Christmas at Glosser's
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About this ebook
Step back in time to Johnstown, Pennsylvania in 1975. Shoppers fill the downtown streets, bustling between the Glosser Bros. and Penn Traffic department stores...and one little boy runs through the crowd on a mission. Eleven-year-old Jack wants one thing for Christmas: to find out where his grandfather, Bub, runs off to every Christmas Eve. The trail leads him on a journey through Glosser Bros. at its most magical, but the magic takes an unexpected turn when he discovers Bub's secret. Before the night is over, Jack must take a stand in the name of Johnstown, a stand that could cost him everything...or bring him the greatest gift he can imagine. Don't miss this new Christmas classic by award-winning writer Robert Jeschonek, a master of unique and unexpected stories that really pack a punch.
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Christmas at Glosser's - Robert Jeschonek
Christmas at Glosser’s
A Johnstown Novelette
Robert Jeschonek
Pie Press PublishingContents
Also by Robert Jeschonek
Christmas at Glosser's
About the Author
Special Preview: The Masked Family
CHRISTMAS AT GLOSSER'S
Copyright © 2020 by Robert Jeschonek
www.robertjeschonek.com
Cover Art Copyright © 2020 by Ben Baldwin
www.benbaldwin.co.uk
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Published in November 2013 by arrangement with the author. All rights reserved by the author.
A Pie Press book
Published by Pie Press Publishing
411 Chancellor Street
Johnstown, Pennsylvania 15904
www.piepresspublishing.com
Also by Robert Jeschonek
A Glosser’s Christmas Love Story
Death by Polka
Easter at Glosser’s
Fear of Rain
Halloween at Glosser’s
Long Live Glosser’s
Penn Traffic Forever
Richland Mall Rules
Thanksgiving at Glosser’s
The Glory of Gable’s
The Masked Family
Valentine’s Day at Glosser’s
Christmas at Glosser's
What happened in the secret sub-basement of Glosser's department store in Johnstown, Pennsylvania every Christmas Eve? Jack Shaffer found out in 1975, when he was eleven years old.
And then he found out what it felt like to die.
Where did you say you were going?
Mom stared at Jack through slitted eyes, holding one hand over the phone receiver in her grip.
The library.
Jack scrubbed his fingers through his short sandy hair in frustration. Mom had been talking on the phone and hadn't heard him the first two times he'd said it. There's a book I need to get.
Mom waved him off. Go on, then.
She didn't ask if he was sure the library was open on Christmas Eve, didn't tell him to be careful or hurry home. She wasn't always big on that sort of thing, since her latest boyfriend had moved out.
Jack pulled on his navy blue jacket over his red sweatshirt and bluejeans. Seeya.
Mom didn't answer. Her hand was already off the receiver.
As Jack zipped up the jacket and marched toward the front door, he heard her talking excitedly into the phone again. He'll definitely be at church tonight, Deb? You really think he'll like me?
Scowling, Jack threw the door open and slammed it shut behind him. As he ran off down the street, all thoughts of Mom's dating life shot right out of him. He had bigger things on his mind, a mystery he needed to solve.
One involving the only man he truly cared about in the whole world.
The door on the yellow-sided house two blocks from where Jack lived opened slowly, and a heavy tread came down on the front porch. As Jack watched from behind a tree on the other side of the street, a tall man with wavy silver hair stomped down the four steps from the porch to the sidewalk.
The man wore a dark gray jacket, zipped halfway up over a big pot belly. Under the jacket, he wore the same thing he wore every day--a crisp white button-down shirt and black tie. His trousers were black, too, and so were his immaculately shined Oxford shoes.
If Jack had called out to him at that moment--Hey, Bub!--the man would have grinned and waved him right over. Not only was he Jack's grandfather, Mom's dad, but he was Jack's biggest supporter, always there when he needed him.
Except for one night out of the year, that is. One night when he was nowhere to be found.
Christmas Eve.
Jack waited for Bub to get half a block down the street, then followed, taking care to stay far enough back that he wouldn't likely draw Bub's attention. Whenever he could, he lingered behind trees or lamp posts or parked cars, ever ready to duck down if needed...but Bub never looked back.
He just kept rambling down the street, eyes dead ahead, steering toward his mysterious errand.
Suddenly, a neighbor lady, Mrs. Williams, pushed open her car door in front of Jack. Well, hello there, Jackie.
She was in her eighties and stooped with arthritis but got around fine, even drove herself on errands. Do you think you might help me with my groceries?
Jack shook his head. I'm sorry, Mrs. Williams, but I can't. I'm in a hurry.
But it will just take a minute, Jackie.
Next time, sorry.
Jack's guts jittered when he