Georgia

Georgia wasn't much for conversation on the way back. She was too focussed on her car, strung up behind the tow truck, fretting over whether it would be alright and wondering if it'd be in good enough condition that she could finally make it to her sister's place. As she worried, all she could do was sit and watch it through the side mirror, swaying slightly from side to side behind the truck as they drove back to the farm. Felix seemed to notice that she was distracted and left her to her thoughts. He had once attempted to turn on the radio to fill the silence, but all the available stations were playing cheesy Christmas music, so he just turned it off, for which Georgia was grateful.

As they reached the farm, Georgia noticed a lot had changed in the few hours they'd been gone. The first thing they saw was a bright red sign at the foot of the Nissen farm driveway. It stood on legs that were painted red and white so that they looked like candy canes. The face of the sign simply read: NISSEN CHRISTMAS TREE FARM IS OPEN.

And it was. Sue had been busy. The snow had been cleared from between the rows of trees, and the remaining trees had been brushed off to show off their size and shape. A selection of pre-cut trees, already bound and ready to go, were leaned against the house's long porch. Cars and trucks of every colour and model were parked along one side of the driveway, and families milled about the property. Children ran ahead to find the best tree while their parents laughed and nursed steaming drinks from the same red cups that Sue had given them this morning.

Sue herself was standing on the porch, talking with a family that was tying up their selected tree. She waved as she saw the tow truck drive past the house.

Felix gave a short wave back and drove on, beyond the house and the row of cars, through the open gate and across the wide flat yard that led to the bright red barn behind the house. The doors were already open, waiting for them, and Felix drove right in.

The barn was beautiful, the exact kind of building that the word 'barn' conjured in Georgia's mind—big and red and rustic. The floor was dirt, pounded flat by decades of feet, hooves, and machines. Piles of tools and machinery and—what appeared to be—plain ol' junk were scattered throughout. Surprisingly, it didn't feel messy, more like organized chaos.

"Alright," Felix said after he put the truck into park. "Now we can get your car down and take a look at her. Once we're sure she's all good, we can give her a boost. Ma's gotta have cables around here somewhere." He hopped out and set about getting her car unhooked from the back of the tow truck.

Georgia hopped out, too, though there wasn't anything she could do to help. Felix was busy with the lift controls, so she left him to it, instead going to explore the barn and its contents. There had to be decades worth of stuff in here, maybe even a century's worth. There were plenty of old rusted tools and gadgets from the time before tractors and trucks came along to replace them. Against one wall was a row of cross-country skis—made out of actual wood—with their peaked tips painted to look like elven hats. At the back was even an old tractor that had to be at least twice her age. The place was filled to the brim with the history of the Nissen family.

In one corner, she discovered a stash of what looked like old holiday decorations for the farm, things that were too weathered to be used anymore. There were old signs, strings of the old-style of Christmas lights, and even little plastic figurines that had cracked from the cold. Then something caught her eye. It was just a little something made to look like a sign you'd see on the side of a highway. It read REINDEER CROSSING with a many-horned creature bounding across the yellow backdrop.

Georgia gave a half-laugh. "Where was this when I needed it?"

"Georgia, c'mere! We're ready to give your car a boost!"

She left the sign where she found it and went back to find Felix.

Felix was standing by the car. He had turned the truck slightly, and both of the hoods were popped, jumper cables already attached.

"I'm going to start the truck. Give it a bit and then I'll give you a sign to start your car, okay?"

"Okay," Georgia said with a nod. It had been a while since she'd done this, but as far as she remembered, it was pretty straightforward. They went to their separate places; Felix climbed back into the cab of the truck, and Georgia went to sit in her little car. Felix started the truck, and the engine rumbled.

Georgia put her key into the car's ignition but didn't turn it. Instead, she watched him through the windshield, waiting for him to give her the clear.

After a few minutes, he gave her a thumbs-up.

Georgia crossed her fingers as she twisted the key in the car's ignition. The car began to make the same pathetic whine as it had on the highway...

"Oh, come on," Georgia mumbled to herself. "Come on, start, please start, please..." It seemed like time began to crawl, the whining going on forever and ever...

But then something seemed to catch, and the car rumbled to life.

"Yes!" Georgia cried, pounding on the steering wheel. "Yes!" She was going to make it to her sisters tonight, after all.

"Great!" Felix said, hopping out of the truck. He came to her door and leaned down, smiling at her. "Looks like you'll be ready to head out soon."

"Looks like," she echoed, smiling back.

"Why don't you go run inside and grab your things?" Felix suggested. "I'll take care of everything here while your battery charges up and get your car ready for you."

"Sounds good," she said. "Thank you, by the way. I know you had stuff to do today, but I really do appreciate your help."

"It's fine," Felix said, waving off her thanks in a way that reminded her of his mom. "Mom has always made a point that we should help those that need it. And isn't that what Christmas is for?" he added sarcastically.

"Even so," Georgia said. "Thanks."

"Sure," Felix said, stepping aside to let her out. "But I thought you wanted to get out of here? Why're you dawdling?" When he said it like that... Usually, Felix had the same smooth city accent she did, but when he said certain words, they were touched by a twangy accent.

"I'm not dawdling!" Georgia replied, but she laughed. "I'm going, I'm going." She climbed out, leaving the keys in the car so the battery could get a good charge up.

Leaving the barn, she half ran back to the house, though she kept skidding and sliding—it was hard to run in the snow with her useless boots. Her pants quickly got covered in snow again, but she didn't care. Soon she was going to be free of this Christmas-tinged nightmare and see her sister.

As she thought of her sister, Georgia pulled out her phone. Just like the night before, the reception was bad—it still only had one bar out there. But that had been enough to send a text last night, maybe it'd be enough to send another.

Georgia fired off something quick and to-the-point: Good news, the car is fine! she typed. I'll be on the road ASAP! See you soon!

She tucked her phone back into her pocket and headed for the house. In her head, she listed the things she needed to do. Find Sue and say thank you, then go upstairs and grab my luggage, and then get in the car and drive...

The last place she'd see Sue was on the porch, and Georgia assumed she hadn't gone far. As she reached the porch, she noticed the families that had happily been browsing the Christmas trees when she arrived were now hurrying off to their vehicles, some of them empty-handed.

Is the farm closing already? Georgia wondered as she walked along, watching the cars begin to pull out and drive away. It wasn't even the afternoon yet. It seemed odd to her, but maybe this was perfectly normal. Georgia didn't know what kind of hours a Christmas tree farm kept.

Georgia rounded the porch corner, expecting to find her kindly host, but Sue was gone. All that was left was another sign, candy-striped like the one at the end of the driveway, with an arrow pointing towards the large French doors, reading: GIFT SHOP. Georgia peeked through the glass-fronted doors, wondering if that was where Sue had gone.

But Sue wasn't there either. It was a quaint little space, but it looked a little drab with rows of empty shelves, and big red signs that read things like CLEARANCE and EVERYTHING MUST GO, stark reminders that Sue was selling the place.

"Looking for someone?"

Georgia turned.

Sue was at the foot of the porch, looking up at her. She had a big blue tarp in her hands, and she was busy tying it down over the pre-cut trees.

"Yes!" Georgia said, running to the porch's railing and leaning over. "Felix got my car running, so I'm going to be on my way. I just wanted to say thank you—"

Sue opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted by the ring of Georgia's phone. Surprised, she pulled it out. For some reason, she had better reception in this spot—two bars, now. Enough for another call from her sister to get through.

"Lena?" Georgia asked as she answered. "What is it?"

"You haven't started driving yet, have you?" Lena said without even a greeting. There was a worried tone in her voice that, in turn, set Georgia's nerves on edge.

"No, I'm still getting ready and saying my goodbyes," Georgia replied. She looked down at Sue. Sue had a strange look on her face. She seemed bothered, too.

Georgia was confused. Am I missing something?

"Good," Lena said. "Don't. It's not safe to drive. There's another blizzard on the way."

As her sister spoke, Sue pointed out across the field to the hills and sky beyond. Cresting the hill was another wall of dark gray clouds headed straight for them.

🎄

Georgia was this close...
Have you ever been stuck in a storm?