“Did someone drawed a fireplace for you, Uncle Marco?”
“Not this year, honey.”
“Then how will Santa find you?”
“Oh, I’m sure he’ll find a way.” — Tia Fielding
What a beautiful, heartbreaking little Christmas story this is by Kim Fielding. Another new author to me, but I quickly became a fan. Though Alaska did break my heart and make me cry, it put it all back together again. That’s the hope of Christmas.
We first meet Marco and Scott on the roof of Marco’s house on Christmas Eve when they are 12 and 13 years old. The roof is the only place the two of them can find peace from the hellacious reality of their lives. Both boys live in terrible but different circumstances.
When Scott is moved to another foster home, they loose touch for years. But again on Christmas Eve, they find each other. They spend many Christmas Eves apart while Scott runs from the demons of his past, and Marco gives up any chance of a life of his own to take care of his sisters. But every once in a while they find each other, always on Christmas Eve.
Kim Fielding has written characters that, in such a short story, I fell completely in love with. These boys tried so hard to find just a few moments of happiness in their lives. It seemed the only way they were truly able to be happy was with each other. When they were apart, I cried, my heart breaking for and with them. When they were together I was joyful with them. This story has a message that transcends Christmas. It gives us all hope that we can overcome our circumstances, no matter how horrible they are, and find someone who is able to make us feel like we’re home.
Joyfully recommended.
You can buy Alaska here:
Now I want to read this one!