oh well... :)

本文发表在 rolia.net 枫下论坛After their unexpected meeting incident, Lillian had met George several times in her store. They would chat a little bit over the weather, local news and themselves sometimes. That was how Lillian came to know Ruth and George. The poor man, after his wife’s death, still kept many of his wife’s ways of living. They usually went for an ice cream in the evening after work, so now George would have an ice cream after work too, except now he went to the store all by himself.

He was not a man of many words, but there was an intangible air around his low profile made him very fascinating.

Christmas was coming close and only two weeks away. It was a sentimental holiday. For those who were in sorrow, it was a day of recollected pang. While for many people, it was a holiday of family reunion and joy.

From a little kid, Lillian had loved Christmas. It was a holiday she looked forward to every year. Every year, right after entering December, her neighbor would set up a wood made Santa and his reindeers sleigh in their front garden. When she was a kid, she would run out with her sister Nancy to watch how they set up the whole decoration. Years passed, the red paint on Santa and his reindeers had already faded. But the Santa was still a Santa. Even from the far end of the street, one could easily see them glowing under the nightlight.

One afternoon, when George was in the store, Lillian took out a ticket and presented it to him, “ There will be a Christmas musical drama at our church this coming Saturday. My sister will be playing cello in the orchestra. I am just wondering if you would like to see it. The Christmas presentation is a once a year event in our church. Every body loves it. You will love it. ”

George hesitated to reach out his hand. He murmured and wanted to tell her that he didn’t go to church. However before himself realized it, he had already had the ticket in his hand.

So on Saturday afternoon, George was sitting on the pew of Lillian’s church. He had planned if he felt uneasy, he would leave immediately before the presentation began. Surprisingly, he didn’t feel uncomfortable at all.

All lights faded out. The story began. The whole story was very heartwarming. Bill in the story was a very successful businessman but a sadly loner. On Christmas Eve, he stayed in his office working over time but wouldn’t go home. His assistant Megan who was in love with him invited him to her home for dinner, however he wouldn’t go. Megan left and he stayed in office alone. While he felt asleep, he woke up by a white bearded angel. The angel led Bill traveling back to ancient time. During the time journey, Bill began to understand why and how ancient people celebrated Christmas. He saw people burnt their offering, dancing around. He witnessed kids in an orphanage received their food and gifts on Christmas day by miracles. He learned Christmas was all about people and love. In the end of his journey, the angel brought Bill into Megan’s home where the story came to a happy ending. Bill finally summoned his courage and told Megan how he truly felt about her. They celebrated Christmas Eve happily together.

The presentation was quite a smash. Every one in the audience gave their hearty applause. George remained in his seat when people began to leave. A corner of his heart was touched by the story. He found himself in Bill in someway. For three Christmas, he had spent the holiday all by himself. His mom always called and asked him to spend Christmas with them, but he wouldn’t go.

He was about to leave, when he heard Lillian calling his name from up front. She waved him to the front. Beside her standing a young lady with her cello, George reckoned she must be her sister. There were two toddler boys running around them.

“ Hi, George, this is my sister Nancy”
“ And,” She tried to hold the boys under her arms, “ They are my nephews, David and Joshua. ”

They exchanged hello to each other. The boys gave him big playful smiles.

“ Lillian, thank you for the ticket. The drama was great. I enjoyed it very much.”
“ I am so glad you like it.” Lillian smiled and they said goodbye to each other.

When getting home, George called his mom.

“ George, how are you? Is everything okay?” His mom surprised.
“ Yes, everything is okay. I know it is a little late now. I just want to say hello. And, I am just wondering… mom, can I spend Christmas with you folks?”
“Oh, George, you know you are always welcome.”
“ Mom, I am sorry. I love you.” George pressed the lump in his throat down.
“ Love you, George.” Her mom’s voice was broken.更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net

本文发表在 rolia.net 枫下论坛’Tis the season to be jolly. In the kitchen, Nancy was busy preparing dinner. A big glistening turkey was all bundled up perching on a super size roasting pan. Lillian checked once again the table in the living room. Their mom’s favorite Christmas china was all set on the table.

Their mom died five years ago. But every Christmas when Lillian set the table, she would remember her. As if she was still in the room reminding Lillian again and again to be careful with the china. After their mom died to be with their father who died years ago, Nancy moved back to the house with her husband Matthew. It was in this house, David and Joshua were born and Lillian found a new home. For five years, Nancy had become a big sister and a mother to her.

Nancy had already begun to carve the turkey. She removed all stuffing of apple and mushroom on one plate. Just like their mom usually did, she gently arranged the meat in the shape of a turkey on a plate. There was cranberry sauce too, their family’s tradition of cranberry sauce with turkey for Christmas dinner.

Everything was ready. Lillian helped Nancy moved all dishes onto the table and called Matthew and the boys. They hustled up from the basement. David the big brother tried to lift Joshua, but he couldn’t. Joshua twisted reluctantly in his arms. Matthew lifted them up and settled them in their seats.

A loving father, husband and a big brother, Matthew was always someone you could trust. He was always cheerful, a we-shall-catch-larks-if-the-sky-falls type of person. Whenever somebody in the family was in dismay, he would have his way to cheer him or her up.

Passing the dishes around, Nancy turned to tend two boys. They were already impatient to wait for their turkey dinner.

“ To my sister, my brother, two angels. I love you all. Merry Christmas.” Lillian said.
“ I love you, Lillian. I wish you have a wonderful new year. And will meet a Mr. Right one day” Nancy smiled at Lillian.
“ And to my dear husband, Merry Christmas.”
“ And my boys, I love you.” She turned and gave each boy a big kiss.

The flames of fire were roaring in the fireplace. At one corner of the living room stood a Christmas tree, under which lying boxes of gifts. The colored light twinkled on the tree and around the window. The boys were giggling around the table. A smile lit Lillian’s face and glowed like the flame of the fire.

People usually said a Christmas wish under the star would come true sooner or later. Lillian made a wish toward the window and hoped it would come true one day.更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net

will read in hotel room.

本文发表在 rolia.net 枫下论坛Christmas had passed and soon it was February. There wasn’t as much snow on the street as in January. No winter lasted forever. Spring was on its way.

On his way home from work one afternoon, George dropped by Lillian’s store. It surprised him to see that Lillian was on one crutch.

“ What had happened?” He asked.
“I slipped in the freezer room and twisted one ankle last week.”
“ You shouldn’t come to the store with the crutch. You need to rest at home, that way you will recover faster.”
“Thanks. But I have rested at home for one week now. Though I am still in plaster cast, but it is all right now.”
“But how do you make scoops with one crutch?”
“I will just stand on one foot, then my hands will be free. You see…” She put the crutch aside.
“ Listen, I will be off tomorrow. If you need any help, please let me know.”
“ I will. That is very nice of you, George.”

The next morning Lillian opened the store as usual. This store had become a part of her every day life for over three years. Along the pink purple counter, the inner space including the inner room was all her space. On her left hand, there were buckets of ice creams totaling 16 flavours. While on her right hand, there were ice cream cakes cut and decorated all by herself. Outward of the counter, there scattered three tables and several chairs. She placed several chairs along the street outside of the store too. Summertime, people loved to sit outside.

Shortly after noon, right after she just said goodbye to one customer, the door opened and in came George.

“Afternoon, George.” She was surprised to see him.
“Afternoon, Lillian. Just want to see if there is anything I can help, I am off today anyway.”
“ Wow, let me think, I guess you need to come in and you may need to put this on.” She handed him an apron.”
“ That looks very nice on me, doesn’t it?” He teased himself and they all laughed.

“ I cut some cakes this morning. You may help me to decorate them.” Lillian brought out a scrapbook and a box of figurines from under the counter. She opened the book and showed George the pictures.

“Look, here is the little prince and his rose.” George flipped through the scrapbook. He exclaimed as he turned to a picture with a little prince and his rose.
“The little prince’s rose. Is there a story? Please tell the story, George. ” Lillian picked out the prince’s figurine from the box.
“ I am not good at telling a story.”
“ Oh, please George.” Lillian pleaded.

“ A little prince finds a rose. ” George began his story.
“ He waters her, tends her, protects her from all danger and cannot contain his admiration about her. However despite all the good will of his love, he has grown very unhappy. He makes his mind to escape from his flower. He thinks to himself, ‘ My rose is only an ordinary rose. After all, she is only one of many roses.’ ”
“ He meets a fox. The fox tells him, ‘ It’s the time you spend on your rose makes your rose so important. You are responsible for your rose. ’ ”
“ What a story, George!” Lillian was fascinated by the story.
“ You know what,” She collected her thought, “ We will make a cake with this figurine. Though there is no order for it, we will make it anyway. I will put it in the refrigerated display and display it.”

They decorated the prince and a rose on the top of the cake together, with the prince standing beside the rose. Using a white icing dispenser, Lillian squeezed some shells around the top of the cake, like setting up a white fence.

Watching Lillian put the cake into the refrigerated display and slid close the display’s door, George felt his whole spirit was lifted. He didn’t want to admit it, but the whole afternoon, he didn’t think of Ruth.

The whole afternoon passed so quickly, before they realized it, it was already six o’clock. Nancy came to pick up Lillian because she was still in plaster cast.

“Nancy, this is George. He has been helping me the whole afternoon.”
“George, you have met my sister Nancy.”
“ Yes, I remember. You play cello in the orchestra.”
“ You really have a very good memory. Thank you for helping Lillian.”

On their way home, Nancy smiled at Lillian.
“He is a customer, that is it.” Lillian explained.
“David’s birthday will be the weekend after the next week. So can we invite the customer George to a birthday dinner?”

Lillian nudged Nancy’s arm. They chuckled all the way home.更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net

:E