Guard Ornament – Sunday Photo Fiction

Written for Sunday Photo Fiction. A story about a Christmas ghost begins after the photo.

Genre: Urban Fantasy/Humor/Christmas Tale

Photo by: Alastair Forbes

Guard Ornament

Slappy the Labrador had a Christmas ornament all his own. After the Christiansons put up their Christmas tree, Slappy would somehow find the same ornament every year. He’d run around with it and sleep with it in his bed by the fireplace. In all the years that Slappy absconded with the ornament, it never broke.

When Slappy passed on, the family kept his bed by the fireplace in remembrance. At Christmas they left a dog biscuit inside. Slappy’s favorite ornament held a hallowed position on the Christmas tree. Every year, the family would find new teeth marks on it. They knew in some way, Slappy was still with them. And then one year, something unusual happened.

***

FBI Agent, Dowden (Special Investigations) escorted them into their own house. “Our agents apprehended the robbers just in time, Mr. Christianson. Just a standard home invasion.” David’s wife and daughter, Carrie, home from college, followed close behind.

“I’m happy to see the FBI working a common home invasion,” said David, looking askance. He couldn’t help noticing a man being wheeled out on gurney with ball-shaped dent in his skull. “What did you capture them with? A sledge-hammer?”

“There was a struggle, of course,” said Dowden.

As they passed the dining room, David saw a man on the floor in handcuffs trying to hide behind a curtain. He was screaming, “No! Stop! Get it away!” An agent dangled a Christmas ornament before him, saying, “Woo! Woo!”

“Knock it off, Wilson!” shouted Dowden. He turned to David with a smile. “We’re conducting the interrogations now.”

“I see that,” murmured David.

“Daddy! Come see,” called Carrie from the family room. He entered to find Carrie kneeling beside Slappy’s bed. Slappy’s favorite ornament rested in the bed beside a half-eaten dog biscuit.

“Did either of you put the ornament there?” he asked his wife and daughter. Heads shook. He turned to Dowden. “We have extensive security cams in this house. I’d like to see the videos now.”

“Ah. I’m sorry Mr. Christianson,” explained Dowden. “The video system suffered a malfunction.”

The Christiansons shared knowing smiles. “How did I know you’d say that?”
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Each Sunday, Alastair Forbes offers an original photo as a writing prompt for original fiction between 100-200 words. Anyone may join our creative force for good in the world. Won’t you join us? Here’s the prompt for this week: http://sundayphotofictioner.wordpress.com/2013/12/22/sunday-photo-fiction-december-22nd-2013/