"First Christmases" (Image and Text Copyright Wylddane Productions, LLC)
It was the night before Christmas, and little Rick was tucked snugly in his cozy bed, staring out the window at the soft, falling snow. He had never seen snow before, and it made his heart feel like it was dancing. It was his very first Christmas, and everything felt magical.
Rick had spent the whole day with his family. His mom and dad had decorated the tree with twinkling lights and shiny ornaments. Rick's eyes had grown wide when they hung the star on top—it sparkled so brightly, he thought it might be a piece of the sky.
But now, as the moonlight shone through his window, Rick was wide awake, excited and curious. He had heard so many stories about Christmas, but he still didn’t know exactly how it all worked. Would Santa really come? Would there be presents? And what about the reindeer? He could hardly wait!
His little stuffed bear, Mr. Tumbles, sat beside him on the bed, and Rick whispered to him, “Do you think Santa will come tonight?”
Mr. Tumbles, of course, didn’t answer, but Rick imagined that if he could speak, he would say, "I’m sure he will, Rick, and he’ll bring you something wonderful!"
Just then, Rick heard a soft thump on the roof. His eyes grew wide. Could it be…? Was Santa already here?
Suddenly, Rick’s door creaked open, and his mom peeked inside, her face glowing with a warm smile. “It’s time for bed, little one. You want to listen to a Christmas story?”
Rick nodded eagerly, pulling the covers up to his chin. His mom sat down beside him and began to read aloud. It was a story about a little reindeer who wanted to fly as fast as Santa’s sleigh. Rick listened intently, his eyes growing heavier with every word, until finally, he drifted off to sleep.
As he slept, something very special happened.
Outside, the snowflakes fell gently, covering the world in a soft blanket of white. And high above, Santa’s sleigh flew across the sky, with reindeer dancing through the clouds. Santa smiled as he gently landed on the roof of Rick’s house, carrying a sack filled with gifts.
He tiptoed down the chimney, his boots making barely a sound. He placed a shiny new toy train under the tree, beside a little stuffed reindeer, just for Rick. Then, he reached into his sack one last time and left a small note for the little boy.
It read:
"Merry Christmas, Rick! You are loved by so many. Sleep well and dream of the stars!"
When morning came, Rick woke up to find the room filled with the sweet smell of cinnamon and pine. His eyes sparkled as he saw the presents under the tree, and his heart skipped a beat when he spotted the toy train and the little reindeer.
He ran to his parents’ room, waking them with excited shouts. “Mom! Dad! Santa came! Look!” His parents, smiling sleepily, followed him downstairs, and together, they sat around the tree, laughing and hugging.
And so, Rick’s very first Christmas was filled with wonder and joy. That night, as he snuggled into bed again, he thought of all the magic he had experienced—and of how, in the quiet of the night, the world was full of love, warmth, and hope.
As he drifted off to sleep, he whispered softly to Mr. Tumbles, “Maybe next year we can stay awake and see Santa ourselves.”
But for now, he was content—because he knew that Christmas wasn’t just about presents. It was about love, kindness, and the magic that lived in every heart.
And with that, Rick closed his eyes, knowing that the best gift of all was already inside him.
~Wylddane
RSS Feed