November 30<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s this?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Molly McIntyre stepped into the kitchen, shaking snow from her hair as she did so. It had been snowing for a few hours, but that hadn\u2019t stopped Zette from dropping off the mail. Now, she showed her husband Drew the elegant white and silver envelope that had come with the other letters and bills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He took the envelope and turned it over in his hands. \u201cIt almost looks like a wedding invitation, but do we have any weddings coming up?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNot that I know of,\u201d Molly said, slipping her feet out of her boots and into the warm slippers she\u2019d left beside the door. \u201cUnless Sue and Luke finally just decided to elope and this is the party invitation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sue and Luke are eloping? Really? Do you think they\u2019ll still do a fancy dress party to celebrate if they are already married?<\/em> Schrodinger Barrett came barreling out to the kitchen, whiskers and ears alert. He loved fancy dress parties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI don\u2019t know that,\u201d Molly replied, laughing. \u201cBut they\u2019re the only ones I know of who might be getting married.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Drew held the envelope out to Schrodinger, and the Cross Cat sniffed it. Not Sue and Luke,<\/em> he said finally. I smell Zette, obviously, but there\u2019s another scent…familiar, but it\u2019s a little muddled. It\u2019s snowing outside still. Maybe that\u2019s my problem.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, let\u2019s put an end to our misery.\u201d Drew opened the envelope, pulling out a pale green card. There were silver snowflakes and colorful autumn leaves intertwined around the edge, framing the following words:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis is an invitation to a special party. Please bring an ornament that symbolizes the spirit of Christmas to you to the tree in Captain Carter\u2019s Square this Saturday. We look forward to seeing you there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fondly,<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Snow Queen, Jack Frost, and Old Man Winter\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n A party!<\/em> Schrodinger danced around the kitchen, acting more like his best friend Jack than a Cross Cat. Molly could almost see the excitement rising off him. And ornaments! And friends!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI guess we\u2019ll have to find ornaments,\u201d Molly said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That Saturday, they joined the large crowd of people in Captain Carter\u2019s Square in downtown Carter\u2019s Cove, where a massive spruce tree had been decorated every year that Molly could remember. There were still lights glowing amid the dark green needles, but the normal garlands of starfish, dolphins, ships, and anchors were not evident. Molly looked around at all her friends and neighbors, and smiled. Christmas was definitely one of Carter Cove\u2019s favorite holidays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There was a small raised dias next to the tree, and standing on it were three of Carter Cove\u2019s nontraditional residents. Jade, the Snow Queen, radiant in her silvery-white robes and with a small diamond tiara nestled among her blonde braids, stood next to Jack Frost, her hand in his. He was dressed in dark green robes, with autumn leaves and silver snowflakes dancing along the edges of the fabric. And behind them loomed the tall figure of Old Man Winter, ice in his grey beard, his blue eyes bright. To think we used to fear him,<\/em> Molly thought. It seems so long ago.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Snow Queen stepped forward and raised her hands. Instantly the crowd quieted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWelcome, my friends,\u201d she said, her clear voice floating on the chill air. \u201cI know this tree normally holds tributes to Captain Carter and his voyage here to found this town. But this year is a special year for Jack and I, and in the spirit of that, we\u2019d like to share a tradition that Captain Carter introduced us to.\u201d She laid a hand on the branch nearest to her. \u201cThat first year, everyone in the town hung an ornament that held a memory sacred to each of them, and told the story of why the ornament meant so much to them. We,\u201d and she looked back at Jack and Old Man Winter, \u201cthought that it was time to revisit this. And we are so very happy that so many of you decided to join us. So we will start.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" November 30 \u201cWhat\u2019s this?\u201d Molly McIntyre stepped into the kitchen, shaking snow from her hair as she did so. It had been snowing for a few hours, but that hadn\u2019t stopped Zette from dropping off the mail. Now, she showed her husband Drew the elegant white and silver envelope that had come with the other …<\/p>\n