The Mare

Velvet

It was something I used to see on the old movie channel, except it was done ridiculous funny, people painted blue and wearing pajamas underneath dresses and hats. Ginger came out in a old-timey hat being a dumb nice woman who wants this mean old man to give money. Little kids ran out and sang Christmas songs; one of the little kids messed up and started crying, which made me on her side. I looked at my mom; her eyes were soft, her lips coming open like she’s dreaming. This guy who looked like the science teacher everybody bugs on came out wrapped in bike chains, groaning and yelling. My mom’s mouth was still open, her eyes closed. Dante whispered, “He’s going to say, ‘You’re nothing but a bit of undigested beef or a piece of cheese!’ ” That’s when I realized it was that story about the mean old man who hated poor people until ghosts came to him on Christmas Eve.