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- Story Listed as: Fiction For Adults
- Theme: Fairy Tales & Fantasy
- Subject: Fairy Tale / Folk Tale
- Published: 12/07/2019
The Sleigh Ride.
Born 1951, M, from Wilmington NC, United StatesShe patted his wide shoulders with a loving tap older than most Civilizations. People always made a caricature of his big belly, not realizing how really wide his shoulders were- or how strong he really was. That made her smile. She patted him again. And that made him smile.
“Off with you woman, before you get the death of cold out here.”
She smiled. The Cold had no effect on her…or him. The suit was a symbol not a necessity. He caught that smile.
“Well, you know what I mean. Get you inside. I don’t want you all covered with snow and any small gifts the doggone animals will drop on the way up. Now go inside.”
Again that made the woman smile. The animals loved her. Their droppings would be released over oceans or woodlands miles from any people. All of them had nuzzled her a goodbye, and not just for the sugar canes she slid them while the Big Man was busy filling the Sled.
“I am going. Now you be careful. It is the modern world out there and lots and lots of places have either forgotten you- or they are unsafe places to be.”
That is what she really worried about. People were doing bizarre acts of terror in seemingly innocent places. And what if one of those poor demented misplaced wannabe heroes took out her man? Wouldn’t that be a coup for one of them. And a tragedy beyond belief for the rest of the World…and Mankind.
The Big Man pulled his thick leather belt a bit tighter. Not because it needed it. But simply so he wouldn’t see the worried look on the only woman in the world he ever loved. She could have said no. She did not. Even after he took her to his little workshop surrounded by a hundred miles of bleak ice. Even after he explained that if she married him, she would still be Human, but not Mortal anymore. She didn’t care then. She still didn’t.
The Big man was the kindest, sweetest, gentlest, and most big hearted man she had ever met. And his laugh. My God, it still made her tingle to her toes with Joy. It was infectious- you couldn’t help but join in the mirth. In all the Centuries she had known him - and that was too many to count- he had not once complained about the petty goings on in the world, the cruelty, or the ultimate evil of mankind: war.
Instead he kept at his job. She helped, of course, the whole workshop worked right up to Christmas Eve every year. There was never a moment to waste. Just that one week between Christmas Day and the New Year. She cherished those moments. For the whole workshop was empty for that week. Just her and her big man. He didn’t wear his suit, and she didn’t wear her outfit either.
Sometimes they would travel. Mostly to the Baltic or Canada…the tropics were uncomfortable for them both. People would note that they were a lovely couple, all cuddled up and holding hands. He was a Big man, they would note as an aside. Must have been a power lifter or pro-wrestler. That would make them both laugh. Although lifting just one bag onto the sled would have shattered every single World Record for weight lifting.
Mostly they just nibbled at baked goods, sipped hot tea or mulled wine, and just relaxed being “normal” for a week. She loved that week. He did too.
And he was off. The sled took to the sky. She watched him go. She wouldn’t go back inside until she couldn’t see him anymore. He knew that. It gave him a little quick stir in his heart when he would turn and see she ignored his orders. It would make him smile as he gave one last wave.
She would smile knowing he would be disappointed if she wasn’t still standing in the snow to give that last wave and blow a little kiss. A kiss that always landed right on his cheek, and left a ruby red smear that lasted until the sled was empty.
She closed the door. The sled was gone. Tomorrow was Christmas. She made a cup of tea and waited for the Big man to come home.
The Sleigh Ride.(Kevin Hughes)
She patted his wide shoulders with a loving tap older than most Civilizations. People always made a caricature of his big belly, not realizing how really wide his shoulders were- or how strong he really was. That made her smile. She patted him again. And that made him smile.
“Off with you woman, before you get the death of cold out here.”
She smiled. The Cold had no effect on her…or him. The suit was a symbol not a necessity. He caught that smile.
“Well, you know what I mean. Get you inside. I don’t want you all covered with snow and any small gifts the doggone animals will drop on the way up. Now go inside.”
Again that made the woman smile. The animals loved her. Their droppings would be released over oceans or woodlands miles from any people. All of them had nuzzled her a goodbye, and not just for the sugar canes she slid them while the Big Man was busy filling the Sled.
“I am going. Now you be careful. It is the modern world out there and lots and lots of places have either forgotten you- or they are unsafe places to be.”
That is what she really worried about. People were doing bizarre acts of terror in seemingly innocent places. And what if one of those poor demented misplaced wannabe heroes took out her man? Wouldn’t that be a coup for one of them. And a tragedy beyond belief for the rest of the World…and Mankind.
The Big Man pulled his thick leather belt a bit tighter. Not because it needed it. But simply so he wouldn’t see the worried look on the only woman in the world he ever loved. She could have said no. She did not. Even after he took her to his little workshop surrounded by a hundred miles of bleak ice. Even after he explained that if she married him, she would still be Human, but not Mortal anymore. She didn’t care then. She still didn’t.
The Big man was the kindest, sweetest, gentlest, and most big hearted man she had ever met. And his laugh. My God, it still made her tingle to her toes with Joy. It was infectious- you couldn’t help but join in the mirth. In all the Centuries she had known him - and that was too many to count- he had not once complained about the petty goings on in the world, the cruelty, or the ultimate evil of mankind: war.
Instead he kept at his job. She helped, of course, the whole workshop worked right up to Christmas Eve every year. There was never a moment to waste. Just that one week between Christmas Day and the New Year. She cherished those moments. For the whole workshop was empty for that week. Just her and her big man. He didn’t wear his suit, and she didn’t wear her outfit either.
Sometimes they would travel. Mostly to the Baltic or Canada…the tropics were uncomfortable for them both. People would note that they were a lovely couple, all cuddled up and holding hands. He was a Big man, they would note as an aside. Must have been a power lifter or pro-wrestler. That would make them both laugh. Although lifting just one bag onto the sled would have shattered every single World Record for weight lifting.
Mostly they just nibbled at baked goods, sipped hot tea or mulled wine, and just relaxed being “normal” for a week. She loved that week. He did too.
And he was off. The sled took to the sky. She watched him go. She wouldn’t go back inside until she couldn’t see him anymore. He knew that. It gave him a little quick stir in his heart when he would turn and see she ignored his orders. It would make him smile as he gave one last wave.
She would smile knowing he would be disappointed if she wasn’t still standing in the snow to give that last wave and blow a little kiss. A kiss that always landed right on his cheek, and left a ruby red smear that lasted until the sled was empty.
She closed the door. The sled was gone. Tomorrow was Christmas. She made a cup of tea and waited for the Big man to come home.
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JD
12/14/2019What a lovely short sweet Christmas love story, Kevin! You managed to fit a lifetime, the world, wonderful character development, and a lot of love and romance into a very short story that was so much more than just words! Perfect!
Thank you, and Merry Christmas to you and yours! :-)
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Kevin Hughes
12/15/2019Thanks Jd,
And a Merry Merry Christmas to you and yours! And thanks so much for letting all of us Writers get our Christmas Stories up !
Smiles, Kevin
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Gail Moore
12/09/2019Awww, what a beautiful story. Only you Kevin can make a romantic story out of Christmas.
I love Christmas. :-)
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Kevin Hughes
12/10/2019Thanks Gail,
Christmas always meant love to me- both being loved, and loving. When I was a teenager and into my twenties, it was my girl at Christmas that made Christmas, and then when Kathy and I had kids, well, they made Christmas for us! And now Grandkids, and that is more fun at Christmas than a barrel of monkeys- and, by the way, how did that expression ever come to be? LOL
Merry Christmas, Kevin
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Help Us Understand What's Happening
Kevin Hughes
12/07/2019First, in case I forgot...way to go! StoryStar Author of the Month! Richly deserved, well written stories with a lot of depth and wisdom. Congratulations !
And thanks for the nice comments you always give me! Smiles, Kevin
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