Tara Maya's Tales

“What are these, exactly?” asked Bill. “Antlers for your car!” said the checkout lady. She wore a red Santa hat at a jaunty angle.  She wiggled her fingers on top of her head. “To make it look like a reindeer.” He laughed. “Does it make it fly over rush hour traffic too?” “Of course!” she smiled. “But only once, and only at just the perfect time. One miracle per antlers.” “Why not?” Bill added the antlers to his other groceries. He could use some Christmas cheer. Since his son had gone off to college and the beloved family dog, Mitts, had passed on to Doggie Heaven, the house had been quiet. Bill and the Misses didn’t even have a tree this year. The antlers would be his token decoration. He fastened them onto his car in the parking lot. The wind was bitter and brutal that night, and Bill had a long drive home. Suddenly, on an isolated road lined with trees, a branch dropped in front of the car. The car ran up it like a ramp, and literall...

All the trees in the lot were excited. They couldn't wait to be Christmas trees! If only their lot weren't so far away from anything, off a freeway from California to Nevada. They could see the cars on the freeway, but it seemed the cars couldn't see them. Cars whizzed by, but none stopped at the Christmas tree lot. All the trees could do was dream. "I hope I will be decorated in gold!" said Cedar. "I hope I will be decorated in silver!"said Fir. "I hope I will be decorated in red and green!" said Pine. "I don't care how I'm decorated," said a voice from far above all the rest, "as long as I can be a Christmas tree." For a moment all the trees on the lot were confused. Where had the voice had come from? They looked up and saw a tall, tall palm tree, which grew at the side of the lot. Cedar, Fir and Pine began to laugh. "You're a palm tree! You can't be a Chri...