Awakening — C.S. Johnson

Christmas is a time for miracles, but miracles have always bothered Hamilton Dinger.

This Christmas Eve, he has only two reasons to be cheerful: Rachel's Café is open late, and he has a special present for Gwen Kessler. So even if he has to sit through a session of Grandpa Odd's ramblings, he knows he'll have some holiday mocha and a chance at finally telling Gwen how he feels about her.

His fledgling hope is lost the moment when a new demon monster begins attacking the Star of Hope. Now, not only does Hamilton have to transform into his city superhero self to fight it, he has to deal with Starry Knight, too.

Can Hamilton find a new reason for hope this holiday, or is it too much to ask for one more Christmas miracle? Find out in this short story set between the Book 1 and Book 2 of the Starlight Chronicles.