It's cold outside

The chill has sealed the breeze in jars screwed tight

To the shadows the silhouettes doth abide

The lone palm tree is still on this night

And somewhere far away where wishes hide

Are the screaming ghosts of Christmas lights

It's cold outside

The devil chokes on heaven's sighs

he hates the joyful echos, cries of Christmas tide

And loves kids who cry on Santa's thighs

Somewhere far off where mangers reside

Are baby saviours on Godly highs

It's cold outside

Long lay the world in sin and error pinning

Then comes the wise men with gifts beside

So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming

And somewhere far away did God decide

Forever will there be nights spent caroling.

When I was younger, Christmas was a thing I tried to inhabit.

Sprawled on my back beneath the tree,

I'd peer up into the branches and the lights

and make up stories about all of the ornaments:

the sugar plum fairy with her withered wing,

the dancer in felt-tipped pointe shoes,

the porcelain tabby in its Santa Claus hat,

the nutcracker with the drooping jaw,

They all took turns trying to reach the top of the tree

so they could meet the benevolent angel

that resided there.

Sounds of bumping and stumbling. A knock.

But this was on glass. "Fire!" someone yells.

Lights turn on and we all have to "Get up!"

Winter. Little to no clothes. The night smells.

Fear keeps us from moving out of danger

and we're carried to safety by strangers.

Watching the snow sparkle quells my anger.

Angel-eyes twinkle, fill me with laughter.

Once the turkey is gone

its time to move on

oh the holiday cheer

as Christmas draws near

chestnuts roasting on an open fire

get me all inspired

to hang the stockings

trim that tree

go to see the lights

that illuminate the night

the holiday cheer

wish it lasted all year

Christmas. A festival of light amid the darkest days of the year. We try to push away the dark and bitter cold by surrounding ourselves with light. Hundreds of thousands of years ago, that’s how we made it through the night. Today, that’s still how we make it through the night. Christmas is a time of togetherness, with our own sources of light: our families, our friends, and our special others. Two years ago, I went out with my friends the night after Christmas, and today, it is still one of my fondest memories. No wonder why Christmas music is always so cozy and welcoming.

Christmas. A realization of childish joy and fascination. Do you remember staying up late in the living room, with the Christmas tree all light-up and looking spectacular, trying to catch a glimpse of Santa Claus? I do. Our tree was so small that we had to prop it up on a table so there was enough room for the gifts. And the entire time, a question was nagging at the back of my mind: how was Santa going to get in if we didn’t have a chimney?

Christmas. An embrace of the little things. Time normally passes too quickly to fully appreciate our fortunes. That’s why Christmas is a time of gift-giving. Gratitude only becomes real when we take the heart to reflect and pay it back. Like gift-giving, we have other rituals that bring comfort. It takes time to put up the lights, set up the tree, and meticulously hang each and every ornament in its right place. Walking through the neighborhood or entering the living room, seeing those lights shimmering like stars and snowflakes, makes the moment real. As ambitions soar and I mature, it’s becoming more important to remind myself to slow down and enjoy the view.

Christmas. A holiday that means so much to so many people. Yet, everything I have said only applies to the Northern Hemisphere. For those in the South, where the moon shines upside-down and cyclones rotate backward, Christmas has a whole other meaning.

Hey, Prose Fam. I pray your holiday season has been going great. I know it seems I disappeared off the face of the Earth for a moment, but I'm back now (kinda)

I could hardly participate in NaNoWriMo this year, but I penned a few words just to say I didn't skip a round. Then, there's WorldEmber. I figured I wouldn't be able to do anything, but, surprisingly, I was able to churn out a few articles in like two days thanks to the Christmas story I was working on.

UNFORTUNATELY, I was not able to edit the novel OR complete the audio experience I was trying to make in time for this Christmas, but hopefully, with all this preparation, it will be ready to debut next year.

This story, An Intern for Christmas (working title) is actually a section of the full Secret Agent Someone story that I wanted to isolate and blow up into it's own Christmas special. I had planned this since early in the year, but once I was invited to be on Escape this Podcast (an awesome honor and privilege that I indeed do NOT regret) a lot of my plans kinda got pushed to the back burner. Then, life happened. I got called back to work in the office. I struggled a bit. I got hired for a few big gigs that took precedence (I still need to work on a lot of things! It's a blessing with challenges.) AND even my voice actor, the awesome guy who plays Someone, caught a cold for a moment. :(

He's doing better now, and even if he didn't get sick, I probably wouldn't have been able to finish anything anyway, but... IT'S A LOT. Nevertheless, Merry Christmas, everyone! I know it's Christmas Eve in most places, but for some, it's already the day. OR it will be really soon. So God bless you all and have a wonderful, safe, holiday. I am thankful that, though my plans didn't work out, at least I got to do something. Almost 6,000 words in about 48 hours (in addition to work and everything) is quite a feat if I do say so myself.

Oh. Click the link below for a quick preview of the story! Sorry if you have to wait 365 days for the rest! XD

https://www.worldanvil.com/w/secret-agent-someone/a/an-intern-for-christmas--plot