JFK -> LHR: A Christmas (Chat) Story

I'm reposting a story I wrote about 18 months ago. It is a Christmas story written as text messages. In case you wonder why the story isn't told in emoji's, Ben and Laura are Gen-Xers who still send messages in mostly completely sentences and proper punctuation. ;)

I hope you enjoy and have a very Merry Christmas!

Ben 
You still up?


Ben
Soon. Hope no one is seated next me.
​I can 't sleep on these flights


​
Ben
Sorry


Ben
I mean it


Ben
Do you think Max heard us?

​
Ben
​What are we going to do?


Ben
​Once the restaurant opens
everything will change.
U, me, Max we’ll go somewhere


​Ben
​I love u


Ben
I’ll call you when I get to London.
Merry Christmas :)

​
Ben
Hope you're phone is silent
and this doesn’t wake you.
​I can’t sleep.
​Staring out the window

Ben
I can see the Northern Lights...
They are really pretty

Ben
Thinking about you.
I know I made a lot of promises

Ben
​You’re still awake?


Ben
Sorry

Ben
OMG

Ben
Shooting star. right next to the plane.
A red streak

Ben
CRAZY. You gotta see this

Ben
OK that’s weird.
​Took a pic but the streak doesn’t appear

Ben
OMG OMG OMG
​You'll never believe this


Ben
The streak, I think... it’s Santa Clause


Ben
I'M SERIOUS This is nuts!
Santa is flying next to the plan

Ben
Reindeer are much bigger
​than in the movies


Ben
I’m not joking

Ben
​Not a drop. This is INSANE


Ben
I’m not the only one. Kid in 19A sees it too.
​Everyone else is sleeping


Ben
Wait! Something is wrong with Santa
Slumped over
​Reindeer keep looking back at him


Ben
There's an elf! He’s waving his arms.
​Looks like he’s trying to say something


Ben
Just got real
Kid in 19A whispers
“Santa needs our help”
I don’t hear anything.
​Kid says it’s b/c I’m adult


​Ben
Sounds like Santa got into some
bad milk and cookies.
Needs boost of xmas spirit to get home



​Ben
Good idea!








Ben
Turns out waking people
in middle of night ​to sing
does NOT boost Christmas spirit


Ben
19A kid says it’s all wrong.
Santa doesn’t want singing or cookies
​He doesn’t care if people believe in him


Ben
​Dope






​Ben
No wait. HOPE, not dope.
Santa wants us to have HOPE


Ben
Are you hopeful?


Ben
Me too

Ben
​Go downstairs


Ben
I hitched a ride from a friend
​and his reindeer

Ben
I’m home 

​Laura
Yes. Cleaning up a bit. When’s you're flight leave?


Laura
Can’t imagine a lot of people are leaving their families on xmas night


Laura
Ok


Laura
I know


​
Laura
Don’t know. But he HAS heard us

​
Laura
What are YOU going to do?




​Laura
You’ve said that before


Laura
I know



Laura
G’night

​

​
​Laura
​Ben?

Laura
​Heard phone vibrating on nightstand





Laura
​What?

Laura
​Everything ok?



Laura
What? What is it?


Laura
​lol




​
​Laura
ha ha. Goodnight


Laura
​have you been drinking?


Laura
You're INSANE



Laura
​I’m going back to sleep




Laura
Oh no! Is Santa dead?  ;)



Laura
​An elf? Does he look like Will Ferrell?





Laura
well if santa needs help, I guess you better help him. lol




Laura
Maybe you should have everyone sing “We wish you a Merry Christmas”


Laura
I wasn't serious

Laura
Ben?

Laura
Ben!





Laura
You're ridiculous



Laura
​Then what does Santa want?


Laura
​Dope?
Santa wants get high?

Laura
​Not that I can blame him ;)



Laura
<3


Laura
​I want to be





Laura
​huh?