Link to the beginning of the story https://atomic-temporary-37778625.wpcomstaging.com/2024/12/12/rescuing-christmas-memories-the-land-of-forgotten-toys/

Levi made his way deeper into the tunnel. All along the way, he encountered the same thing: young kids clutching toys. Some were very old-looking: wooden boats, hand puppets, toy soldiers, drums.

One little boy seemed to be playing with a single marble. It was orange and milk colored, swirled together. Levi stopped to watch him.

“Are you here to play with me?” the boy said. “Do you have marbles to shoot?”

“Doesn’t anyone play with you?” Levi asked.

“There’s no one else here,” the boy answered. 

Levi glanced around at the hundreds of children of all ages scattered throughout the cave. How could this be?  Then, there was something he remembered his grandfather saying about memories. Two people can experience the same thing at the same time yet have completely different memories.

These were all individual memories that cannot be shared with others. Each existed without ever knowing about any other.

Maybe that’s what’s happening. Maybe it’s not the memories that are important to this creature; it lives off the loneliness of forgotten memories. What a sad existence, Levi thought.

“On come now, Levi, I don’t need your pity. This is my life and I enjoy it immensely.” The creature’s sudden appearance startled Levi.

Leve waved his hand around the room. “All these memories. All these gifts. You take them from the people who need them the most. For what? Do you enjoy the sadness? Do you enjoy their sorrow?

“Many of these were Christmas presents. Presents given to them by people who loved these children very much. Why would you want to take them away?”

The creature hesitated a moment, then sat down. “Let me tell you a story…”

*****

Outside the cave entrance, Vel and the others searched for the keyholes. It took a while to clear the dirt and mud, but the finally found them. 

“Give me the keys, Vel,” Grandfather said. “You stay here with Wyatt, I’ll deal with this creature.”

“No!” both Wyatt and Vel said. “We are in this together. We all go in.” They both folded their arms across their chests.

“Hmm, a mutiny, I see. Okay, I suppose there’s no point in dividing our forces. Let’s go.”  Grandfather inserted the keys, and the door swung open.

“Stay close behind me; not sure what we’re gonna find.”

As they made their way along the path, many children approached Wyatt. 

“Are you here to play with me?” they said, then shrunk back. 

“I don’t think they can see you or me, Vel,” said Grandfather. “They seem to be drawn to Wyatt.”

“They recognize the innocence of a child,” Vel said. “They are the ones who believe in Santa and the magic. They are the ones making the most memories. It’s why they are the ones being taken.”

“Well, we’re gonna end this right now.”

After a few more steps, Grandfather stopped, holding up his hand. “Shh, listen.”

Somewhere deeper inside the cave, they heard a voice. The voice was telling a story. A story of loneliness and sadness. A story that explained it all.

“I have an idea,” Wyatt said.

Vel and Grandfather both stared at him. 

Tomorrow: An Unlikely Hero

(Author’s note, Christmas is about sharing. Please share this with everyone you know!)