Jared
Magic existed in the world. It was all around him, and it was important. And now, it was going to save Chris' life.
Jared and Tracy carried Chris through the portal on an improvised stretcher made from Santa coats. Mary met them on the other side and helped them lay Chris down in the center of the library. Phil had contacted Mary already, and the magic box was waiting for them in the room.
Chris seemed so small and fragile lying there on the floor. His cheeks were sunken in. His skin was white and thin as paper. It was even worse that he was still in his Santa outfit and not in his normal clothes.
Jared had no idea what to do. He looked to Mary and said, “Well?”
Mary opened the lid. “How about you do it?”
Inside the box was a brilliant galaxy of stars, leaping and dancing together. It was so bright, it hurt his eyes to look at it, yet he couldn't look away. He knelt beside the box and scooped up a handful of the magic. He smiled at the way it tingled. Everything about it was real. He accepted that now.
“Your turn,” Mary said to Tracy.
Tracy knelt next to Jared. She hesitated, and he nodded, encouraging her. She scooped up her own handful, and the two of them carried the magic over to Chris.
“Now what?” Jared asked.
Mary stood behind them and put her hands on their shoulders. “You know what to do.”
Together, Jared and Tracy opened their hands and let the magic spill onto Chris' body. A thousand yellow stars dipped and swirled across his chest, around his head, and down to his toes. As the magic did its work, Chris' body transformed. His cheeks filled out and regained their rosy color, his beard disappeared and was replaced by a warm smile, and finally, his eyes opened.
He blinked a few times, then Mary helped him to his feet. A few seconds later, he was back in his navy blue suit and looked just like he had the day Jared met him.
Tracy and Jared hovered around him, unsure of what to do. A moment before, he had seemed so fragile.
“Come here, you two.” Chris opened his arms, and the two children ran into them. “Is there anything I can do for you to thank you for your help?”
Jared didn't know how he had helped, but there was only one thing he wanted anyway. “I'd like to go home.”
“Me too,” said Tracy.
***
Jared and Beth walked through the door of their apartment. Beth made it about two steps before she collapsed on the couch, but Jared wasn't ready for sleep yet.
He went to his bedroom closet and dug through the pile of dirty clothes. Beneath his favorite pair of jeans, he found the CD. He'd buried it at the bottom of his closet when Chris had given it to him. At the time, Jared thought Chris was just trying to remind him of his dad's favorite band, but after seeing Sophie unwrap the book, Jared knew the present wasn't from Chris. It was from his dad. Just as he suspected, on the inside was a note written on a yellow Post-It.
Jared, Every time I listen to this CD I think of you. I hope you'll listen to it and think of me. Love, Dad
Jared clutched the CD to his chest. Maybe it was time to think of his dad again. Of both of his parents.
He put the CD in his player, set it to repeat, and crawled into bed, listening as the music crept into his dreams.