Aretha loved her all year round visits to Renee the deer.

But of late there was this missing entity.

However, Christmas beckoned as diversion.

Everything about Christmas appealed to this enchanting child.

The usual things.

Gifts, surprises,visits from close friends 

Samuel the  area Santa.

Such an enigmatic man whose aura was in embedded 

mystery.

As a  local Santa was known at times as  a  lonely figure in the shadow.

Irrespective of his shy reclusiveness he’d be seen fairly often.

A family man who threw cordons around those he knew.

Aretha felt oddly enough quite comfortable with him whenever they met.

Despite the speed at which she ran  Aertha was most observant.

Very few people knew about her wee small hour exploits.

Bar some friends at school were  sworn to secrecy.

About 3 trusted friends were informed about

this otherworldly visit. 

Aretha’s slim figure cut an angel like figure under watchful moonlight.

“Mmmm … am I being followed.” 

There seems to be this haunting presence surrounding Aretha.

Her vocabulary though quaint, a magnetic lure, Druid like might still crave that extra dimension which should become apparent later on.

“Beam, I’m beaming, at the moon. Oh do I hear that rustle. 

I’ll be beaming at Reinee.”

Aretha with a heightened anticipation that could not be reined in.

“Squawk, squawk… a darker than dark.

So high-pitched now still.

Now resting on a creaky branch.”

Aretha somehow getting this kick out of bizarre precursor to that date.

“Still think there’s someone about.”

But who could it be?

Suddenly the rustling, the trot along this quarter which made Aretha shiver and shimmer in one fell swoop.

 “It’s a thought that floats.

It’s that time again. where late night things are real spooky.”

The deer now making that scratching sound with the heightened sense of excitement for Renee.

Convention  is such a part of this meeting of out of this world  creatures.

Renee’s coat has this splash of silver.

Her colour is an addition to an already 

fascinating hue  scheme.

“Something fell. What was that?

A thud.  Like someone that let something fall.

Is it a person or thing 

wanting someone to see them?”

Beguiling trickles of water with that apparently hushed dynamic seemed to compliment the tentative maneuvers that were now about to unfold.

“Strange feelings I have … but filling up with everything that can happen.”

Aretha thinking it’s this build up, the winter gusts without the squall, hidden things going on in the black of night.

“Some strange stuff.

Heard a screech of laughter. Voices have  a kind of spark in nearby street.”

The taut air punctuated by this brash sound of traffic, they jump lights in defiance.

“Christmas toons.

Well, it’s that time.

Won’t be long before things get …. boisterous. I mastered that big word.

Oops like inheritance.”

Mmm said Aretha while putting a stifle on her voice?

Oh heavens you are, Renee before me.”

Aretha, know begins to start her thread with Renee.

“Ah, friend Renee you have this Christmas Eve look.

Let me see. Oh I think it’s safe to pet you.

Have’nt had any problems before.

After all, you're the tamed pet.”

This trusting child oozed.

“Renee, you are sighing.”

Yes, Renee had this sight that was barely audible.

But still Aretha would hear it. 

Dedicated to my brilliant and beautiful sister Jay A.Pallen