It was the night before Black Friday. Instead of recollecting the delightful Thanksgiving day she had with family, fifteen-year-old Scarlett London from Chicago, Illinois was laying in her bed, dreading the next day. Scarlett had short black hair, baby blue eyes, and naturally cherry-colored lips. Being able to think out of the box, she was extremely imaginative and intelligent. She was sometimes shy but that didn't stop her from trying new things. She also had cerebral palsy. She was in a wheelchair and had garbled speech and limited muscle movement but she was a very independent girl. Normally, she was bubbly and carefree but she thought that shopping with her parents was nightmarish. She loved the Christmas season but their weird tradition of doing all of their Christmas shopping in one day was stressful. Christmas shopping always started World War III between her parents. They would have embarrassingly loud and ugly arguments in the middle of busy stores about what to buy for people. Her brunette, domineering mom, Debbie would also boss around her graying, sardonic dad, Thomas during the whole shopping trip until he would snap and say something sarcastic, starting a screaming match in the van. They sucked all of the fun out of it.
She told her parents during Thanksgiving dinner that she didn't want to go Christmas shopping the next day but her dad annoyingly said: "Nobody likes a Grinch."
"Well, that's calling the Grinch green," she thought sarcastically.
Scarlett laid there in bed for a few more minutes, feeling vexed, until she slowly slipped into a peaceful sleep. She could walk in her dreams. It was like when other people would dream about flying; it felt wondrous and freeing to Scarlett.
She was looking around with such awe when she saw a strange, yet very attractive boy standing in the corner. He was around her age. He was extremely tall and thin but she saw through his clothes that he had washboard abs. He was wearing a flowing, green leather jacket over a black poet shirt, a black pair of leather pants, and a green pair of Converse shoes. He had dazzling emerald eyes that glistened from the very second that their eyes met, long hair that was as white as fresh Christmas snow, and pointed elven ears. He gave her a cocky and mischievous grin, which made her blush. He suddenly began to walk towards her and her heart fluttered.
She didn't know why she felt like she had to curtsy but she did as he approached her. He bowed politely back and held out a hand, alluringly saying: "Hello, gorgeous, my name is Angel Evercarol. Will you do me the honor of dancing with me?"
"H-hi," she replied nervously, feeling the butterflies in her stomach go crazy, "m-my name is Scarlett London. I would love to...d-dance...w-with you." She then quickly took his hand so shyness couldn't take over.
Angel playfully spun her into his arms; her arms wrapping around his neck and his hands resting on her waist. She held back a giggle. She didn't know how to waltz but they weren't following the other people in the ballroom. They were just swaying slowly to the music.
"So Scarlett," he said with a grin, "are you having fun?"
"Yes, everything is so beautiful here."
"Things during this time of year should be beautiful but I have to admit that this ball seemed a bit stagnant to me until I saw you."
"I'll take a fancy ball any day," she smiled, blushing, "I love being here and I'm very glad that you asked me to dance. I'm dreading when I have to leave."
"I heard a rumor that you're really dreading a shopping trip with your parents."
"How did you...?"
"I have my sources," he replied slyly.
"Well, the rumors are true," she sighed, "we have this strange tradition of doing all of our Christmas shopping the day after Thanksgiving and I do not want to go."
"Ah, they're the kind of people that go crazy searching for the best Black Friday deals?"
"Oh, I wish that it was only searching for the best deals! Shopping with my parents is...anxiety-inducing. The whole time, they argue loudly about everything, especially about what to buy people. My mom is so bossy and picky and my dad's sarcastic remarks make things ten times worse. I've tried everything to make it a positive experience but Christmas shopping with them just isn't fun."
"That does sound like it sucks."
"Tell me about it."
"But you know what?"
"What?"
"As long as I'm around," he said tenderly, "you don't have to worry about anything. No crabby parents, just us, and I've heard that I'm quite the good time."
She giggled and said softly: "Thanks. I like dancing with you and it's nice having someone to vent to."
They danced in silence for a moment.
Then, she said teasingly: "I still want to know how did you find out about my parents though."
"I just have good connections."
"Are you a magical elf or something?"
"I'm guessing that you're referring to my ears," he chuckled, "I'm only part elf but I am definitely magical. Do you wanna see something cool? It might liven up this ball."
"Yeah!"
Angel stood back and clapped his hands together thunderously. It suddenly began to snow lightly inside the ballroom. People stopped dancing and looked up with confusion and wonder. He watched Scarlett happily, as she laughed and twirled in it. Scarlett felt like a little girl again at that moment.
Four floating snowmen in red scarfs and black backwards baseball caps then appeared in the air; the first one was beating on a drum set, the second was feverishly playing electric guitar, the third was bobbing his head and playing bass guitar, and the fourth one was enthusiastically playing the keyboard. Angel suddenly levitated into the air to join the snowmen and started singing a punk version of "Jingle Bell Rock."
The people at the ball were now cheering, singing, and jumping to the song like they were at an amazing, chaotic rock concert. Scarlett was jumping and dancing too, having such a blast. Then, Angel floated over to her and grabbed her hand. As soon as their hands touched, her feet left the ground. They were face to face again. A mistletoe all of a sudden appeared above them. She was nervous but she made the first move. Pulling him closer by his jacket, she kissed him hard. He kissed her just as eagerly, tightly embracing her. The snowman with the bass guitar had to take over singing too because Angel and Scarlett kept on kissing. She was so lost in the sweet moment that her annoyance towards her parents evaporated from her mind.
Scarlett woke up smiling. She already heard her mom in the next room nagging her dad about hurrying up but she let herself reminisce about her dream for a minute before letting them know that she was awake. She hoped that she would dream about Angel again. Since her mom was pestering her nonstop about eating faster, she practically had to inhale her breakfast. Even though her mom was already dictating the day, she reminded herself to try not to let it get to her. She would focus on the blissful feeling that she got from her dream. For her outfit for the day, she picked out her sweater dress that was the same shade of dark green as her ball gown in her dream, black tights, a black pair of steampunk boots, and her favorite black and white flower jacket.
Once they were all cleaned up and dressed, they drove to the Walmart Supercenter. At the entrance of the parking lot, a gaunt homeless man with gray unkempt hair and beard in an old, torn tuxedo and a gray newsboy hat stood, holding a cardboard sign that read: No money. No food. Please give what you can. This man had been standing there every day for three years by then. Every time that Scarlett would see him, she would want to give him money but her mom would give a cruel excuse as to why they shouldn't.
Even though she doubted that her mom would change her mind, Scarlett was in a hopeful and happy mood so she asked: "Can we give that man some money?"
"Our money would probably just go into his arm," replied Debbie, suggesting that the man would just buy drugs with the money.
"Mom, we don't know that he's a drug addict. What happened to peace on Earth and goodwill toward men?"
"It isn't Christmastime yet," remarked Thomas.
"And yet we here are," Scarlett smiled, "about to go Christmas shopping. Besides, should we be kind and charitable all year round?"
Debbie let out an exasperated sigh and said: "Fine! We will buy a can of beans so he'll have some food."
Scarlett knew that her mom was only saying this to shut her up and would forget to buy the food but she planned on putting a can in their cart when they weren't looking.
The first fight was over a parking spot. Her dad parked in a wheelchair-accessible spot that was at the very end.
Her mom shouted at him: "Thomas!"
"What is it, Debbie?"
"This spot is too far away!"
"But I thought that we wanted a wheelchair-accessible area."
"Yes but it's chilly outside. I don't want us to freeze our asses off, pick a closer spot!"
"But I picked this spot and maybe I picked it because I don't want our van to hit with a shopping cart."
Debbie huffed: "Here comes the petty sarcasm!"
He then backed out of the spot and sighed: "Maybe you should drive then."
"You know that I have bad eyesight!"
"Yes, dear."
Scarlett just rolled her eyes.
After twenty minutes, they were finally in the store. To avoid another unnecessary argument, Scarlett decided to push herself. Shoppers were rushing around, looking frantic and grouchy. Shoppers also rudely kept walking in front of her wheelchair and she almost accidentally ran into several people. While her parents were getting two shopping carts, she saw a shopper that stood out from the crowd; a cheerful, heavy-set, elderly man with a pure white beard and hair, wearing a red and white hockey jersey, red sweatpants, white tennis shoes, and a red fedora. The man seemed to be at ease, jovial, and polite; whistling along to the Christmas music that was playing. Scarlett thought with amusement that this lighthearted man looked like Santa Claus in disguise. She even saw some kids watching him with complete awe, which she thought was so adorable.
Within a minute of them starting their shopping, her mom and dad got into another argument about what color of teddy bear to buy their four-year-old nephew. Thomas wanted to buy him a pink one and Debbie wanted to get him the blue one. Everybody in the family knew that the boy's favorite color was pink and this fact always caused slight contention; one half (including Scarlett and Thomas) thought that any color and toy should've been gender neutral and the other half (including Debbie) thought that the boy should've liked more masculine things. Debbie and Thomas were louder and louder so Scarlett quickly offered: "Why don't you guys buy both? He'll get two toys and the teddy bears can be brother and sister."
Debbie was about to protest again but since they had a lot of shopping to do, she grudgingly stopped and put both bears in her cart. The rest of the search for gifts wasn't that easy, unfortunately. Debbie nitpicked at each item, saying that it was too expensive or too cheap and/or too big or too small. Each item led to a heated debate. Forty-five minutes later, Scarlett was tired and hot and her arms and head ached but she was still trying to remain in a good mood.
Then. the mini-fridge incident happened. Debbie wanted to buy one of the uncles a black mini-fridge. "The perfect one" was found and Thomas was putting the box in the second cart. As he was setting it down though, his fingers slipped by accident and the box fell hard on its side into the cart.
"Thomas!"
"Debbie!"
"Why did you do that? You know that type of metal dents easily!"
"I did it just to annoy you."
Debbie glared at him.
"It's fine, dear," he exclaimed, "it's still in the box! You should worry about the cut on my hand!!"
"Oh, don't be such a crybaby! You're so useless!!"
"I can gladly leave!"
"You asshole!"
People began to stare, snickering at them. Scarlett tried to count to ten, take some deep breaths, and focus on the memory of Angel but she was done. Frustration and rage rapidly flooded her brain. She didn't understand why Christmas shopping always brought out their toxic personality traits. She couldn't take it anymore. She was dangerously close to screaming when something gently tapped on the top of her head. She looked up and gasped.
"Hi gorgeous."
It was Angel Evercarol. He was floating upside down in the air as if he was dangling from an invisible jungle gym. He grinned at her and his emerald eyes shimmered in the store's florescent light. Seeing his face, her anger automatically disappeared again. No one else seemed to see him though.
"What the...," she whispered, "are you really here?"
"Yeah, and why are you whispering?"
She touched his face to make sure what was happening was real and she actually felt his warm skin. In the back of mind, she thought that there was still a chance that she had just lost it but she figured that insanity would be better than dealing with her parents.
"It's really you," she smiled, "I'm so glad that you see you!"
Angel spun back upright and chuckled: "Of course! I told you that as long as I'm around, you wouldn't have to worry about anything. I was planning on visiting you during your shopping trip. I just couldn't tell you last night because we were busy kissing but I'm not complaining."
Scarlett blushed.
"You look so cute when you blush."
She giggled: "Stop."
"So how are your parents doing?"
Scarlett silently pointed at her parents who were now screaming in each other's faces. People were gawking at this and some were recording them on their phones. She was obviously humiliated.
Angel was shocked by the whole situation and he felt sorry for her. He said: "Um...yeah, so, we should just let them hash it out."
First, he snapped his fingers, making people drop their phones and crack their screens. Then, clapping his hands, he and Scarlett appeared next to the music aisle.
"Thanks for that," said Scarlett with a smile, "it was getting too much."
"No problem, gorgeous!"
"So why are we at the music aisle?"
"There will be a concert here."
"Where?"
"Down that aisle."
She laughed: "I don't see anything, that's impossible."
"Is it?"
Angel abruptly pushed her into the aisle and she was suddenly in a massive purple and black music hall that would be any Gothic/emo kid's fantasy. There was black garland, purple lights, and skull-shaped glittery lights all around. Black floating candelabras were everywhere. There was also a large black Christmas tree near the stage with purple lights, grinning skulls, violet ribbon, silver half-moon ornaments, and Jack Skellington's head on top. Scarlett's wheelchair disappeared and she and Angel both stood on the stage. She was wearing a purple mini-dress, black combat boots, and black liquid lipstick.
The snowman rock band from her dream had mini snow clouds above their heads and were behind Angel and Scarlett. The excited crowd in the front of the stage that was waiting for something to happen consisted of elves, gnomes, fairies, snow people, and other humans. A microphone then appeared between Angel and her and the snowman band began to play "We're Not Gonna Take It" by Twisted Sister.
"You deserve some fun," Angel coaxed her.
Then, hearing everyone's encouragement and thinking about the vile way that her parents acted, she grabbed the mic.
Even though she didn't have the greatest singing voice, she sang at the top of her lungs. She clapped and danced wildly with Angel around the stage. The crowd was screaming and hopping happily. Scarlett was having so much fun, blowing off some steam. It felt extremely freeing. She could tell off her parents under the veil of the lyrics of the song. As the song was ending, Angel spun her around.
She swiftly spun out of the music hall and she and Angel were now back in the store; in the canned food aisle.
"That was awesome!"
"See," chuckled Angel, "everyone deserves to be rebellious once in a while. What do you wanna do now?"
Scarlett saw a can of beans and remembered the homeless man. She told Angel all about the man. She just wanted help.
"We'll help him," he told her, "but we won't just give him a can of beans though."
Angel then wiggled his nose.
The door was open and she was chilly but she could see Angel and the homeless man coming closer. The man looked confused but excited. The sight of this made her smile. When Angel and the man finally came into the cabin, the door closed on its own behind them. The man looked at the food with disbelief and asked: "Is all of this for me?"
"Yeah," replied Angel happily, "it was made just for you."
Then, the man looked at her and asked: "Are you Scarlett?"
"Yes sir, we just wanted to help you. Please sit."
"Thank you so much," he said, sitting, "you two are so kind! Please call me Pete."
As all three ate, seventy-eight-year-old Pete told the story about how he became homeless. They didn't ask him but Scarlett thought that he needed to get things off his chest so they listened respectfully. His wife of forty years, Moira, passed away in 2019 and after six months, he felt alone and lost. Even though he highly doubted that he would find anyone, he signed up for a dating site with the help of a neighbor. Twenty-five-year-old Jessica messaged him on the site. Pete thought that she was only being nice to an old man but then, she got flirtatious. He admitted that he liked the attention. Despite their age difference, he decided to give it a try. He would never love another woman like he loved Moira but he felt himself falling for Jessica.
They messaged daily but she only showed her face in pictures. She never wanted to meet, or call, or video chat, which should've been a red flag but he was blind to it. He was so desperate for a companion. After just two months, they considered themselves to be in a relationship. They told each other that they loved each other but throughout the so-called relationship, she asked for money or gifts. If he said no, she would block him until she got something in the mail.
A month later, she told him that she was ready to meet him. He was so happy. He picked out a fancy restaurant and bought a new tuxedo for the evening. The next evening, he waited anxiously at the restaurant with a rose in hand. He waited for five hours and she never came. When he got home and tried to message her, she had deleted her account. He realized that she was using him. He was so ashamed and depressed that he stopped paying the bills and refused to take off the tuxedo.
"You must think that I'm an old fool," said Pete tearfully.
"No," comforted Scarlett, "you were just vulnerable and that Jessica girl lied to you. Do you have any family to talk to?"
"No, Moira and I never had kids and most of our family and friends are dead now. I just have to accept that I'm going to be alone forever!"
Pete began to cry in his hands and Scarlett hugged him.
"You won't be alone," assured Angel, "we'll make sure of it."
"Yeah."
Then, someone knocked on the door and it opened on its own. In the doorway, there was a petite old woman with long gray hair in a blue and white polka dot dress. Scarlett didn't know who it was until she saw Pete's face.
With eyes wide, Pete exclaimed: "Moira!"
"Peter!"
They ran into each other's arms, tightly embracing, shaking, and weeping joyfully.
Bewildered, Scarlett asked: "How is this even possible?"
"This cabin is magical," explained Angel, "it gives anything that people desire."
Still hugging his wife, Pete then asked: "Did I die and go to Heaven?"
"No," Angel replied, "As long as you two will stay in or around this cabin, you'll be together forever."
"That sounds nice," smiled Moira.
"It's a deal," exclaimed Pete, "I will never lose her again!"
The happy elderly couple collided in a passionate kiss. Seeing them so happy and in love, it warmed Scarlett's heart and she got rejoicing tears in her eyes.
"Well," chuckled Angel, "we'll leave you two to catch up."
"Thank you," said Pete in a shaky voice, "thank you both for caring."
"You don't have to thank us," Scarlett said, "it was a pleasure to meet you."
She was so happy that they could help Pete out. The door opened and Scarlett and Angel stepped out into the blustery air. With a flash of white light, they were now back in the store; in the frozen food aisle. Scarlett was back in her wheelchair and back in regular clothes. Angel pulled out a gold pocket watch from his jacket and looked at the time.
"I have to go soon," he told her, "Wanna meet my dad before I go?"
"Sure."
She was sort of nervous to meet his dad for some reason but she wanted Angel to stay with her a little longer.
"Can I push you so you can give your arms a rest?"
"Yes please."
Goofing around, he raced her chair through the store, zig-zagging around people and things. She laughed and hollered the whole time until they were finally outside in the parking lot. They were going towards the jolly man that she saw earlier and thought that he looked like Santa. Then, giving her a jolt, she was seeing that the man was feeding eight reindeer that were attached to a sleigh and no one else seemed to see.
Not believing that the question was coming out of her mouth, she asked: "Is your dad Santa Claus?"
"Yep, the one and only."
"But I thought that your last name was Evercarol."
"Evercarol is my middle name. My full name is Angel Evercarol Claus."
She was still stunned when they were in front of Santa.
"Hi Dad," said Angel, "this is Scarlett."
"Hi Son," Santa replied happily, "Hello there Scarlett, it's great to meet you!"
"H-h-hi S-s-Santa," she stuttered, "Y-you're r-real!"
"I think that she's in shock."
"It's okay," chuckled Santa, "I understand. Scarlett, I've heard that your parents are being petulant."
She told herself to snap out of it and said: "Yes, shopping makes them unbelievably crabby."
"Well, these might help."
Santa then put a hand in a tan bag that was laying in the sleigh and pulled out two, small, heart-shaped, pearl-colored stones.
Giving her the stones, he said: "Just put these in their hands. The stones will melt into their skin and their bad moods will melt away."
"Thanks, Santa!"
"You're welcome, sweetie," he smiled, "Angel asked me to help. He has been talking about you ever since the ball. I think that he's quite smitten with you."
"Dad!"
Scarlett saw Angel's face turn beat-red for the first time and she giggled. It made her giddy inside, knowing that he liked her the same way that she liked him.
"Well, say your goodbyes," Santa told Angel, "your mother is waiting at home. She's baking cookies."
"Okay."
Scarlett didn't want him to go because she didn't know if she would see him again or if all of this was just in her mind. She tried not to cry in front of him but tears filled her eyes.
"Hey, gorgeous," Angel said softly, "why the tears?"
"Will I ever see you again?"
"Of course, you will!"
"Promise?"
"I told you, as long as I'm around," he whispered, kissing her cheek, "you don't have to worry about anything."
She heard the affection and sincerity in his voice and automatically felt at ease. She kissed his nose.
"See you later," he said, winking and climbing into the sleigh.
"Later."
"It was nice to meet you," chuckled Santa, "Merry Christmas!"
"Merry Christmas."
She waved bye at them, as they went up, up, up into the sky. Then, she rolled back into the store to deal with her parents. When she rolled back to them, they were still arguing. She was surprised that they weren't hoarse. People were thankfully ignoring them now. While they weren't looking, she put the first stone in Debbie's and the second in Thomas' hand. As the stones were melting, their stern faces slowly softened.
"Honey," said Debbie to Thomas in a pleasant tone, "I don't know what I got into me! I'm so sorry. How's your hand?"
"My hand is just fine, dear," he replied lovingly, "I'm sorry too. Let's not fight anymore, it's silly."
"I agree, honey."
Scarlett was amazed. After that, they didn't fight at all. The rest of shopping trip was peaceful and even fun. On that day, many magical things occurred that no one else would believe but she would always remember. As long as Angel Evercarol Claus came around, she would never have to worry about things.
©Lena Holdman, all rights reserved 2022
Author Notes: Merry Christmas! 🎅🏻 I'M POSTING THIS BEFORE CHRISTMAS EVE!! 🧝🏻♂️ We LOVE improvement. 👍 Anyway, I hope that you enjoy your holiday and enjoyed my story. I've been drawing Angel for a while. Creating an original character is so much fun!
Smooches and think Tink!
