Jim DeBrosse, Ph.D

Overview: Christmas Short Stories

By Jim DeBrosse | September 15, 2010

These stories first appeared in the Dayton Daily News on successive Christmas Days from 1994 through 2009. Enjoy!

“Pennies from Heaven” (2009)

By Jim DeBrosse | December 25, 2009

Inside Mother of God Church, a mountainside was quickly taking shape…

“Trickledown’s Christmas” (2008)

By Jim DeBrosse | December 25, 2008

Thornton Trickledown waited impatiently for the last employee’s car to leave the parking lot…

“What Goes Around…” (2007)

By Jim DeBrosse | December 25, 2007

She was late, thanks to the early arrival that night of the White Christmas everyone who wasn’t working always dreamed about.

“That ’70s Christmas” (2006)

By Jim DeBrosse | December 25, 2006

Delayed two days by a snowstorm, Alec and Creech had left campus that morning, Christmas Eve, at 5 a.m. It was now almost 7:30 p.m…

“On Wings and a Prayer” (2005)

By Jim DeBrosse | December 25, 2005

He wanted to see this airplane, but he wanted to see his mother even more.

“A Cat for Christmas” (2004)

By Jim DeBrosse | December 25, 2004

Later that night, after he had finished cleaning up the kitchen, Russell found boy and cat asleep on the sofa, exhausted from their first day together.

“Random Acts of Christmas” (2003)

By Jim DeBrosse | December 25, 2003

In each proud little home was a unique collection of souls, with their own stories to tell as well as a quiet middle-class readiness to help their neighbors, especially around the holidays.

“And a Child Shall Lead Them…” (2002)

By Jim DeBrosse | May 7, 2002

HE STARED AT the blank page for what seemed like the thousandth time that morning, but the words wouldn’t come.

“A Christmas for Vito” (2001)

By Jim DeBrosse | December 25, 2001

Carter held Heather back a moment and whispered, “You know what I think? I don’t think the boy is lost at all. I think he’s a con artist taking us for a ride.”

“The Christmas Panhandler” (2000)

By Jim DeBrosse | December 25, 2000

FRANK DRAYER SAT staring at the letter from corporate, not really reading it, just feeling what it had to say, like a blow to the stomach.

“Because You Have Loved So Deeply” (1999)

By Jim DeBrosse | December 25, 1999

Up and down, up and down, the endless clanking and ratcheting of the gears sounded like the chains he felt around his heart.

“The Night of the Louisville Slugger” (1998)

By Jim DeBrosse | December 25, 1998

Christmas Eve 1958 is what we Peltier boys always call the Night of the Louisville Slugger, a most comical remembrance…

“Ezra’s (Almost) Really Lousy Christmas” (1996)

By Jim DeBrosse | December 25, 1996

Ezra Crowley hated Christmas, but he couldn’t tell you exactly why.

“A Christmas Guinea Pig” (1995)

By Jim DeBrosse | December 25, 1995

Luke had put a down payment of $2.50 on the pig several weeks ago and Mr. Stickle, owner of the shop, had been kind enough to place the animal in Christmas layaway until Luke could raise the remainder of the $5.

“A Special Providence” (1994)

By Jim DeBrosse | December 25, 1994

Jasper called her something with a fricative so harsh his false teeth nearly flew from his mouth. Then he put his hands behind his head and calmly grinned.

“On a Cold Winter’s Night” (1993)

By Jim DeBrosse | December 25, 1993

“Mom, Dad! A blizzard’s comin’! There’s a special report on TV.”