“The Christmas Prize”
Dreams & Desires, A Charity Anthology
February 1, 2007
Freya’s Brower
ISBN: 1-034069-35-1 eBook
1-934069-22-1 Paperback
1-034069-23-X Hardcover

Julie Corrigan is ready to put her past behind her with a courageous step into the spotlight, but should she falter, Mark Kincaid will be there with a supportive, helping hand.

Dreams & Desires – A compilation of nineteen stories, all of the net proceeds raised from the sales of this anthology will go directly to a battered woman’s shelter in

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Plotting of the story:

In college, I read a one-act play by Susan Glaspell called Trifles, the text of which can be found here: Click here to view

It’s about a woman who murdered her abusive husband after he killed her songbird. The play says a lot about relationships and the kinship of women. It was also turned into a short story and it’s one of my favorites, even though it’s very sad. I was thinking about that story when I wrote “The Christmas Prize,” a flash fiction piece about a woman who survived an abusive marriage to a man who wanted to kill the song in her soul. She deserved a happy ending.

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Reviews:

“Dreams & Desires features terrific short stories ranging from sweet to sizzling and penned by some of the leading lights in today’s romance and erotica genres. Buy it to help a great cause, read it for the great stories!”
~ Lauren Baratz-Logsted, author of Vertigo and How Nancy Drew Saved My Life

“Julie Corrigan is a powerful character and very much appropriate for this particular anthology. Sela Carsen’s story is extremely short, but its impact is huge.”
~ CK2S Kwips and Kritiques

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Excerpt:

The quiet notes of the piano began from the speaker beside her and she sang.

O Holy Night, The stars are brightly shining…

The music filled her, reverberating through her body before she sent her voice out to the crowd, floating over the noise of commerce. People stopped to watch and listen. She finished the song and the last, lingering note fell into silence. Peace. Good will toward men.

An old man near the back of the gathering began to clap and others joined in. Julie flushed hot, then cold, then hot again as the sound registered. They were clapping for her.

She whispered “Thank you” into the microphone, then stepped aside for the next singer. She couldn’t sit down yet – couldn’t bear to listen to the others, certain they were better than her.

The Christmas decorations looked brighter now, people seemed friendlier. Even if other contestants were more talented, she knew she had done well. A woman with two babies in a stroller stopped her with a hand on her arm.

“Thank you. That was beautiful,” she said before moving off to finish her shopping.

Julie stood rooted to the spot. She couldn’t remember the last time anyone had said anything so nice to her. Tears burned her eyes and nose and she sniffled, patting her jeans pockets for a tissue she knew she didn’t have.

One appeared before her and she took it, blotting at her mascara before it ran and trying to blow her nose without sounding like a startled goose.

“Thank you,” she said, tossing the tissue into a nearby waste bin. Julie looked around at her rescuer and, for the second time that night, was struck dumb.

Tall and handsome, he seemed like something out of a fairy tale or a romance novel. But fairy tales princes and romance novels heroes never noticed women like her.

“You’re welcome,” he answered. “I heard you sing. It was wonderful.”

Julie’s mouth opened, but nothing came out. This was worse than singing. “I…”

He smiled at her, unphased by her sudden descent into muteness.

“That’s one of my favorite songs.”

“Mine too.” Finally, she could talk. Not that she sounded that bright, but at least they were words.

“My name is Mark Kincaid.”

“Julie Corrigan.” She stuck out her hand and his warm palm engulfed hers for a moment.

“Sorry,” she said. “My hands are cold.”

“No problem. You know what they say – Cold hands, warm heart.”

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