Gift Giving: another well put together conversational piece from the enticingly subdued surroundings of Senor Viejo's bar, finishing up with a feel good factor.
The Joy's of Christmas: Very amusing and fun to read. A refreshingly light-hearted entry.
Heavenly Peace: I have been knowingly guilty throughout these contests of trying to pack too much into a thousand words. I always felt compelled to attempt a full story with beginning, middle and end (bit of a back-story as well very often) rather than something that was Flash Fiction in its true sense. Just couldn't help myself! I tried to overcome this in a couple of the entries for the previous 'vs.' contest and I seriously tried to achieve it here too. Fingers crossed.
I had my eyes wide open to the fact that I was possibly treading on rather thin ice regarding historical fact and cultural sensibilities. I carry out only minimal research for these things. Having digested Dawnstorm's earlier post it appears that I may have just gotten away with it.
A Christmas Wish: I did enjoy this little tale of a genie with attitude, but must admit to being a little confused by the ending at the time of reading. Your later post explained things and also made me chuckle, Steve. Also like your Christmas magazine idea for next year - you can certainly count me in.
Faraway Holiday: Nice job! I thought you got the solitude just right. I was beginning to wonder where you were going. The heart-warming magical touch of a conclusion was, I felt, just right.
Merry Christmas Larry!: Where (or when) on Earth do these folks live? Harsh, or what!? Great imaginative stuff that makes National Lampoon's Christmas look like a walk in the park!
Cookies and Milk: As ever, Carin, I loved the prose. You certainly have a knack for drawing the reader into what can sometimes appear to be the most innocent situations. I was glad of your later explanation because, I must admit, I hadn't really twigged your full intent by the end of the story.
Letters from the Diaspora: Intriguing. Compelling. Haunting. Nice idea, beautifully captured. I was instantly hooked by this piece, Sean, and was left wanting to know more, both about the charachters and the period. What was your inspiration? The names and events fit together so perfectly that I cannot believe that they do not have an actual place in history. Tell me more please. I need to know!
The format, again, was a pleasant change and one that could, perhaps, form the theme for a later contest. Hmmm.
1200 Glenview Road, or, the Marriage of Time: Hats off to you Chris. This was both original and emotional. I did struggle a little with the whole 'timelines coming together thing' and was glad that you didn't launch into a complete scientific explanation (go on, another five hundred words and you would have, wouldn't you!). It came together really well at the end, though, and was most definately amongst my favourites this time around.
Intercalary Christmas: Great story, Chuck. Don't mean to be derogatory, but it was a nice, straightforward, well explained read and sometimes that's all you need. Ditto to a previous post: Intercalary - I had to go and look it up too!
Nativity: Not quite what I was expecting, Pete, I must admit. I felt it was a departure in style (or maybe I just haven't read enough of your stuff yet) but, hey, it really worked for me anyway! The atmosphere of the stranded and ancient ship, the shooting star, the mysterious and uneqivocal angels and, best of all, the marvellously juxtaposed Judas. Superb.
Crikey, this is going to be really difficult.
First off, I have to say that there isn't a single story that I dislike and, in all honesty, that's quite rare for me. There are normally one or two that I can rule out straightaway, but that's just not the case here. I like different stories for different reasons so I'll have to go away and deliberate.
Back soon.
ND
--just call me "ed") 
