Mysterious Santa and the Christmas Miracle

Nickel Novel

Title: The Santa Mailman

By: James L. K.

 

A Rock & Rye whiskey bottle jutted out from the pocket of the man dressed like Santa Claus, though he didn’t look anything like a traditional Santa Claus; to thin, to short, to feeble – and he was wearing sunglasses. He certainly wasn't jolly either and frequently coughed. 

He sat on a large, red throne, making him look even smaller, as he waited for the next child to sit on his lap – which was me. The pathetic looking Santa looked more like my Uncle Joe when he came to visit – dazed and slurring every word.

Santa glanced at me briefly, then motioned with a wave of his hand for me to come forward. Instantly, a cold shiver went up and down my spine. I walked towards him. He coughed. The smell of his breath was vile. In a croaky and cheerless voice, he said and asked, “Merrrry Christmas, kid. What’s your name?”

Whatcha want kid?

I answered, Carrie, and reluctantly sat on his lap. Being up close to him, I noticed an old scar on his forehead that stretched beneath his dark glasses. My eyes were rudely fixated on it when he asked, "Whatcha want, kid - for Christmas." 

I hesitated for a moment, and then in one breath, I quickly and at length, systematically, like an auctioneer, rambled off the thirty things I wanted. 

He half-heartedly chuckled and replied, “Sure kid, no problem.”

I jumped off his lap and scampered back to my mother. But that scar, that scar, I thought shaking my head. It jostled a frightful memory – something that happened two years ago.

Suddenly, I remembered. The mailman! The brave mailman, who saved me. It happened when I was walking home from school, on the road near the dried-up creek bed, the place my mother told me to avoid.

From the dense tree line, a wolf came running towards me. I was so overwhelmed with fear, my legs wouldn't move. I did the only thing my fear allowed - I screamed! 

Lucky for me, at that very moment, the mailman was driving down the road and saw what was happening. He smartly drove in between me and the wolf and jumped out, waving his arms and yelling at the wolf. Then, I heard the mailman bellow an agonizing cry of pain. I couldn't see what had happened and could only assume the worst. 

I managed to regain my legs and ran as fast as I could. After going a short distance, I looked back and saw the wolf running away. The mailman was hunched over, but thankfully still alive. I should have gone back and thanked him; I regretted that I didn't. At the time, I thought I'd surely see him again someday - I never did, until now. 

I was certain Santa Claus was the mailman who saved me, and now was my chance to finally thank him. I turned around and ran back. I wrapped my arms around him and kissed him on the cheek. “Thank You, Mailman - I mean, Santa Claus!” I joyously said.

He raised his arm and from around his neck, pulled over his head a leather string. Attached to it was a large claw. "I took care of that pesky wolf. Merry Christmas, kid." as he and handed to me.

Then with a half-smile, he responded, “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays a courier from the swift completion of their appointed rounds . . . not even a wolf.”

-jk-

Be thankful for every moment, because it might be your last.

Previously Posted Dec. 19th 2022

World Greatest Malted Milk Shake Recipe

My Uncle Phil lived in Chicago (southside-1964), and when we went to visit him, he would make us malted milk shakes.

Today, I am going to share with you my secret Uncle Phil recipe. 

Yippee!

 

Basic Ingredients:

You need a regular size blender

Gallon of ice cream – Vanilla, Chocolate, etc. etc.

2 tbsp. Malted Powder or 1 box of Malted chocolate balls

2 egg whites – or if you’re lazy, throw it all in.

½ tbsp. Vanilla extract or Almond extract

1 cup of cream – optional if you use whole milk.

½ Gallon of milk – whole milk is preferred

 

Any malted powder will do. This is what I use.

Before you get started, put your serving glasses in the freezer.

(Milk shakes are more better when served in an ice-cold glass.)

 

Step 1: place in blender, 2 tbsp. Malted Powder – or 1 box of Chocolate Malted Balls,      2 egg whites, ½ tbsp. Vanilla extract, 1 cup of cream, and 1 cup of milk.

Step2: Mix ingredients for 10-20 seconds. Don’t over do it. You just want the ingredients mixed up really well before you start adding Ice Cream and more milk.

Step 3: Add a couple scopes of ice cream and a splash of milk – then blend. Continue until you get the desired thickness for you. Add- blend, add blend. (I add a lot more Ice Cream than milk)

I like really, thick shakes – thick enough for the spoon to stand on its own.

And there you have it –A Good Milk Shake.

 

Blue Blue - The G.O.A.T. of Ice Creams.

World’s Greatest Milk Shake

If’n you want to step up your game and make the W. G. M. S., well, you’re gonna need BLUE BELL Ice Cream, for sure! Pick the flavor you like and go for it.

I like cookies and cream and use whole milk. I typically make 4 full glasses. Eat one, freeze the others. Frozen Milk Shake is gooooood.

 

When the grandkids come over, I get a Gallon of Vanilla, 

add 2 tbsp. of Malt Powder and all the other ingredients, but then 

I let them add any flavor they want – chocolate cookies or 

strawberries; basically, whatever their weird little minds think of – they like to throw in a couple of their favorite candy bars.

The Grandkids also like it when I put whipped cream and sprinkles on top.

It’s a great dessert for any occasion – reading a book, watching a movie, or just cuz.

 

Wishing you all a World’s Greatest Milk Shake Thanksgiving!

 

j/k

Reviews - Yes or No?

Full disclosure: I barely passed High School, got bad grades in English classes, and therefore it disqualifies me to legitimately critique anybody’s book.

 

I have, however, read a lot books – when I was a young lad, I read a couple of Jules Verne books and sports books (football- baseball); classics and D&D books in my 30’s; pirate and adventure books in my 40’s; I started writing a trilogy in my 50’s and only read specific styles of writing; and currently piles of indie books.

 

If I knew what I was doing, I wouldn't be doing it wrong.

Reviews:

Everybody wants a review – electricians, plumbers, car repair people, stores, and writers. A review for a waiter/ waitress is determined by the size of the tip you leave them.

Are they important?  Depends. 

If an electrician did their job in a timely manner and everything works, I write a review, so other people know that the person can be trusted or not. I believe that's important.

I have written 100’s of reviews for people who have provided a service and I am a super generous tipper.

On the other hand, I believe my current number for writing an indie book review is three. I do rate all the ones I have read, 1-5 stars.

Why?

Indie writers are an extremely delicate class of people. One wrong word and there is a strong possibility they may never write again or worse. But there are some who can handle constructive criticism.

The are 3 main points I focus on when reading a book – pace, readability, and imagination. Readability is grammar and punctuation, and I fully expect there to be errors, but if there is an excessive amount, I might stop reading the book. Thus far I have never not finished a book. I’ve come close.

The biggest difference, I have noticed, between an indie book and a traditionally published book is pace. Indie writers are generally horrible at pace. I think the reason is because they try to hard and over think the basics.

Recently, (last night) I was reading an indie book, and I was literally screaming in my head, . . . JUST TALK TO ME! If it’s not important, why did you write it. Page filler? If you feel compelled to write page filler material, please make it interesting.

I give up, today, but tomorrow is another day.

Writers are their own worst critic – me included.

I have officially completed six books, published three, and working on a seventh. I cringe when I reread parts of my books and pat myself on the back when I think a particular passage is good.

Of course, writers are trying their best to write a readable book.

Sadly, there are some books that are truly awesome, but will never get the notice they deserve.

 

In the beginning, I intentionally skipped what I was doing in my 20’s. I’ll spare you the details – we have four children.

 

To the people who write reviews – Thank You!  Don’t stop.

 

Have a great day reading and writing fellow book people.

 

j/k