Santa Claus’s riding on the summer sky
By: Evelyn Cheung
Tags: Flash Fiction, Christmas, Travel, Summer, Santa Claus

Dusseldorf Christmas Market — Photo by Candice Chan

I and my closest classmate Jon are making plan for our summer trip. This will be the first time we become travel buddies. We are both excited that even choosing a destination is so hard right now. Some of the first names that just pop up in our mind are Venice, London, Athens etc. Oh why all of them are from Europe? Why don’t we choose to go to Asia instead? I love Pho because I am an American Vietnamese. However, Jon said that I have been eating Pho for my whole life. Now is the time that we should explore several new cuisines. It does make sense. After discussing hours and hours to decide the top three countries that we will visit this summer, we finally make a decision to go to explore Greece, Turkey and Egypt. They are quite close to each other and all have vividly historical facts plus spectacular landscapes. It has always been my dream to witness the land of the Olympian Gods — Greek mythology, while Jon is more interested in how the Pyramid was built and the rises of the Ottoman Empire that finally formed Turkey as a country today. Just thinking of the trip creates such a strong goosebump flowing all over my body. To continue planning for our vacation, Jon suggests us to pass by his uncle’s house for a hot homemade pizza before doing the research. Actually I am not a pizza fan, but I hope his family’s recipe will be more tasty than what I always try to avoid from the stores. It is also a nice courtesy to accept this invitation as I am so close to him.

When we knock on the door, there is a sound of baby crying. Nonetheless, when his uncle opens the door, the baby stops crying and we are showered with balloons, candies and decoration items. We are so surprised as everyone in the family just dress up as the Santa Claus.

“Wow!! Does everyone have an early Christmas’s mood in the middle of May? Did I miss anything?” — Jon said.

“We are celebrating auntie Mina’s death anniversary. She loved Santa Claus since childhood. This is one of her last wish that we have to cherish our life every year with her once it comes to this day.” — Jon’s uncle replied.

“What? Uncle Sam, are you kidding? What the hell when did auntie Mina pass away and I never knew?” — Jon’s eyes burst out into tears. He is astonished, shocked and hurt, so am I.

“It is ok, my boy! My little boy! We’re getting old everyday. Sooner or later, our life will fall as a leaf wilting from its tree. This is the reality that no one can escape. Mina loved you so much, not less than your parents or even more. We had already known that her heart could not battle against the turmoil 3 years ago, but she decided to keep it in secret. She knew this was your senior year in the university. Thus, she did not want you to worry. Mina hoped you to fully devote your mind to study and get the graduation on time. We were traveling the world during your academic years. At least she was happy to close her eyes in peace.” — Uncle Sam holds both Jon’s shoulders and looks straight into his watery eyes to explain about the situation.

I turn my sight away to hide every sobbing breath sounding as the infant’s wailing. At a moment, the baby is catching my eyes. I notice a slight mischievous smile on her rosy lips. Then, I look through the window. The aircraft is taking off to the clear blue sky, heading up to the blazing sunshine. I suddenly fantasize the Santa Claus riding the clouds in this summer day.