The eighth installment of A Christmas Tale

12/12/12                    Return to Scribbleworks Publications

Here we go! Enjoy the book. Remember to tell your friends to come and check it out. If you can't wait to read the whole story and you want to get it today, you can click on the link above and go to the A Christmas Tale page where you find the links that will allow you to purchase this title. There are several options for downloads depending on the device the story will be read on.

“What will I tell my wife? She will not go back to that rat hole. It was an abomination. You did not see that place. She will not even entertain such an idea again.”

The Sandman shook his head,

“My Dear Frank, you really don't understand do you?  Ellie will understand and she will go back. You underestimate yourself. And you will find that child the next time. I have foreseen it all. All you have to do is believe in what I say and it will happen. It's called faith. God sent me to you as a gift. Did he make a mistake? I think not. He has faith in your ability to see this through. Therefore, you must put faith in his beliefs. Now go upstairs and get some sleep.”

Frank stood.

“I have told her about you, you know.”

The old man smiled.

“I know. I can also tell you, she will not believe that I exist. Just trust your faith and everything will work out."

Frank nodded in agreement and turned to leave. He remembered about his boss. When he turned to ask, the sandman was gone. Only the box remained standing on its edge by the wall. He was amazed at the complete silence in which his withdrawal took place. He stifled a yawn as he noticed his fatigue and went up to bed.

Day 5

The next morning over breakfast, Ellie silently presented eggs and toast at their proper position on the table. Frank worked the fire in the kitchen cook stove. There was still a chill left over from night's air. Heavy steam rose from all the food. Frank's thoughts were focused on how he was to bring up the search for this imaginary child again. After stoking the fire for the last time he closed the door and crossed over to wash was his hands at the sink. All that could be heard was the morning bustle on the street below. They ate in silence for a while each picking at their plate. Ellie broke the silence first.

“Why was it so important you see every child's face?”

Frank played with his food for a second before answering.

“I …” He pondered a moment longer before he delved into the story about that wooden box in the parlor again.

“The gift told me told that a child was at that orphanage and he was specifically there for us to adopt.”

Confusion appeared on her face. What kind of trick was this? She thought.

“The box? Your dream? Who could of known we were trying for over a year and what kind of person could you trust after hearing such a thing?”

Frank kept his eyes in his unfinished breakfast fearful of what needed to be said.

“An angel of sorts has come to us. He is not what you might consider an ordinary type of angel, but he is someone I can trust. He told me where to go, when, and what the child looked like.” Frank's voice became more confident as he revealed more. “I went to see him again last night and…”

Ellie cut in.

“What do you mean, you went to see him?”

“In… our parlor.”

The confusion on her face was so great that it looked like all the distortions actually hurt. Ellie shook her head.

“No, this is not making sense. I don't understand. When we spoke about it the other night I thought you were working through your dream. A dream…”

She focused within her thoughts and withdrew from the response.

At seeing this facial pain Frank tried to explain again. This time he started at the beginning with getting the box as a gift at the party. He explained what the sandman had told him and his idea about his boss being the former recipient. Now it was their turn to get the gift. It took a little while to convince her to, somewhat, understand all that he was saying.

“I don't know. This is all too much to comprehend.” Ellie said at last. “Why haven't I seen him yet?”

This caught Frank off guard.

“I…I do not know.” He thought about it for a moment. “We will check right now.”

Frank took her hand and led her out of the kitchen across the hall and into the empty parlor. There against the wall in an upright position was his gift, alone and un-animated.

“I've seen him only at night. Maybe we will have to check later.”

Skepticism set itself on Ellie. This was too much to believe. Frank had said this the last time and had no one to show off.