Winner of the 2005 Holiday Fiction Contest - Youth Division

***image1***Derek sat in his bed looking out the window. He was wondering when Christmas would finally come. It was in two days. All he wanted was for his dad to come home from Iraq. He lived with his sister Lucy and his mom. Derek was about to go to see Santa at the mall.

"Time to go, Derek," said his mother a few minutes later, from outside his doorway. She had her leather purse in her hand.

"Okay," he said. "Where’s Lucy?"

"She’s already in the car waiting for us," his mom said. He was so excited!

They went down to the garage. When Derek’s mom started the minivan, she asked Lucy, "What are you going to ask Santa for Lucy?"

"It’s a secret that only Santa and I are allowed to know," Derek’s little sister said.

"Five-year-olds," Derek thought, "you gotta’ love ‘em."

They were silent the rest of the way there. When they got in line for Santa, there were eight people in front of them. Finally, it was Lucy’s turn. She sat on Santa’s lap and Santa asked Lucy, "Ho-ho. What would you like for Christmas -um," he said in his muffled voice. He looked at Derek’s mom. She mouthed "Lucy" with her mouth.

"Lucy," he said as he finished his sentence. Lucy whispered something into Santa’s ear. He nodded his head and said, "That’s what all the girls want these days." Derek knew exactly what Lucy wanted.

When Derek got on Santa’s lap, Santa said, "What’s your name?"

Derek responded, immediately, "Derek."

"Well, Derek," Santa said in his muffled voice. "What would you like?"

Derek said, "I want my dad to come back home from Iraq."

"Oh," Santa said surprised. "I’ll try."

After that, they went home. When they got back, Derek went to bed. He couldn’t sleep. He was too worried about his dad.

The next day was Christmas Eve. Derek’s mom and Derek went Christmas shopping for Lucy, who was at her friend, Mary’s house. When they got home from the store, Derek went to his bedroom to wrap Lucy’s present. He had gotten her the new Barbie he knew she would love. As he wrapped the Barbie, all he thought about was his dad. He was remembering all the times he and his dad had wrapped presents together and had a great time. After he finished wrapping, he realized he had tape all over his jeans.

The Carsons always had a family feast on Christmas Eve. This feast always included Derek’s grandparents, his aunts and uncles, Lucy, his mom and dad. But this year Derek’s dad would not be joining them. Derek was still thinking about his dad when the food was ready. He was wondering what the soldiers were doing on Christmas Eve. Derek just knew that the soldiers would be praying for their families that they missed so much.

After everyone got to the table, Grandpa Carson started the prayer, "Heavenly Father, we thank you for this very special holiday and the chance for family to come together to celebrate the Christ’s birthday. Father, we ask you to bless this food, the people who prepared it and those that eat it. We ask a special prayer for Daniel Carson, who is apart from this family today. Please keep him safe and bless him this Christmas Eve. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen."

Once dinner was over, the family headed to the Christmas Eve service at Providence Baptist Church. Derek always sat beside his dad on Christmas Eve. This year he sat between Lucy and his aunt Margaret. He felt sad that he could not sit by his dad and that he wouldn’t even see him for six more months. Derek could not stop thinking about his dad and, before he knew it, they were already lighting their candles for the last hymn.

They went home after saying goodbye to their family members. As soon as Derek, Lucy, and his mom got home, Derek and Lucy went to get their pj’s on. Once they were all ready for bed and had brushed their teeth, they had a prayer beside their beds. Derek prayed that his dad was still safe and that Santa had a safe journey around the world. Then Derek went to his window and wished as he closed his eyes that he could see his dad sooner than six months from now. He got in his bed, pulled over his blankets and closed his eyes. Suddenly, outside his window, there was a great flash of light. He jumped out of bed, looked out his window and saw a shooting star. He called for Lucy and she came into his room. He told her to look out the window and when she did, she gasped. Then she said "A shooting star! Make a wish!" Derek replied "I already have" with a big grin on his face.

The next morning Lucy came in and woke Derek by shaking him as hard as she could. Still half asleep, Derek moaned "Nooooooo. I don’t want to go looking for a leprechaun, Lucy".

"No, you silly!" said Lucy, "It’s Christmas Day! Mom’s not awake yet, so let’s make coffee for her."

Derek opened his eyes and jumped straight out of his bed. He jolted to the top of the stairs and then ran down the stairs. Halfway down, he saw