speak, enjoying the
silence between them.
The silence was broken when a 1962 Ford
Galaxie Sunliner convertible pulled into the parking lot. The car
door opened, and Gladys Thompson stepped out of the driver’s
seat.
“Miss Gladys?” Mike was more than a little
surprised.
“Yes, it’s us. Did we miss the dessert
auction?” She made her way around to the other side of the car just
as the passenger’s side door opened. Mayor Al swung his legs out,
followed by a cane. His right leg was wrapped tight in a bandage
from his foot to his knee.
“It’s still going on,” Janet said. “What on
earth happened?”
“Just a little skiing accident,” answered Al.
“Nothing broken, but I sprained my ankle pretty bad. I couldn’t
even drive. How’d the Festival go without me?”
Janet smiled. “You were missed, but Mike did
a great job filling in.”
“I’m sure he did.”
“Didn’t you want to stay and finish your
vacation? I mean, there were other things you could do even without
skiing.”
Gladys smiled at her. “You know what I’ve
discovered? Skiing’s overrated. And sometime, a few days away from
your hometown is more than enough to remind you of what’s
important.”
Mike looked at her. “You know, I think I’m
beginning to figure that out, too.”
Al and Gladys made their way up the few
stairs onto the porch and went into the Café, leaving Mike and
Janet alone again. They sat for a while on the bench, with her head
leaning against his shoulder.
Finally, Janet spoke. “So, tell me. What are
you doing on New Year’s Eve?”
Mike took her hand in his. “Why don’t we
discuss it over coffee at the library?”
* * * * * * * *
Inside the Café, Cliff Magnuson and the Widow
Missus sat at a table together, drinking coffee and discussing the
year’s Festival. From where they sat, they could see Mike and Janet
on the porch.
“Well, Harriet,” Cliff said with a smile,
“I’d say this year’s Christmas Festival was a complete
success.”
“I think I’d have to agree.” She nodded at
the two young people on the porch. “So what do you think? Did we do
right by them?”
“I’m sure of it.” He lifted his coffee cup in
a toast. “Merry Christmas, Harriet.”
She lifted her cup and touched his. “Merry
Christmas, Cliff.”
They sat for a minute, staring out the window
as Mike and Janet stood up. They held hands as they walked to the
parking lot where Mike held the door for her before getting behind
the wheel himself.
“Look at that,” the Widow Missus said. “Isn’t
that just the most beautiful thing you every saw?”
Cliff reached over and took her hand. “Yes,
it is, Harriet. It’s just about the most beautiful thing in the
world.”
# # #
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
David Emprimo is firstly: a son, a brother
(and brother-in-law), an uncle, and a friend. Secondly, he has
worked for almost twenty years at the public library in a small
East Texas town which may or may not bear some similarities to
Newtonberg.
He enjoys music, movies, books, spending time
with his family, and speaking about himself in the third
person.
There is currently no Janet Carmichael in his
life, although certain actresses and singers are welcome to submit
applications (although not by e-mail).
FIND ME ONLINE!
Official Website and Blog:
http://newtonberg.wordpress.com
E-mail:
[email protected]
silence between them.
The silence was broken when a 1962 Ford
Galaxie Sunliner convertible pulled into the parking lot. The car
door opened, and Gladys Thompson stepped out of the driver’s
seat.
“Miss Gladys?” Mike was more than a little
surprised.
“Yes, it’s us. Did we miss the dessert
auction?” She made her way around to the other side of the car just
as the passenger’s side door opened. Mayor Al swung his legs out,
followed by a cane. His right leg was wrapped tight in a bandage
from his foot to his knee.
“It’s still going on,” Janet said. “What on
earth happened?”
“Just a little skiing accident,” answered Al.
“Nothing broken, but I sprained my ankle pretty bad. I couldn’t
even drive. How’d the Festival go without me?”
Janet smiled. “You were missed, but Mike did
a great job filling in.”
“I’m sure he did.”
“Didn’t you want to stay and finish your
vacation? I mean, there were other things you could do even without
skiing.”
Gladys smiled at her. “You know what I’ve
discovered? Skiing’s overrated. And sometime, a few days away from
your hometown is more than enough to remind you of what’s
important.”
Mike looked at her. “You know, I think I’m
beginning to figure that out, too.”
Al and Gladys made their way up the few
stairs onto the porch and went into the Café, leaving Mike and
Janet alone again. They sat for a while on the bench, with her head
leaning against his shoulder.
Finally, Janet spoke. “So, tell me. What are
you doing on New Year’s Eve?”
Mike took her hand in his. “Why don’t we
discuss it over coffee at the library?”
* * * * * * * *
Inside the Café, Cliff Magnuson and the Widow
Missus sat at a table together, drinking coffee and discussing the
year’s Festival. From where they sat, they could see Mike and Janet
on the porch.
“Well, Harriet,” Cliff said with a smile,
“I’d say this year’s Christmas Festival was a complete
success.”
“I think I’d have to agree.” She nodded at
the two young people on the porch. “So what do you think? Did we do
right by them?”
“I’m sure of it.” He lifted his coffee cup in
a toast. “Merry Christmas, Harriet.”
She lifted her cup and touched his. “Merry
Christmas, Cliff.”
They sat for a minute, staring out the window
as Mike and Janet stood up. They held hands as they walked to the
parking lot where Mike held the door for her before getting behind
the wheel himself.
“Look at that,” the Widow Missus said. “Isn’t
that just the most beautiful thing you every saw?”
Cliff reached over and took her hand. “Yes,
it is, Harriet. It’s just about the most beautiful thing in the
world.”
# # #
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
David Emprimo is firstly: a son, a brother
(and brother-in-law), an uncle, and a friend. Secondly, he has
worked for almost twenty years at the public library in a small
East Texas town which may or may not bear some similarities to
Newtonberg.
He enjoys music, movies, books, spending time
with his family, and speaking about himself in the third
person.
There is currently no Janet Carmichael in his
life, although certain actresses and singers are welcome to submit
applications (although not by e-mail).
FIND ME ONLINE!
Official Website and Blog:
http://newtonberg.wordpress.com
E-mail:
[email protected]
Similar Books
