Christmas Furlough — Zoe Cannon

Suriel loves Christmas. But she's never gotten a chance to enjoy it. As an angel working in a minimum security prison for demons, she spends every Christmas working unpaid overtime.At least she's got Bragzoth. He's not bad, for a demon. Their games of chess help keep her entertained during her long and boring shifts.He also has no idea what Christmas is. Which is criminal, as far as Suriel is concerned. No pun intended.Maybe it's time to change that.It would mean breaking the rules. And Suriel has never broken the rules in her long life. But what has that gotten her? Another Christmas spent working while everyone else has fun.For once in her life, she wants to celebrate Christmas. And she doesn't want to celebrate alone.This short story is 5700 words long. It is also available in Santa's Rejects, a collection of offbeat Christmas stories.