The Christmas Legacy

It was a cold lonely night in the Oakland household. Marian Oakland sat on her living room couch waiting very impatiently on her parents, Abel and Molly Oakland. Ever since December drew nearer her parents have been getting more anxious then ever. Sometimes Marian can even hear her parents say to themselves: "Has it already been 20 years?" And when ever she'd ask her parents what they meant would dismiss it. Until this December 23rd. Two days before Christmas. Marian looked at her parents as they walked into the living room. "Marian," Abel started. "Now that you're 15 years old, your mother and I have something important to tell you." Abel looked at Molly for validation, in which Molly only nodded in reply. Marian got kind of worried. "Are you guys getting a divorce...?" Marian thought of anything that could've happened that would make them want a divorce. From what she saw they've always been happy. "No sweetie that's not it-" There was a rumble coming from the chimney and a small velvet bag-which was now covered in ashes- fell from it. Molly got up and walked cautiously towards the bag. Marian strained her neck trying to see what was in the bag.

While Molly reached in the bag to take out what was inside, the sound of a door opening and closing erupted throughout the house and a man wearing a bright red tux with a green collared shirt, green dress pants, red dress shoes and a Santa Claus hat. He grinned widely when he saw Molly holding the bag. "Go on Molls open it. Let the kid see what's inside." The stranger said excitedly. "Darren." Abel said to the other man. Marian looked from the stranger to her father and realized how similar they looked. They had the same posture and facial structure. They even shared the same eye color. Molly took the object out of the bag to unravel a golden enamel Christmas tree pin. "Darren no. She's only 15." Molly pleading, turning to look at him. "I was 15 when I first started too. It's perfect!" The man exclaimed. "Started what? And... And who are you?" Marian asked looking at the strange man who's apparently named Darren. "You don't know who I am?" Darren looked from Molly to Abel. "You didn't tell her who I am...? You didn't tell her about the job?" Darren looked at Marian. "Marian... my name is Darren Oakland. I'm your dad's younger brother. Your Uncle. And I'm honestly hurt that your parents never told you about me or what I do." Darren sighed. "Give me the pin Molls." Darren demanded. "Darren please you have to understand. I want my daughter in my life-" Darren looked at her. "And you will." He reassured. "But all the time D. Not JUST during the Christmas season." Abel looked at Darren with a look of grief. "What's his job? Can someone please explain what's happening?" Marian asked growing impatient with every passing second. 

   "Of course." Darren flicked his hand and the Golden Christmas Tree pin launched out of Molly's hand to his own while a trail of golden dust following it. "Woah." Marian breathed. "Pretty neat, huh?" Darren grinned. Marian smiles and nodded. "Now onto the explanation," Darren sat down right next to her. "So it's officially been 20 years. Sound familiar?" He cleared his throat. "Now where should I start? There's just so much... Got it! So there is a legacy that has been in our family- the Oakland family- for many, many, many, years. I like to call it The Christmas Legacy. Every 20 years-for however long this legacy has been around- one person from the Oakland family gets chosen to spread Christmas cheer. And I know, I know; it sounds cheesy. But it's the most fun I've had in the 20 years I've been doing this. I've gotten to travel all around the world. Paris, London, Tokyo, Ireland and many more. But now it's time for me to retire." Marian looked at her uncle. "S-So.... it's my turn?" She asked hesitantly. Darren nodded. "When it gets closer to our retirement we'll repeatedly have a dream about the next person who's going to carry on the legacy. The first dream is how you meet. You only catch a glimpse of that though. The only part I saw was me talking to you. Which I'm doing right now." Darren paused for a moment to adjust his Santa hat on his head.

   "The second dream is when the next nominee takes the pin and pins it on their shirt. I've seen that happen also. So it doesn't matter how long your parents persist and plea, you'll end up taking the pin anyways. And the next few dreams to come are me teaching you the basics and all that nice jazz. So what do you say? Will you accept the offer?" Darren looked at her. "Sweetie before you answer please consider this," Abel started. "You'd only get to see us when the holidays come around. You'd be off at some training facility for the rest of the year until the next Christmas comes around. And we'd probably only get to see you for 30 minutes, an hour at most before you'd have to go back to this job." He continued. "We have video call. And you get a 30 minute break every 3 hours from 10 o'clock in the morning to 10 o'clock at night when you go to bed so you can constantly keep in touch with them." Darren interjected. "Well what about her education? How is she supposed to get a job?" Molly asked, desperate to keep her daughter with her.

   "We have people for that. We have people for everything. She'll get her years of education. She'll have food and clothes. She can even have a pet. She can have her dream job. Here let me explain. She'll wake up at 8 o'clock and her session starts at 9. We give 6 hours in the day for training and the other 6 education. Of course the education is during the first 6 hours. And as for the job. Once she's done with the rest of her education involved years, she can start working-" "But that's not the point Darren." Abel interrupted. "What if she gets so caught up with her training that she forgets to call us. That she forgets about us altogether. It's happened with you Darren and I don't want it to happen to her." Abel continued. "But she gets to go around and spread Christmas cheer. She gets to keep the children smiling and hopeful. Why can't you understand that?" And with that one statement a heated argument erupted between the two brother. "I want to do it." Marian said lowly yet loud enough to quiet the two brothers. "Sweetie... what did you say?" Molly asked fearful of what her answer would be. "I said I want to do it. Imagine how many people I could make happy. Don't you know how good it feels knowing that you're the cause of someone's happiness? And I'm pretty sure there's no one else that can be chosen to do this since it's only in the Oakland bloodline. The pure Oakland bloodline. Unless you have any other siblings you never mentioned." Marian looked from her uncle to her father to her mother and when she was sure they didn't have a response she went on.

   "So either way, I'd have to do it. I want to do it. Please mom. Please dad. Let me do this." Marian pleaded. Molly looked at Abel who kept his gaze on the ground. He looked at Molly and they came to a silent agreement. "Okay. You can do it but please Mari, please call us every chance you get. Let us know how you're doing. Don't let us worry like your uncle did." Abel looked at Darren. Darren just looked at the pin in his hand. Marian smiled widely and went over to hug her parents. "Thank you so so so so much!! I promise I'll let you know how everything is going." The three of them hugged each other lovingly for a few moments before letting go. Darren walked over and handed her the pin. "It might be a bit bright." He warned.

   Marian took the pin from his hand and pinned it onto her shirt and she instantly felt like she was in a magical snow globe. Bright golden lights swirled around her as her whole appearance changed. She was now wearing a Santa baby dress with black Ugg boots, stripped red and white stockings and her very own Santa Claus hat. Marian gawked at her outfit for a moment before looking at her uncle and smiling. "So I'm ready?" She asked eagerly. "Very." He responded. Marian gave her parents one last hug before she had to go off with her uncle. "Keep her safe Darren. And stick with her as much as you can until she's ready to do it on her own." Abel said. Darren nodded. "Of course. What kind of Uncle wouldn't look after his niece?" Darren smiled. "Now come on Marian we have some flying to do." Darren made his way out the house with Marian and her parents following.

   "Flying?" They made it outside to see a reindeer harnesses onto a sleigh big enough for two. Her eyes sparkled as she went up to the reindeer and started to pet him. "His name's Apollo. And you'll have plenty of time to pet him once we get to our destination." Darren explained climbing into the sleigh. Marian followed and was soon sitting next to him on the sleigh. "Bye mom. Bye dad. I'll miss you." She said to them. "Bye Mari." Abel smiled softly. "We'll miss you too sweetheart." Molly said. "Alrighty then here we go. Come on Apollo!" Darren flicked the reigns and Apollo took off. Darren muttered something in a different language which caused golden orbs to circle around them, lifting them up in the air. "Khale 'iilaa wijhatina. It means 'take off to our destination' in Arabic." Darren told her. Molly and Abel watched as the flew off into the distance becoming but a flicker of light in the sky. And from then on The Christmas Legacy would be carried out by Marian for the next 20 years.