On the moonless December night, the brackish backwater was like glass. Stars twinkled and danced on its surface and an occasional bird would swim by, breaking its mirror-like appearance. A hint of fog whispered across the water, hunting the land like a gray prowling cat. A lone dock with a Christmas tree on it lit the water with a spectacular display of brilliant holiday colors. Christmas had come to the Mississippi Gulf Coast. And it was a season to rejoice.
On the bank sat a man in a cheap lawn chair. His breath and the steam from his cup of hot chocolate danced around his head. He sat with a blanket over his lap. Next to him was the love of his life.
“I dreamed of this moment every day and every night for a year. I dreamed of the sound of the water lapping against the dock. I dreamed of feeling the warmth of your touch and of the softness of your skin. When the mortar shells rained down, I dreamed of the calm of this river. When the attacks came at night, I dreamed of you.”
She shifted her hot chocolate to her right hand and then put her left hand on his face. Her warm fingers felt moisture — a tear that was saltier than the water in front of them. She wiped it away and then wiped her hand on his pants leg. She felt his artificial leg — a souvenir he had brought home from his fourth tour of duty in Afghanistan.
“I dreamed of this moment, too. I’d sit down here after the kids were in bed and would pray for your safety. I’d look at the calm water and it would calm me. I’d look at the stars and know you were looking at them, too. It brought me closer to you. I got me through the fear.”
The normally noisy bugs and frogs had gone for the winter. A dog howled in the distance, breaking the silence of the night. The fog began to wrap its fingers around the lit tree, clutching it like a prize.
“What do you want for Christmas this year?” the man said to his wife.
“I’m sitting next to him,” she replied. “What do you want?”
“I’m sitting next to her.”
Both stared in silence at fog, the calm river and the Christmas tree on the dock. Their love pulsed through their fingertips as they held each other like they had never held each other before. At that moment their Christmas wishes came true. They had gotten what they truly wanted. And they knew that the best presents don’t always come from the Mall.
Another great one! Marshall, you continue to amaze me. Thank you for sharing your stories with us.
I still say you see the story, then you just have to put it down on paper. My old pea brain just sees the picture.
I saw a Christmas tree reflected on the water and then just went from there. It was originally was going to be about a deer.
Another good one, MR! I know that losing our jobs has brought my husband and me closer and given us a better understanding and appreciation of each other. And when each goes off to work each day, the separation can be compared to a shorter period of being apart than what a spouse’s deployment would mean. I guess it all goes back to making lemonade out of the lemons life gives us.
Very good and quite realistic.
Very realistic. A scene that’s being played out for real all over the US!
I love your stories!