Note: This is my fourth (and final) letter of Advent 2020. Thanks for reading this year! The story will continue on the first Sunday of Advent 2021. For an explanation of the project and to get caught up on past letters, you can check out this video recap. Or you can,[…]
Note: This is my third letter of Advent 2020, but part 15 of me and my brother’s Advent Letters project. For an explanation of the project and to get caught up on past letters, you can check out this video recap. Or you can, you know, read the letters. Jer stood with[…]
Note: This is my second letter of Advent 2020, but part 14 of me and my brother’s Advent Letters project. For an explanation of the project and to get caught up on past letters, you can check out this video recap. Or you can, you know, read the letters. The eagle’s giant[…]
Note: This is my first letter of Advent 2020, but part 13 of me and my brother’s Advent Letters project. For an explanation of the project and to get caught up on past letters, you can check out this video recap. Or you can, you know, read the letters. My[…]
Dearest Mellema Cousins,
You’re likely surprised to be hearing from me. Earlier, I explained that I could only write to you on Sundays of Advent. Well, I omitted one loophole. Because Leap Day is, by long tradition, a bonus day where usual rules need not apply, I am able to send a bonus letter.
The boys, finally united in resolve, looked at each other a moment. They had no idea how to escape the Faerie castle. Matt shrugged, and walked to the door.
“It’s locked,” he said.
“Don’t worry,” said Brian. He grabbed his war hammer and stared down the door.
Matt couldn’t decide if he was frightened or offended.
“What do you mean we’re in danger?” Matt asked. “Ansa and her father have been really friendly. And Ansa is the most beautiful and—”
“Yes, yes, at first,” said the swan. “But that’s not how it ends.”
More swans appeared, gathering in an ominous circle around Matt.
The boys followed Ansa through a meandering woodland path. Brian tapped Matt on the shoulder and pointed to the map. They were headed away from the map’s arrow. Matt ignored him.
Shielding their eyes, the boys stepped into a sunny meadow teeming with poppies. On the far edge was a castle that seemed impossible: towers and turrets and bridges jutted out in extravagant excess, at angles that defied physics. Earth physics, at least.
Greetings from the North Pole! And special greetings to the newest Mellema cousins: welcome, Henry and Holland! Of course, you both are two years behind in this story. But I trust your older cousins will dutifully explain the previous years’ events to you.
Note: This is this year’s final letter of my and my brother’s Advent Letters project. We’ve really enjoyed creating these for our kids and for all of you, and we hope you’ve enjoyed reading. The story will continue next Advent. If you missed last week’s letter, read it here. For[…]