A letter to Santa

A letter to Santa(Sharon Boothroyd) A Letter to Santa
1,580 words

LYDIA
Lydia had been a struggling screenplay writer for some time. Now her Christmas wish had finally come true!
A well- respected TV production company, Pink Cloud, had expressed an interest in her drama script.
Lydia had also sent this particular piece of work to a new, small screen project called Leading Lights.
They offered mentoring prizes for the two most promising dramatists.
Lydia didn't think she'd get anywhere with Leading Lights, but it hadn't cost anything to enter, so it was worth a go.
As a freelancer, she sold features and articles to magazines. Lydia had received positive comments on past TV script efforts, but there'd been no big break.
Until now.
Pink Cloud had read her script and liked her warm, northern, down to earth, family drama – but they wanted a lot of changes...
Lydia's hubby, builder Jay popped his head around the home office door. 'Coffee?'
'Yes please.'
After she'd carried out the changes, she reflected, what if the end result was nothing like her story at all?
Well, she reasoned, this was her dream. It was a risk worth taking!

***

FREYA
Freya pulled on her coat, scarf and gloves, and headed out to post Christmas cards. It was a raw, cold December afternoon.
A walk might help me reach a decision about Ross, she thought.
Ross was her co- habiting partner. He was the boy next door who'd moved to a city and clinched a high status job in TV advertising.
Then her mobile rang. It was her Mum.
'Hi love. Have you made any Christmas plans yet?'
She frowned. 'We're coming to yours, aren't we?'
'Ross's mum mentioned you're having Christmas lunch at theirs.'
She sighed. It looked like they'd be disappointing one set of parents.
'I'll talk to Ross and get back to you.'
'All right, love. Take care. Bye.'
Freya reflected on her year...
She'd loved her life – she had a rewarding job, a small set of good friends and a cosy flat. As a freelance personal trainer, she had a list of clients that kept her busy.
The only thing lacking was a partner.
So she was thrilled when she'd come across Ross again at a Halloween fancy dress party. He was back for a flying visit to see family. The party invite was from old school friends.
When they'd kissed at midnight, romance had quickly blossomed – yet a long distance relationship had proved difficult.
Then Ross gave up travelling to see her, as he claimed the long drive stressed him out.
'It's okay for you,' he'd said. 'You can choose your working hours. I can't.'
Freya nodded... well, she'd just have to get used to the long train rides.
There was no holiday for them that summer. Freya didn't like to let her clients down, and Ross was under pressure with a new, important client.
By December, they were both fed up of spending just weekends together. They realised that one of them had to commit.
It made sense for Freya to move. She did, but with a kind of unsettled unease... oh, saying goodbye was so hard! She wouldn't see friends much now, because of the distance.
Ross said he'd cover everyday costs for them, until she built up a new client base. Despite his promise, after she'd settled in, he constantly grumbled about it. It made her feel awful.

***

LYDIA
'How's it going?' Jay asked a few hours later.
Lydia rubbed her eyes. 'I've done what I can and emailed it back. But reading through the notes, I'm wondering if we're on the same page.'
'It'll be fine,' he soothed.
'Pink Cloud haven't offered me a contract yet and -'
'Stop fretting, Lydia. Shall we order a pizza for tea?'
She nodded. 'Sounds good.'
Just as Lydia was about to log off, a festive advert popped up. Santa was promoting a well- known department store.
She smiled as she thought about all the children writing their letters to Santa.
Then a thought struck her. Why not pen a secret one of her own?
She needn't send it anywhere, but it'd be good to write down all feelings about her career.
Lydia opened a blank document and began to type...

FREYA
'Both of our parents want us to spend Christmas day with them,' Freya began when she arrived home.
In the living room, as usual, Ross was glued to the TV.
He shrugged. 'The morning with your family, the afternoon with mine. Problem solved.'
It wasn't really 'problem solved' though, she thought.
'Well, who are we actually dining with?'
He waved a hand. 'We'll have the starters at my parents, and the main at your folks. We'll skip dessert Now hush Freya.'
But both families would be upset that we trotted back and forth between the courses, she mused, as she ambled to the bedroom.
Freya picked up a notepad and pen that she kept by the bed.
She often jotted down her dreams when she awoke. There wasn't a rushed start to the day, as she hadn't been able to acquire any new clients.
So Freya had applied for fitness related jobs instead. She'd had no joy.
Yesterday, when Ross had arrived home from work, he'd handed her some paperwork.
'It's an application form for a part- time cleaning job at my company's offices. You'll get the job. Your first shift starts at 6 am on the second of January.'
She'd gulped. 'Right.'
Freya sighed.
Then a string of tinsel draped across the dressing table mirror caught her eye. It was the run- up to Christmas, when children wrote to Santa...hmm.
Freya picked her pen and started writing. 'Dear Santa... '

LYDIA ***
Lydia focused on her 'bread and butter' work but she kept checking her inbox.
Then, at long last, on Friday at 5pm, a message from Pink Cloud's script editor arrived.
'We like this Lydia!'
Her heart lifted. She read on:
'However, we feel it needs an complete overhaul. What if the two families live in an affluent gated community with swimming pools and sports cars, instead of a terraced street with old cars and dustbins? We'd like to see the main character, Ria as sassy and sly. The viewers love a villain and -'
Her spirit sank. They liked her pacey dialogue but they hadn't liked her characters, setting or story.
They wanted a conflict ridden saga with a cast of rich, glamorous people, having affairs who would cheat each other in business.
That wasn't what her story was about at all. Lydia gulped back tears.
Oh what a horrible, disappointing blow!

***

FREYA
When she awoke on the 23rd December and remembered her letter to Santa, Freya made a sudden decision.
She'd contact her former landlord and ask if her flat was vacant.
If it was, she'd ask to move in straight away. (It was furnished with the basics). Freya had been a good tenant and he'd been sorry to see her go.
She had savings that would act as a deposit. Wisely, she'd kept this secret from Ross.
After New Year, she'd try to claim back her old clients and re- establish her friendship base.
It was now 10 am. Ross was still asleep, snoring on the sofa, having partied last night with colleagues after breaking for the season.
In the bedroom, she rang her former landlord (she still had his number stored on her phone) and to her surprise and delight, the flat was vacant.
'That's great! Can I move back in today?'
'Of course', he said, 'I'll meet you there at 3 pm with the keys.'
She needed to pack... what would she tell Ross?
With a jolt, Freya realised she'd fallen out of love with Ross. Had he loved her?
She straightened her shoulders.
She'd tell him that the relationship was over. She'd be leaving soon. Travelling back and forth, she knew the train times inside out.

***

LYDIA
'Shall I write what Pink Cloud want?' Lydia asked Jay anxiously, as they made mince pies together.
'It's up to you. The pay will be good, but if your heart's not in it...'
She nodded. 'I need to think about it.'
He glanced at the kitchen calendar. 'It's the 23rd tomorrow. Will they break up for Christmas then?'
She sighed. 'Probably.'
A moment passed as they worked quietly.
'I've decided. I'm pitching my script in January with another production company.'
He smiled. 'Good! Never give up!'
It was odd, Lydia thought, how that letter to Santa had clarified things in her mind...
Just then, her phone bleeped with an email message.
It was from Leading Lights.
'We are delighted to tell you that your script has been chosen in our debut dramatist project! An agent /mentor has been allocated to you. They'll contact you in January.'
She beamed. It was going to be a happy Christmas, after all!
FREYA
As she unpacked in her old flat, Freya reflected.
Ross had taken the news well.
'As soon as you moved in with me, you lost your spark,' he said.
'Yes.' She'd blinked back tears. Love hadn't been enough to hold them together as a couple. She needed friends, family and a job, too.
He was sad yet he was relieved to see her go.
She was so thankful that she'd that written a letter to Santa. It had motivated her to make some positive changes.
A New Year would soon be upon them, and a new start too!


ENDS
S.BEE