Thursday, December 22, 2005

The Curve

I stood there, stupidly I am sure, while the car barreled around the corner.

I knew it was heading for me, but I could not seem to move. My feet were icy, and perhaps that is part of my excuse. My cold butt could not seem to send a message to my equally frozen brain to move out of the way.

Everything about me was wet, I’d been in the snow for days, with no real place to sleep, and every part of me from one end to the other was a bedraggled mess. I hadn’t been warm for far too long, and so, I just stood there.

No, you idiot. I wasn’t trying to commit suicide.

I don’t particularly like being homeless, but neither have I ever relished being plowed under by an ugly puke green Buick during the coldest time of the year. Besides, even if I had been so inclined, with my luck, a suicide attempt would have meant I’d have ended up crippled and homeless. No thanks.

It was quick, one second it was all headlights in my eyes and screeching tires, the next minute I felt the bumper just brush against me hard enough to throw me into the embankment behind me.

Running feet assured me that whoever had been in the car was rushing over to check on me.

“Awww… dad! A dog! We hit a dog… he’s hurt!”

I breathed a sigh of relief that it wasn’t some teenager bent on torturing me… there were plenty of them.

“Step back Dani, lemme see….”

The voice was kind… I managed a crooked grin and didn’t make much of an effort to stand up.

“He looks okay Dani, just bruised, but we better take him home.”

Wow… I didn’t expect that. Going home with someone? Maybe some real food and a bed?

“Can we keep him dad?”

I am sure my expression much have said as much, because the man laughed as he scooped me up and headed for the car.

“Why not? What better winter holiday gift than a wet mutt?”

Well… what a turn of events.

Suddenly that old nasty wet snow looked a great deal prettier. For that matter, everything did. From homeless mutt to family pet.

You won’t hear me complaining.


~December 27, 2004

I'll Be Home for Christmas

*This is another story was written for the barnesandnoble.com presents...Write & Win Contests. topic, Holidays. The rules, in short, were that the story had to mention the topic, and be 250 words or less. This story also took first place in the contest.


It was incredibly cold in the house, but that was okay. At least, Aaron thought to himself, he was home.

There was a stocking hanging on the fireplace with his name on it. His mom was there, by the fireplace, smiling happily because he was home. Dad and his brother John were at the table playing chess, and his high school sweetheart was here by his side.

What was a little chill compared to being home for Christmas, when so many others were still on the front lines? He shivered again. He'd escaped the sand and the heat and the war for a little while. He was one of the lucky ones who got to be home with his family.

His mom came over and took his hand and started singing "Silent Night", and soon everyone joined in, including Aaron.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"How's his fever Sergeant?"

"It's risen two degrees, Sir. We can't get it down. He's developed bad chills, and the shivering is making his fever rise."

The doctor looked over the young man in the cot. His face was flushed, and his lips were cracked. He was shaking even in the high desert heat. Yet, he almost seemed to be smiling.

He noticed the soldier seemed to be mumbling something…

"Sergeant, has he been speaking?"

"Kinda Sir. He's singing Christmas carols. They say he won't last 'til morning."

The doctor shook his head and turned away sadly, "Another one who won't get to go home for the winter holidays."


~December 27, 2004

The Christmas Gift

This is a real event. A memory of a day I loved, about this time last year. Dedicated to Dani, Logan and David.


Come the winter and its snows
I don’t fear how winter goes -
Because I have the best, you see…
The love of friends and family.
~Dawn Allynn

I watched them frolic in the snow from the warmth of my car.

The sled was new, made from some lightweight foam, colorful, stylish. Faster than a speeding bullet, and probably no safer. I worry sometimes, but try not to let it absorb me. I learned early to let go and keep my fears to myself. Independence is good for children, and mine certainly thrive well in its environment. Today, however, my mind was less on the possibilities of my kids becoming one with a pine tree and more on the miracle of seeing them together with their sister.

Seventeen years we’d thought about her, and wondered where she was. Beyond our reach but never beyond our prayers. We’d never given up hoping she’d come into our lives one day, and here she was. Now, just the second day after meeting her for the first time, here they were, sledding and playing together as if they’d never spent a day of their lives away from one another.

For hours I watched them play together. Even in the cold snow, their warm love was evident. This was her first time meeting us. Her first time ever seeing snow, making a snow angel, her first time sledding.

But not her last.

This winter holiday brought us all a gift that we'd cherish a lifetime.

Thursday, December 01, 2005

The Thief


* Written for the write and win contests, The theme, I think, was steal. This took second place.

I’d spent a full summer this year watching lovers walk hand in hand though the flower strewn park while my children cavorted with the other neighborhood kiddos on the playground.

Autumn brought school for my little ones, and hours on the internet seeking solace amongst faceless others who would engage in conversation.

It was better than nothing, but when I went to bed alone, it still felt like nothing.

Now, with the winter holidays all but past, the last degradation was this New Years Eve party my neighbors had begged me to go to. I’d gone as requested, but felt out of place. I didn’t want to go in and stopped just short of the doorway.

I was just about to turn tail and run, when I heard the tinkling of bells above me. Looking up I saw mistletoe wrapped in red ribbon and bells an instant before I was spun and around and kissed.

I should say that I pushed him off me - and that I didn’t close my eyes and sink into the kiss with a sigh born of need. I should say I didn’t love the smell of him or the way the kiss made the heat rise from my toes. (Snow would have melted beneath me.) Instead I savored the beauty of it, and open my eyes with a smile.

“You’re home!”

“They gave me leave; I don’t have to go back for three weeks. Can I steal another kiss?”

“Oh… yes…”