Day 2 | Advent Calendar
Home for the Holidays by Sarah Brentyn
My sister wakes me.
She puts a finger to her lips and we pad down the hall in our fleece footie pyjamas. It is still dark so she holds my hand on the stairs.
Our parents stand in the dining room. I feel strange—like it’s snowing inside. There is quiet and cold. Our da stares at something on the floor: a Christmas stocking.
I don’t understand why it’s in our house. We don’t have stockings. Or a tree with ornaments.
“There’s a note,” Da says.
My sister points to the shattered window. We are not welcome here.
Author Bio:
I wrote my first story when I was nine years old and have never looked back. My work has appeared both online and in print in lit mags, newsletters, websites, newspapers, and anthologies. I have a master’s degree in writing and have taught all ages, from Kindergarteners to adults. When other girls dreamt of being a ballerina, I dreamt of scribbling my thoughts in a notebook and turning them into a book. I bleed ink.
Contact Information (blog, website, etc.):
Amazon: Hinting at Shadows & Author Page
Blog: Lemon Shark
Solveig Werner 
Reblogged this on willowdot21 and commented:
Hi Again, here is the second day of Solveig Werner’s at https://solveigwerner.com Advent Clandar! Day 2 by Sarah Brentyn. I shall be trying to reblog the entries daily! By the way my entry is December 22nd. Happy Advent . Enjoy. xxx
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Hello Sarah and Solveig. Sarah this is a very thought provoking piece. It shows not everything about this mean old world changes for Christmas. The fact I’d very little changes. Thank you for making us think. xxx
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Thank you. ❤ I really appreciate this comment. I know a piece about intolerance this time of year isn't super cheerful but it's there and I'm glad it was thought-provoking for you. Looking forward to reading your entry. Thanks for the reblog!
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damn she’s good; I tell her all the time, I convince myself that I can write okay pieces and then she does this to me. Ha! Off to my burrow… Well done to both. Grrrr
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Aaw… Thank you. You are just asking for more emoji hearts. ❤
Seriously, thanks, Geoff. You know I do love flash but also, although not "in the holiday spirit", I feel this piece is important. And you can (and do) write amazing flash fiction.
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The truth sometimes surprises huh!!?
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Thank you so much, Solveig, for having me over for tea and allowing me to share a little flash fiction for the holidays. ❤ You pieced this together beautifully. It looks lovely.
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It is such a pleasure to have you!
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I love Sarah’s writing Solveig. Thanks for sharing.
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Thank you kindly. ❤️
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Very spooky, I like it.
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I suppose that first part is a bit eerie. Hadn’t thought about it that way. Glad you liked it. Thanks! 🙂
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This is a good reminder that not everyone has a happy Christmas (season) and not all are bearers of good will during this season. It’s sad but it is a reminder that we need to be vigilant and we also need to have compassion for those who are struggling with the not so merry part of the season.
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It is sad but, you’re right, we need compassion. Empathy, understanding, acceptance of those “different” from us in some way. ❤
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Love the twist at the end. A sobering message – hatred does not take a holiday.
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Thank you. ❤️ And, no, it does not. So true.
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