Christmas Wish                   by: Paul G Jutras

 

Sequel to 'Christmas Star'

 

"Today's the day!" Collen James called out to her sister Jennifer. Colleen couldn't believe that just a year ago, she was Jennifer's brother Carl who had been transformed when they had made wishes upon the Christmas tree star for him to be more like her.

Both of them now were just over five feet tall. Both had the same blonde hair and blue eyes. While Jenn is still a supernatural freak, Colleen was still into math, science and classical television.

"Love the dangly snowflake earrings." Jenn replied. "Let's go downstairs."

It was almost seven, Jennifer and Colleen had gotten dress early. Now they were joining their parents in preparing for the family Christmas party like last year. Their dresses were red with white rim. Their holiday color nylons had one green leg and one red one.

Jennifer looked up at the Christmas tree, which stretched even higher than the one last year. "Remember when I wished you to be more like me and you wished the day could last forever?"

"Yeah." Colleen giggled. "We were stuck in the same day for a month before we could undue the spell. Now I can't remember what it was like to be a boy."

"You're going to use the Christmas wish to change back?"

"No." Colleen answered. "I just wish for a special doll this year."

As Jennifer went to turn on the TV, Colleen looked at the top of the tree and watched for as it seemed to hear her wish. The star on top seemed to give a knowing sparkle.

"Don't touch the food, Colleen." Mrs. James said as she placed a gray tray and basket of biscuits on the table. She eyed her daughter as she tried to reach for the plate of devil eggs.

"I know." Colleen smiled as she cradled her doll in her arms like a loving mother. "I'm not the same kid you had last Christmas."

"Good." Mrs. James sighed. "You know we don't open presents until we have dinner and we don't eat until the family arrives. So don't go on with wild tales of time stopping again."

Colleen glanced at the TV. Jennifer was watching her favorite Christmas special yet again. Santa's reindeer and a group of snowmen were dancing in a group. "Haven't you gotten sick of that yet? We've watched that every day for a month last year."

"I never tire of - huh?" Jennifer paused as she stood up ad measured their height difference with her arm. "Weren't we the same height a moment ago?"

"I don't know." Colleen answered as she went to the box of ornaments. She lifted her favorite, a Teddy Bear holding a present. Jenn grabbed a snowman on a snowboard. "Maybe I had a growth spurt."

"i could of sworn that I could reach this branch earlier." Jennifer stretched to put the snowman in place. She didn't notice the almost plastic shine her arm gave off as her nails appeared the same color as her skin.

"Just keep busy you two." Mrs. James said as she put some club and finger sandwiches out. "Time will be flying by any time."

Colleen rolled her eyes. "Yeah...right." she said. "I remember you saying that last year too."

She glanced at the clock just to check and make sure time was still going when she heard a car pull up. "There here." She said as she open the front door. Her Uncle Ray trudged into the house along with his wife Samantha. "It's go great to see you again, honey."

"Sam! Ray!" Mrs. James called as she went over and shook their hands. "So good to see you again. Jennifer, come and say hello to your Aunt and Uncle."

Jenn?" Colleen called as she notice she wasn't in the room any longer. "I'll go find her."

Heading upstairs she found Jennifer in her room. She laid on her bed with her face buried in the pillow. "Jennifer, is something wrong?" Colleen asked as she turned her over. Colleen jumped back as Jennifer stared at her with expressionless glass doll eyes. Her skin was a smooth plastic as Colleen followed Jennifer hand under her clothes and found her sister was sexless.

"Mom!" Colleen called out. "Jennifer is in trouble."

"Who dear?" Mrs. James asked as Ray and Samantha stared at each other puzzled. Colleen then remember that her mother had thought she was always a girl. That's how the Christmas magic seemed to work. Now she and everyone could only remember one daughter.

"Uh...never mind." Colleen said as she ran back upstairs and found a 16" plastic doll laying on a bed that wasn't Jennifer. Her room had magically changed into a guest room.

"Oh, Jennifer." Colleen said as she picked her up. "When I wished for a new doll for Christmas I didn't think the magic would make you into it. I'll do my best to remember to change you back next Christmas. I promise as the wishmaker not to forget you're really my sister and now just my new Christmas doll.

Cradling Jennifer in her arms like a baby, she when down stairs for family Christmas dinner.

 

THE END

 

© 2000
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