I Just Read About That…

SOUNDTRACK:

[READ: December 25, 2024] “The Leaf-Sweeper”

This year my wife ordered me The Short Story Advent Calendar.  This is my seventh time reading the Calendar–it’s a holiday tradition!  Here’s what H&O says about the calendar this year.

Ten years of stories! Yikes, where does the time go?
When the first Short Story Advent Calendar launched, in 2015, we frankly had no clue we’d still be sitting here today, continuing to offer up batches of tasty stories fresh from the oven. To celebrate this milestone, we’ve packed the 10th SSAC with a mix of new and familiar names—ideal company for those chilly winter nights ahead.

The author of this story was Muriel Spark.  Each day has an online component with the author with a brief interview.  Although today doesn’t have an interview just this blurb:

It’s December 25. To officially conclude the 2024 Short Story Advent Calendar, we present a story about pamphlets and ghosts from the one and only Muriel Spark. As always, thank you so much for reading. We hope you enjoyed it, and that you have an excellent rest of your holiday season.

This was a strange ghost story.  A woman passing an asylum tells the story of Johnnie Geddes, a man who started the Society for the Abolition of Christmas. 

The Society grew in popularity until he went too far and was put in the Asylum.

The narrator of the story went to visit Johnnie’s aunt for the holiday.  When she arrived there was a man who looked just like Johnnie but who loved Christmas.  The Aunt reveals that it is Johnnie’s ghost.  And that the ghost of a living person is nigh on unbearable.

The ending is just as odd as the rest of the story.  But in a good way.