Radio stations are already playing Christmas music. I used to think that accelerating the Christmas season to begin around Halloween was a cynical trick of capitalism to plant the seeds that it’s never too early to find that perfect gift.
I still think that’s true but I also see emotional value in trotting out those classic tunes before the snow flies. The past few years have been difficult ones for the world — Covid, inflation and a shooting war in Europe. Many of us have suffered personal travails. As Jerry Herman wrote for ‘Mame’, “We need a little Christmas, right this very minute.”
There are heartwarming stories galore about the holidays, none so poignant to me as the Allied and German soldiers calling a truce in WW1 to enjoy each others company for a day before resuming their hostilities. “Peace on Earth, Goodwill toward Men” need not be an empty slogan.
In my own bit of crass commercialism, I’ve released a holiday book of Riley King short stories, including one authored by King’s dog Bosco. Each story centers around a holiday. ‘King’s Christmas’ was the first. As I edited it for this volume, it grabbed me again. I wrote it so long ago it was almost as if someone else was its creator.
“A Royal Flush” is the short book of short stories. I hope you enjoy it.
