Well, dear readers, it's been a while since my last post...and, I hope you haven't forgotten about my story I started sometime in December! I know, I know, it's late...but, I always try to finish what I start. Actually, I had the story finished before Christmas, but, just didn't feel good enough to get it posted with the appropriate illustrations.
And, you know what? A story like this one is an everyday event! It's not just reserved for Christmas-who was I to think that I needed to get it posted by Christmas? I know we're all compassionate and giving to those in need all during the year, not just during the Christmas holiday!
So, here we go, my friends...for the New Year, and all the year through!
* In chapter 2 we left Mary walking arm in arm with Aunt Sophie, towards their new life together. Mary had been orphaned when her parents were killed in an auto accident three years prior, and had taken to the streets on her own, homeless, to survive.
And, Christmas was just around the corner!
***
Oh, by the way...after spending a warm night snuggled in her new bed wearing a warm nightgown, and new furry slippers awaiting her, Mary awakened to find that is was Christmas Eve. She scurried out of bed, wiggled into a bathrobe and her new slippers, then headed for the family room. It was here last night, that she and Aunt Sophie had decorated a beautiful Christmas tree with multicolored lights just like the ones she and her parents adorned their Christmas trees with. And, they sang Christmas carols while looking at old family albums with wonderful Christmas photos from years past. Under the tree was a multitude of packages all wrapped up in bright holiday tissue paper with ribbons curled all about them. Funny...Mary hadn't noticed the gifts when she hugged Aunt Sophie good night. What could all of this be-there were no name tags on any of the packages. She turned around to see Aunt Sophie watching her with a huge smile, and Sophie said, "Tonight we will visit some old friends of yours, and I thought we could take some gifts to them. What do you think, Mary?" Well, could Mary have smiled any bigger? True, she hadn't considered the people she shared a fire with to be her friends, but, wait a minute...they shared, they didn't run her off, and they didn't treat her any differently than their own! Even, though SOMEONE made off with her cardboard abode, it wasn't one of her neighborhood group...HER group? See, I guess you could say they were sort of her friends!
"Yes" Mary cried. "Of course Aunt Sophie, why not?"
They loaded aunt Sophie's station wagon up with the packages around 6:00 that evening, and, under Mary's direction, made their way into the city, and beyond, where the conditions were not so favorable in that area. The folks that she was familiar with were busy gathering wood and paper for their Christmas Eve night's fire. They saw Mary and Sophie pull up, and park at a curb, then, emerge from the station wagon, and, they recognized Mary alright! Most of them even smiled at the ladies, and, one of the men called out to them. "Look everyone, it's Mary! Where have you been, Mary? We've been worried about you." Mary was a bit embarrassed to learn that she had been missed and thought about. She introduced the folks to Sophie, and told them how her aunt had found her, and, that she would be living with her from now on. The folks were so happy for Mary and gave her their best wishes and congratulations. Then, Sophie started unloading the packages from her car, and beckoned for Mary to help her.
Mary and Sophie wished the folks Merry Christmas as they handed each one a gift, and shook hands...there were so many smiles and laughter rang out as they all talked and opened their gifts to find pairs and pairs of warm socks! Mary was so elated..."Now we will all have warm feet throughout the winter!" Everyone laughed as the remembered how Mary's feet were always cold. "Please join us in song!" the group insisted. And they started with Mary's favorite 'Silent Night'. This time she sang with all of her heart, and Sophie joined in too. They all stood by the fire together, singing, and giving hugs with wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Then the time came for Mary and Sophie to make their way back to the city.
"We're so happy for you, Mary", one of the gentlemen expressed. "I believe that you are in the best of hands with your Aunt Sophie." Mary blushed and gave the man a hug, exclaiming, "I do believe you're right, and she couldn't have come at a better time...just in time for Christmas!" "Please come back and visit us from time to time, Mary", the folks begged. Mary and Sophie agreed that they would indeed come for visits, gave their final hugs and Christmas blessings, then, made their way out of the city and into the neighborhood that would be their home.
And, Mary chuckled to herself, when they arrived home, seeing all of the stockings that aunt Sophie had hung by the fireplace. She gave Sophie a giant hug, and wished her a Merry Christmas.
"Warm feet...warm heart!"
***
I hope you enjoyed my story. I do realize that there are not so many happy endings, however, we work to give some of those who are less fortunate that we are, some joy and happiness in whatever way we can.
I really want to thank you all for your best wishes for my recent illness...I'll try not to whine so much in the future. But, it HURT!!! It was so nice to know that you're thinking about me...I missed all of you! And, I am getting better now, but trying to get a bit more rest that I usually do.
Please come by anytime and say hello. OH, and, I'm working on a project with Susan McGillicuddy over at MyTexasGardens, that we hope to get finished in a few days, or, sometime next week.
I also want to extend my "I'm so sorry that you Floridians are STILL having to run air conditioning in January! OMG, we had thunder, lightning, sleet and snow all together in the Lone Star State last night! I mean that's almost unheard of in Texas! This time last year we were playing baseball out in the backyard with our grandson Scootie, and he is wearing shorts! I'm working on getting some of this out to you in Florida!"
Thanks are going out to:
Yahoo
Google
And all my blogging friends!
***
Be safe! See you next time!
National Popcorn Day * Saturday, January 19th
* In chapter 2 we left Mary walking arm in arm with Aunt Sophie, towards their new life together. Mary had been orphaned when her parents were killed in an auto accident three years prior, and had taken to the streets on her own, homeless, to survive.
And, Christmas was just around the corner!
***
Oh, by the way...after spending a warm night snuggled in her new bed wearing a warm nightgown, and new furry slippers awaiting her, Mary awakened to find that is was Christmas Eve. She scurried out of bed, wiggled into a bathrobe and her new slippers, then headed for the family room. It was here last night, that she and Aunt Sophie had decorated a beautiful Christmas tree with multicolored lights just like the ones she and her parents adorned their Christmas trees with. And, they sang Christmas carols while looking at old family albums with wonderful Christmas photos from years past. Under the tree was a multitude of packages all wrapped up in bright holiday tissue paper with ribbons curled all about them. Funny...Mary hadn't noticed the gifts when she hugged Aunt Sophie good night. What could all of this be-there were no name tags on any of the packages. She turned around to see Aunt Sophie watching her with a huge smile, and Sophie said, "Tonight we will visit some old friends of yours, and I thought we could take some gifts to them. What do you think, Mary?" Well, could Mary have smiled any bigger? True, she hadn't considered the people she shared a fire with to be her friends, but, wait a minute...they shared, they didn't run her off, and they didn't treat her any differently than their own! Even, though SOMEONE made off with her cardboard abode, it wasn't one of her neighborhood group...HER group? See, I guess you could say they were sort of her friends!
"Yes" Mary cried. "Of course Aunt Sophie, why not?"
They loaded aunt Sophie's station wagon up with the packages around 6:00 that evening, and, under Mary's direction, made their way into the city, and beyond, where the conditions were not so favorable in that area. The folks that she was familiar with were busy gathering wood and paper for their Christmas Eve night's fire. They saw Mary and Sophie pull up, and park at a curb, then, emerge from the station wagon, and, they recognized Mary alright! Most of them even smiled at the ladies, and, one of the men called out to them. "Look everyone, it's Mary! Where have you been, Mary? We've been worried about you." Mary was a bit embarrassed to learn that she had been missed and thought about. She introduced the folks to Sophie, and told them how her aunt had found her, and, that she would be living with her from now on. The folks were so happy for Mary and gave her their best wishes and congratulations. Then, Sophie started unloading the packages from her car, and beckoned for Mary to help her.
Mary and Sophie wished the folks Merry Christmas as they handed each one a gift, and shook hands...there were so many smiles and laughter rang out as they all talked and opened their gifts to find pairs and pairs of warm socks! Mary was so elated..."Now we will all have warm feet throughout the winter!" Everyone laughed as the remembered how Mary's feet were always cold. "Please join us in song!" the group insisted. And they started with Mary's favorite 'Silent Night'. This time she sang with all of her heart, and Sophie joined in too. They all stood by the fire together, singing, and giving hugs with wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Then the time came for Mary and Sophie to make their way back to the city.
"We're so happy for you, Mary", one of the gentlemen expressed. "I believe that you are in the best of hands with your Aunt Sophie." Mary blushed and gave the man a hug, exclaiming, "I do believe you're right, and she couldn't have come at a better time...just in time for Christmas!" "Please come back and visit us from time to time, Mary", the folks begged. Mary and Sophie agreed that they would indeed come for visits, gave their final hugs and Christmas blessings, then, made their way out of the city and into the neighborhood that would be their home.
And, Mary chuckled to herself, when they arrived home, seeing all of the stockings that aunt Sophie had hung by the fireplace. She gave Sophie a giant hug, and wished her a Merry Christmas.
"Warm feet...warm heart!"
***
I hope you enjoyed my story. I do realize that there are not so many happy endings, however, we work to give some of those who are less fortunate that we are, some joy and happiness in whatever way we can.
I really want to thank you all for your best wishes for my recent illness...I'll try not to whine so much in the future. But, it HURT!!! It was so nice to know that you're thinking about me...I missed all of you! And, I am getting better now, but trying to get a bit more rest that I usually do.
Please come by anytime and say hello. OH, and, I'm working on a project with Susan McGillicuddy over at MyTexasGardens, that we hope to get finished in a few days, or, sometime next week.
I also want to extend my "I'm so sorry that you Floridians are STILL having to run air conditioning in January! OMG, we had thunder, lightning, sleet and snow all together in the Lone Star State last night! I mean that's almost unheard of in Texas! This time last year we were playing baseball out in the backyard with our grandson Scootie, and he is wearing shorts! I'm working on getting some of this out to you in Florida!"
Thanks are going out to:
Yahoo
And all my blogging friends!
***
Be safe! See you next time!
National Popcorn Day * Saturday, January 19th
