Christmastime

Merry Christmas!

Many years ago it seems the pastor of my church taught us that the true Christmas season began on Christmas Eve and continued until January 6th, the Epiphany (this concept was immortalized in the Twelve Days of Christmas song) and before that it was Advent with four weeks of lighting candles marking each week as Christmas came closer. I liked that idea so as far as I’m concerned it’s still Christmas today on December 27th and I can say Merry Christmas to whoever is out there celebrating Christmas without feeling wrong somehow.

I have to admit it’s been too long since I’ve written a post. I had intended to write one during the more typical Christmas season between Thanksgiving and now but as you can see it didn’t happen. It’s a busy time for sure. I’ve always enjoyed the many different aspects of Christmas–the music, the lights on the houses, Christmas trees, the giving and getting gifts and the special church services like midnight mass although it’s not at midnight anymore, more like 9 pm. I had given a post some thought though. I spend Christmas here at home and not on Cape Cod, the setting of Seeking Glory of course. The Cape does have its unique celebrations of Christmas such as the Christmas tree made out of lobster traps below.

Anyway, I decided that as a Christmas present I would send along another outtake from Seeking Glory. Those of you who have read the book may again be able to guess who the main character is and while the other person in this scene is mentioned in the book in a significant context, she may be harder to place. See if you can figure out who she is. If you haven’t read the book maybe you will find this excerpt intriguing enough to want to read it although keep in mind this is an outtake. I might add that the setting is not at all like Christmas but then Seeking Glory takes place in the summer. Here it is:

Seeking Glory Outtake #2

The sun was setting over the western mountains as the solitary figure made its way along the gravel path, a heavy cloth shopping bag in each hand.  The outline of the small adobe house against the red sky was shadowy in the early evening light but it briefly illuminated the woman as she climbed the low steps, set down her bags and pushed open the door.  One step over the threshold and she froze in place, the still air around her alive with a familiar presence even before the smell of his tobacco assailed her senses. 

“Well, hello, there.  All things considered, I must say you’re surprisingly difficult to find.”

He was lounging in one of her kitchen chairs, seemingly relaxed and quite at home, an elbow propped on the table, a rolled cigarette held loosely between his fingers, smoke curling upwards.  The last of the light, still streaming through the single window overlooking the small sink, put his long body in sharp contrast to his deeply shadowed face.  He took a pull on his cigarette before letting the ashes drop to the wooden floor. 

The woman took a deep breath and, with what she hoped appeared to be a casual nonchalance, went back and picked up the shopping bags from the steps, setting them down on the kitchen counter across from her uninvited guest. Leaning against the counter, her back to the wall, she studied him momentarily.  “What are you doing here?” she said coolly.

“I’m here to see you, obviously.  I believe you have some information I want.”

“Really?  I can’t imagine what information we would have to offer each other.”

“Oh, I have nothing to offer you.  On the other hand you have plenty to offer me.”

The woman said nothing, letting the silence extend itself between them, broken only by the call of birds outside the window, heading back to their nests for the night.

“I don’t know what you mean.”

 “Oh, come on, don’t try to play this game with me. You know very well what I mean. Now I’m going to ask you again. Where is she?”

 Another silence as the woman cast about for an escape, fear rising in her breast. 

She took a step away from the counter and, with one swift movement, he was on his feet and had her by the arms, pushing her back against the counter, his face inches from hers.

“Tell me where she is!”

Well there you have it. You may notice some similarities between this scene and the one I showed you before, however they each conclude a little differently as the story continues. Such is desperation.

Happy New Year!

Enjoy the Christmas tree below in all its Cape Cod glory with the Pilgrim Monument in the background. May you have a wonderful New Year and I’ll see you on the other side (of the year of course) and sooner rather than later.

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