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Annual Christmas story

Molly unites Candyland

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the final chapter in a 12-chapter fictional tale. Parents are encouraged to read aloud to their children. “So,” the mayor said slowly. “You want to change everything we’ve ever lived by in our world. To throw away our traditions and give away all we hold dear to all citizens? An open alliance? All for this ginger creation that you say will change the world at Christmastime? It’s reckless, Miss Gingersnap. An immature notion.” Molly stared down at her drawings and felt in her heart that she was right. She glanced at Jax, and he smiled at her and ...

Molly makes her case for gingerbread house

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the 11th chapter in a 12-chapter fictional tale that will run through Christmas Day. Parents are encouraged to read aloud to their children. It took all of 30 seconds inside of town square for them to be spotted. Elliot Spicer, assistant to Mayor Gingerman, looked up from his clipboard as he exited Town Hall. Jax was busy watching the cinnamon stick bugs fly in and out of the large town square fountain that had melted butter, instead of water, cascading into a shallow pool. “Molly Gingersnap,” Mr. Spicer said in a stern voice, but not taking his eyes ...

Stories fill friends’ journey back to Gingerbread Island

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the 10th chapter in a 12-chapter fictional tale that will run through Christmas Day. Parents are encouraged to read aloud to their children. Jax and the other boy stared at each other for a moment. Jax rubbed the back of his neck, looking sheepish. “Well, that’s kind of a long story.” He glanced at Molly. “Molly, this is my big brother, Jett. Jett, this is my friend Molly.” Molly smiled at Jett, who looked confused. “Nice to meet you. And you...” he faced his brother, a slow grin spreading across his face. “You missed me so much that you ...

Molly, Jax frolic through Peppermint Valley

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the ninth chapter in a 12-chapter fictional tale that will run through Christmas Day. Parents are encouraged to read aloud to their children. The first glimpse of Peppermint Valley made Molly catch her breath. All her life, she’d sat on her rock staring down into this very valley, imagining what it was like, and she could hardly believe she was actually here. Clusters of cottages nestled together in the center of the valley. Striped rooftops formed a patchwork of reds and whites. At the edge of the village, a row of windmills spun lazily, their blades ...

Lollipop Landing filled with beautiful swirls of color

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the eighth chapter in a 12-chapter fictional tale that will run through Christmas Day. Parents are encouraged to read aloud to their children. As they approached Lollipop Landing, Molly couldn’t keep visions of her gingerbread house out of her head. Her sketchbook was so full of ideas that she’d run out of room. But something was still missing. Something...well, lollipoppy. Lollipop Landing looked beautiful from a distance. Swirls of bright color swept across the land, blending together like a watercolor painting. Everything was made of hard candy, from ...

Molly finds inspiration for Christmas creation

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the seventh chapter in a 12-chapter fictional tale that will run through Christmas Day. Parents are encouraged to read aloud to their children. Jax did indeed have a story. His mother and Bash’s mother met during a family day at Sugardrop Beach 30 years prior, striking up a forbidden conversation on the sand, and had remained friends through letters and secrecy. They introduced the boys when Jax was born and Bash was 2 years old, and they had been friends ever since. Molly wondered just how many people in the realms of Candyland had secret friendships with ...