Rita , Nenita, Rosita and Sangita were all good friends in there early childhood . In their teenage years they married and moved overseas to begin new lives . The passage of time had not taken away their friendship as they had always kept in touch through letters and social media .As fate would have it the 4 of them were returning at the same time to visit their families back home at Christmas . So it was decided that they would meet up and have a reunion over lunch in a restaurant in the city . On the day that was scheduled, before they met each of them went shopping for gifts to give to one another .
Without even knowing they were all on the same floor, in the same store , in the same shopping mall separately looking for something suitable to give .
As they did that slow department store shuffle with the rest of the Christmas shoppers they were unaware Santa was watching their every movement .
The strange thing was not one of them noticed the strange Santa statues that lit up and smiled as each of the girls walked past .
Santa had a very special surprise for each of the girls and soon that would all be revealed , When the moment was right Santa placed a sign near an escalator to the floor below that said – Special Christmas Gifts For Special People .
His plan was now about to start . One by one each of the girls saw the sign and only minutes apart all took the escalator down to the floor below .
As soon as their feet touched Santa’s secret floor they turned into children again .
Santa’s magic began to happen and that took charge of all the events and activities .Transformed back into their childhood Rita , Nenita, Rosita and Sangita sang the songs of their childhood and shared their dreams about what they wanted to do when they grew up . Meeting a man and having a family . Travelling to far off countries and becoming rich and living in a palace for the rest of their lives .The four girls were unaware that they had even grown up and somehow magically been transformed back in time to their childhood again .They had no memories of a future when they had already been married and raised their family . In this wonderful enchantment of an experience in another place and another time , they once again had the chance to be as little children again .
They played on the climbing frame and rode the see saw and merry-go-round . They went to and from on the swings . They danced and played and went running , skipping and jumping . Laughing and singing . All their childhood games
came back to them once again . The magic of the moment was made even better when Santa arrived ringing his bell and from his big sack filled with toys he gave each of the girls three gifts each . Jewelery . perfume and moisturizing lotion .
The girls took the gifts and suddenly seven little elves arrived with trays of cakes and ice cream treats . There were fizzy drinks and lots of sweets to eat .
Then four more elves arrived carrying Santa’s throne .
The throne was placed beside a tall Christmas tree where he sat down and began to tell stories of all the different children from all over the world .
The four girls were mesmerised and listened intently to all of the tales of people and places and the animals that once talked and walked in magic forests when the world was brand new . Suddenly Santa looked at the time and said ”
“Ho Ho Ho well its almost time to go “
Rosita looked at Santa and said , “Go where Santa .“
Santa took some of his magic dust from his pocket and threw it over all the girls except for Rosita .
Then he said .
“If you take that escalator to the second floor you will discover so many more things. Go to the checkout 25 and ask the lady in the red dress to wrap your 3 gifts and tell her Santa is on his way .”
Rosita rushed over to the escalator and turned around . She waved and Santa and all the little elves waved back .
Before she got on the escalator she shouted ,
“Bye bye , I love you Santa “
:As soon as her feet touched the second floor she turned back into a middle aged woman again with o recollection of what had just happened . Rosita walked over to checkout 25 and asked the lady in the red dress to wrap the 3 gifts . The lady there wrapped the gifts and gave them back to Rosita who smiled and said ..
“Santa is on his way .“
The lady in the red dress smiled and threw some bright tinsel up in the air saying “Remember your childhood memories never grow old “
They both laughed and Rosita asked what the time was .
}Its almost midday madam “:was the reply . Rosita exclaimed
“ Oh I have to dash off . I have a lunch date with three of my old school friends .”
“Happy Christmas Rosita “ The lady in the red dress said .
Rosita looked puzzled for a moment but then walked away in a hurry .
One by one Santa had sent the other girls up the escalator in short intervals apart with gifts to be wrapped and each of them getting the same message from the lady in red at the checkout .
“Remember your childhood memories never grow old “
All of the girls made their way to the restaurant on the top floor of the shopping mall with no knowledge of what they had come from and where they had been.
So they met in the restaurant and shared the gifts they thought they had bought , Each gift had a name cards and each girl ended up with jewellery , body lotion and perfume . They all laughed at the fact each of them had bought the same gifts .
On the name cards there was a little message ,
“Remember your childhood memories never grow old .
The End
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Reviewed by imogen jesica
10/10/2024
the story is a delightful read that effectively combines elements of fantasy, friendship, and the holiday spirit. With a bit more refinement, it could be even more impactful.
Bishnupriya Ghosh, Professor at University of Santa Barbara contacted me asking to use my painting of Mother Teresa in her upcoming book, "Global Icons" which was published by Duke University Press Books. You may see Judy Jones's painting of Mother T
