Christmas Carousel

One of our traditions was going a block down to the theatre to celebrate Christmas. Outside it seemed to be only a store front, which in its former life it had been, but inside it was an immense place, filled with ornate Victorian decorations. There was a merry-go-round that spun to the tunes of a band organ the likes of which few people can imagine. The music echoed throughout the three stories above us like Christmas ghosts in a Disney creation.

People would come in and place their gifts under the gigantic tree behind the carousel and join others at the huge round table for a traditional Christmas dinner of roast turkey and stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, the works.

I watched as the boys played among all the others and suddenly it occurred to me that if I didn't get busy, we would not have our place at the table. I needed to go home and get our good china and all the rest of our Christmas gifts. I didn't remember there being so many people in the past, but thought if I used a laundry basket I could do it in one trip and that would be quicker.

The weather outside was awful. The late afternoon light was blown about over the snow and ice and I wondered if there was a door closer to the side of the block I wanted to reach, so I began exploring. Finally reaching the farthest corner of the building I opened an exit only type door and looked out. I was high up, probably on the top floor and the only way down was a metal fire escape covered in ice. A man behind me said something about that being too dangerous and difficult, but I remembered how I used to go down the big staircase in my mother's house and stepped through the door, landing on my bottom, and just sliding and bumping down the ice before me. The man said something I couldn't hear, but he did the same thing and soon we were both careening down one set of icy steps after another, barely making the corners as it turned and twisted down to the parking lot below. 

We seemed to go faster and faster as we neared the bottom and I was wondering how it would end, but there were cars down there and it was so cold that I thought maybe I could borrow one just long enough to get home and back. The man had reservations, but then we were in a car. I was driving and he was in the back seat looking over my shoulder as the car continued careening across a parking lot bordered by tumbles of dead icy bushes. I tried putting on the brake, but it didn't stop our slide across the ice. I tried steering us into the bushes and the man shouted at me not to scratch the car, but it didn't stop us anyway. 

I even tried reaching for the key to turn the car off, but there was no key! I didn't understand how that could be and I tried to open the door, thinking I would just throw myself out, but the door was locked and there was no lock to unlock! 

I began to panic and struggle to push the door open until it suddenly sprang out and I leaped up -- throwing back my covers and landing on the floor of my bedroom covered in sweat and panting with fear.

Outside it is still cold, gray and snowy, but at least I am awake now and the laws of the universe, as I understand them, are back in place.