Estronomicon Christmas Special 2009

JOHN GROVER hands. “Don’t be ridiculous, my wife will love it. I must have it. I’ll pay anything.”

“Are you sure?” the man asked once again.

“Positive,” David answered firmly.

“Alright, if you insist, I’ll sell it for one hundred and fifty dollars.”

It was an instant sale, David had it wrapped, and proudly strolled out of the shop. He considered himself quite a shrewd businessman.

Christmas morning came bright with fresh new snow. Marcy opened the last present of the morning and as the paper tore from the gift like scrap, Marcy’s eyes lit up like glowing candle flames. “Oh honey, it’s beautiful! I love it. Thank you!” she threw herself into his arms and kissed him. The elegant candy dish was immediately filled with Christmas candy received from relatives.

David put on his new wool sweater and lounged on the couch as Marcy tended to a savory roast in the oven. Around the house were precious vases, old portraits and lamps: all elegant, old, and irreplaceable. The candy dish sat in the living room on an end table with a pyramid of chocolate in it. David could smell the fresh chocolate and finally could not resist. With a greedy hand, David took several pieces of chocolate and popped them into his mouth.

Within minutes, fatigue set a heavy weight upon his limbs and David curled into the cushions of the couch.

When David began to scream for his life, Marcy raced into the living room to find him shivering on the couch. His face was covered with sweat. “David, wake up, David!” she shook him desperately and finally he opened his eyes, a look of horror in them. “It’s all right now. David, I’m here. What happened?”

He looked up at her, still trembling, trying to remember what he saw. “My God, it was so real. I found myself in a dark dungeon and suddenly these hideous midget creatures jumped all over me. They...they began to eat me. I felt my flesh tearing from my bones!”

Marcy held him tightly and stroked his damp hair. “That’s all it was, a dream. It’s over now, and it’s time to eat,” she soothed.

That evening, David began to feel foolish. So upset over a stupid nightmare! Yet the memory of it still caused him worry.

When it grew late, they decided to go to bed, but not before Marcy grabbed a chocolate from her pretty new dish for a bedtime snack.

“Good night sweetie, and Merry Christmas,” Marcy said as she kissed her - 37 -