Silent Night
by Elizabeth Averay
When I was little Christmas was all about presents, food, and more presents, Santa and his reindeer as well as the elves. Now it’s all shopping, making the food, putting up decorations and hiding gifts for the children so they can have a magical Christmas. I tell you, getting older sucks. There is no magic in it for late teens and adults – we have to make the magic for the kids.
Mum and Dad say I have to go carolling – which I hate – then I have to stand on a corner outside our local deli wearing an elf suit, holding a bucket for donations to help the homeless. This last part I have no problem with as I have a few friends that are homeless – but the carol singing? I hate it. But Mum and Dad insist, which isn’t fair. My brother, who is only a year older than me, gets out of it every year.
Well, no matter what, this year is my last year – I will make sure of it!
…
Well, carolling was even more terrible than ever. A car drove past straight through a massive muddy puddle that drenched us all. Then the spoilt brats from the posh school came by and threw rotten eggs, vegetables, and sour milk all over us.
My resolve that this is my last year has firmed!
Now showered and in the elf suit I do my duty outside the deli. I think I collected $300 for the homeless and now I can start working on my plan to never carol again.
I head out to the woods to my secret place where I can work uninterrupted. First I get my book of spells out and check it again for the ingredients.
Yes, I have them all.
With mortar and pestle I crush, grind, and blend all the dry ingredients together until they are a fine powder, then I measure out water, vodka, and tomato juice to mix into the powder. I leave it for three days to let the powdered seeds, roots, and herbs soak up the liquid.
This is a potion for silence – I hope it works!
Three days go by slowly but at last the day is here. I all but run to my secret place, give the potion a stir then, holding my breath, I drink it all down in one gulp.
The book says it may take a couple of days before it takes effect.
I go home to bed, hoping it will work.
Five days later it’s Christmas Eve, and nothing has happened. It didn’t work! This really sucks. I go downstairs, morose. The house is silent but Mum, Dad, and my brother are around the table with scraps of paper everywhere. I look at them. ‘What’s going on?’
A note is shoved at me, saying the doctor has been and checked on them as well as everyone else in town. No one can speak or make a sound – and there is no reason behind it.
The blood drains from my face. My spell silenced everyone but me – and worst of all? There is no way to reverse it.
Scribble City: Write Now 