Ducky
12-13-2009, 04:05 PM
The sky held many brightly lit stars and the moon waivered with intense clarity. Yet an ominous halo was seen about luna earlier that night. This the little men knew, would impede any chances of rescuing Tanza. He was of course, very late this evening in returning from what should be normal stable duties.
Tanza is known and loved by many. He's called 'Pere Noel', 'Father Christmas', 'Saint Nicholas', and of course...'Santa'. His name is synonomous with laughter, family, festivies, and gift-giving. But most of all, with the unconditional love for children. Ideals that should live all year round.
Tanza more than makes up for those days when he's not working; his small-statured friends knew this and willingly volunteered their efforts to help him.
The reindeer, restless in their stalls, sensed a need to take flight. It was then that the stable doors flew open; to which the tiny people hurried to ready their steeds with riding blankets. However, one stall stood empty.
Hours before, the confetti-like snow had now blanketed the tiny town of Elfville.
***
Elvira shook off the clumps of ice that clung to her patched long coat. The two sets of tracks - one in front of the other - that had trailed from the woods to her barn, had long been covered. A sullen recluse of a woman, she had no proof of any wrong-doing about Tanza, and yet her only recourse was to take from him. It was in an effort to reflect his inability of taking care of his flock.
Staring at the seemingly endless flurry of flurries, Elviria smiled.
***
Alternating her stance from three legs to four, she stood shivering and bleating for help. Her leg had been badly bruised in the recent attempt to remove her from her home. She did not go willingly.
***
One little man had cocked an ear. Up until now, all sounds deafened by the storm, were monotone. Yet, this sound was different. Barely audible, but recognizable. And then...there it was again!
Impatiently, the reindeer pounded their hooves in the snow, awaiting the elve's response.
***
Crouched under a young pine tree, holding the bell-collar of Vixen, was a tired but thankful Tanza. He recreated in his mind of the nightly constitutional being cut short by the discerning noise emenating from the stable area. Approaching the jarred gate, Tanza had glimpsed an object shining through the first snow. He picked it up and let it gingerly caress his fingers.
"She can't be too far" he thought.
Rounding the corner of the barn, he followed two sets of tracks leading into the woods. Tanza recognized the first set. Age does not mask the severity of a limp but only increases it, especially when it befell a young girl since birth. One whom Tanza knew very well.
***
When Elvira's father couldn't find her a husband, she stayed on at the farm to care for her parents until their passing.
***
Tanza approached her doorstep and preceeded to knock, when the door suddenly swung open. She knew he would come and allowed him in.
"She's in the barn."
"I know."
The little men who had found their way to Tanza awaited someone's word to break the silence. Tanza only smiled.
"I harbor no grudge towards you Elvira. Whereas you might not forgive yourself, I do forgive you."
With lowered eyes, she replied, "Even though I tried to discredit you?"
Tanza drew closer, paused, then put one hand on her shoulder.
"You've forgotten that it's better to give than receive. When your parents were gone, you had noone with which to mirror your strengths and weaknesses. You felt as though you were left to your own demise. I was there for you, if you had but put forth your hand, and let down your guard."
"Tanza?" One little man interjected, "We should be going now."
Tanza watched the gaze of his friend directed towards the window. The snow was indeed heavy this evening, and was showing no signs of letting up anytime soon.
But as anyone knew around those parts, storms don't last forever.
"Tanza?" Elvira cleared her throat. "Could you use an extra pair of withered hands to help you?"
(to be continued at a later date)
Tanza is known and loved by many. He's called 'Pere Noel', 'Father Christmas', 'Saint Nicholas', and of course...'Santa'. His name is synonomous with laughter, family, festivies, and gift-giving. But most of all, with the unconditional love for children. Ideals that should live all year round.
Tanza more than makes up for those days when he's not working; his small-statured friends knew this and willingly volunteered their efforts to help him.
The reindeer, restless in their stalls, sensed a need to take flight. It was then that the stable doors flew open; to which the tiny people hurried to ready their steeds with riding blankets. However, one stall stood empty.
Hours before, the confetti-like snow had now blanketed the tiny town of Elfville.
***
Elvira shook off the clumps of ice that clung to her patched long coat. The two sets of tracks - one in front of the other - that had trailed from the woods to her barn, had long been covered. A sullen recluse of a woman, she had no proof of any wrong-doing about Tanza, and yet her only recourse was to take from him. It was in an effort to reflect his inability of taking care of his flock.
Staring at the seemingly endless flurry of flurries, Elviria smiled.
***
Alternating her stance from three legs to four, she stood shivering and bleating for help. Her leg had been badly bruised in the recent attempt to remove her from her home. She did not go willingly.
***
One little man had cocked an ear. Up until now, all sounds deafened by the storm, were monotone. Yet, this sound was different. Barely audible, but recognizable. And then...there it was again!
Impatiently, the reindeer pounded their hooves in the snow, awaiting the elve's response.
***
Crouched under a young pine tree, holding the bell-collar of Vixen, was a tired but thankful Tanza. He recreated in his mind of the nightly constitutional being cut short by the discerning noise emenating from the stable area. Approaching the jarred gate, Tanza had glimpsed an object shining through the first snow. He picked it up and let it gingerly caress his fingers.
"She can't be too far" he thought.
Rounding the corner of the barn, he followed two sets of tracks leading into the woods. Tanza recognized the first set. Age does not mask the severity of a limp but only increases it, especially when it befell a young girl since birth. One whom Tanza knew very well.
***
When Elvira's father couldn't find her a husband, she stayed on at the farm to care for her parents until their passing.
***
Tanza approached her doorstep and preceeded to knock, when the door suddenly swung open. She knew he would come and allowed him in.
"She's in the barn."
"I know."
The little men who had found their way to Tanza awaited someone's word to break the silence. Tanza only smiled.
"I harbor no grudge towards you Elvira. Whereas you might not forgive yourself, I do forgive you."
With lowered eyes, she replied, "Even though I tried to discredit you?"
Tanza drew closer, paused, then put one hand on her shoulder.
"You've forgotten that it's better to give than receive. When your parents were gone, you had noone with which to mirror your strengths and weaknesses. You felt as though you were left to your own demise. I was there for you, if you had but put forth your hand, and let down your guard."
"Tanza?" One little man interjected, "We should be going now."
Tanza watched the gaze of his friend directed towards the window. The snow was indeed heavy this evening, and was showing no signs of letting up anytime soon.
But as anyone knew around those parts, storms don't last forever.
"Tanza?" Elvira cleared her throat. "Could you use an extra pair of withered hands to help you?"
(to be continued at a later date)