The little girl in the blue sundress stood next to a decorated tree. The shiny wrappings of presents gleamed with the reds and blues of the lights strung along the tree’s needles. A window with its frame clumped with snow added grayish ambience from outside to the living room scene, and a couch in warm colored leather lounged beneath the window. No fireplace. One silver dragonfly flitted back and forth by the little girl’s head, in and out of the festive twilight’s light. It was the wee hours of the morning. On Earth.

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  The little girl stared at a boy around her age who’d come downstairs and was holding a handwritten list.

  “What’s that?” asked the little girl.

  “It’s a Christmas list for Santa. Mom and Dad said I was supposed to leave it on the table, but I wasn’t finished writing it until now.” The boy shifted his weight. He didn’t know this little girl, but was young enough to still believe in unexplainable things. “Who are you?”

  “What’s Christmas? Why’s it have a list?”

  “For Santa. He gives you what you ask for if you write it down.”

  “A wish granter!” The little girl grinned. “Just like me!”