December 24th:
Joyous Noel, part 4 – Where-in my muse sweeps back in, yelling, “And another thing!”
https://thelawdogfiles.
This one started out on my drive home from work, as I suddenly pictured the Flickerfox crouched by a stove in a dark apartment, creating fire.
This one I didn’t plot, it just flowed onto the screen, like my stories usually do. Originally it was a lot darker, but I’m not in the mood for a grim, bleak Christmas this year, so I scrapped the original ending in favour of something a little more Hallmark.
Of course, once the ending had changed, I had to go back and fix the first part to make it mesh better. And then the middle didn’t match the two ends …
While it is darker than the others I’ve written about the Flickerfoxes, it isn’t as dark as the first draft. Holy gods. The ghost of Hans Christian Andersen — who wrote ‘The Little Match Girl’ — read the original version and asked, “So, umm, everything okay at home, buddy?”
Sigh. I hope y’all like it.
In the shadowed streets of the city where the wind howls like a starving wolf, there lived a little girl. Her tenement crouched at the edge of the slum, its roof sagging, and its windows filmed with smoke and grime. Inside, her parents lay sprawled on filthy pallets, needles strewn carelessly about, eyes glassy, chasing dragons in the depths of their minds while the old wood stove stood cold and black.
Winter that year was crueler than most. Grandfather Frost had come early, his long white beard trailing hoarfrost across the land, his breath a killing wind. He walked the world with his staff of frozen bone, tapping once here, twice there, claiming what was weak or forgotten. And he had marked the little girl’s door.
The girl, no more than seven winters old, huddled beneath a threadbare blanket, her lips blue, her fingers numb. The last log had burned to ash days ago, and her parents not bothered to gather more wood. Outside, the temperature plunged until the stars themselves seemed to crack, and the aurora — dancing like music made fire — grew until it flickered over her home.
It was then that the Flickerfox and the Flickervixen appeared, slipping through the veil between worlds like shadows cast by a dying flame. Dressed in green and gold, his fur sparkling like a campfire seen through glass, hers the more sedate shimmer of coals in a fireplace.
The Välkkykettu, grim of countenance, looked silently about the filthy apartment. “Look upon this sorrow,” he murmured to his wife, his voice a crackle of dry leaves in a bonfire. “The child fades, while the fools who birthed her feed their own demise.”
Mrs Välkkykettu, her golden eyes fierce with maternal fire, hurried to the child, removing her cloak of green velvet. “Husband,” she said, gathering the child to her, “This kit is cold.” She settled in front of the stove, the girl — wrapped in her cloak — in her lap.
The little girl, feeling the gentle warmth of Mrs Välkkykettu, and smelling pinon pine and cinnamon cookies, roused, staring wide-eyed at the Flickerfox.
Smiling cheerfully, the Välkkykettu reached into his cloak, and with a flourish, produced a chunk of log, placing it into the belly of the cold, black stove; then he stripped off his gloves, and theatrically gestured with his hands — first the front, and then the back — as if he were a magician on stage, proving he had nothing hidden.
With a mischievous waggle of his eyebrows, the Flickerfox briskly rubbed his paws together, and with each stroke a shower of green sparks fell upon the wood; in mere moments emerald, amethyst, and gold flames flared and then danced merrily.
Safely ensconced betwixt the warmth of the fire, and the warmth of the Flickervixen — and with worry smoothed from her mind — the little girl dropped into easy slumber.
He came at midnight, a tall figure cloaked in blizzard, eyes like frozen lakes; his beard a tangle of frigid barbs. The door slammed open though no hand touched it, and snow swirled in, seeking the child.
The Välkkykettu stepped between his wife and the figure in the door, paws folded calmly, an impish smile playing. Mrs Välkkykettu laid the child — still wrapped in her cloak — in front of the fire, and rose to stand beside her husband, primly brushing off her skirt.
Grandfather Frost regarded the foxes with winter’s patience. “The child is mine,” he said, his voice the scrape of ice on stone. “Her blood slows. Her heart falters. She belongs to the long sleep.”
The Flickervixen regarded him with golden eyes that burned like a bonfire lit on the longest night of the year. “No,” she said, simply.
“Not this one,” murmured her husband, calm but unyielding. “Her fire is low, but it still burns. Seek others, Ancient One.”
“This,” the reply was the hiss of snow driven before a relentless wind, “Is not your demesne.”
Mrs Välkkykettu laughed softly, “You speak to spirits of Chaos about domain?” Violet sparks ran through her fur, and her growl slipped around the room, promising blood and fury, “Be about your business — elsewhere.”
The elder winter spirit tapped his staff on the floor, once. “There,” twice he tapped, “Are,” and thrice, “Laws.”
Green sparks ran across the teeth in the Flickerfox’s smile, “You wish to counsel foxes about laws?” Blue and green sparks ran along his fur, and when they landed on frost, small auroras danced and twinkled about the room. “My bride has desired that you be about your business, Old Frost-bite.”
“Very well,” Grandfather Frost titled his head. “A bargain, then. The child lives. These others … they have long been mine.”
The Flickervixen looked at her husband, who — not taking his eyes off the ancient spirit of Winter they faced — flicked an ear.
Grandfather Frost extended one pale hand. Rime raced across the floor like spilled milk, climbing the parents’ legs, encasing their limbs in crystal. Their eyes opened briefly — glazed, uncomprehending — then closed forever as the ice reached their hearts. In moments, only two figures in glittering hoarfrost remained, faces locked in faint, foolish smiles.
Task done, the old winter spirit inclined his head to the Flickerfoxes, almost courteously. Then he withdrew, taking his killing wind with him, the door closing behind him without a sound.
The nurse stepped out of the Emergency Room onto the parking lot, talking a slow breath of cold, crisp air. Flexing the stress of a night shift out of her neck, she rolled her head back, and with a gasp of delight, saw the undulating dance of the Northern Lights overhead.
She was chuckling with pure joy, when the flicker of a street lamp caught her eye, and in the space between flashes, she suddenly saw a small bundle in the snow.
Curious, she walked to it, and found a card pinned to green velvet. Smelling faintly of spice and sandalwood, the card had only a short address written on it … and then the bundle whimpered softly.
Moments later, the nurse ran into the hospital shouting for assistance and carrying a little girl wrapped in a green velvet cloak.
In the hour before dawn, when the dark is deepest, and reindeer pull hard for their barn and fresh hay, the police officer walked as softly as he could into a hospital room. On the bed, a tiny figure lay amidst the tubes and hoses and wires, sleeping peacefully despite the noise of modern medicine.
Beside her, the nurse sat in a chair, gently stroking the child’s forehead, as the officer entered, she rose quietly and met him at the door.
“Is everything …”
He shook his head. “No. Welfare check found both passed.”
She sighed, gently, “Now what happens to her?” she nodded to the bed.
He blew a soft breath, “They were both frequent fliers. Addicts with the usual addict crimes. No next of kin was ever listed for either one. No family contacts what so ever.”
“So, what happens to her?”
“I don’t know.”
She squared her shoulders, suddenly fierce. “I’m not leaving her alone.”
Seeing the swift fire, he grinned, looked around, and sat down in a chair, setting his hat in his lap. She looked at him, startled, “What are you doing?”
He smiled, “I’ve got nowhere to be. And I like it here.”
She settled into her chair by the little girl, listening to the small child noises, and he cleared his throat.
“I’ll need your phone number. For the report.”
She looked across the room for a long time.
“Ok.” She paused for several breaths, then whispered, “Merry Christmas.”
His smile was easy and warm in the shadows of the room, “Merry Christmas.”
Somewhere far off, Grandfather Frost walked on, staff tapping softly, seeking the next door left unlocked by despair; while above an ancient forest where two bottlebrush tails thumped an exultant rhythm, the foxfire danced to the ancient truth that some lights must be kindled anew, while others are best left to fade.
~Ian Mc Murtrie
As usual, we’ll publish these for the Christmas season in 2026, but until then I don’t mind if you share these little stories, but kindly attribute them to me if you do.
Merry Christmas, Gentle Readers.
Ian
https://thelawdogfiles.
https://thelawdogfiles.
https://thelawdogfiles.
https://thelawdogfiles.
https://thelawdogfiles.
Merry Christmas to ALL Y’all – Have a Safe, Prosperous, Healthy, and Happy New Year.
https://redstate.com/
On Tuesday, at an H-E-B location in Burleson, TX, the computer system went completely down; some reports say for over two hours. “During this busy holiday season when our registers were temporarily down at one of our stores, we gave all those with full baskets their groceries for free,” the statement reads. “The customer experience is at the heart of what we do!”
Merry Christmas!!!
https://oldnfo.substack.com/p/
I wish each of you joy and happiness in this Christmas season. Enjoy the time with family and friends.
Please take a moment and remember those who serve, not only the military; but the law enforcement, fire and EMS personnel who are out there today. They serve to protect us and help us live in freedom another day.
A Sailor’s Christmas – – – –
Merry Christmas, everyone! – May your Yule be filled with laughter and light. – Ian, Dec 25, 2025
https://thelawdogfiles.
We wish you and yours many happy holiday memories this year; and may the season bring you peace and joy.
Now, get off of the internet and go be with family of whatever variety you choose. Love, Ian and Rita
Wishing you the best of the season
https://www.collapselife.com/
Christmas greetings from the crew here at Collapse Life HQ.
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/
Of course, Politico Europe would take this route. Instead of bashing the Islamists that have infested Europe and ruined Christmas markets, the publication decided to rip into normal people by claiming that the Christmas holiday was some right-wing celebration akin to neo-Nazis celebrating Hitler’s birthday
NBC News Pushes Pity Piece for Judges Who Have Ruled Against Trump
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/
Spare us the sob stories about a group of unelected people trying to wrest power from the executive because they didn’t like how the 2024 election turned out.
98 Minnesota Mayors Warn of Fiscal Fallout After State Spends $18 Billion Surplus
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/
U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson said he believes that half or more of the $18 billion the state spent across 14 programs was likely fraudulent.
Merry Christmas to All (and Thank God You’re Not a Democrat)
https://townhall.com/
(Interesting reading – jlr)
The ‘Inn’ That Wasn’t an Inn: Reading the Christmas Story Carefully
https://pjmedia.com/jamie-
Get Christ Out of Christmas? Atheists Gets Their Tinsel in a Twist When Sarah Huckabee Sanders Refuses
https://twitchy.com/eric-v/
Sarah Huckabee Sanders stood by her faith and refused to be bullied by a bunch of angry atheists, and she did so graciously. Because of her, state employees in Arkansas will have an extra day to spend with their families to celebrate the birth of our savior. A very, merry Christmas indeed.
The White House Goes Full Christmas Vacation — Cousin Eddie Provides Hilarious Response
https://redstate.com/nick-
one that’s a requirement for us to watch is National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, starring the Griswold family.one that’s a requirement for us to watch is National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, starring the Griswold family.
video – 00:00:27 – https://twitter.com/i/status/
video – 00:01:16 – https://youtu.be/Aoj5qIZvwWA
Real Life Clark Griswold Has Last Laugh on Grinchy HOA — Now They Have to Pay for His Christmas Lights
https://redstate.com/bobhoge/
Christmas Eve Concert Canceled at Trump Kennedy Center As Woke Scolds Throw Tantrum
https://redstate.com/nick-
Now, I guess Chuck Redd thinks he’s sending a message to President Trump. But this cancellation doesn’t hurt the president; it hurts the people who planned on attending the show. It hurts whatever fans Redd might have had who planned to be there. I never heard of him, but then again, I’m not a jazz aficionado. It may also hurt the people who would have worked the event. The concert was free, so it didn’t cost the Center in that sense.
Another Democrat Shows What Entitled Elitists Leftists Are
https://pjmedia.com/robert-
You most likely haven’t heard of Maria Bucci, and that means that Maria Bucci is not happy with you…all that means that she is very, very important, and all you plebians should show her due respect. A police officer recently dared to act as if she was just an ordinary citizen, and thereby earned her white-hot wrath.
video – 00:01:13 – https://twitter.com/i/
Christmas, Family, and the Cost of Saying ‘No’ to Trans Ideology
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/
Don’t Pop the Champagne Just Yet – Bush Admin Alum Warns JB Pritzker Over SCOTUS Nat’l Guard Decision
https://redstate.com/
The Day After Christmas
Twas the day after Christmas, and all through the house,
Every creature was hurtin’ even the mouse.
The toys were all broken, their batteries dead;
Santa passed out, with some ice on his head.
Wrapping and ribbons just covered the floor,
While upstairs the family continued to snore.
And I in my T-shirt, new Reeboks and jeans,
I went into the kitchen and started to clean.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the sink to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the curtains, and threw up the sash.
When what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a little white truck, with an oversized mirror.
The driver was smiling, so lively and grand;
The patch on his jacket said “U.S. POSTMAN.”
With a handful of bills, he grinned like a fox.
Then quickly he stuffed them into our mailbox.
Bill after bill, after bill, they still came.
Whistling and shouting he called them by name:
“Now Dillard’s, now Broadway’s, now Penny’s and Sears
Here’s Robinson’s, Levitz’s and Target’s and Mervyn’s.
To the tip or your limit, every store, every mall,
Now chargeaway–chargeaway–
He whooped and he whistled as he finished his work.
He filled up the box, and then turned with a jerk.
He sprang to his truck and he drove down the road,
Driving much faster with just half a load.
Then I heard him exclaim with great holiday cheer,
“ENJOY WHAT YOU BOUGHT…….
YOU’LL BE PAYING ALL YEAR!”
via https://oldnfo.substack.
December 27th, 28th:
Prepare Now for Gavin Mania
https://www.americanthinker.
Glib and sounding intelligent while saying little of substance, Gavin Newsom is essentially a taller, whiter, and less cunning version of Barack Obama. Gavin is not the electoral bantamweight many conservatives claim. At 6’4” with heavily moussed hair, Gavin will be taller and at least as well coiffed and youthful-looking as his GOP opponent. (Although it sounds shallow to highlight Gavin’s physiognomy, let’s acknowledge that an electorate shallow enough to elect Obama and Biden is also capable of electing Gavin.
Rep. Ro Khanna Waves Off Looming Billionaire Exodus From Calif. (Dems Have NOT Thought This Through)
https://twitchy.com/dougp/
Trump Administration Proposes Expanded Technology for Immigration Enforcement
https://americanjournaldaily.
“DHS proposes to define the term ‘biometrics’ to mean ‘measurable biological (anatomical, physiological or molecular structure) or behavioral characteristics of an individual,’ and include a list of modalities of biometric collection…This comes after Trump also signed an executive order when he came into office which directs the DHS to take ‘appropriate action to fulfill the requirements of the DNA Fingerprint Act of 2005’ for illegal immigrants arrested in the US.”
They Got Her: FBI Caught Hillary Clinton Talking Donations with Foreign Felon on Tape
https://www.westernjournal.
MAHA Hits Roadblock After Obama Judge Sides with Conglomeration of Food Dye Corporations
https://www.westernjournal.
Judge Irene Berger of the Southern District of West Virginia blocked those plans to remove dyes, instead siding with a conglomerate of food dye manufacturers.
Musician Who Canceled Kennedy Center Performance Over Trump Name Finds Out Actions Have Consequences
https://redstate.com/nick-
V
Trump-Kennedy Center filing $1M lawsuit against musician who pulled out of Christmas Eve concert over name change
https://nypost.com/2025/12/26/
Wait, What About Diversity, Karen? LA Mayor Bass Laments Hispanics Signing Up to Work for Border Patrol
https://redstate.com/bobhoge/
video – 00:00:40 – https://twitter.com/i/status/
V
20 yo latino Border Patrol recruit defends his decision to take the job. When asked, “how do you feel about arresting your own kind?” He responds by saying, “They didn’t come in the right way, so they aren’t my kind.
video – 00:00:20 – https://twitter.com/i/status/
meanwhile in France
CULTURE JIHAD: Muslims Attack Catholic Bookstore For Selling the Bible, Christian Books, Statues of Jesus and Mary
https://gellerreport.com/2025/
Muslims andleftwing lapdogs target a Catholic bookstore in France, claiming it is ‘fascist’ for selling the Bible, Christian books, and statues of Jesus and Mary. But respect Islam, islamophobes.
(Muslims are now using wacko-leftist language as further reasons for their jihad – jlr)
V
Muslim Prayer in Dearborn, Michigan: “Oh Allah, Kill Every Jew, Christian and American”
https://gellerreport.com/2025/
(Could you imagine the outrage, marches, and lawsuits from Muslims if a Christion Preist had prayed this? – jlr)
V
JUDICIAL TYRANNY: Democrat Judge OVERRULES Unanimous Jury Verdict, NULLIFIES GUILTY VERDICT For Somali Migrant Who Stole $7.2M Medicaid Fraud Case
https://gellerreport.com/2025/
This Outlet Went Nuts Over the Trump White House Wishing Americans a Merry Christmas
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/
“one more example of the Christian Nationalist rhetoric the Trump administration has disseminated since Day One in office,” Rachel Laser, president and CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State…this article in the Washington Post wasn’t nearly as bad as Politico EU, which tried to claim that Christmas was a right-wing holiday, or ‘hijacked’ by the right-wing. We all got the point. It was still stupid.
Liberals in nuclear meltdown mode after 2026 ‘Color of the Year’ is announced
https://www.theblaze.com/
Liberals across the nation are in full tantrum mode after a shade of white was declared 2026’s top hue…“Similar to a blank canvas, Cloud Dancer signifies our desire for a fresh start. … An airy white hue, PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer opens up space for creativity, allowing our imagination to drift so that new insights and bold ideas can emerge and take shape,” wrote Pantone Vice President Laurie Pressman.
Some of Us May Die, But It’s a Sacrifice Democrats Are Willing to Make
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/
Mayor Zohran Mamdani has decided to put the lives of every New Yorker at risk by nominating a grossly unqualified and inexperienced woman as the next New York Fire Department (NYFD) Commissioner. Lillian Bonsignore has never worked as a firefighter, which seems like it would be the first bullet point under the “qualifications” section of the job listing.
Does It Get Any More Cringe Than This?
https://www.zerohedge.com/
video – 00:00:28 – https://twitter.com/i/status/
This Lib Who Converted to MAGA Nails the Left’s Exact Plan to End America Using Just 5 Moves
https://www.westernjournal.
…“The goals of the Left have never been more clear, in my opinion: a) Mass migration to win elections b) Mass gun control to disarm the populace c) Mass release of violent criminals for social justice d) Mass social welfare so people are dependent e) Mass control,” …
Starbucks Workers Set Up ‘Ventifada’ Protest Camp at Seattle Headquarters
https://americanjournaldaily.
a timeless truth that every sane person understands but the modern left refuses to learn: you can’t tame a monster. If you feed it, it doesn’t become your friend—it just gets bigger, hungrier, and eventually, it comes for you.
Jasmine Crockett Rambles for Two Minutes When Asked to Outline Her Agenda, Attacks Trump Tax Cuts and Tariffs
https://www.westernjournal.
video – 00:02:41 – https://twitter.com/i/status/
Trump Axes Dozens of Ambassadors Appointed by Biden
https://www.westernjournal.
**Politico was the first to report on the ambassadorial recalls, which have drawn concern from some lawmakers and the union representing American diplomats.
ICE Agents Open Fire After Illegal Bites Agent, Rams Officers with SUV: ICE
https://www.westernjournal.
“This dangerous attempt to evade arrest comes after sanctuary politicians, like Governor Walz and other radical leftists, demeaned ICE and held events to help illegal aliens evade arrest,”
Trump Administration Triples Self-Deportation Payments to $3,000 Through End of Year
https://americanjournaldaily.
The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting — everyone’s favorite globalist gabfes
https://www.weforum.org/
World leaders from government, business, civil society and academia will convene in Davos to engage in forward-looking discussions to address global issues and set priorities. The call for bold collective action makes the meeting particularly relevant…Officially, the 3,000+ self-important delegates will ask how we cooperate in a contested world, unlock new growth, re-skill workers, deploy innovation responsibly, and build prosperity within planetary boundaries. The unofficial answers will sound familiar: more technology, more surveillance, more depopulation — and fewer hard limits on the people designing the systems. You know, a continued bloating of the peon class for the exploitation of these sinister overlords.
video – 00:01:28 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Our decoder is as follows:…- “Triple bubble”: Three speculative systems — AI + crypto + debt — stacked on top of each other like Jenga bricks expecting the other to collapse first…“Resilience economics”: How normal people struggle to absorb shocks created by elites, without elites changing anything about themselves…“The quantum economy”: We don’t fully understand it yet, but it sounds expensive, centralized, and excellent for defense contractors…
“Inclusive AI”: Some people’s lives haven’t been destroyed by artificial intelligence yet, and that’s just not fair…“SupTech”: Supervisory technology for regulators means using algorithms so regulators don’t have to understand what they’re regulating.
30 Ancient Remedies That Used To Be Common Knowledge
https://homesteadsurvivalsite.