Dreaming of Silver Roses

Let’s Wrap It Up….
Current mood: artistic
Category: Writing and Poetry

            “How can someone go from being so important in your life to this in a matter of days? You’re just going to let the phone ring? I thought you guys were close?” he poked at the fire with the fireplace shovel as he sat on a footrest. In his other hand he held a warm mug of cider. He set the shovel down on the hearth and swirled his cinnamon stick around in the amber liquid. The smell of the fire, the drink, and the Chinese take out he’d brought over were a familiarly odd aroma.

            “It’s called screening calls. I happen to do it to various people of differing amounts of value to me. I just don’t want to talk period – to anyone. I would have thought you would have figured that out by now. It’s been one of those weeks.”  She sighed heavily in frustration from her seat on the sofa. “You are permitted to stay if you can be pleasant and quiet.” She set her half empty mug on the coffee table and stretched out settling her head.

            “Um, permitted with conditions. Gotcha.” He swallowed a mouthful of cider and stared into the fire. He heard her move and glanced back over his shoulder to see her wriggle and shiver. The leather sofa didn’t exactly conduct heat well. He stood, set down his mug opposite hers, and went over to the recliner and retrieved her soft navy chenille throw and unfolded it. She had settled down with her arms crossed wrist to wrist over her closed eyes. Her soft skin had lost much of the summer’s tan. Her dark lashes stood out against her cheeks. He pulled the throw across her from her feet to her shoulders and tucked it under her arm pits. She moved her wrists to her forehead pushing back dark brown bangs to look up at him curiously. It was a tender gesture and he wasn’t pushing her to speak. She would have thought him a man possessed. There was a conversation behind his eyes, but he miraculously held his tongue. He ambled back over to the mug and then lay down on the hearth rug again near the fire. His position on the rug, his long gangly legs, and the color of his hair reminded her of an Irish Setter. She smirked.

            “Thank you. Very brotherly of you. Why are you here tonight? What about Sarah?” She lazily uttered eyes closed still.

            “That’s what a big brother is for isn’t it? Um, Princess Sarah is with her mom shopping. I could not endure one more trip to the mall to buy nothing. They can never make a decision on anything until the last minute. They poke around at sales tables and never find what they are ‘looking for’ regardless of the ‘deals’. I just couldn’t do it again this weekend. The tree is nice. I’m glad you put it up. You could have called me and I would’ve helped you know.” He mocked pouting. “I’m pretty handy still.” She laughed softly.

            “Brother dear, I thought you old marrieds would be busy putting up trees in your house and restaurant. Sarah doesn’t have you all scheduled out? You have the restaurant party and Sarah’s family. I was just doing a little Charlie Brownish tree. I can handle that alone. Which is funny because Ellie and I would watch the DVD every year…” she stopped. She didn’t want to remember. She didn’t want to miss it.  

            “Why not call her? You miss her, honey. You know you do. She’s practically family. Even when mom and dad were alive Ellie was there for all the tree decorating and Charlie Brown watching nights. Oh hey, remember that year dad set the youth group up to go caroling around on Mr. Pritchard’s flat bed trailer with hay and blankets! You and Ellie started You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch!” They started laughing at the memory.

            “Oh my gosh, I’d forgotten about that! It was right in front of the new vice-principal’s house! The irony was lost on the rest of the group, but everyone joined in! Then we sang Welcome Christmas right after it totally wrong but they tried! So everyone just thought we loved Suess instead of the fact that we were making some political statement against the system!” They laughed.

            “Ellie loved caroling at the old folks home, too. They loved her blonde perky spunk and mad piano skills. She was always good with music, the elderly, and children come to think about it. I suppose being a music professor just fits.” He reached for his mug and grimaced. She gave him a puzzled gaze and lifted her own mug. It was lukewarm which explained his funny face. “Call her. It’s Christmas. Whatever your falling out was about, is it worth it really?”  

            “Look, you have no idea, so don’t go all ‘nephew Fred’ on me like I am ‘bah humbuggin’ out. It hurt. I feel like there’s cut she started and all the trust, and love, and other feelings are bleeding out still. I may get past it eventually, but I really trusted her.”

            “Hey, I’m not saying ignore what happened, sweetie. But have you considered talking it out instead? If you sit down with her and if both of you really listen don’t you think you could find a solution? You two are best-friends. And now that her mom is gone and her dad is moving off to work out of the country, it would seem that you two have even more in common than ever. That’s all I’m saying. It’s Christmas. Wouldn’t forgiveness make one heck of a gift?”

            She smirked wickedly. “Oh yeah, Wiseman, it’s perfect, but how do you wrap it?”

            “How about in open arms? Kiddo, you don’t have to agree to love each other. That’s what a friendship is. That’s what love is. That’s what makes the world work. She’s your best-friend. Call her.”

            “You are a pesky brother. Ok. Ok. I’ll call. Get out the DVD.”

Currently watching : Peanuts Holiday Collection (It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown / A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving / A Charlie Brown Christmas) (Deluxe Edition) Release date: 2008-09-23