Advent 2020

December 9th

      Forever, he had wanted this bike. Forever in his mind, anyway. He was, of course, still only eight years old. But he'd wanted this bike forever.

      He rushed down the stairs on Christmas morning and dove beneath the tree.

      "Calm down, Jacob!" His mother called from halfway up the stairs.

      There didn't seem to be a bike under the tree though. He sat back, sad and confused, staring at the array of now dishevelled presents that didn't look so enchanting anymore.

      Eventually, he'd opened the final box of socks and, as cool as the dinosaurs and ponies on them were, crossed his arms and looked longingly at the empty space below the tree.

      "And one more thing," his dad said softly. Jacob looked up, hardly interested. "Father Christmas couldn't fit this one down the chimney," his dad explained, guiding him to the door. "So he left it in the porch." He took a step back and encouraged his son forward.

      Jacob opened the door, and there was the bike! He grinned and pulled his parents into a hug.

      'Thank you, Santa,' he thought, climbing over the seat.