writing

The Last House A (Slightly-Inappropriate) 100-Word Short Story By Nate Melcher Inspired by the card’s artwork   “Here,” said the Claus. “You sort your own toys this year.” He poured the sack’s contents down the chimney and listened to their clattering and rattling the whole way down. He snorted as they landed with crashings and … Read more

The Stocking Cap A (Slightly-Inappropriate) 100-Word Short Story By Nate Melcher Inspired by the card’s artwork Susie was overjoyed. She’d finally found a stocking cap that fit the exact size and shape of her conical head. No more would the other snowpeople laugh at her or her designers, little Joey and Carmen Wilkenson. They’d worked … Read more

He Usually Knows If You’ve Been Good A (Slightly-Inappropriate) 100-Word Short Story By Nate Melcher Inspired by the card’s artwork He chuckled to himself, just soft enough so as not to wake the sleeping cat by the fireplace. He was done earlier than ever before. If it wasn’t so wonderful, he’d be worried! …But then… … Read more

Jolly Old Folly A (Slightly-Inappropriate) 100-Word Short Story By Nate Melcher Inspired by the card’s artwork The stockings were hung by the chimney with care. And Santa had taken them each from there. He waddled outside with a jolly old chuckle, That shook his great belly where it met his brass buckle. Tied to the … Read more

The Little Things A (Slightly-Inappropriate) 100-Word Short Story By Nate Melcher Inspired by the card’s artwork Everyone trusts penguins! They’re so cute and fun and the way they waddle across the ice, well, it’s just enough to melt any heart at the sight of the little things. It’s probably why the Penguin Gang was able … Read more

The Santa Snare A (Slightly-Inappropriate) 100-Word Short Story By Nate Melcher Inspired by the card’s artwork Santa had encountered many traps over the years. Set by skeptical children just reaching that age where wonder and rationality meet, he’d found them all quite simple to avoid. Tripwires, rattling cans, live animals, even snares ready to snatch … Read more

See You Next Christmas A (Slightly-Inappropriate) 100-Word Short Story By Nate Melcher Inspired by the card’s artwork Theirs was a forbidden love. They’d seen each other for years, he from the rooftop and she from the front yard. Both were a little different each time they saw each other. He was a little older, a … Read more

Dashing Through the Snow A (Slightly-Inappropriate) 100-Word Short Story By Nate Melcher Inspired by the card’s artwork The little reindeer ran. Panting as its small hooves pounded in the snow, the reindeer never paused to notice the abandoned farm houses, their long shadows cascading over the hill. She gave no care to the tiny country … Read more

Santa Bear – or – Santa + Bear + Obscure 1980s Reference A (Slightly-Inappropriate) 100-Word Short Story By Nate Melcher Inspired by the card’s artwork   Santa Claus didn’t know what to do. He couldn’t go back to the workshop, not like this. No, they wouldn’t see him as Santa Claus. They’d see him as … Read more

A New Kind of Christmas A (Slightly-Inappropriate) 100-Word Short Story By Nate Melcher Inspired by the card’s artwork   The Frost Giant’s magic snowglobe kept Santa Claus prisoner for the next ten years. The world had no idea where he was or what had happened, only that Christmas was forever different. It happened to the … Read more