{"id":2150,"date":"2022-12-01T12:07:32","date_gmt":"2022-12-01T17:07:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vg-ford.com\/?p=2150"},"modified":"2022-12-01T12:07:32","modified_gmt":"2022-12-01T17:07:32","slug":"november-30-advent-day-0","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vg-ford.com\/?p=2150","title":{"rendered":"November 30 – Advent Day 0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut what if we really are too old?\u201d Zoey Allard blurted suddenly, stopping and looking at her best friend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cToo old for what?\u201d Lily Barrett asked, also stopping. Zoey had been acting weird for the past few days, ever since she\u2019d come back from her grandparents\u2019 house from Thanksgiving. Now, Lily waited for her to say more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was snowing ever so slightly, the tiny flakes dancing around them in the still air, reminding Lily watching her aunt Molly dusting powdered sugar over one of her custom gingerbread houses. To be honest, half of her hometown of Carter\u2019s Cove looked like a gingerbread house, especially during the Christmas season. Some people thought it was corny, old-fashioned, and or just boring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lily couldn\u2019t imagine Christmas anywhere else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cToo old for Christmas magic,\u201d Zoey said, looking down and scuffing the toe of her winter boot through the fallen snow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lily stared at her, puzzled. \u201cExplain, please,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zoey took a deep breath, obviously uncomfortable, and Lily was suddenly very glad it was just the two of them. Molly had sent them off to the Tin Shop to pick up some cookie box prototypes, but that could wait. This was way more important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI know it sounds weird,\u201d Zoey said finally, still not looking at her best friend. \u201cI mean, look at where we live.\u201d She gestured vaguely at the town around them. \u201cBut we\u2019re 16 now, Lil.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd?\u201d Lily was rather honestly confused. \u201cMolly and Drew are way older than us, and they believe.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDo they still get presents from Santa, though? Do they believe in him?\u201d Zoey asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOf course. Everyone in the Cove gets presents from Santa. Even Grandma and Grandpa.\u201d Lily frowned. \u201cI mean, come on, Zoey. You\u2019ve MET Santa. He gave you a house. What does your age have to do with anything?\u201d She looked closely at her friend. \u201cWhat happened over Thanksgiving?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy cousin was a jerk. He said we were too old to believe in Santa, and that we need to grow up, and when I started to argue, my aunt got involved and told me I was too old for nonsense, and well, what if they broke the magic?\u201d This all came out in one breath, and when Zoey finally looked at Lily, there were tears in her eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat??? Where were your parents? Never mind. They can\u2019t break the magic.\u201d Lily pulled Zoey into her arms, hugging her tightly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey were with Grandma and didn\u2019t find out until later, and then they yelled at my aunt,\u201d Zoey mumbled. \u201cBut I\u2019m so scared now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBecause they made you doubt?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zoey nodded, sniffing a bit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lily hugged her tighter. \u201cLook, I can assure you, they didn\u2019t break the magic. Do you remember when you moved here? I was totally sure that Santa wasn\u2019t real after you told me he didn\u2019t exist. And did that stop him from coming and giving gifts?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Zoey mumbled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThen trust me. This is Carter\u2019s Cove. Christmas is real here.\u201d Lily grinned. \u201cI just wish I could get your cousin here and show him the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zoey heaved a sigh. \u201cThey\u2019re coming the week before Christmas, and staying until New Year\u2019s,\u201d she said glumly. \u201cSo you\u2019ll get your chance.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh good,\u201d Lily said. She looked at her friend\u2019s face. \u201cYou okay to continue?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah, let\u2019s go get boxes.\u201d Zoey scrubbed a gloved hand across her face and then lifted her chin. \u201cDo you think we\u2019ll get an Advent calendar this year?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI hope so,\u201d Lily said, as they started walking down towards Merchant\u2019s Square. \u201cWouldn\u2019t that be cool for your cousin to see?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI guess.\u201d Zoey didn\u2019t sound enthusiastic, but then she said, \u201cWell, actually, I hope so. Maybe it would help him not be such a jerk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHow old is he?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSeventeen, and he\u2019s been terrible since he got sick. So freaking mean to everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat did he get?\u201d Lily asked. \u201cI mean, getting sick sucks, so I get it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m not really sure, since they don\u2019t talk much about it, but he\u2019s had stomach problems since he was a kid, and he\u2019s always been skinny, but now he\u2019s gained a ton of weight, and he\u2019s just nasty about everything.\u201d Zoey shook her head. \u201cLet\u2019s talk about something else, because I don\u2019t want to depress both of us. We\u2019ll just have to deal with him when he gets here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<><><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the two girls turned the corner and entered the Merchant\u2019s Square, a shadow that had been following them at a discreet distance detached itself from a doorway and paused before turning away. That had been a very interesting conversation, and he wanted to make sure that certain people were aware of it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cBut what if we really are too old?\u201d Zoey Allard blurted suddenly, stopping and looking at her best friend. \u201cToo old for what?\u201d Lily Barrett asked, also stopping. Zoey had been acting weird for the past few days, ever since she\u2019d come back from her grandparents\u2019 house from Thanksgiving. Now, Lily waited for her to …<\/p>\n

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