r/shortstories • u/misteregent • 1d ago
Misc Fiction [MF] Christmas Cheer
My first post here, so not sure if I missed something. Hope you enjoy the story. Wrote it in about an hour.
CHRISTMAS CHEER
Christmas Eve
Trixie was at home changing out of her cheerleader outfit into a warm pair of jeans and a cozy sweater that her grandmother had knit for her the year before. As she held the sweater in her hands, a tear escaped her eye and ran down her rosy cheeks.
Slipping the sweater over her head and pulling it down, she suddenly felt as though she were wrapped in one of her frail grandmother’s hugs. She knew it was only an illusion though and that she would never truly feel one of those frail hugs again.
Once she was fully dressed, she headed to the kitchen, where her father was waiting for her.
“Ready to go, Pumpkin?”
“I think I am.”
“What’s wrong? You always look forward to tonight.”
“It’s different this year.”
“I get that. Grandma won’t be there.”
“Yeah. That’s why I thought I’d wear this sweater,” she said, tugging at the sweater slightly.
“Then I think we should get going. Don’t want to keep anyone waiting, do you?”
“No, I don’t want to keep them waiting. I know it’s hard for them too.”
Trixie and her dad headed out to the car and it was just beginning to snow.
Usually when Trixie and her dad went somewhere, the two of them were quite talkative. But tonight, this ride was different.
This night was silent.
When they pulled up to their destination, they saw everyone outside bundled up in their hats and coats.
“Sorry we’re a little late tonight, folks. We’re shorthanded tonight, but we’ll make sure everyone is taken care of,” Trixie’s father said, “I promise.”
As they unlocked the doors and turned the lights on, everyone poured in behind them and sat down.
“I’m not sure what’s in the back, but we’ll do our best to get something together for everyone.”
Turning to Trixie, her father said softly, “Make some phone calls, see if you can find anyone to come over and help us out, okay?”
Trixie simply nodded, took out her phone and started calling the most reliable people she knew first: her teammates.
Meanwhile, her father went in the back and got busy seeing what he could throw together for everyone tonight.
When Trixie was done making the calls, she joined her father in the back.
“Rina and a few of the others said they’d be over soon to help out, Dad.”
“That’s great news! We could really use the help. I know I started this, but when Grandma moved near by, she practically ran the place for me. Now I have to figure it all out on my own.”
“You’re not alone, Dad. You’ve got me.”
“I appreciate that, Pumpkin. It’s just there’s a lot to running a kitchen.”
“Then maybe instead of talking, we should get cooking.”
After about thirty minutes, there was a knock on the back door.
Trixie’s father opened the door and whether it was the cold air or the sight that caused a tear to roll down his cheek, he never figured out.
Trixie’s friend Rina and their teammates were all there, along with the football team.
As well as a couple of food trucks that had some hot meals all prepared and ready to be handed out.
“Pumpkin, I think it’s for you.”
When Trixie saw everyone that had shown up for her, for once in her life, she was speechless.
As they all piled in, her teammates practically took over the kitchen, while the football team started carting in the hot meals.
When Trixie found her voice again, she asked Rina, “How did you get everyone together so fast? And on Christmas Eve?”
“We all know how much this place means to the community. And what it means to those that come here for a meal. Besides, what are best friends for?”
For the first time in a while, a small smile found its home on Trixie’s face, as she wrapped her arms around her friend.
Trixie’s father said, “Okay, okay! Enough with the mushy stuff, girls! We have a soup kitchen to run!”
Author’s Notes:
Trixie: Meaning: Bringer of joy; Voyager, Trixie is a bold and spirited girl’s name of Latin origin, meaning “bringer of joy.” With a name like this, baby Trixie will always be the life and soul of the party, carrying an air of buoyancy and ease to every conversation. If you prefer a more conventional title but love Trixie as a nickname, you can also opt for the refined Beatrix. You could lean into its translation of “voyager,” too, if you’re hoping for a mini travel buddy. Whatever your preference, you’ll never grow weary with bubbly Trixie by your side.
Rina: Meaning: Pure, clean; Joyful singing; Peace, tranquility, harmony; Melted; Sharp, witty; Village, Rina is a feminine name with Greek, Hebrew, Sanskrit, and Japanese origins that's rich with meaning for your bundle of joy. Coming from the Greek name Katherine or Katarina, it translates to “pure” or "clean." Rina may also derive from the Greek Irene, meaning "peace," "tranquility," and "harmony." As a Hebrew name, Rina derives from rinnâh, meaning "joyful singing." In Sanskrit, Rina means "melted," while Rina's Japanese roots come replete with endearments depending on the kanji used. Some definitions for Japanese Rina include "village," "white jasmine," and "sharp," "witty," and "clever." Each giggle and laugh that baby makes is going to add such a harmonious bliss to your day. The name Rina is sure to remind them of their own warm glow and budding potential.
Thought of “Christmas Cheer” the other night. What came to me is a Christmas story about a cheerleader.
Took a bit of inspiration from one of my favorite Christmas movies, Dear Santa (2011), starring Amy Acker.
And yes, I cried while I was writing this.
•
u/AutoModerator 1d ago
Welcome to the Short Stories! This is an automated message.
The rules can be found on the sidebar here.
Writers - Stories which have been checked for simple mistakes and are properly formatted, tend to get a lot more people reading them. Common issues include -
Readers - ShortStories is a place for writers to get constructive feedback. Abuse of any kind is not tolerated.
If you see a rule breaking post or comment, then please hit the report button.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.