What
a beautiful Christmas Eve here in Vermont, as the last rays of
twilight disappear over the horizon, there is a fresh blanket of snow
covering the landscape, but the front has moved though, the skies are
clear and the moon full.
I
prepare the horses, Frank and Sport, with their finest Christmas
harnesses, the ones with the bells. Frank is a fine animal, though
stubborn to his core, he stands nineteen hands high, a red beast,
with a black mane, tail, boots and eyes. He puts up a bit of a fight
as I dress him out and ready him for the sleigh, and the steam from
his breath rises up around me as I back him into position, and he
lurches his head a bit and neighs in protest.
But
Sport, she gives me no fuss, she’s not as big Frank, but smart, and
Frank loves her, and will follow her anywhere she goes. Sport’s a
palomino, bay with a golden mane and tail, with clear, soft brown
eyes. She rests her head on my shoulder as I affix her harness to the
draw-bar. Together they make a fine team, Frank to pull the load, and
Sport to lead him where he needs to go.
The
sleigh is small, green with gold and red trim, and I have polished
the runners, so she glides through the snow, like a skater on ice. It
has room for only two in the seat, which suits me fine, for I intend
to take my best girl, the most beautiful creature in all of Vermont,
for a sleigh ride.
Yes,
the girl of my dreams is the sweetest girl, of all the girls I know,
the gold of her hair, and the blue of her eyes, are a blend of the
western skies, and the cream of her skin, and the rouge of her lips
are known to have set my soul a fire. Yes, I am dressed in my best,
with my beaver coat and felt hat, for tonight, I intend to steal a
kiss, from this most lovely lass.
When
I knock on her door, she opens it and I ask, “Miss Jeannie, would
like to go for a sleigh ride?”
She
looks at me sternly, and closing one eye, says, “I think not!
You’re
a bit old for me,” half kidding, and half wondering.
“Yes
ma’am, I know, but I cherish your company so, and it is enough…
Please.”
Then
turning her head away, she blushes a bit, and coyly holds out her
hand, and I take this tiny hand in mine, kiss it, and squeeze it
gently, and she turns back, looking me square in the eyes and smiling
says, “I’d love too.”
Donning
her finest rabbit coat and Russian beaver hat, we walk out to the
sleigh where Frank and Sport await.
Still
holding her hand, I help her into the sleigh, giving her bottom a
little pop, looking back; she gives me a glare, and then a
mischievous smile, and settles onto the seat.
As I climb up, she
looks at me with her soft blue eyes and then looks down and says,
“You are going to behave,” then again looking me in the eyes,
continues,” are you not?”
Smiling
with a wide grin, I reply, “Yes ma’am. I’ll behave.”
I
pick up the reins, giving them a snap, and with a jing, jing jingle,
and a yank, we are off into the beautiful Vermont countryside. It
doesn’t take long and the horses settle into an even stride giving
the sleigh a steady rock and the bells take up a rhythm.
As
we glide down the lane in the cold, still, night air, the aroma of
pine, mixed with the burning of oak and walnut linger in the air, as
the smoke from the chimneys rise slowly into the sky. Each of the
houses has the twinkling of a Christmas tree in the window,
celebrating the birth of our Lord.
The
hardwoods stand stark and bare against the snowy landscape, while the
evergreens bravely stand against the winter, decked out in all their
finery. The dark rocky hillsides contrast the white of the snow, and
the river, frozen, runs like a ribbon of satin through the rolling
countryside.
I
bravely take the reins into my left hand and put my arm around this
most lovely creature, and pull her to me, and she in turn snuggles
close. A feeling of calm and completeness comes over me, and I have
to marvel over the power of this simple girl and the joy and peace
she brings to my soul. Surly a creature made by the hand of God, and
my soul fills to overflowing, and I begin to laugh, and she looks
strangely at me, smiling and giggles, her eyes gleaming in the
moonlight with her golden hair bouncing to the rhythm of the bells.
Gliding
along the lane, the joy of children’s voices rise over the sound of
the bells, for they are gathered outside one of the houses singing
carols.
So
slowing the pace a bit, we listen.
And
their voices fad as we continue down the snow covered lane, we
approach Sonora creek, Jeannie shivers a bit and looks at me and as
we enter the darkness of the covered bridge, her arms slide in around
my waist and she hugs me as the blackness envelops us and sighs with
relief, as we exit the other side.
Then
with the moonlight bathing us again, she relaxes a bit and looks up
at me and for a moment, I see the moon in her eyes and then she says,
“I got a bit of a chill.”
Startled,
because I was lost in her soft glowing eyes, I reply, “Yes ma’am,”
and then winking, “a chill.” I smile.
She
smiles softly, putting her head against my shoulder, and on down the
lane we go. After a brief while, she begins to elbow me in side and
says, “I want to hear those bells rattle!” and giving me a wide
grin, “can’t this crate go any faster!”
With
that, I give the reins a snap and holler, “Getty up Frank - Sport!
Heeeuaaa!!” And with that we are off as the horses pick up their
pace and come into a full trot, Jeannie is thrown back in her seat a
bit, squealing with glee, her hair flies in the wind as the bells
begin to sing.
After
a good sprint down the ribbon of snow we come into town, which is a
buzz with the sights and sounds of Christmas. All the gas lamps are
lit, and many of the homes have candles burning in the windows for
their guest. In the town square, there is a huge spruce, decorated
for the season. The sidewalks are filled with people in their holiday
finery looking in the shop windows and collecting what they need for
the big day.
https://youtu.be/zlbSk82UJ6w
Bringing
Frank and Sport to the curb the sleigh comes to a stop. I help
Jeannie from her perch, and taking her arm, we walk about the square
among the twinkling lights, looking in the windows of the various
shops.
As
we walk along, I become aware of some children playing in the park,
the boys are throwing snowballs at each other, and there are three
young girls trying to roll up some snow. Then I see Jeannie taking
notice, and I see the glow in her eyes, her hands come together
before her and she rises on her toes, and her eyes twinkle, “Those
girls are trying to build a snowman.” She says, as though they need
help. (In my selfish thoughts, I had brought Jeannie here to walk
the square with her, to be seen with her, for she is a beautiful
girl, and though I love her, I long to be seen with her as well,
but…. Alas, she is young, with much girl still stirring in her
soul, and she knows not, she is being displayed, nor does she
care…She longs to build a snowman…)
“Then
let’s give them some help.” I reply.
“Yesss…!!!”
she says sounding pleased, and like a shot, she is off to the park,
with me in close pursuit….
Running
up to the girls struggling with the big snowball, “What’re you
girls doing?”
“We’re
making a snowman.” The girls answer.
“Can
I help?” she continues.
“Yea…
But he can’t…” they chime in pointing at me, “the boys are
mean, tell him to go play with the boys.” The girls agree, with
their rules.
Spinning
around to me, “Go play with the boys Georgie.” Jeannie says with
folded hands, “Pleassseee.”
“Well
Rats!” I reply a little disappointed, “Okay.” I say giving her
a wink, what the hell, so I wonder off towards a bench there in the
park. Brushing away the snow, I have a seat, and watch this wondrous
creature of mine as she and her new found friends make a snowman. I
notice, that Jeannie, being the oldest, gently took charge and in no
time, they were rolling up their second ball of snow, and they were
laughing and giggling, brief moments of throwing snow at one another,
but otherwise working on their common goal.
Smack!!!!
(?)
I get nailed by a snowball??? I Look around and see a group of boys,
grinning at me, each one with a snowball in their hand. I
mumble….with increasing volume, ”You realize, this means war…!”
and I hop over the back of the bench, as they pelt me with their
ammo, but I’m fast and they miss. I quickly set to the task of
making snowballs and defending myself. So the battle is on, I’d
stand and set one to flying, and then duck the incoming. I was out
numbered, but stood my ground, hitting my target far more often than
they hitting me, thinking I was ahead bit, I started laughing… but
laughing ain’t fighting, and they begin to close in on me, trying
to cover my flanks, I’m steadying throwing, nailing one boy after
the other, but laughing just the same… Soon they close in, nailing
me with one snowball after the other, so ducking down, the incoming
increasing numbers and soon I am sitting in a pile of snow, covered
in snow, surrounded by my adversaries, being pummeled with snow …
The boys are laughing and piling the snow on, as I sit quiet, letting
the white drift pile up on me, letting them think they have won.
Soon,
they have encircled me, just standing there, wondering what has
become of me, who was laughing and fighting so nobility just moments
ago and now quiet, and appearing to be no more than a drift. As I
peek out thru the crystals, I can see the puzzle on their faces, as
they ponder what has happened, and then beyond them, I see Jeannie
and the girls have taken notice, and are closing in on the boys, now
with their backs turned, each one armed with a big fat snowball.
“Grrrrrrrrrrr………!!!!!!!!!”
I call out in a loud angry tone as I rise up in a turning motion,
like a great phoenix, setting snow flying in every direction, the
boys in their surprize, turn to run and are pelted by balls of snow
flying in from the rear, as the girls squeal in glee. When the
commotion is over… The boys are gone, having fled in every
direction, Jeannie and her friends were on their backs in the snow
laughing, and I just stood there like a monolith.
But
then beyond the girls I see a Snowman. Between the four of them, a
fine snowman had been brought to life, to live briefly, but to
live…just the same.
“So…what’s
his name?” I ask as I walk over to have a look. He was really quite
handsome, made of three good size snowballs, neatly piled one on the
other, his arms were made of sticks, and his coat buttons, eyes and
mouth were made of coal, with a carrot for his nose. One of the
girls, Veronica, had taken her orange stocking hat and scarf and put
it on the man.
“I
don’t know? We haven’t named him yet.” They seem to chime in
together… “What shall be his name?”
“How
do you know it’s a man?” Veronica speaks up.
“We
are four girls? Why would we build another girl? It’s a man.”
Jeannie says…
“Boys
build snowmen?” Veronica agues, “So girls build..?? Snow-girls!”
“Boys
build armies, girls build families.” Jeannie replies…
“Hummmm…..”
Veronica is thinking, and she scratches her head, Jeannie notices
that her hat is gone, on the snowman, and Veronica folds her arms
with the cold.
Then
Jeannie speaks up, “It’s Veronica hat and scarf on the snowman,
it can be whatever she wants.”
“He’s
a man, and his name is ‘Lucky.’” Veronica announces, and they
all smile and hug, I just have to smile…
“Come
on Jeannie, we got to get going.” Realizing how late it is getting
to be. Jeannie turns and looks at Veronica, smiles, and takes the
beaver skinned hat off her head, and puts it on Veronica, and then
comes to me. “What about your hat, Jeannie?”
“What
hat?”
“Yes
ma’am, well let’s go.” And we climb into the sleigh behind
Frank and Sport, and with a whistle, we are gliding on through town.
Then
as we come to Farmers Gray’s home, there seems to be a bit of a
commotion, and we pull in to see what’s up.
We
pull up to the little country Church, and secure the horses and go
in.
https://youtu.be/ldbvaX6VINo
With
services over we return to the sleigh, giving the reins a snap and
shouting to the horses we head home at a brisk pace. Jeannie is
laughing and squealing with glee as the bells once again sing out.
We
arrive, and Jeannie invites me in to have a bit of hot coca and sit
by the fire, she snuggles close and puts her head on my shoulder, and
I am just lost there in her company, gazing into the fire, with
thoughts of only her.
She
turns to me and says, “Tell me a story, Georgie, you know the one.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-uNQ2oQACk&t=30s
Your
eyes grow wide and you mouth drops open as you exclaim!!! “Georgie!!!
What the Hell!! That’s not it!!!”
“Well,
I thought you were old enough to hear the real version.” I reply,
with my famous mischievous smile.
Your
eyes narrow and I can see daggers in them, “You are so mean…you
are…!!! I’m going to real version your ass!!!” and you pounce
on me, tickling me, and we wiggle and squirm about a bit, just
enjoying one another's presents.
“Now
tell it right!!!”
My
lower lip comes out, and I wink at you… “Okay.”
Again,
we snuggle by the fire.
I
lightly grab the back of her hair, and turn her head to steal that
kiss, and she struggles, stands, and says firmly, “I think you
should be going, Mr. Nichols, it’s getting late,” and she walks
me to the door, and there in the threshold hangs a prig of mistletoe.
Standing
under it, I say, “Miss Jeannie, I had a wonderful evening, and….
Well…Ahhh… I love you.”
She
looks me square in the eyes, and in the most discerning manner,
declares,
"Watch
out, Mr. Nichols, the perv in you is beginning to show."
Then looking down a moment, and blushing, looks back at me, and her
eyes soften in the moonlight, and studying my fallen face carefully,
she continues, “Why…..? I do believe you do.” And then with a
sigh, says, “Now kiss me, and go home.” And she reaches up to me,
closing her eyes, offering her lips, as she slowly rises on her
toes….I pick her up into my arms, and for a few moments, my life
seems to be…where it is going… as I kissed her, and then… the
moment gone.
She
then closed the door on me, what a strange wondrous creature she is?
I sprang to the sleigh, and to my team gave a whistle, and away we
all flew, like the down of a thistle, my heart soaring high feeling
much like:
Merry
Christmas
Love
Wolfie
