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    A Christmas Wish: A Christmas Story in the World of GOODNIGHT, BRIAN
    A Christmas Wish: A Christmas Story in the World of GOODNIGHT, BRIAN
    A Christmas Wish: A Christmas Story in the World of GOODNIGHT, BRIAN
    Ebook112 pages2 hours

    A Christmas Wish: A Christmas Story in the World of GOODNIGHT, BRIAN

    By Stephen Manchester

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    About this ebook

    In this heartwarming holiday story, Steven Manchester, author of the #1 bestsellers TWELVE MONTHS and THE ROCKIN' CHAIR, takes us into the world of three of his characters from his novel Goodnight, Brian. Steph is on a search for truth in her heart as she faces the prospect of real love for the first time. Brian is out to enjoy his favorite season in a way that doctors never thought he could. And at the center of it all is their grandmother, affectionately known as Mama, a woman of remarkable commitment and charity who knows something very important about making Christmas wishes come true.

    This brief, beautiful tale captures the promise of the holidays and the longing we all have for the magic of the season.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherFiction Studio Books
    Release dateJun 1, 2015
    ISBN9781936558759
    A Christmas Wish: A Christmas Story in the World of GOODNIGHT, BRIAN

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      Book preview

      A Christmas Wish - Stephen Manchester

      A Christmas Wish

      The holiday prequel to

      Goodnight, Brian

      A story by

      Steven

      Manchester

      This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of either the author or the publisher.

      Studio Digital CT, LLC

      P.O. Box 4331

      Stamford, CT 06907

      Copyright © 2012 by Steven Manchester

      Cover design by Barbara Aronica-Buck

      Fiction Studio Books e-book ISBN-13: 978-1-936558-75-9

      Visit our website at www.thestoryplant.com

      Visit the author’s website at www.stevenmanchester.com

      All rights reserved, which includes the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever, except as provided by US Copyright Law.

      For information, address Studio Digital CT, LLC

      First Edition: December 2012

      Mama’s cottage shimmered in a festive glow, a mix of colored lights and lots of tinsel. The last of the raviolis were long gone and Nat King Cole had just finished singing O Come All Ye Faithful when the family grabbed their coats, said their goodbyes and headed out the door.

      Mama stopped Joan. Let Brian stay the night. Your Uncle Sal’s offered to drive us into Little Italy to do some Christmas shopping tomorrow. We’ve been talking about it for weeks and he’s excited.

      Joan smiled. That sounds great, Ma. At least you won’t have to take the train in this year.

      True, the old lady said, grinning, but knowing your Uncle Sal, it’ll cost me twice as much in gas money.

      Joan laughed.

      Mama laughed right along with her, never letting on about the excruciating pain that throbbed in her legs.

      Okay, Joan said, pulling Brian in for a long hug. Just call me when you get sick of him and I’ll be by to get him, she teased.

      Brian picked up on the joke and squeezed his mother tight.

      Then you’ll never see him again, Mama said, stealing him away for herself.

      Just then, Mama’s granddaughter Steph stepped into the kitchen; she was holding her jacket, not wearing it. Sensing that something was wrong, Mama quickly bid farewell to Joan and turned to Steph. How ’bout you stay a while and help me clean up? She shook her head and lifted her curled, arthritic hands. These hands aren’t good for anything anymore.

      With a suspicious grin, Steph threw her coat over the kitchen chair and rolled up her sleeves. What first? she asked.

      Why don’t you start with the dishes while I put Brian to bed, Mama said. We have a big day tomorrow and he needs his beauty sleep.

      Without complaint, Brian hugged his cousin and said, Nigh nigh. Mama then escorted him off to the bathroom to make him brush his teeth.

      Since the doctors had predicted—sixteen years before—that Brian would never walk or talk or develop normally, the vast majority of Mama’s time and effort, her life’s purpose, was spent in the relentless pursuit of instilling independence in her grandson and ensuring that his doctors were wrong. Yet there were times when one of her other grandchildren needed her undivided attention. This was definitely one of those times.

      * * *

      Steph had no sooner finished washing the first pan when she felt the family matriarch standing beside her at the sink.

      You sure you can’t tag along with me and Brian on our Christmas stroll tomorrow? Mama asked.

      I wish I could, Mama. I do. But this has been a tough semester and I have a pile of schoolwork that…

      Say no more, the old woman interrupted. School comes first!

      While they talked about college life and grades, Steph watched as her clever grandmother’s hands put out three times the amount of work that she could. After drying the last plate and putting it away in the cupboard, Mama slung the dishcloth over her shoulder, peered into her granddaughter’s eyes and asked, So what do you want for Christmas this year?

      On appearance, this was a simple enough question—but they both knew that it was so much more. In reality, it was an opportunity for Steph to open up and bare her soul.

      Without ever asking them, Steph’s legs carried her to Mama’s kitchen table where she sat down and prepared for her confession. Again, her insightful grandmother was right there beside her. The courage to be true to myself, Steph finally answered, …once and for all. Months before, she had let her grandmother know that she was gay. And although Mama had never even blinked at the testimony, Steph was still having a difficult time with it.

      Mama smiled and placed her hand on Steph’s hands—where it stayed. Well, that might just be the best Christmas gift you ever receive.

      If I ever do receive it, Steph said.

      Mama squeezed her granddaughter’s hands with surprising strength. Sweetheart, that’s a gift that only you can give to yourself. We’ve talked about this. You’re perfect…exactly the way God made you. She smiled. Have you been a good girl this year? she teased.

      Steph snickered. I wish it were that easy, Mama.

      Being easy or difficult shouldn’t even factor in. Your cousin Brian should have taught you that by now. Mama searched Steph’s eyes. And why wouldn’t it be easy?

      Steph shook her head, while her eyes filled. Because…

      Because it’s about having faith, Mama interrupted, and taking that first step when you can’t see anything in front of you to step on, right?

      Steph nodded, trying desperately to internalize the wise woman’s words.

      When you kids were young, I taught each one of you how to make a Christmas wish come true. Do you remember?

      I do, Steph said, smiling at the beloved memory. You said that all we had to do was close our eyes, picture the wish that we want to come true, and then open our eyes to seal it with a wink.

      That’s right! Mama said. You remember. She studied her granddaughter’s eyes. Well then, what are you waiting for?

      Steph began to laugh until she realized that her grandmother was serious. With a nod, she closed her eyes, painted some very vivid pictures in her mind, and then opened her eyes—to seal the wish with a wink.

      Mama smiled wide and returned the wink. It’s sealed then! Now all you have to do is wait for your Christmas wish to come true.

      Steph took a deep breath, surprised that she believed the tiny woman as much today as she did when she was a little girl.

      So could you really picture it? Mama asked, grinning.

      Steph nodded. Her mind immediately returned to that fateful night where the wish had begun, and she shared each glorious detail with her grandmother.

      * * *

      Though she’d refused again and again, Steph finally allowed herself to be talked into going on a blind date. But if it doesn’t work, then it’s the last time, she vowed.

      Melissa was a petite beauty with dark hair and green eyes that sparkled when Steph met her at her front door. From the first impression, Steph figured, This entire night’s going to be a waste of time.

      The Elephant & Castle, an English-style pub located in downtown Boston, had a row of red and green stained-glass windows just above a horseshoe-shaped bar. Walls of rich mahogany panels climbed up to a forest green ceiling crafted of tin. Hints of the UK and India were everywhere, each trinket and picture

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