//------------------------------//
// Christmas Eve 
// Story: Derpy's White Christmas 
// by Cetuximab 
//------------------------------//

It is the night of Christmas. Derpy is alone in her apartment, getting ready to go out into the cold streets. She wraps a scarf around her neck and leaves with a small note in her hands. Out of the front door, she looks up in the sky with hope. Every day in winter, since she heard of snow for the first time she had been looking up in the sky, hoping to see a snowflake falling down. But even though she gets disappointed once again, it doesn't really matter today. Because the note in her hand does contain a very special address. The address of a man who can make it snow for her this year. A guy in a black hoodie had given it to her after eavesdropping on her talking to herself. 

"Go here to get your snow" he had said to Derpy, handing her the crinkly paper. 

She didn't really believe in his words at first. But out of curiosity, she went anyway. Now it is only one corner that, hopefully, separates her from the, so long dreamt of, snow. She tightens the scarf, as the cold wind starts to blow harder. Never before had she been to this part of the city. She likes it here. The streets are more colorful than where she lives. Not one glass building next to the other. These have paintings on them. Crossing the corner, she sees one man standing next to a campfire in the streets. Derpy approaches him and he looks at her intimidating. Gulping down, she makes the last steps and clears her throat. 

"Someone told me you could make it snow on my Christmas?" she asks him, showing the piece of paper.

"Maybe I can," he replies, straightening himself "Did you bring money?"

Derpy fumbles for her wallet and produces a $100 bill. 

"How much snow can I get for this?" she asks him back.

This money resembles all of her savings from the last year. But this is it worth to her. Finally seeing snow with her own eyes. The man looks at the money and back to her, raising his eyebrow. He produces a small bag filled with something white, about the size of a kiwi. 

"You sure you want this much?" he asks her unbelievingly.

"I want all the snow I can get!" Derpy exclaims.

He takes the bill from her and places the bag in her open hand. Another cold breeze make them both shudder. The man tightens his jacket and turns back to the fire. Derpy looks at the package in her hands. It is not what she imagined she would end up with. But then again, she didn't expect him to make the snow fall from the skies. Not wanting to bother the man, she puts it in her pocket and turns around to go home. Back in the warmth of her apartment, she puts the little bag on the table before taking off her jacket and shoes. After sitting down, she takes it in her hands, looking at it a little disappointed. 

Careful not to spill its content, she opens the bag to inspect the white stuff inside. It is a fine powder, much unlike the snow that she saw on television or pictures. That snow was fluffy and voluminous. More and more, she gets the feeling that she got scammed by the man. But another thought comes to her mind. Snow usually falls from the sky. In a last attempt, she takes the whole content of the bag in her hands and throws it in the air. A large cloud forms from the powder. It is rather blocking the light and does not twinkle like she heard real snow would. 

As it slowly falls down to the ground, some of the powder goes into her nose. It tickles her so much that she has to sneeze. Inhaling a lot of air, mixed with powder, she lets out an 'Achoo'. Suddenly, she starts to feel weird. She feels jittery, like the one time when she tasted coffee. The time seems to slow down a bit. While the rest of the powder settles, she breathes heavily. 

The penny slowly starts to drop on her, as she realizes what 'snow' the man had sold her. Blinded by her desire for a white Christmas, she had bought a large amount of cocaine. Starting to panic, not only about the illegal substance, but also about her lost savings, she gets a dustpan to clean up the mess. She tries to stay clear from it now, but can't prevent herself from inhaling more. After she cleans up the remainders with a wet towel, it feels to her like no time has passed at all. The energy she has now, frightens her to some degree.

To get her head clear again, she decides to take a shower. But neither cold nor hot water can calm her mind down. Back in the kitchen, a glance to the clock reveals that not only more time has passed than she thought, but that it is already 11pm. The sun had settled hours ago and she usually would've gone to bed already. But the drug inside her body is keeping her wide awake. Not only did she not get to see the snow, what she wanted so badly, but also ruined her chance for Christmas presents. She knows that Santa only comes when you are sleeping. 

Every year she was sound asleep, only to wake up to lots of presents. But now that she can't sleep at all, Christmas surely is ruined. Derpy doesn't refuse to try nonetheless. Changing into her pajama, she lies down in her bed. The more she tries to fall asleep, the more active her mind gets. Running out of stuff to think about, her mind makes up all sorts of random thoughts. 

'How many Elephants would it take to sink a rowing boat?' 'Probably one.' 'If I stack 10 books, can I pull one out from the middle without the tower tipping?' 'Who knows…?’

With every minute that passes in restless thoughts, midnight comes closer and closer. When suddenly, something rumbles in the living room...