Nine Story Studios, James Story a voice. Welcome to the Lift, get
ready to take a ride. Hello, I'm Daniel Foytek, and I thank
you for joining us for a special episode of Victoria's Lyft. Today we're presenting
the first of five mini episodes for Christmas, called a Little Lift for the
Holidays. Full sized episodes are coming, but until then, let's join Victoria
for today's tale. It's Always Christmas by Meg haftall told by Mary Murphy and
Amber Loverling Nay Collins. Thank you all of you for being a part of
Victoria's Christmas celebration. Check back tomorrow for our next tale. I awoke to
the distant ding of an elevator. I sat up from my favorite napping spot,
a window cushion I often shared with the family cat. Such a strange,
unexpected sound intrigued me, which doesn't happen often these days. I'm mostly
bored finding little ways to amuse myself as I wait for Christmas Eve. I
glanced around the room, looking for the source of the ding. The cat
hadn't stirred from her place on the long cushion. She remained asleep in a
square of they tangerine light. The sun was setting a few more hours,
and it would be the night before Christmas. I made my way around the
tree trimmed with homemade ornaments, over the pile of wrapped gifts adorned with glimmering
bows. The hallway was silent. I turned into the kitchen, messy with
the hasty assembly line of decorated sugar cookies. If I concentrated, I could
nearly smell them. Remember how they tasted? Hello, Diana, Oh,
I startled. A little girl had appeared beside the stove, golden curls in
a mischievous smile. How can you you see me? Of course you are
right here, aren't you. Yes, I suppose I am getting ready for
the holiday shrivel. The mind was a shambles. I watched as the little
girl picked up one of the cookies, shaped like a wreath. She examined
it with a smile, then bit into the green, icing, you're not
like me. However, do you mean, Diana, you're not dead like
me? Well, at least you know about your situation. I've met many
who are quite confused. I wondered. Then, if when the family came
home, would they be able to see this girl? Would they notice one
of their wreathed cookies had been eaten. Honestly, after so long, I
thought we knew everything about my situation. That now, watching the girl brush
crumbs from the lace collar of her proper dress, I felt all the more
confused. I know this is a special day for you. You wait all
year, don't you? I nodded. He liked to spooked the children ruin
their Christmas well, lay ghost tricks, like last year when he made poor
Heart to cry. Do you remember hiding in his closet and making him think
you were the Boogeyman when he was supposed to be dreaming of sugar plums?
How do you know all this? Think of me as a sort of Santa
Claus? I know when you've been good, or that she gave a curtsy?
So what? I hate Christmas? So I do my best to make
them hate it too. Could you blame me? Really? No? No,
I really can't blame you, Diana. That's when the girl's bright eyes
dimmed. She looked melancholy. She came around the corner closer to me.
The first time in ages someone was looking into my eyes. I could actually
feel the warmth of her hand as she took my own. We were the
same size, two little girls succumbing to your fever on Christmas morning, My
dear Diana, that was a cruel fate. Tears pinched the corners of my
eyes. I hadn't cried in so very long. You lost your young life
in this house. Those rap presents were never opened, Your grieving parents lost
their love on Christmas all those years ago, and you've remained haunting those who
live in this place. Hat Tears flooded my cheeks. I grabbed a hold
of the girl as if she were my anchor in a great rollicking storm.
Now it is time Hannock filled my entire being. Now follow me, Diana.
She pulled me out into the hallway where the door of an elevator waited.
The door slid opened with that musical ding. The inside was filled with
the most brilliant white light. It reminded me of sunshine, dappling snow,
of happiness, of warmth. I'm scared to leave my house, to leave
Christmas, because the truth was, I didn't hate Christmas. I loved it.
I loved the decorations, the music, the cheer. I just hated
that it had been taken away from me. Oh but where you're going.
It's always Christmas, don't you see, Diana. Your parents are up there
trimming the tree, waiting for you. Really, she nodded her head,
and I knew from her smile and the sparkle in her eyes that she was
telling me the truth. I let go over hand and stepped inside the brightly
lit elevator. I watched as the door closed, leaving the girl with the
golden pearls behind. There was a rush through my veins as I was brought
up up, and then the door opened to sparkling lights, to the sound
of familiar rafter mixed with the trill of holiday music. Oh, the best
part was the buttery scent of Christmas cookies. These ones I knew I'd be
able to bite into. Thank you to you, our supporters for making this
show possible. Today's episode featured Mary Murphy as Diane and Amber Loverling as Victoria,
and congratulations to Amber and Andy on their recent marriage. Today's custom score
was created by our resident composer, Niko Vites of the Inky Pop Print.
Artwork is by Jesse Hawk of the Inky Pop Print. Our author is meg
Afdall. Story editor and producer is Daniel Foytek of Ninth Story Studios until tomorrow,
Keep your music box wound, and look out for lifts appearing in places
you least expect.