K. Pinella’s short stories
(A Christmas Tale Countdown series, Part 9; see Part 8)
Ebenezer was back in the market, looking around for the peddler with the luscious daughter. He learned from Horace that Elizabeth’s household needed some help. He spotted the peddler hawking the same line. So much for thinking he had a bargain the other day. He approached him nevertheless, so he could also chance a glance at his daughter.
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(A Christmas Tale Countdown series, Part 8; see Part 7)
Silas marked the day in his daily journal as halfway through this wretched plan. He had slept fitfully and woken up early. His only thought was of how he missed Elizabeth’s laugh and their repartee. He was utterly besotted with her. His appetite had also been weak of late. He decided to sketch to distract himself. After some time had passed, he realized again how deeply enamored he was with Elizabeth. The sketch before him were of three pairs of swans, inspired by thoughts of Elizabeth’s own long, slender neck. Each pair formed a heart. Above the column of the six swans was a lone swan twisted into a heart shape.
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(A Christmas Tale Countdown series, Part 7; see Part 6)
“Good lord, I feel more exasperation than longing,” Ebenezer thought as he walked through the market, looking for a present for Elizabeth. He heard a man calling out, “Geese for sale. Buy a lot of six for the price of three. Ready for laying. Geese for sale!”
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(A Christmas Tale Countdown series, Part 6; see Part 5)
Silas woke up feeling depressed over not having seen Elizabeth for the last three days. He thought he would give her something different for a change. She might be tiring of eating so much fowl. He didn’t want to fatten her up either. Still, he wanted her to think of him. He was glad he was able to write the poem before the rules were made. Surely, she would gather the words sounded like him. He had recited poetry he had written to her quite a few times before. He sighed and went to the market to look for what might catch his eyes.
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(A Christmas Tale Countdown series, Part 5; see Part 4)
“Aunt Maisey, I hope you don’t mind if I take a few more birds,” Ebenezer said to his aunt. They were in the drawing-room finishing their tea.
“Oh?” she said, somewhat taken by surprise. Not wishing to appear miffed, she suggested they go to the music room to see what she can find for him.
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(A Christmas Tale Countdown series, Part 4; see Part 3)
The three friends met at The Bedfordshire Inn to talk about the last two days. Silas and Ebenezer wanted to know what Elizabeth thought about her gifts.
“She is mostly pleased, but surprised. Naturally, she wanted to know who they were from, but I said that for now the gentleman in question prefers to remain anonymous and would reveal himself in time. However, she did mention that the first gift had included a poem that made her think it was someone she knows.”
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(A Christmas Tale Countdown series, Part 3; see Part 2)
Ebenezer lived with his great-Aunt Maisey, who professed every day she would leave everything to Ebenezer if he continued to mind her. He liked the old biddy enough but wished she wasn’t so robust. He wouldn’t mind if she were feeble and in bed most of the time. Instead, she tended to flit about and meddle in everyone’s business, as she was now doing in his. The two of them were in the drawing-room drinking tea together, although his mind was on Elizabeth.
“Darling boy, how preoccupied you look today. What is on your mind, sweet son?”
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(A Christmas Tale Countdown series, Part 2; see Part 1)
Silas chose the winning head side of the coin. He bade his friends farewell and went home to think. He was glad no one was in the drawing-room, where he sat upon his favorite chair. He mused about Elizabeth — her dainty hands, her bow-shaped lips . He knew then what to give her.
He would go look for a succulent partridge that would more than sufficiently feed her parents and three sisters. They could then finish off the lovely repast with sweet pears. Such a gift would immediately endear him to the whole family. Horace didn’t say one couldn’t write a poem with the gift. He’ll sign it anonymous, but he will make sure his prose provides a clue that might make her think of him.
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Image: Pixabay
Long ago before earth was awashed with acid rain and layered with greenhouse gases, there lived three young people whose lives intersected and formed a love triangle. Unbeknownst to Elizabeth, she of the warm chestnut hair and sparkling hazel eyes, the two lads vying for her heart would have topped the most wanted criminal list had the two rivals’ good friend, Horace, not stepped in to arbitrate. The three friends stood outside a few feet away from The Bedfordshire Inn. Continue reading
Her eyes open, slowly focusing at the rail on the side of her bed. She struggles to breathe, a flash of anger courses through her as she tries to inhale what little air she can get into her terminally ill lung. A tear slides by the side of her eye, as she prays silently for mercy. She rolls onto her back and stares unseeingly up the ceiling. Her thoughts jumble. Instantly, she has a lucid thought, “I had a good, long life.” Continue reading
Karina Pinella 
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