindle e-book. Other novels, similarly disrespectful, surreal and shocking, on their way. Get ready for them.
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Sonya Dodd
Sonya C. Dodd lives in Norfolk, England with her husband and two sons. Although Sonya began writing in 1996, it wasn't until 2013 that she started to publish her work. A teacher, as well as a mother and writer, Sonya has a selection of novels and short story collections available.
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Chris Raven
Chris Raven is a forty-odd year old south Londoner, with the emphasis on the ‘odd’. He is a relative new comer to writing fiction and he is currently experimenting with a number of different formats and genres, including short storytelling and play writing. Chris has also contributed illustrations to other writer’s works and he has been coordinating a shared writing project with other new writers (nominally called “Tall Stories”) but more about that later no doubt.
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D C Rogers
Author D C Rogers is a 31 year old man with ideas people say are great so he’s decided to write them down. Hailing from the deep dark valleys of Wales, where his first zombie based novel stems, he lives happily with his fiancée. Pretty new to the game of writing his style is fast and fresh, focusing on thrillers horrors and fantasy works. I just want to show you lot the chaos in my mind!
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Peter John
Peter John was born in Bromley Kent, England in 1973. He gained an interest in creative writing at the age of 14 and was published during the 1990s in several poetry anthologies. Happily Married to Jo since 1996 and currently living in Sidcup Kent, not so far from the tree.
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Jim Murdoch
From Belfast, Northern Ireland, Jim Murdoch faced a paradigm shift which gave him a new world view. He views everything and everyone as being connected. A path of self development studies followed where he delved into many subjects including metaphysics and, yes, dragons. With his wife, Katharina, he co-authored their self-help story Wings of Change. This got him thinking about writing fiction instead of boring self-help books. Taking inspiration from The Alchemist and The Celestine Prophecies he waited for the inspiration. The book you are holding is the result. Jim lives with his wife in Switzerland.
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Greatest Poet Alive
G.P.A. is a multi-award winning Poet and author. He has written four books of Poetry(The Confessional Heart of a Man, The Book of 24 Orgasms, The Mind of a Poetic Unsub, and the Poetry Book of the Year, Revenge of the Orgasm). G.P.A. has won the Poetry Pentathlon, Moth Storytelling Slam, and the Urban Image Magazine Talent Search.
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Kristina Blasen
Kristina Blasen is a dabbler. She writes a dab of this and a bit of that. She enjoys writing children's fantasy, short stories and poetry. Her dark fantasy short story collection, Tales of the Wyrd, is her favorite collection. She's also the author of three poetry chapbooks: The Wildwood Guardian, Grey Weir and Slipshod Mornings & Meandering Midnights and is currently finishing her first full length novel, a science fiction fantasy called Gateways through the Penumbra.
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Shemeka Mitchell
Shemeka has always had stories playing themselves out in her head. As a child, she wouldn't go anywhere without a pen and a notebook to write it all down. As much as she loved writing; she loved reading more. Books were her best friend in growing up and continued being that in adulthood. She is the mother of two and an advocate for Lupus Awareness. One day, after listening to her good friend, David, go on and on about all of the different adventures that he had experience, she made up her mind to finally live her dreams and publish a book. Her dear friend encouraged her every step of the way. His best advice to her was "Do what you love and remember that you do it because you love it!" Then began her journey of becoming an Author!
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Carolyn Bennett
Carolyn Bennett lives in Ontario, Canada. A widowed mother of one son, Carolyn has always had an interest in the paranormal. In 2010 joined Canadian Haunting and Paranormal Society (CHAPS) as an investigator. Her first big investigation was at Waverly Hills Sanatorium in Louisville Kentucky. In 2011, Carolyn resigned from investigating but never lost her love for the hunt. In 2012 she began writing paranormal stories in order to fill the void left behind after leaving CHAPS. In 2013 the first novel in her series of paranormal mysteries was published, she returned to her home town of Pembroke, Ontario and rejoined the paranormal team.
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Other Publications
by
The Indie Collaboration
Tales From Dark Places: The Halloween Collection
A selection of chilling stories from some of the best Indie authors on the market. We dare you to venture into these pages of spine chilling tales and stories of ghosts and goblins. Freely donated by the authors themselves, these dark passages are a great example of their various, unique styles and imaginations. This is the first of a series of free topical collections brought to you by The Indie Collaboration.
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