41 comments

Christmas Urban Fantasy Inspirational

I hung my keys on the third hook, my coat on the third peg, and plopped my tushy on the third sofa cushion from the door, like always. That's my life - pathetically predictable.


I wouldn't want there to be any misunderstanding. I have no problem with predictability. I'd be happy as long as it gave me enough to pay bills, rent a larger apartment, and occasionally buy something nice. But, no! Unfortunately, it turned out to be more like a deadbeat dad. But what can I do? I don't have any control over it.


I hadn't realized it was Christmas Eve until I clicked live TV. Holiday specials filled the guide bars. I couldn't stomach a green freak stealing Christmas, World War actors singing a white Christmas, or a successful businessman turned into Father Christmas. There was too much Christmas. Besides, there were no gifts under my tree. Predictably, life took that as well.


I turned off the TV, picked up my phone, and doom-scrolled shorts until I fell asleep.


Gift-wrapped packages haunted my dreams. I fought back by opening them, only to discover that each one was empty. I continued wrestling, frantically hoping one would have something for me. In the flurry of shredded wrapping paper, a man-sized gift emerged. Fear gripped me. I knew it wanted me to open it. It called out to me, repeating my name over and over.


I awoke, shaking off sleep, and heard my name—a deep voice—a man's voice. I jolted. In front of me stood a large man wearing an outlandish outfit printed with books placed haphazardly on a bookshelf, a brick fireplace, a window, and a basket. I shook my head and took a second glance. His suit mirrored my living room.


I tried to scream but couldn't. I tried again but could only hear my breath.


"It's no use. No one can hear you except me."


Was I still dreaming? This can't be. I checked my door - still bolted. I irrationally checked my windows before realizing I lived on the twenty-first story with no balcony or ledge. I did the only thing I had left: I slapped myself.


"Please, don't do that." He grimaced. "I hate seeing the pinching, slapping, rubbing eyes until they sting – all so unnecessary."


He's real. My stinging check confirmed it. Then why am I not afraid? Who is this guy?


"If I'm not dreaming, tell me how you got into my apartment."


"It's unimportant, and you wouldn't believe me anyway," he paused. Well, you might believe me, but you couldn't understand since it breaks every law of your world." He pulled out a bag from behind his back. It, too, matched my living room perfectly, like a chameleon, making it difficult to see. He dug into it, searching. "I'm here because it's time to receive your gift." He pulled out a small wrapped package.


"What is it?"


"You have to open it to find out."


Suspicion rose. "Why won't you tell me?"


"It would spoil the surprise."


Pictures of spiders, poisonous gas, rats, and snakes filled my mind. Did this intruder expect me to trust him?


"I'll pass." I could see I stumped him, but he recovered quickly.


"May I sit?"


I motioned towards my couch. I stared in amazement as the suit changed from fireplace and books to pictures and lampstand to couch and door.


Once seated, he turned his face towards me. His gaze made me feel like a child again. "It's yours to ignore but not to refuse. Once given, it becomes a part of you—a part of your DNA. No refunds. No exchanges."


"But what if I don't want it? Can't I choose?"


"Why act like you're offended? You don't believe you're in control of your life anyway," he smiled, "Do you, Norra Banks?”


He knows me, and I'm not surprised. It feels like I’ve known him since childhood. I met his stare and really looked at him. He looked harmless and dreadful, jolly and sad, carefree and wise. He kept changing between looking like an old man and a Greek god.


I took the small decorated box from him. It weighed as much as a rock and as little as my phone. The sensation boggled me. I moved it hand to hand, hoping the gift would settle on a consistent weight. "I can't figure out if it's heavy or light. How is this possible?"


"You could make your gift heavy, but I hope you make it light. People with a light gift enjoy it more."


I determine its weight? How can that be? And if I can, then why can’t I refuse it?


"So, now I have control?"


"Of course you do."


"But what about no refund, no exchanges?"


"You control what you do with your gift. You determine if your gift is a burden or a blessing. You would be surprised by how much control you have."


I studied the old man, slash, Greek god, sitting in his chameleon suit. For some inexplicable reason, I trusted him.


"Will this change all this?" I pointed to my apartment.


"No. It's just a gift. You are the only one who can change your life. Perhaps you'll use this gift to change it, but the gift only does what you tell it to do."


Resentment boiled inside. He blames me for how my life has turned out. I can see it on his face. How unfair! Does he believe I'd choose this rat hole? That I'd choose my crappy job? That I'd choose to be alone?


"So it's all my fault?"


"I didn't say that."


"You implied it."


"There are powers capable of pushing you into undesirable situations. But you have a greater power inside. You can push back. You can change your situation."


"Let me see if I understand. You're not blaming me for being here, just for still being here?"


He laughed. A jolly laugh similar to another popular laugh heard around Christmas time.


"You are something. Very sharp. I've always liked that about you." He stood, "I've got a few more stops tonight."


"Wait. Aren't you going to stay while I open my gift?"


"That's not how it works. Even if I stayed, I couldn't see your gift. Only you can see it. Although, I see every path your gift could take."


"What do you mean?"


He walked back to the fireplace. "You can take your gift almost anywhere. Some paths are dark and dismal, others bright and joyful, and hundreds are in between. I can see those. But I'm unable to see which one you will choose. However, if I might make a suggestion, choose a bright and joyful one."


He smiled at me, appearing as an old man. He looked down on me with kindness. Suddenly he changed and appeared like a Greek god. He looked down on me with dread. I smiled and shuddered. His suit shifted and mirrored my fireplace so effectively that I could no longer see him.


I got up and felt the fireplace. He was gone. I turned back to my couch and spotted my gift lying on the third cushion where I had placed it—always the third cushion, always predictable.


I walked over and moved it to the middle cushion.


December 21, 2024 01:43

You must sign up or log in to submit a comment.

41 comments

Heather Rogers
04:35 Dec 22, 2024

What!?! That’s it!! Not fair! You know I NEED to know what the gift was! Now I’m going to be thinking about it all night…ugh! 🤣

Reply

Daniel Rogers
21:30 Dec 22, 2024

It's "her" gift - her talent. The Christmas Chameleon specializes in adults who haven't found their gift yet.

Reply

Heather Rogers
14:52 Dec 29, 2024

For being an avid reader, sometimes I am really dense! I totally see that now. Thanks for explaining it to me. Love you!

Reply

Daniel Rogers
01:44 Dec 30, 2024

Never dense

Reply

Show 0 replies
Show 1 reply
Show 1 reply
Show 1 reply
Lisa Jay
06:56 Dec 28, 2024

i love this. lighthearted and with a subtle touch. so well done

Reply

Daniel Rogers
14:56 Dec 28, 2024

Thank you, I appreciate your comment.

Reply

Show 0 replies
Show 1 reply
Deborah Sanders
06:03 Dec 28, 2024

I loved your story. Although I anticipated that the gift would be revealed, I was not surprised when it wasn’t. The ending was more of an aha moment. Of course only she can see her gift. The reader is given some hints. And I love how she moved that gift to the middle cushion. Excellent story. Thank you for sharing your talent.

Reply

Daniel Rogers
14:53 Dec 28, 2024

My wife agrees with you - she wanted to know what was inside. Thank you for your encouragement.

Reply

Show 0 replies
Show 1 reply
Mary Butler
12:46 Dec 27, 2024

Daniel, your story was captivating and thought-provoking, blending whimsical creativity with a profound exploration of choice and control. Lines like “You control what you do with your gift. "You determine if your gift is a burden or a blessing. You would be surprised by how much control you have.” and "There are powers capable of pushing you into undesirable situations. But you have a greater power inside. You can push back. You can change your situation." offer an empowering reminder of the agency we often overlook in our lives. I loved t...

Reply

Daniel Rogers
01:02 Dec 28, 2024

Thank you, Mary. And thank you for your comment. I'm honored you took the time to evaluate my story, and so well. You're really good at it.

Reply

Show 0 replies
Show 1 reply
Jim Parker
10:46 Dec 27, 2024

This story is a gift. Thank you and Merry Christmas.

Reply

Daniel Rogers
01:03 Dec 28, 2024

You're welcome, and thank you for reading 😀👍

Reply

Show 0 replies
Show 1 reply
Anthony Andrés
00:10 Dec 27, 2024

Really enjoyed your story! There is something powerful about remember the things we can control, like what we do with our gifts.

Reply

Daniel Rogers
02:28 Dec 27, 2024

I know a story like this is subject to interpretation, but you nailed what I wanted to share. Thank you for reading and your comment 😀

Reply

Show 0 replies
Show 1 reply
Philip Ebuluofor
14:44 Dec 26, 2024

Fine work.

Reply

Daniel Rogers
02:29 Dec 27, 2024

Thank you very much

Reply

Philip Ebuluofor
13:13 Dec 29, 2024

Welcome.

Reply

Show 0 replies
Philip Ebuluofor
13:13 Dec 29, 2024

Welcome.

Reply

Show 0 replies
Show 2 replies
Show 1 reply
Kim Olson
12:11 Dec 26, 2024

I really enjoyed your story. I especially like how you began and end with the sofa cushion. It was a great metaphor.

Reply

Daniel Rogers
02:32 Dec 27, 2024

Thank you for reading. I'm glad you saw the important of the cushions 😀👍

Reply

Show 0 replies
Show 1 reply
01:09 Dec 25, 2024

But what's inside? True to the prompt your ending is filled with possibility. Touche' ! I liked everything about your story. I read some comments, hoping some may have suggested ideas on what the gift is. Nothing. I will say that my comments have sometimes vanished (Maybe I forgot to post them?) Sometimes, they come back, and I double up. I sometimes check in 'comments' on my profile page to check the list and only repost if it isn't there either.

Reply

Daniel Rogers
13:32 Dec 25, 2024

I didn't reveal the inside to allow us to imagine what we'd want as a talent (gift). For me it would be writing. I'm sure you would never have guessed that one 🤣

Reply

Show 0 replies
Show 1 reply
Kendall Defoe
15:47 Dec 24, 2024

Clever ending!

Reply

Daniel Rogers
23:57 Dec 24, 2024

Thanks 😀

Reply

Show 0 replies
Show 1 reply
Viga Boland
13:39 Dec 24, 2024

I read this last night and left you a glowing comment but it’s disappeared. Or did I forget to hit submit? Strange as it caught that I added you to my follows. That’s how good I thought your writing was. Let’s see if I remember what I wrote. Think I admired the relatable characterization, the excellent use of dialogue, the quick buildup without too much unnecessary filler…No need to go on. You’re my kind of writer. Hence the “follow”. More please sir 😉😂

Reply

Daniel Rogers
00:00 Dec 25, 2024

Thank you very much for writing two comments. I have had a few disappear myself. And thank you for your glowing review. I hope to produce a few more good stories.

Reply

Show 0 replies
Show 1 reply
BRUCE MARTIN
08:37 Dec 24, 2024

Great story! It kept me engaged all the way through. Very nice. I really liked it.

Reply

Daniel Rogers
00:02 Dec 25, 2024

Thank you

Reply

Show 0 replies
Show 1 reply
Viga Boland
03:55 Dec 24, 2024

Now this is the kind of writing I enjoy. No massive buildup. Straight into the story. Plenty of dialogue; intriguing plot and fascinating, but utterly relatable character. I see I haven’t been following you but I am now. More please sir and thank you in advance. 😉

Reply

Daniel Rogers
00:03 Dec 25, 2024

Hey, I found your lost comment 😂🤣

Reply

Viga Boland
21:08 Dec 26, 2024

Great! Two for the price of one 😂

Reply

Show 0 replies
Show 1 reply
Show 1 reply
Amanda Rose
02:40 Dec 23, 2024

Great story! especially loved this line: "Pictures of spiders, poisonous gas, rats, and snakes filled my mind."... That would so be me!!! I also loved the the way you presented the "Christmas Chameleon", and how, in the end, Norra really did open the gift. By moving it to the middle cushion, she siezed the opportunity to begin changing things in her life. Wonderful moral to the story, as it were!!! Enjoyed the read :)

Reply

Daniel Rogers
03:17 Dec 23, 2024

I'm glad you liked it, and thank you for reading.

Reply

Show 0 replies
Show 1 reply
Mary Bendickson
00:20 Dec 23, 2024

We all need a gift. Thanks for liking 'Thelma Faye'.

Reply

Daniel Rogers
02:37 Dec 23, 2024

We do. Thanks for reading

Reply

Show 0 replies
Show 1 reply
Helen A Howard
10:46 Dec 22, 2024

The little things really do count. Maybe if he can make this one change, others will follow. Love the character shifts here. That Greek god - now you’re talking! Good ending.

Reply

Daniel Rogers
21:25 Dec 22, 2024

Thanks, gotta love Greek gods 😂

Reply

Show 0 replies
Show 1 reply
Lily Finch
03:14 Dec 22, 2024

Third times a charm! Until you make a shift and move it to the middle cushion! Cool story, Daniel. I enjoyed the story. I liked the interaction between the main character and the Greek god at the end of the story. Well done, LF6

Reply

Daniel Rogers
21:36 Dec 22, 2024

Thanks, I'm glad you spotted the significance of the middle cushion

Reply

Show 0 replies
Show 1 reply
Trudy Jas
02:24 Dec 21, 2024

It's the little things that count.

Reply

Daniel Rogers
02:25 Dec 22, 2024

So true 😀👍

Reply

Show 0 replies
Show 1 reply
Reedsy | Default — Editors with Marker | 2024-05

Bring your publishing dreams to life

The world's best editors, designers, and marketers are on Reedsy. Come meet them.