It was Christmas Day...though, as it would turn out, it was like no Christmas in a long time before or since.
Nobody knew it, but there had been a problem at the interdimensional North Pole. This year, a different Saint Nick—who maybe wasn't even a Nick at all—was at the helm, one from another universe, one a lot like (or unlike) our own...
It was Christmas morning in the Gibson household. The presents sat under the tree, mysterious boxes in shiny paper. The tree was lit. A light snow was falling. In short, it was straight out of a postcard.
The whole family had gathered, and Jon sat on the floor, the first box in his lap, ready to open it as his parents and siblings watched. Not far away, Zoe and Mikey had their own hoards of presents to unveil.
The wrapping paper came out in shreds, and Jon opened the box to find something he definitely had not asked for...
