Let It Snow

Editor’s Note: Here’s another tale from film maker Christine Fugate’s writing group.

Way up in the higher reaches of Earth known as the North Pole, Santa Claus was busy in his workshop. It was the beginning of December and everyone was working long hours. Two years prior, Santa had added a Starbucks so that the elves could get ample double espressos and triple lattes to better stay alert and put in even more hours.

Next to Starbucks was the Snow Factory that supplied snow all over the United States. The workers there were working overtime because of the Polar Vortex. The foreman, Silas Shiver, was beside himself. They had to send snow in huge amounts throughout the country and he was exhausted.

Silas set the controls on the Snow Director and went next door to Starbucks. Coming back through the door, he stumbled and spilled his espresso. His foot caught in the spill and Silas slid across the floor bumping into the Snow Director and causing the dial to relocate. To his horror he saw that torrents of snow were now headed straight toward Laguna Beach, California!                  Down below, the people of Laguna Beach were getting ready for their annual Hospitality Night. All the stores were open and children were eagerly awaiting Santa, who would be driven through town on a bright red fire truck.

As the palm trees swayed in the gentle breeze by the ocean, great drifts of snow began to fall. Everyone on Forest Avenue was spellbound and the children were ecstatic. People were making snowballs and laughter rang out across the village.

Two surfers coming out of Hobie with their new surfboards stopped in shock and one said, “Dude, we should have gotten snowboards.”

Over on Ocean Avenue, Peter Blake stood with his arms folded over his lavender sweater and thought that it was surely a sign to get married again, as the snow reminded him of wedding confetti.

Across the street, Ludo stood outside in front of his gallery with his mouth open.

Next door, the shoppers at Anastasia Boutique hardly noticed, as designer black clothing was the only thing grabbing their attention.

Down the street at the bus station, two rumpled men stood smoking and talking. “Hey man, it’s snowing.” The other spat back, “No, man, it’s angel dust.”

At Zinc, people sat outside eating and watched as their dogs leaped in the air and barked with joy.

At the Laguna Art Museum, Malcolm Warner and Grace Kook Anderson came running out, saw all the white and thought they were re-living the Lita Albuquerque November performance.

Up at the Snow Factory, Silas Shiver reset the Snow Director. Back down in Laguna Beach the snow stopped suddenly and began immediately melting in the balmy air. The hills at Top of the World turned green and the roads washed clean all the way to the beach. The trees drank much-needed water and the reserves, which were sadly depleted due to the drought, filled up again.

The town sparkled like a bright diamond. People all over Laguna Beach thought it was the best holiday they had ever had.

Susan Wunderlich is a former art dealer and mother of three who is really wishing for snow in Laguna Beach this winter.