Christmas dinner at Aunt Ruthie’s. The old man beside me looks familiar. He asks, “Ben, have you been good?”

His chuckle fills the entire room, and I remember—fluffy white beard, velvety red suit—Christmas at Grandma’s.

I grin, six again; and from somewhere, beyond icicled houses, sleigh bells jingle.

Lisa Marie Lopez resides in northern California where she enjoys quiet walks and writing fiction. She’s had short stories published in many different literary journals and anthologies, including Train River anthology and From the Depths literary journal. Say hello at facebook.com/authorlisamariefiction