Advent Event Day 2

Welcome to day 2 of the Advent Event! Please share this event with your friends. The more anthologies we can sell, the more money we can raise for the National Down Syndrome Society.

Purchase the book here: http://amzn.com/1479266248

Or visit this site for more information: http://adventanthology.wordpress.com

Here’s a look at the next two stories:

“Up on the Housetop” by Brian C. Ricks

It was the Christmas Grandma and Grandpa were in the Philippines on their mission. Instead of going to Grandma and Grandpa’s house for the holidays, Uncle Grant drove down from school to our house. I idolized Uncle Grant. Everything he did, I did. Everything he said, I repeated five minutes later. Every joke he told, I remembered. He was the perfect combination of grown-up and kid. He was old enough to drive, but not too old to have fun.

I could hardly contain myself when Dad told me Uncle Grant would be coming for Christmas. He said Grant’s girlfriend had uninvited him from meeting her parents, but that was gibberish to me. All that mattered was that he was coming. It was like getting Christmas a week early when he strode through our front door, a duffle bag thrown over his back just like Santa’s sack. Then he dropped the duffle, scooped me up in a big hug, and tickled me until I couldn’t breathe.

Uncle Grant was the exact opposite of Dad. Dad hadn’t picked me up since I was four because of his back, but Uncle Grant picked me up every time he saw me. Dad’s work made him shave every morning; Uncle Grant had so many whiskers that they scratched me when we wrestled. And Uncle Grant didn’t talk about boring adult things. Mom, Dad, and my other relatives just talked about kids, work, and politics. Uncle Grant talked about sports, video games, and girls. I wasn’t interested in girls, but I loved sports and video games. After Dad showed Uncle Grant his room—it was right next to mine—he sat down and watched me play Mario Kart. He even jumped in as the second player and we spent an hour racing together until Mom called us down for dinner. He even showed me some shortcuts that I didn’t know.

“A Season of Grace” by Michael D. Young

Darin felt as though he might throw up, and he hadn’t even sampled any of his mother’s fruitcake yet. He would have to warn Ruth not to eat it.

“Did you bring the present?” Ruth asked.

“Of course,” Darin said. “You must have asked five times already.”

Darin and Ruth had only been married for a few months, and it would be their first holiday season together. He had never experienced a Hanukah celebration, and she had never experienced Christmas. This year, he wished they could just dispense with the holidays altogether.

Darin sighed. “Sorry, I’m just nervous,” he said. “I haven’t seen your family much since the wedding, and I want to make a good impression.” Darin gazed at the blur of passing Christmas lights reflecting off the freshly fallen snow and wished they were going anywhere but to Ruth’s family’s house. Sure, he was looking forward to going to his parent’s house later, but he’d only get there if he survived this. Perhaps there were worse things than fruitcake.

And here a look of one of the prizes:

A warm winter hat from Teresa Osgood!

The main character in my story would have been a lot better off if he’d had a hat like this. Hand-crocheted with chunky, easy-care acrylic yarn, this hat will keep your head and ears warm and cozy. With a circumference of about 25 inches, it should comfortably fit most teens and adults.

The blue hat is the one she’s giving away and she’s the person in the green hat.