A Curvy Wonderland (New Release)

Narrated by Courtney Encheff and Luke Welland

A Curvy Wonderland

Chapter 1: Holly

This was going to be the best Christmas ever. I could feel it as the wiggling eight-year-old I babysat perched on the bathroom counter, feet in the sink, while I pinned a strand of garland around her cone-shaped hairdo. I’d been babysitting her and her little sister since I was fourteen, so they were like sisters to me.

Tatum looked at me in the mirror with bright brown eyes. “How do I look?” she asked.

“Amazing,” I mumbled around the bobby pin tucked between my teeth. Then I pulled it out and used it to hold a loose piece of wire in place. “But let’s turn off the lights to get the full effect.”

“Yes!” She nearly fell over leaning backward to flick the light switch, and I laughed.

“Careful, Tate,” I said as she sat back in place. Then I reached for the small battery pack carefully hidden behind a red, velvety bow and pressed the button. Instantly, golden lights glowed around her cone-shaped bun, showing a tiny version of the Christmas tree downtown in Cider Center. Glittering star topper and all.

Tatum gasped. “It’s perfect. Wait ‘til Mom sees.”

“She’s gonna love it,” I said with a smile.

Then I called in Tatum’s six-year-old sister, Lucy. It took a few minutes to make a bun in her hair, spraying it with glitter then using red and white candy canes like chopsticks. Then I added a few shiny red clips for flair and the three of us were ready to go to the Christmas tree lighting in Cider Center. It was the biggest event of the season.

We stepped out the door of their house and walked along the sidewalk toward the giant tree looming above the housetops. And the closer we got, the more crowded it became.

I loved everything about the Christmas break in Garland. School let out, and I could fully enjoy everything the town had to offer. It was even more fun with the little girls I babysat over the holiday while their mom stayed busy working for the post office. Even better? Thousands of people come to my hometown each year to celebrate the holiday right alongside me. This year was even more special because Lucy and Tatum’s dad would be coming back from a months-long military deployment just in time for the holiday.

The three of us navigated through the people until we found their mom waiting for us outside of the local coffee shop, Cocoa Corner. Lucy let go of my hand and ran up to her mom, still wearing her postal uniform, and gave her a big hug.

Delilah got on her knees, examining her daughter. “You look so beautiful, baby!” Then she turned to Tatum. “Let me see that hair!” She looked in amazement from Tatum to me. “It’s gorgeous! How did you do that?”

Tate answered for me. “Pinterest of course.”

I laughed and shrugged, because she was right. “We found some supplies at the dollar store too.”

“You’re the best,” Delilah said with a smile. “Are you meeting up with your friends tonight? Maybe a special boy?” She winked, and Tatum acted like she was getting sick.

I forced a laugh. “Just my friends.” Because no boy had ever been interested in me. I was five two and wore a 4XL. High school boys were too shallow to be running in my direction. But my mom looked just like me and met my dad in college. She told me I would have my own love story too. Someday. Even if it felt like forever away.

“Have fun,” Delilah said. Then she looked down at her girls. “How about some cocoa?”

They both excitedly agreed, and I waved goodbye before weaving through the crowd of people to find my friends. The five of us had been best friends all throughout high school, and I couldn’t remember the last time we weren't all together at the tree lighting.

The event was something special in Garland—magical even. Legend said that this tree had been crafted at the North Pole itself, and if you made a wish when the star was set atop the tree, it would come true. So far, I had a new bike, the cutest pair of snow boots, a beach vacation, and so much more thanks to these wishes.

I wanted to make sure I got this one wish exactly right this year.

Through the crowd, I spotted my friend Bethany’s bright red hair. Then I saw Belle and Sera.

I walked up to the three of them, and said, “Hey!”

They greeted me, and Sera gave me a quick hug. “Good to see you,” she said.

“You too,” I agreed.

Then our friend Carolynn reached us, a big tote bag practically overflowing with crafting supplies at her side. She said a quick hello, but we didn’t have time to talk because the mayor had started climbing a fire truck ladder by the tree.

He made his way up, up, up toward the very tip of the tree. Little kids cheered and laughed and pointed.

“Here we go,” Belle said excitedly under her breath.

My brain went wild as I contemplated my wish. Was I making the right choice?

When the mayor reached the top of the tree, he pulled out a megaphone, the large star in his other hand. “It’s the most wonderful time of the year,” he said, echoing the familiar song. “Today, it’s my honor as your mayor to place the star on the tree and light up Garland, knowing that the holiday spirit of the people of Garland shines brighter than any light on this tree.”

Carefully, he placed the star on the tree. Whispers sounded around me, hundreds of people making their wishes. Each of my friends had their eyes closed, lips silently moving.

I closed my eyes too, feeling magic humming through me as I made my wish. I wish for the best Christmas ever, I thought to myself. It was simple and left room for unexpected surprises–the best possible kind.

A second later, the star lit up. Its bright light made the crowd gasp and clap. I put my hands together, clapping too, because I was ready. I was ready for my wish to come true.

“Belle, look at it,” I said to my friend. She loved Christmas just as much as me. “Isn’t it so pretty?”

She nodded, mesmerized like me.

After the mayor came down and thanked everyone for coming, my friends and I gathered around to talk. “Wish on anything special this year?” Carolynn asked the group, rubbing her hands together.

“Just that we remain friends like this forever. No matter what,” Sera said. She always said something sweet.

“That’s a great wish,” Belle replied.

I agreed, but I wasn’t sure we should be sharing our wishes—wouldn’t want to jinx it. Glancing towards Santa’s Workshop down the street, I changed the subject, saying, “So, who do you think will be picked to be Santa this year?”

This was one of the things that made Garland special. Every year, someone was selected to be Santa and take pictures with kids at the mall. It was a big honor to be picked, although getting selected was a huge mystery. No one even really knew for sure how you got nominated or applied. And no one ever knew Santa’s true identity either.

“Maybe they’ll pick Mr. Thornton,” Belle joked about our grumpy, middle-aged math teacher. He was definitely more Grinch than Santa material.

Everyone else shuddered.

We walked and kept making guesses, each one more and more crazy.

As we reached Cocoa Corner, the local coffee shop, we all got ready to head in different directions.

Everyone had something different going on for Christmas this next week. I’d be doing all the fun Garland activities with Tatum and Lucy while their mom worked her busy season delivering packages. The five of us would hardly be able to see each other. So we all agreed we’d meet up at Haley’s big New Year’s party and catch up once the craziness died down.

I hoped when we all were together that I had the best story to tell about how my Christmas wish came true.

***Find out what happens next in A Curvy Wonderland!