Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: The Reason for the Season of Christmas (12/04/08)
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TITLE: Christmas Paradox | Previous Challenge Entry
By Connie Dixon
12/11/08 -
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ADD TO MY FAVORITES
Wa wa wa wa wa wa wa wa wa
Get your coat, come on it’s freezin’
Wa wa wa wa wa wa wa wa wa
Short on cash forget that budget
Wa wa wa wa wa wa wa wa wa
Visa – Mastercard, just charge it.
Wa wa wa wa wa wa wa wa wa
Ed’s rejected demeanor evidenced itself in the weary lines of his furrowed brow. He entered the ordinary house by way of the back door, shook the snow off his boots and stepped onto the clean but worn linoleum. The simple house was void of extras, but Marlene kept it spotless.
Marlene appeared in her out-of-season, cotton gingham dress. It had been washed so many times, there were a couple of spots where the thread barely held it together – but it was the better of the two dresses she owned. Little Sammy, clad in a diaper and second-hand t-shirt, clung tightly to her leg.
She walked to the stove to stir the steamy hot noodle soup. It was supposed to be chicken noodle, but the aroma of celery and onions far outweighed the modest amount of chicken that had actually been added.
She turned from the soup to glance at Ed. “Any luck, Honey?
“No Sweetheart.” The timbre of his voice revealed a weary disappointment. “There was an opening down at the paper mill but they hired this young guy ahead of me. He said he had four kids and a mother-in-law to feed.”
“What are we going to do? We’ve got seven dollars left and then we’re totally broke. We can’t pay the rent, we can’t pay the heat bill, and we barely have enough food to get us through to Christmas.
Hard times fall on folks forgotten
La la la la la la la la la
Help is nowhere to be gotten,
La la la la la la la la la
Hopes are dashed and dreams are broken
La la la la la la la la la
God-less prayers are but a token,
La la la la la la la la la
Barb cried softly into her thick down pillow. The bulky bag of feathers muffled her cries and kept her from waking her husband of 27 years. She and Jerry were inseparable, high school sweethearts, business partners and best friends. For the first time in all these precious years, she had a secret – and she didn’t know how to reveal it to him….he would be devastated by the news.
Two weeks earlier, she had seen her physician for a routine physical. The doctor found something peculiar in her breast but was positive that it was just a harmless mass of tissue. He sent her to the lab for tests as a precaution. The results were back – and they were not good. In fact, not only did she have cancer but it had already advanced to Stage IV – Distant metastasis. This distressing news was sure to send Jerry off the deep edge. Barb’s detective work provided the revealing fact that she would most likely fall victim to the deadly disease within the 6 months before Christmas.
Worship Jesus, Son of Mary,
Awe awe awe awe awe awe awe awe awe.
King of Kings yet ordinary.
Awe awe awe awe awe awe awe awe awe.
Extend a hand to help that stranger,
Awe awe awe awe awe awe awe awe awe.
Bow before that lowly manger.
Awe awe awe awe awe awe awe awe awe.
*Sung to the tune of Deck the Halls
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If we know these folks, or others like them, we must go and tell them His truth - and if they do know Him - then extend compassion, hard-earned money that we may have, food for the table and hugs for the children.
You have encouraged my blatherings! But I thank you so much for your compassion for others.
However, I felt a disconnect between them--not really sure how they related to each other. I'd have kove to know more about the people portrayed in the narrative sections.
Great title, and cute (punny) hint!
It is tough to get all you want to say into such a short boundary, I know. However, expansion could definitely help with the two narratives. I felt left hanging, with nothing resolved.
This is really good writing.