‘Will this work?’
‘It’s got to.’
‘Who are we summoning?’
‘Just trust in the process.’
They had heard it all before, trusted in the process, carried on writing through the long dark days.
As the fire died, the writers manifested their books: the bestseller, the thriller, the great romance.
When they awoke, Santa had left them each a book-shaped gift.
‘I knew he wouldn’t let us down.’
‘Now are dreams have come true.’
‘Let’s open them together.’
‘One two three’
‘Spare.’
‘Spare.’
‘Spare.’
Despair.