A little Christmas story

It was the day before Christmas Eve. What could you do like a Teddy Bear, except to be the gift of a child?

That little one didn't want to have that destiny, not yet: he wanted only to journey by his own and discover the world. So at night, he profited that the shop owner had forgot to close the door and he went away.

It was cold and the snow was falling but that didn't stop that little Teddy Bear, at least not at the beginning. But when almost all the night had passed, his poor little paws became wet and heavier and it was impossible for him to continue his way. It was as well impossible to go back, the shop was too far. What bad idea to try an escape in this season!

In a last effort, all he was able to do was to sit near the corner of the dirty alley where he was. Somebody would see him and maybe bring him back to where he came from. But when dawn came, no one cared about his situation. Why should have they? Snow and wet had badly played with the aspect of the little one; for the passers-by, adults or children, he was only a piece of junk.

He was desperate like the day was passing and cold never left while snowfall was back. That he was regretting his escape was little to say.

And then, like the sun was close to pass behind the horizon, another group of children passed. This time, one of them, a little girl, stopped before the Teddy Bear. The others mocked when she bent to take the little one in her arms but she didn't care.

"A child has probably lost him and is waiting his return. Santa Claus will help him," was the only answer she made to the others.

Holding tight the Teddy Bear for he was no longer cold, she hurried to her home. It wasn't the biggest nor the most beautiful of the town, but her family was fine with it. When her Mom saw the Teddy Bear, she questionned her for a moment, before to let her daughter doing as she had decided.

The girl took a basket and put an old but good cover inside before to put them near the Christmas tree. She put carefully the Teddy Bear inside, enough close of the fireplace for he could dry slowly but safely. She put also a letter before the basket for Santa Claus and wished to the little one a good night and a good road.

Since months, the Teddy Bear had heard about "Santa Claus", who took toys in their destined houses. But he didn't want another home now, nor to go in adventures by himself. That little girl was so kind with him, he didn't want another friend, certainly not the children he had saw in the shop or in the street. Maybe if he was able to leave the room just for a moment, Santa Claus wouldn't take him elsewhere. But he was still so heavy it was not possible for him to move too much.

And midnight came. And Santa Claus was here a moment later, in the peace of the house. A big man with a white beard, all in red, like the Teddy Bear had heard before.

Santa Claus bent above the basket and looked at the little one, before to read the letter of the girl.

"It's done, I'm leaving now," thought our little friend.

On the morning, the little girl found her Christmas presents, as well as a letter from Santa Claus on one of the packs:

"Thank you for that Teddy Bear, he has found his way to his family.
In the gift pack below, I hope you'll find something which can be useful to you. I beg your pardon for the hurried shape of the package."

In the pack below the letter were outfits specially made for the Teddy Bear. He was still enthroned in his basket, with a new cover above him and a lovely tie at his neck. Santa Claus always has emergency gifts in his sleigh.

The little one had learnt by Santa Claus he wasn't destined to end in this house: the old man knew his fate was to go - out of Christmas season - in the house of a excited child, like he was, but careless. But the little one had changed his heart at the contact of the girl. And she deserved something nice for her care of a lost toy.

The Teddy Bear won his name that day, Caramel, for the color of his hair.

With the outfits, Santa Claus had given also a magic hairbrush, which healed his appearance after his adventure.

And Caramel celebrated many Christmas after that with his dear friend.

Christmas is the time to celebrate magic. Believe in and you'll see it!

That story is my own creation.
Image rendered in Daz Studio, edited in Photoshop (settings of light, snowfall)

Word Count: 912
Hours Spent: 4
Software Used: Daz Studio 4, Photoshop