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Click hereTwo hours later, I saw the inevitable head pushing open the mudroom window, drawn by the smell of baked apples. Before I could say anything, Nadie slid a plastic plate onto the windowsill. "Of course I have one for you, Pim."
Ann was joined by Ethan, and they were joined by William and Ruth. And then spouses, one by one, our family extending and grafting on. Those pairings led to Griffin, Sophie, little Nadie, Michael, the twins Christopher and Christine, Alice, Emma, Jeb—I nixed a Jed Junior—and finally Janey ... whom I admitted I spoiled even more than I spoiled all the others because I thought an "oops" should be extra-specially-loved.
Through it all, birthdays and anniversaries and Thanksgivings were wonderful times, but Christmas was the best. Somehow, despite our constant complaints about empty nests and "What do we need this much room for?" and some sad memories about the loss of parents, we kept the house. It never felt crowded for the holidays, just lovingly filled with twenty and more people bustling about.
And each twenty-fifth, as the darkness closed in and turned the snow bluish under the night sky, Nadie and I would make our way outside. We'd hear the noise of distant traffic fade away, every man-made sound quieting, leaving only the silent night. We'd see the parallel grooves running through the snow, the ground between churned with prints, a single set of them running alongside. We'd watch the antlered figure prance out from behind the barn's bulk, hooves making small crunching sounds in the crust as he returned home from his night's journey.
"Heya, Pie Thief," I'd say, and laugh while he nuzzled for the biscuit he knew was in my pocket. "Welcome back."
"Hello, Pim," she'd say, and give him the cinnamon-baked apple she carried.
And the years passed.
I could hear Nadie on the phone with Ethan. For once, I didn't want to be on the call with the kids. Let them have their unguarded moment.
"Sweetie, if you could come a bit earlier, all of you, it would be good. Talk to your brother and sisters." ... ... ... "It's your father." ... ... ... "No, it's bad. Months at most."
The news had come like a bullet out of the darkness, but what could you do but accept it?
Nobody said a word about the elephant that day. Nadie seldom laid down the law in our family, but when she did, it was as if it came down from the mountain graven in stone. She made it clear: keep it light and happy.
It was just the way Christmas should be: shrieks and giggles from teenaged voices; quieter laughter along with liquid Yule cheer for the older. The late-morning visit to the shelter where we all donned aprons and took our turns dishing out a holiday meal. Sophie's husband, who was from the States, endured the good-natured razzing about Americans "needing their NFL fix," and pointed out that all of his brothers- and sisters-in-law were sitting around watching the Christmas game right alongside him.
Nadie sat beside me the whole day, quiet herself. She was moving more slowly these days and was content for others to manage dinner, tame the chaos, and bring in wood for the fire. Making the morning's schnecken had been enough.
When the time came that evening, she helped me to my feet. It was snowing. I was glad that I got to see that a final time. Once more the familiar quiet descended as I saw Pie Thief peering at me over the paddock fence.
I stroked the wiry hair along his spine as the velvety nose nuzzled into my neck and then burrowed into my coat pocket for the treat he knew would be there. Then there was a sound, not the wind in the trees or the crack of ice breaking free, a man-made sound. The jangle of a harness. I looked over toward the barn.
Kerstman pulled aside the tarp at the back of the sleigh and emerged with an armful of leather and buckles. "This is called a pickaxe arrangement." He shook the straps out, disconnecting and reconnecting with the sure, quick movements of practised hands until there were three abreast in the front, followed by two, two, and two. "Your fella will run in the front. It's the easiest. Next year, he'll be ready to take Dasher's place alongside Rudolph."
He reached into his pocket and produced a carrot. "Somebody's looking forward to nothing but a warm stall and all the apples he can steal. Right, old boy?" Dasher's big head turned and snuffled, and the carrot disappeared as if by magic.
The Kerstman gave a little chirrup and Pie Thief moved up to take his place in the centre. I helped with the hame buckles while Kerstman did the belly band. He gave a final shake to the leather that set the little bells attached all over a-jingle and then climbed up into the sleigh. He brushed the powdering of snow off the seat and held up a thick, green blanket. He looked over at us. "Ready?"
Nadie and I looked at each other in confusion and surprise.
"Someone has to keep him brushed, his hooves oiled, and sneak him treats. In between, there's a workshop where we can put those nimble fingers to use for many years to come, Jed." He turned those bluest blue eyes toward Nadie. "And Missus will be thrilled with someone who knows their way around cinnamon the way you do."
The younger Webbes—adults who felt like children again at this time of year, their children, and even Sophie's tiny baby, first great-grandchild to Jed and Nadie—came down early on Boxing Day. They were surprised that there was no smell of coffee or baking.
"Just let them sleep in," they said.
It was later that morning that Ethan said, "I'll just go check."
He came back and caught the eyes of his brother and sisters.
The four stood at the foot of the bed and looked at the couple, lying with hands clasped. They saw the joyful expressions on their faces and how they looked somehow ... younger.
"They never wanted to be apart," Ann said. The others nodded and smiled through their tears.
Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night.
❄❄❄❄❄❄
I hope you enjoyed the story; thank you for reading. Also, thanks to MsCherylTerra, norafares, and OneAuthor for reading and feedback while it was baking.
Author's note: The poem attributed to Clement Clarke Moore that gave names to the reindeer was published in 1823. Robert May's coloring booklet introducing Rudolph came out in 1939, given away to children who visited Montgomery Ward department stores.
—C
- COMMENTS
Found this a second time. I like how you portray and write people. Both in this story and your others. Thanks
WONDERFUL story. Somehow, I don't quite believe the ending, but I loved it anyway.
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A little extra personal meaning for me: one week less than (too many years to admit) ago, our second son was an emergency C-section, 6 weeks premature. We're grateful for the miracles that let him (and my wife!) survive it. (I still don't quite believe your ending, though.)
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Thank you for writing it!
Thanks for this beautifully told story. It built subtly to the magical moment and I loved your pacing. Lessor writers often rush character building elements to get to the “story” part they want to write by listing things about the characters rather than showing through the narrative. You are decidedly NOT a lessor writer and had woven the elements into the story in a way that lead naturally to the magical moments that occurred.
In my experience in life this is exactly how the magic happens- a caribou steals pies and we can’t help but adopt it (or it adopts us, really); someone who does woodwork becomes obsessed with making a perfect traditional sleigh; an emergency happens and yet everything lines up so it happens but we survive because something unexplainable and invisible deflects the impact at the right moment.
I could go on, but thanks for bringing us this little gem to point to the magical woven into the fabric of the world this way. It’s not just about the holidays!
Wow, what an amazing story. Thanks to Jalibar62 for pointing me at this wonderfully told tale. In these days of automated lists sorted by scores and AI-generated, algorithmically suggested next reads, there’s still nothing like word-of-mouth from a friend for finding a truly excellent read. I’m giving this one a fave, a follow and a place on my private BOAT (best of all time) list for stories that deserve far, far more than a mere 5 stars.
Oh my… you can fly as far and as well as pie thief
A brilliantly crafted story from a beautiful mind, congratulations
Truly heart warming. I mean this in the most complementary way possible, with the "adult content" edited out, this would make a beautiful Christmas family film. There wouldn't be a dry eye in the house ❤️
I’ve read many many stories on Lit and elsewhere. Given well under a dozen five star reviews. This was one of them, but deserved six.
This is a very special story. It's one that I look forward to reading every Christmas. Thank you for the magic of your words.
Somehow the supernatural aspects of this tale leave me cold. It was a pleasant Romance story and then we had to get Santa Claus and the reindeer involved and supernatural happenings and the whole thing fell apart. I rated it a 4*, but that really was too high. I am glad that so many thought it was great. This thing which so displeased me made many others happy and I can live with that.
Absolutely awesome story, thank you for sharing and the history lesson..
Definitely would love a cinematic version of this story.
Like Ann of 'Green Gables'. ( hallmark productions or not)
A really sweet, touching story. Chasten has an amazing ear for dialog, his characters speak as real people. Wonderfully crafted tale!
This story ranks up there as one of the best. Thank you for taking the time to craft this story.
Wow! At first I didn’t see the point in introducing Pie Thief. Then…boom! Amazing! Thank you for this magical story.
Wow what a story. Chasten’s best for sure; as others have noted, five stars ain’t enough.
What an absolutely wonderful story and tale.Stood me up and made me reread the sled ride three times.Fantastic!!
You got me hook line and sinker. What have I been missing? Flawless story 5+
That Sir, was a beautiful story! I don't know how you come up with them but I'm glad that you do and sharing them with us is special. Thank you! 5 BIG HUGE TWINKLY STARS! Thank you.
Thank you for sharing your stories.
I thoroughly enjoyed this wonderful, heartwarming tale.
5+++stars
I too am a Tod172 follower, just finished "Pie Thief", what a rush wow, kind of saw it coming , didn't want to believe it, finished it,now looking for a tissue.
This story has just moved to the top of my personal favorites. There were words and terms I needed to search for to get the meanings which added to the story. There were the romantic twists that crept into the story and my heart that added to the life of the characters. Then came the tears of joy and sadness at the end. Truly one of the best of the best. Miigwech.
So, I finish reading todd172's latest for the fifth time and I glance at the message at the end and see his recommendation of you and others (who I now have to read all of) and look down your list and catch on Pie Thief. Now that the tears are mostly dried up I just have to say THANK YOU very much. Gal
Definitely 5 stars. Heartwarming and bittersweet too. The kind of life that I wish that I could have been granted, but it was never my luck to have. You done good.
What a wonderful story.
Not sure how I missed this.
Probably the best Christmas Story on this site. Well Done!!
(keep 'em coming)
Fantastic, I’m going down the list reading all of your works. Thank you for your efforts and your generosity! You have given an old curmudgeon a lot of smiles as well as tears. You are very much appreciated. Jim
How I missed this the first time around I'll never know..... just glad I found it through the best stories link. What a fabulous story.... getting book marked for sure. 5 stars, squared!
Nice story. I attended McMaster University in the 1970’s. The undergraduate on campus bar “The Downstairs John” holds many memories for me! “The John” sold more beer per week than any bar in Ontario at that time. It always had live dance bands and lots of single girls to dance with! There was also the “Ratskeller” bar (usually called “The Rat”) which had live easy listening entertainment. It was the 4 best years of my life.
Ah, I remember my mom's schneken. I used to watch her rolling out the dough, placing the filling of brown sugar, cinnamon, and currants (?) on the dough, rolling the whole assembly into a tube, then cutting the individual rolls out of that. Endlessly fascinating to my young mind.
Great story. Thanks.
SoMike
This story should lead the way in the Hall of Fame here ... not one of the best. It is the best I've read here. Thank you for all the wonderful pictures
In every way a pleasure to read and think about. You did well.
Of all the places I would find a story to bring tears to my eyes. I'm a big one about Christmas and this story took my breath away. Even getting towards the end of the story I still didn't have a clue. So well done, I think it should have been in first place, loved it. Thank You.
It isn't often that a romantic story will trip my triggers as thoroughly as this one did. Excellent writing, and I have to admit that I never saw the Santa plot twist coming...since I grew up in an area with some unusual characters, his quirks didn't even cause a blip on my radar.
Bravo!
Had my suspicions when he named his team "Thunder" and "Lighting".
Not sure I can add more to what's already been said, but you deserve all the praise you've received for this wonderful story. My only knock is that you didn't let it go longer so I didn't have to put down my kindle and now go do something resembling work. Fortunately, I'll have the afterglow memories of this story to keep me company. Every so often a story truly deserves more than 5 stars and this is such an occasion.
This (as others have pointed out) is both a well-made and a sweet story (probably sweet enough for Pie Thief).
I don't think I found a "Ville-Claire" in Ontario via Google, but I found the Ontario beer and what "TSC" might stand for (and I found at least 1 of the Native words as from Ojibwe (the people once known to Americans as "Chippewa") : ) ) -- and I already knew (from reading) of McMaster U. in Hamilton, Ontario and of the Canadian word "toque" -- so I figure some serious research was done -- and Thanks to the author for that : ) (I'm a New York City-area person, but I've done more reading (I think) about Canada (not so much about hockey, but about Canada) than the average American who has only visted Ontario and Québec a few times (mostly in summer).
I'm also quite impressed by the editing: no very-distracting errors in spelling or confusing changes of names for characters. : )
Thanks to the author for the story.
Ethan (not the fictional son of Jed and Nadie) in New York City/"nycreader" when speaking up in the Literotica universe.
Beautiful Christmas-story. Worthy of Christmas. You deserved the award.
is what this surprising, fun, sweet, loving story deserves. Thank you! BTW, I think you didn’t at all get Canadian phrasing but it’s alright. Besides, so much of it comes in the pronunciation and that just isn’t gonna happen here, eh?
This is an incredible story and I am so happy that it was highly appreciated! I look forward to reading it as a classic every Christmas week in the future!!! Thank You for sharing such a great story!
First story of yours that I read.
... And it won't be the last. This story definitely deserved the honour of placing in the 2020 Winter contest. This story did not go in the direction I was thinking but you did a wonderful job of making Santa more human, if that is possible. Worth 6 stars!
Lovely...with a surprise left hook. Or maybe hoof is more accurate. Great job.
Took me a while to get around to reading winner entries, but now I’m glad I did. Wonderful story and in many places surprising. I was impressed by how you compressed a whole lifetime to just four lit pages. As a Finn I have to object to Santa Claus living in Canada, but I forgave you that blasphemy at “Tanssija”.
Well done and congratulations!
With a little judicious editing that's a killer Hallmark movie. I loved this story!
I don't want to make more work for you but this really should be expanded into a novel. This is a great story that could become a classic book.
What an amazing, wonderful twist! And to rdcyclist: I don't know where in the world you are, but your dust has spread here, to where I am...should really invest in some quality dusters.
10 stars, if I could.
Well done, chasten
I really have to do something about the dust in this room...
That was amazingly moving. I loved it.
This is one of those stories that put a smile on your face. It scared me about the ride to the hospital, I was thinking something bad was going happen. The ending bought a smile and tears at the same time. Great writing.
Excellent story, with the ending taking me by surprise. Great work.
Lots left to the imagination; tonnes of suspense; and no unnecessary erotic detail. Great story!
One of the warmest love stories you could read at Christmas. Thank you.
I just read Pie Thief..... Wow. Still have tears. Very well written, your descriptions were very well done and you seemed as though you grew up on a sleigh (pulk, if you will). I’m impressed. Gave you 5*, Thank you for such a well crafted story, and for ALL the effort that went into your offering. Wayne
A fantastic story! Truly loved the ending too. Hope you win the contest!
You don't deserve a 4.9, you ought to get a perfect 5.
The idea of Father Christmas having off-season side gigs in whole food, pro-biotics peddling and ruminant husbandry had me giggling.
Whether or not Jed and Nadie would be even in the bed at the final scene or just gone was my one question. But in that Canadian sensibility, of not causing any disturbance, of course they had to be there, so there was no worry caused to the kids.
The fun bit in stories like this is that all the cards were on the table at the beginning. You had to read them from the dealer's position for them to make sense, though. Just like in teaching, you tell them what they're going to see, you show them and then then you tell them what they just saw. When the faces light up in the eureka moment, that's when it's done right.
Kerstman wasn't the only one with a twinkle in his eye during the reading, nor the writing if I'm guessing. Fun and a sweet tale. Thanks!
At 70, as of yesterday, I am pretty well burnt out on the classic seasonal movies. This gem of a story, handled respectfully, could easily provide some new entertainment in that genre. I would welcome it and doubt that I am alone in that sentiment. This could become an instant classic.
My words seem inadequate, so I’ll steal yours. “Somehow magic could happen...” Thank you.
A slight quirky style but such a wonderful story of a fairy tale romance. Loved it from the humorous start to the emotional end, gradually being drawn in and almost didn't see the end coming. Well deserves it's rating.
OMG! What a sleeper this one was! Sneaked up on you and "gotcha" at the end. Left me feeling warm and fuzzy, and wistful! Worth the time to read and the 5 starm ratinf, wishing there was a 6.
This is as near to perfect as one can get.
Thanks for writing.
This story was wonderful, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The way he met Nadie and how their relationship developed was very engaging. Of course, Pie Thief (the caribou / reindeer) was fantastic. And I truly loved how Pie Thief got them to the hospital so Nadie could safely give birth to their daughter. The tie-in with Santa and his reindeer was tremendous as well, and I thought the ending was perfectly fitting.
As I would expect from you. Thanks for writing and for sharing.
Chasten, that story was nigh on perfect. It had everything a reader could ask for and more, perfect timing, pathos and bathos. It took a while to realise what was happening, but from then on it was a sleigh-ride all the way to the bitter-sweet ending. I'm privileged to have read it.
Thank you, sir.
Thank you for sharing a wonderful Christmas story. I expect that this will be a top contender. I look forward to reading this every Christmas. A little softer on the romance and it is a great Hallmark Channel Christmas Classic!
This easily has the substance to be a Christmas classic. Amazing writing!
The best I have read on lit. Wish there were more stars to give. Made these 80 year old male eyes leak
What an amazing work! "Pie Thief" just moved "Meet Me in the Middle" out of my top three favorites on Lit. Thanks for sharing.
This is one of those stories that makes you stop after you've read it because you know you just read something really, really special. Lovely story and thank you so much for sharing it. Beautiful, amazing, lovely <3
Wonderful,story
Beautiful,and inspired story of love and flying pie pilfering. Loved it.
Dammit, now the dog leaning on my leg is wondering why I'm crying.
Good story. Very good.
Holy smoke this was good, the best Christmas story ever, 5 stars!
What a wonderful story , warm , romantic and ever so poignant .
Well done, keep up the awesomeness
Damn you chasten, now I am sniffling and everyone is going to think I have Covid-19. Despite looking slightly intimidating in real life (my wife laughs when she tells me how I scare some of her friends), I am a big softy at heart and this story got me good.
As a Canadian who has lived most of his life 500 km North of the US border, I have never seen a Caribou in real life, but will concede that these ones can live wherever they want. You don't need artistic license with Santa's reindeer, it's a given that they are magic.
This is an instant holiday classic. Thank you.
You've a talent for beautiful stories. Thank you for this one. Possibly the best Christmas story I've read.
Dang you brought tears to these old eyes. Definitely your best yet.
Just a great story!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I think I just read the winner! Chas, that was incredible. My eyes are still teary. 5*
A wonderful story but even at 70 you made me cry. There aren't enough stars for this story. Thankyou.