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I stared out the grimy window in my office.   I was supposed to be working on a marketing plan for my company, Pembroke Falls.  I was tapped out.  How do you come up with something to bring business back to a place that was outdated.

 

I leaned back in the chair, never taking my eyes from the window.  It looked bleak.  Both the sky outside and my future with this firm.  

 

"I need a little inspiration," I mumbled to myself.  "Think, Jenny, think."

 

I closed my eyes.  I remember going to Pembroke when I was younger.  Bought my prom dress from one of their stores.  Used to walk through the petstore, tapping the glass that separated me from the overpriced puppies.  I mall walked with my grandmother.  This place was a big part of my life.

 

Christmas was in three months.  It was make or break time now.  Amazon and shipping had socked a lot of brick and mortar establishments in the gut.  Pembroke Falls was no exception.

 

I opened my eyes.   Very faintly I saw a few flakes of snow.  One flake at a time, I was catapulted back to the days of frenzied shopping, lugging bags of presents while listening to Nat King Cole and Bing Crosby.  Stopping for a hot chocolate in the food court.

 

I saw it all.  

 

Carolers roaming the aisles

Santa ho ho hoing.

Christmas garlands

Snowflakes hanging from the rafters

Sleighs with packages wrapped in shimmery papers.

Toy donation boxes

Wrapping booths.

 

I called the office of Pembroke Falls.

 

"Hey, it's Jenny, from marketing.  I've got it."

 

I didn't wait for a response.  Just hung up the phone and headed down to the main office. 

 

Even if we only had a few weeks to get it together, I think it was going to be okay.  

 

After all, Christmas was the season where everything was possible.