On December 25, 1940, during a heavy snowfall. At Farley Farm on South Road, the entire Farley family – consisting of both parents, all six children, and both sets of grandparents – were ill. Duncan Blood and young Doctor Charlene Williams stopped by the home to administer to the sick. During the day, Dr. Williams left to obtain some fresh soup, and on her return, she saw a horse in the yard. She tried to approach the home, but could not get any closer, no matter how long she walked, nor in which direction she tried to go.
Finally, frustrated, she returned to town and found a member of the police who agreed to accompany her.
In the officer’s patrol car, they experienced the same difficulty she had on foot. No matter how fast the car drove, it could not draw any nearer. At last, with his car nearly out of fuel, the officer had been forced to return to Cross.
Close to midnight, the officer, one of his colleagues, and Dr. Williams again made an attempt. As they traveled along South Road, they passed a small boy, bundled against the snow and riding a horse. He waved cheerfully at them as they steered around him, and Dr. Williams returned the wave.
When they neared the house, they were surprised to see discover that they could continue directly toward it. It was then that Dr. Williams noticed that the horse was gone and that Duncan Blood stood outside.
The house burst into flames as the officers and Dr. Williams climbed out of the patrol car. Duncan stopped the three of them from racing into the spreading inferno.
“They’re dead,” Duncan explained. “They have been since the boy arrived. He gave them the day, you see. One last Christmas.”
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Cracking Christmas tale!
Thank you, sir! I’m glad you enjoyed it.
One interpretation of this is that the boy is Death, and I like that variation of the trope: he/it appears as a polite, generous child rather than the stock Creepy Old Dude. Two tales in a row (if spaced over the years)showing that even in Cross, good things can happen. Nicely done!
Thank you, Lex!