A LETTER TO SANTA, A SHORT STORY BY SHODIYA UMRZODA FROM UZBEKISTAN, IN ENGLISH TRANSLATION BY MUBINA ALIZODA

A LETTER TO SANTA

( A short story by Shodiya Umrzoda)

 

The boy thought and finally found the way. He wrote a letter to Santa Claus. He was very happy. He found a pen and a piece of paper in his bag. Blinking his beautiful eyes frequently, he began to write: “Hello, Santa Claus! I am writing to you because of a dream.”

“Last year, my grandfather brought a bicycle as the New Year gift he wanted to give me. But he went far away. My mother and brother say that my father works abroad. But I know that my father is dead. I heard Grandma when she cried while praying.

Santa Claus!

You understand, my friends, the bike I want to see and have it. When I told my uncle, my mother scolded me saying, “Your uncle has more worries than you.”

My snowman!

My dear

Please!

Help me make my dream come true.”

The boy folded the letter and put it in the envelope he made, and decorated it by drawing beautiful snowflakes.

When he woke up in the morning, there was no letter on the table. He ran out and asked his brother and mother. But there was no letter. He searched everywhere, among his toys and books, but could not find it. And suddenly, from a thought that came to his mind, he felt happy. He thought, “After all, I wrote the letter to Santa Claus. Usually Santa walks at night. When I fell asleep at night, he came and took the letter with him. He will bring the bike tomorrow on the occasion of Christmas, of course.”

The boy was jumping with joy. He was excited because he would get bicycle tomorrow – on Christmas. And finally, the day of the Christmas came.

The child cannot sit at home. Often he went in and out of the house, often ran to the street. It was difficult for him to pass the time. He did not want to play with the children either. His mother was also surprised. What happened to the child!

It was late in the evening when he heard the words “Santa Claus has come” along with the chatter of children from the street. The boy’s heart was pounding so much that even he himself was also listening.

Santa Claus: “Hello, children! I will give a present all of you. First, we have great present for Rustam who finished “Alphabet” with excellent grades.”

He placed the bicycle, his assistant had brought, on the ground in front of the boy. Rustam was so happy that he took the bicycle, and started cycling there.

His grandmother rushed out from inside and was surprised. She came slowly and stared at Santa.

– Who are you?

– Hello!

– Ikromjon! Are you?

– Yes, me, my dear!

“Don’t let Rustamjon notice,” he said quietly.

 

Rustam’s grandma learnt that on that day, when the boy had written the letter went to bed, his aunt came in and saw the letter and immediately decided to fulfill her nephew’s desire, and for that she delivered to Iromjon to act as Santa Claus.

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Shodiya Umrzoda– Uzbek poet and writer, graduated in Kokand State Pedagogical Institute in 2003. In 2018, her creative works were published in poetry and story collections such as “The Fragrance of Flowers”, and “Fergana’s Brightness.” In 2021, her collection “The Gift of Dawn” was published, followed by “The Devotion of the Heart” in 2023. She won 3rd prize in the “Best Literary Work” category at the national competition in 2022. She was winner of the “Woman of the Year-2022” National Competition. Her poems, articles, and journalistic essays are regularly published in district, regional, and national newspapers, as well as in the magazines.

 

Translated by: Mubina Alizoda.