Fiction Short Story

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Fiction Short Story

My name is Helen V. Lundt.

I have always enjoyed writing, and had a few articles published in The Coachmen Magazine many years ago.

I am a retired hospital nurse, with almost twenty-eight years on the job. My children, four daughters, are grown and married. They have blessed me with seven grandchildren. Unfortunately, I seldom see them, since they live so far away. We do keep in touch via phone and e-mail, however.

My husband and I like traveling in our old thirty-one foot motorhome, towing the old car that he loves. We spend much of the winter in Florida, after the Christmas holiday. Our winters here in upstate NY are too frigid and snowy for us as we get a little older.

My inspiration for this story came from sitting here at the computer, looking out the glass door to the deck, and watching the first heavy snow fall. It just poured out of me from there on. I hope you like it.

The Orphans and the UFO

by Helen V. Lundt

Snow fell in crystallized forms, sparkling its way down. It was a beautiful, still night. The little boy and girl that ran from the orphanage came to a group of trees and stopped. Could they be dreaming? Was this real? Glancing back to the building they had run from, they knew they could not return. The beatings and hunger were enough to keep them where they were. Mary shivered with fear and uncertainty, as she held tightly to her brother's hand.

"Johnny I'm afraid," she whispered. "What is that in the field?"

Peeking around the trees, Johnny said, "It looks like a flying saucer, but I can't be sure." The object was very large, round, and painted red and white.

Little men dressed in red fluffy suits carried white boxes out of the saucer, piling them high in various sleighs. They sang in unison as they worked, marching to the beat of the music.

"HO HO HO," the children could hear echoing from within the saucer. It was very dark, but the area they watched was brightly lit. The rays of light warmed the children. They were mesmerized, watching the activity.

"HO HO HO," again the deep bass voice from within the saucer. Suddenly, at the door there stood a large man, at least the largest man there.

"HO HO HO, let's fill them to go-o-o-o. There's wee ones awaiting our gifts, don't you know."

The children's eyes were locked upon this Santa, a smaller one than they had seen before. Now he turned toward them.

"Come in, come in, children. We do love company, don't we?"

"Yes yes yes," the workers replied. "Welcome. Come and see us."

The children held hands and slowly walked toward the ship. Everyone called out to them, making them feel very much at home.

"So you're the lost orphans," Santa observed. "Well, you're not lost anymore. We know of a man and his wife who are crying now, for not having the children they desire. Come along Mary. Come along Johnny."

He knew their names! They looked at him wide-eyed and went with the Santa.

The two children began to relax. They watched the joyful activity as the sleighs were filled with gifts. "Look at the fun they have," Mary whispered to her brother. "I think we'll be all right here."

"Yes, Mary. At least we won't be in that dark room scrubbing floors. Let's stay. I think Mother would want us to."

"Hooray hooray, the children will stay."

Magically, they were seated at a table with hamburgers and chocolate milk in front of them. Yes, they were hungry. Crunchy red apples finished their lunch.

"Look Mary, there must be hundreds of sleighs. They're almost all full, already."

The man came to them to guide them once more...

"HO HO HO, now you will go,
Over the clouds, where down below,
You'll find the people we told you of.
They'll see you by their Christmas tree.
You will be part of a family you will love."

They hopped into a sleigh, held on tight and watched the others in amazement. One by one the sleighs took off into the sky, their jet streams white in the darkness. These white streams made patterns; this way to France, that way to Greece, another path to Canada, and to The United States. All over the world, there were white paths in the sky, made by the little sleighs.

"Oh," Mary snuggled within the blankets, holding Johnny's hand tightly.

They fell asleep, hearing in the distance, "HO HO HO. See them all go."

The orphans knew this was magic, as they woke up. There they were, lying under a sparkling Christmas tree. Voices in the distance came steadily closer.

"Oh Dear, look. It's a miracle." Mrs. Whitney couldn't believe her eyes. "Aren't they the most beautiful children you've ever seen? I prayed for a child, and look what the Lord left for us."

There didn't seem to be any other explanation for this blessed event, and the Whitneys continued to believe in the Lord's miracle. As though they had always been together, the children and the Whitneys prayed to God, giving thanks for this great day.

Then they laughed and looked at each other, hugging all around. Tears of happiness flowed.

Outside, a large object flew by and they heard in the distance, "HO HO HO." The sky lit up with a great white path behind, as the object flew North.

Now they all had someone to love. They were indeed, a family. This was the best Christmas ever.

(c) Copyright 2002 Helen V. Lundt