Write a story about someone’s first Christmas after a major life change.

Posted in Short Story on Dec 27, 2024

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✍️ 54 stories

“Home for Christmas ” by Alexis Araneta

Submitted to Contest #283

Christmas 2024Dearest Victor,I hope you know that even if you’d left me, even if you took to the skies for 17,000 kilometres and 22 hours to spread your wings away from the nest we’ve built, there’s nowhere I’d rather spend Christmas but home with you.This morning, my fingers brushed the supermarket tinsel draped around the banister and yet, there was no tickle for all I could sense was the weight of the atmosphere pummelling my exhausted lungs. My bunny slipper-donning feet dragged across the wood floor to fetch myself just another bowl of ...

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“No, Timmy, There Is No Santa Clause” by Murray Burns

Submitted to Contest #283

Yes No Virginia Timmy, There Is A No Santa Clause “The greatest thing is not to believe inSanta Clause; it is to be Santa Clause.” &nbs...

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“The Spirits Inside The Walls” by Carol Stewart

Submitted to Contest #283

Like the spirit, it rises: the flesh and breath of bricks and mortar. You smell it when it rains, when the room is lit up yellow and the world outside is grey but full of bright umbrellas. Or when it lingers autumnal like logs in dampened woods speckled gold upon troweled earth. Likewise in spring when the grass is freshly mown, April-showered, refreshed. But on days like today, you smell it too. And mild as it was before the sky darkened over this Christmas, it hits you pure, crisp and clear as the season itself.You step from your old child...

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“Yet To Come” by Kay Northbridge

Submitted to Contest #283

At the tender age of fifty-six, having given my last three slices of bread to a street urchin, I choked on a piece of Cheshire cheese whilst dining alone by candlelight in my kitchen. As I tell this story you may make certain assumptions. You may think that having spent thirty-three years apparently making provision for others to have a smooth transition into the afterlife, I would have arranged a spectacular send off for myself. You may think. But actually, when my time came, I was far from ready.Daily dealings with the mortality of others ...

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“Whispers of Grace” by Keshav Mathur

Submitted to Contest #283

For the last few months, every time someone asks how I’m doing, I force a smile and say, “I’m doing good.” But I see the way their eyebrows twitch, how their eyes linger on my face, silently asking for something more. It’s like speaking a different language—one where “good” never really means good.My friends aren’t much better. They keep asking, “How’s the family holding up?” and I nod and say, “We’re doing good.” Yet their silence always stretches a beat too long, as if they’re waiting for a crack in my composure—tears, anger, anything that...

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“A Profound Effect” by Lily Finch

Submitted to Contest #283

He was 91 and healthy as a horse. Despite his advanced age, his mind and body were in excellent condition. He lived with his wife of 35 years, whom he could no longer stand or tolerate. His great-granddaughter, her friend, and their two children lived with him. They were supposed to make his meals and take care of whatever he needed while they were at home from work. Nobody understood the stress that Frances lived under daily. His wife told him that if he truly loved her, he would stay home and help her get out of bed to go to the washroom a...

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“Little Nephew” by Perseus Patroclus

Submitted to Contest #283

As Michael walked cautiously into the room, he felt heads swivel towards him in awkward shock. Like a record scratching in a movie, conversation halted and all eyes fell on him. His cheeks reddened, but he tilted his head high in defiance. The silence was deafening, continuing on and on for what felt like years before his brother came over to greet him. Jeremiah was visibly uncomfortable, but Michael ignored it and made a beeline towards the bar. His family slowly continued their talking, but the air still held tension. He cracked open a Cor...

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“The Tell-Tale Fart” by Levi Michael

Submitted to Contest #283

They’re looking at me like they can tell. I know they can’t. The only three that know are me, the fella in that deep hole, and my shovel. Still, Aunt Ida has paid me the not-so-subtle side eye all evening, and uncles Al and Sam have been exchanging cryptic comments and nods, and looking away at odd times. Christmas dinner is always weird, but this year it feels weirder. Mom and Dad have been cool, though. It was probably just me. “How’s clown college?” My cousin Alex chewed away at something green as he raised an eyebrow in half-intere...

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“Home for the Holidays” by Faith LeMone

Submitted to Contest #283

“I’m telling Mom you’re not helping!” She shouted as she stomped her foot down and rolled her eyes dramatically. “Why do you have to act like such a little brat!’ I yelled back. “I’m not a brat!” “Well then stop acting like one and just make the damn cookies!” “I wish you never came back home!” She screamed as she stormed off. “I wanna watch The Grinch.” She protested. “We watched The Grinch last year, can’t we watch Home Alone or something?” I suggested. “You don’t get to choose the movie just because you...

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“New Christmas Tradition” by Jacob Weismiller

Submitted to Contest #283

Maybe it is tradition or nostalgia, or perhaps tradition is just nostalgia with routine. Whatever the case, you had your heart set on viewing the train set display at the hardware store near Main Street. Every year you and your father would venture out during the holidays to ogle the miniaturized village, complete with plastic denizens. Each little figure was specifically crafted to perform a particular task. Obviously, someone had consciously placed each figurine in a predetermined location; they were all meant to be there. You noticed they...

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“Out of the Blue, Embracing the New” by Deborah Sanders

Submitted to Contest #283

Trigger Warning: car accident, grief, child lossEveryone knows that Christmas can be a lonely time for some people. Claire had never considered that she might find herself to be amongst the “some people” some day. She had grown up as part of a large extended family. She was the oldest of two girls, with aunts and uncles as well as five cousins living nearby. So, in her youth, her home had always been a hive of activity, with plenty of gatherings and social happenings. Christmas had always been a time for family and traditions. Reminisci...

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“Christmas Up North” by Brian M

Submitted to Contest #283

It was uncomfortably warm. A bead of sweat dripped down my forehead, narrowly missing my eye. What do you know, I thought to myself. You’re in the Arctic and you’re sweating. I allowed myself a slight chuckle, cringing when I heard how high pitched my voice sounded. “Something funny?” Jacob asked from his station to my right. “Tell me, I could use a laugh.” He set his hammer down on the workbench and looked at me, the bell at the end of his cap making a slight jingle as he turned. His serious face, juxtaposed with his goofy hat and poi...

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“Lenore” by Antonela Kuljanac

Submitted to Contest #283

Another Christmas came, and she was feeling different. A good kind of different, for the first time. Probably because this time, he didn't honour her with his presence. He left for one of his many business trips, which she had stopped questioning. Lately, they had been happening more and more often. This time, conveniently, it just so happened that he had to leave on Christmas. Her first Christmas alone in six years of their marriage. Alone, left to talk to the walls that didn't talk back, not even once. However, she didn't mind. She didn't ...

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“A Very Mortal Christmas” by Brutus Clement

Submitted to Contest #283

A Very Mortal Christmas “I can’t feel my legs” I can hear the panic in his voice. “What do you want me to do?” “Rub them. Do it as hard as you can.” So, I pull the hospital blanket back exposing his white and now wasted legs while starting to rub them. They feel unnaturally cold. I can tell he’s not feeling it and rub harder. This isn’t like him, my father had always been a man with a calm, balanced disposition and I can’t remember him ever bein...

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“Always Grateful” by Ray Samber

Submitted to Contest #283

For Roxy, getting sober hadn’t been easy. It had taken about six months of relapsing, changing her number, and altering her entire lifestyle in order to get to a place where she could put together any time that really felt legit. Nearly six months was the longest she’d ever been sober since she started the journey a year ago in November, when her family found out the truth about how she was coping with life. It had been a blur when everything first came to light, but it all happened because of her brother. He had a surgery and she just could...

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Write a story about someone’s first Christmas after a major life change.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 54 stories

“Home for Christmas ” by Alexis Araneta

“No, Timmy, There Is No Santa Clause” by Murray Burns

“The Spirits Inside The Walls” by Carol Stewart

“Yet To Come” by Kay Northbridge

“Whispers of Grace” by Keshav Mathur

“A Profound Effect” by Lily Finch

“Little Nephew” by Perseus Patroclus

“The Tell-Tale Fart” by Levi Michael

“Home for the Holidays” by Faith LeMone

“New Christmas Tradition” by Jacob Weismiller

“Out of the Blue, Embracing the New” by Deborah Sanders

“Christmas Up North” by Brian M

“Lenore” by Antonela Kuljanac

“A Very Mortal Christmas” by Brutus Clement

“Always Grateful” by Ray Samber

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story that ends with a huge twist.

Write a story about two characters who surprisingly end up spending a holiday or event together.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year — except your character can’t shake the feeling that something’s off.

Write a story with the line “I wasn’t expecting that.”

Contest #283

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

293

Contest entries

123

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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