An Advent Calendar of Stories – 20th December

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

I Saw Three Ships by Gael X. Ile

He could smell the coldness of the air, the reek of frost and the aching need for snow to siphon off the worst of the cold, all of that overwhelming the fainter aromas of plum pudding and goose. And that grimy smell - the one that always seemed to cling to eight year old boys - the unpleasantly familiar odour was rising from the lower bunk. He rolled over, shoulder shrugging quickly back under the Star Wars duvet, face turned towards the beauty of hoar frost plieing across the window, back-lit by the streetlight outside. It would be dark for hours yet, and quiet...

Are you caught yet? It's M.Fae Glasgow magic, that - the frosted glamour of Christmas crossed with the grim, gritty world that is the lad's... and it's good. *g*