A/N: Hello friends! I’ve been working on this fanfiction for a couple of years now and I’m so excited to be able to present to you the finished work. For a long time, I’ve been embarrassed about my writing and how much of an intimate part of myself it reveals, but I’m learning to open up about my work and my passion for writing, even if it is just Santa Clause fanfictions like this one! Auld Lang Syne started off as a weird dream, as many good stories do, and blossomed into a real tale of love, friendship, courage, and emotional conflict. It’s been rewritten, reimagined, and researched for many months but I’m proud of what I’m able to bring you guys. So thank you for checking it out and don’t forget to like and leave some feedback (you know I love to hear it). Strap in for some romance and get ready to have your childhood fantasies realized in “Auld Lang Syne”...
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Chapter 1~ So Lucky
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December 23, the day before Christmas Eve
Brooklyn, NY
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She could hear the chiming of the bells from across the busy street, from across the toy stores collecting donations for soldiers, from back to her middle school Christmas band concerts, from back to her very first visit home. They stung in her ears—not in a painful way, more like an itch you’re just dying to scratch but may never get to. She felt them clang and ring on her fingertips. They were so close to her. After all these years…
She had so many memories that it sometimes felt that she had lived a completely different life when she was younger. They were all set in a background of white and always accompanied by cheery, tinkling music. But, the more she thought of them, the more of a dream-like quality they’d take. She'd begin to feel the edges growing fuzzier and fuzzier—fading to nothing like the dying flame of a candle.
This time of year was harder than most, but she wasn’t alone in that resolution. All across Brooklyn were families who weren’t able to keep the lights on or food on the table. She was luckier, but she still dreaded this day. It might be another many months before she could see them again—her friends, her family, her grandfather. But, she knew they weren’t just twiddling their thumbs. They were busy, probably busier than anyone else on Earth.
She tried to keep a good spirit around this time. But, she was here. They were there. And there was nothing she could ever do to change it.
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“Calvin!” came a shrill woman’s voice from across the counter. “Kit Calvin!”
She turned from the window to see the barista reading her name off of the paper coffee cup. She joined her from the other end of the counter.
“Thanks, that’s me.” She took the coffee away and hiked over to the side table of lids and sugar packets. They never put enough in there. Two packets in, Kit could feel her phone vibrating in her coat pocket. Why her dad decided to go shopping the day before Christmas Eve was beyond her. To reminisce a bit, she guessed…
He spoke on the phone in a voice muffled over by the presence of other desperate parents. Everyone seemed desperate nowadays.
“Hey, Kit-Kat, I found your mom by the baking section. She wants you to come check out these Santa cookies. They look just like your grandpa!” Kit smiled at the glee in his voice and took her first sip of her mocha. Hot!! Hot!! Way too hot!
“O-okay,” She replied through a scalding-hot tongue and fresh tears, “I’m on my way.” He hung up and she focused on mending the new destruction of her tongue.
Kit and her dad were pretty alike as most people go. Well, all of them were different for obvious reasons. They had seen more than others will dream about their whole lives. They were happier people…or at least they were supposed to be. But, in a time like that, it’s hard to stay happy when everyone around you had given up hope. Kit wished she could tell them. She wished they could just see!
She weaved through the rows of bread and pita chips in the bakery section of the store to find her mom leaned over a glass counter, pointing at one of the sugar cookies. Her dad found Kit soon enough and led her over to the counter. Amongst the cakes, pies, and fluffy tarts was a stack of cookies painted with the face of Santa Claus. The swirly beard and wide, cheery eyes gleamed back at them, and Kit couldn’t help but laugh.
“Yeah, it kinda does look like Grandpa, huh?” Kit’s mom pulled away from the counter and dug into her purse.
“We have to get it,” She giggled. “Scott will just die.”
She quickly pulled out her wallet and bought the cookie and an extra danish for Kit’s dad—his favorite. As soon as she was handed the cookie, she took a picture on her phone and began to text it to Grandpa. Ever since the world went digital, Kit’s mom insisted on getting Grandpa Scott a phone. The most amusing bit was watching her teach him to use it. Kit smiled as her mom started a Snapchat video, showing each of them off. But, it was starting to feel better being there with her family. They were so lucky. She was so lucky.
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Kit’s family lived in a small apartment on the north side of Brooklyn. They’d lived there for as long as she could remember. Her mom and Charlie worked at an up-and-coming graphic design company for cars. She stayed in school. Actually, she would be graduating in a few months and leaving home for college. For the past year, Charlie had been helping her with her writing and her studies to get into Columbia University for Creative Writing. She was one of the lucky ones there.
The night was falling quicker than anticipated. The time was flying by lately, and she always felt just a step behind. The window of her room had a pretty good view of the city. She loved to watch the lights of the lamp posts and the cars passing by. But, most of all, she loved the snow. It was a reminder. It felt familiar. The great thing about being in New York was there was never a shortage of it that time of year.
Her school had been off on Christmas Break for about a week. They’d spent the time doing typical family Christmas traditions—baking cookies, visiting light shows, wrapping presents for Grandpa Scott for when he'd visit. She stopped her wondering and smiled to herself. They were different people, for certain.
Many many years ago, on Christmas Eve, her dad’s father put on a huge red coat and took up a brand new occupation. It affected her family deeply ever since. They changed their minds and their hearts and encouraged others to do the same. But, it was a secret after all, and they had to keep it hidden all their lives. As a kid, all Kit wanted to do some days was shout it from the rooftops. My Grandpa is Santa Claus! My Grandpa is Santa! Who would ever believe them?
But, they adapted as every Santa family did and, instead, focused on opening the hearts of others who couldn’t share their experiences. It wasn’t an easy task. Humanity was vicious, especially there. People refused to believe what isn’t tangible and confirmed. They all thought the family naive and accused Kit’s parents of “raising her to be stupid”. They weren’t the most popular in the crowds. The kids at school were only worse. They beat you down if they saw you as weak. They followed right after their parents and ridiculed anyone for changing their minds. There was no love there anymore. Something deep inside had been beaten black and turned to ash. They didn’t allow it in themselves. They didn’t let themselves second-guess a thing.
Kit didn’t have many friends in New York. As hard as she tried, she couldn’t understand them and why they let themselves lose hope and faith in something good and true. She worked hard on her own, built herself up to a high academic level, and dreamed of a place better. Maybe that place would be Columbia University. Maybe it’d be further away. But, it was there—Undeniably, it was there somewhere. It was her job to find it.
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She felt the sting of the cold and pulled her cheek away from the window. Her eyes were drooping slowly and growing heavier by the second. Kit blinked a bit and saw the colorful lights of the streets come clearer into view. It must’ve been late. She peeled her fingers from the glass and noticed the faint beginnings of frost on the window glass. The bedroom was dark except for a few fairy lights strung up over the bed-frame. The miniature Christmas tree in the corner gleamed softly with yellow bulbs and masquerade beads. She walked around her room a bit, noticing every detail and wondering what it’d be like when she’d be gone. Kit loved Brooklyn. Every day was different and held new adventures for her to get into. But, she’d never really been on her own before. And, New York was a dangerous place to be all alone.
She hoped for a safe trip for her Grandpa Scott. They never had to worry much anymore. The elves were perfect at their job, and they’d done the process for hundreds and hundreds of years. But, in Grandpa’s time as the big man, there had been some…surprises, to say the least.
Kit fell back on her bed and wrapped herself up in a thick, fluffy blanket. It was near impossible to keep herself awake. She turned to fall back asleep and noticed the small object on her nightstand. And the heavy, guilty feeling settled back in the pit of her stomach. It was a snow globe, small enough to fill the palm of your hand. Inside was a forest of snowmen and evergreens. The snow had long settled at the base of the globe. It was beautiful and one of the most precious objects she owned. But, she dared not touch it.
She didn’t keep many friends there in Brooklyn. Most of hers were much, much farther north. In fact, she had been a frequent guest to the North Pole since before she could remember. Life made more sense there. Everyone made sense there. She never felt out of place or picked apart by those she was close to. She was always welcomed open arms! And she would never want to leave. Kit formed lifelong friends there, mainly with the Head-Elf Bernard. He’d been her best friend for years. They knew each other by heart…or at least they used to. Things started changing as the year progressed and new challenges started attacking Kit at every angle. They used to talk all the time through the snow globe he gave her as a gift for her fourteenth birthday. All she had to do was shake it and his matching half would light up. But, she hadn’t touched the thing in months. It was never on purpose. It just started to feel so silly. Why keep holding onto things in life that’ll never stick around for much longer?
She watched the snow-globe for a little longer. Something in her really hoped she was wrong. Maybe it would light right up if she stayed and watched some more. Maybe they could talk again. She could tell Bernard all about this year and what was coming next. He could read her the monthly report of complaints made against him. She could get his thoughts on the first couple chapters of her new novel. He could tell her “It sounds like a masterpiece!” like he always did. She’d ask for his criticism anyway since he always knew what’d sound just right. He helped her land into Columbia University in Manhattan and didn’t even know it yet.
She shook off the thought and rolled over to the other side of the bed. She had to remember how lucky they were. They all have our own lives to deal with. We all grow up and we all change.
She looked back out the window again. The frost crept in closer and closer. Her eyelids fell lower and lower, heavier and heavier. She’s so lucky. Other people in her shoes would be living out their dreams, without a care in the world. Why didn’t she feel that way, too?
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