Blue Ships Publishing

Write an opening using: it came as no surprise…

It came as no surprise to anyone in the room that Santa wouldn’t mature the deadline this year. He’d been cutting it closer and closer every year for the last six years. The man was old. Was born old. He couldn’t move like he used to. Still, watching him struggle with the sleigh, struggle to get the sacks off the sleigh, struggle to get down the chimney or through the door, then drag himself back onto the sleigh, lifting his legs like they were anvils, well, it was just sad. His tone had come. It was time to retire. 

But who was going to tell him? Maggie had tried. He didn’t listen. He swore he still had more nights in him. This was going to be his last night. He just didn’t know it. But the elves had a plan. If he could see everything going the way it’s supposed to without him, maybe he’d have the confidence to rest.

His successor would be…