The World's Greatest Atlas Of The World (Freewrite Story)

Prompt: atlas

Kindly provided by @mariannewest where everyone is welcome to take part in this fun exercise.

Task:
https://steemit.com/freewrite/@mariannewest/day-169-5-minute-freewrite-friday-prompt-atlas

The World's Greatest Atlas Of The World (Freewrite Story)

It was one week before Christmas Day. Thomas couldn't find his mother in the department store. What he did find was some footsteps leading somewhere. He decided to follow them.

Eventually, he would find Santa’s grotto.

“Hello Thomas,” said Santa. “Where is your mother?”

“I don't know,” replied Thomas.

“I know,” said Santa. “She will be here in two minutes. In the meantime, I have a present for you. Don't open it until Christmas Day.”

Santa was right. Thomas's mother arrived exactly two minutes later.

A week later, Christmas Day, Thomas is opening all of his presents. There's too many of them in truth. He forgot to open his present from Santa.

That evening, just before Thomas went to sleep, he remembered the present and opened it. It was an Atlas of the world.

The present didn't excite him at first, but he could not take his eyes off it. He was enjoying looking at the world and discovering where places were.

In fact, he read it lots before he went back to school. His geography teacher noticed that he was enjoying the subject much more.

“I want to travel the world,” Thomas said to himself.

Thomas grew a little older, but he was still a young man and he still loved the Atlas. One day he was sitting in the park. Most people would be reading a novel or something off their phone. Thomas would be reading his Atlas.

A older but healthy looking man with a white beard sat down on the bench next to him.

“I know a trick,” said the man.

“A trick?” said Thomas.

“Yes, a trick. Put your finger on a place that you would like to go. Then imagine being there.”

Thomas tried it, but nothing was happening.

"What is supposed to happen?” asked Thomas.

“Nothing,” said the man. “Not unless you believe. I cannot teach you that.”

The man left him to it.

“Good luck. Keep practicing.”

Thomas but his finger on the place he would most like to go. Rome.

He told himself that he would need to believe. In his heart he did do.

“So what happens now?” Thomas thought to himself. “I believe.”

His phone rang.

“Is that Thomas?” asked the man on the phone.

“Yes,” replied Thomas

“Congratulations, you have won first prize in a raffle. A weekend trip to Rome for two people.”

“Wow,” replied Thomas.

“I guess that's what happens when you believe.”

The end? Or maybe not.

There is a Part 2:
https://steemit.com/freewrite/@mr-neil/the-atlas-part-2-health-shop-freewrite-story

Thank you @ameliabartlett for the freewrite banner.