Page 44 of Clause & Effect
“So this is where Santa does his thing?” I stop my brain in its tracks and look around the village as the snowflakes fall from the sky like magic.
It’s the most beautiful vision I’ve ever seen. The dreamy village is lit up with shimmering lights and the smell of savory and sweets washes over me in the most perfect of ways—the kind that makes you go back in time…
Suddenly l’m overwhelmed by a feeling of nostalgia—my childhood memories wash over me like a tidal wave. The smell of the Christmas tree, that is of course whenever mom would deem it fit to put one up. Or remembered. Every year it was hit or miss in our house. But when she did indulge us, there was the feeling of excitement I’d have the night before Christmas morning knowing there’d be presents waiting for me… the pancakes mom would make in Christmas tradition… it felt like we were a real family then. Those were the best moments I remember from my childhood. Those moments suddenly consume me, almost choking me in some type of emotional frenzy, and I don’t know what I’m supposed to think anymore.
And I don’t know why I’m suddenly feeling so damn emotional!
“Maybe you need to stop thinking, Charlie Horseman,” Bushy pulls me out of my reverie and watches me knowingly. “Maybe you just need to be.”
What the heck?Did he just read my mind?!
“How…” my voice trails off as Stetson steps in and smoothly changes the topic.
“Would you like to eat first or have a tour?”
“A tour,” I answer quickly, still confused as to how Bushy knew what I was thinking.
“Perfect,” Stetson smiles in pleasure and takes my hand, entwining his fingers with mine. “I can’t wait to show you around.”
That single action instantly changes my thought process to one more sensual.
“Will you be joining us for dinner?” The one named Sugarplum asks.
Stetson cocks his head to the side, “we’ll stop by for the party, but I think we’ll have dinner alone.”
“Great,” he says and gives us a big smile. “Have a jolly time!”
Stetson looks over at me.
“Ready?”
As ready as I’ll ever be.
Stetson takesme through the Christmas village. All the buildings in the village have thick sugared snow rooftops with icicles hanging like crystal chandeliers. The windows are squareand large and remind me of something I saw in theLord of the Ringsmovie.
We stop by many little workshops where the dwarves are busy making all sorts of toys—I’m not joking—exactly like we imagined it would be when we were growing up.
Santa has a real, honest to goodness workshop.
A few of them. And there are dwarves or elves or whatever he’s calling them making presents for kids! They’re singing too! Literally whistling, singing and dancing around like they’re having the time of their life.
The toys are delicate looking, as though they’re one-of-a-kind pieces.
A child’s dream.
We stop at a shop called, The Cocoa Cottage.
“We’ll grab a drink here before we go on. I promise you’ve never had hot chocolate like this before,” Stetson says in excitement.
“And Shorty tops them off with different liqueurs he experiments with,” he winks at me. “He’s the village mixologist.”
Village mixologist? Now this, I must see.
“Let’s do this!” I answer with equal exuberance.
We step inside the shop, and I’m hit with the scent of cocoa, vanilla and toasted marshmallows. My mouth waters immediately and I find myself excited to try the drink and just soak in the ambiance. There’s a big fire crackling in a stone hearth in one corner. Shelves line the walls, stacked with jars of candy and a three-person band performs a happy folk song in another. Couples dance, drink and are just… merry?
Stetson pulls me toward the bar, and who I assume is Shorty walks up to us. He’s a pleasant looking tiny older man with a long grey and white beard and spectacles that look like they’re from the sixteenth century. He too is wearing a cap like Santa, but his is green and white. His smile is infectious.
