I was invited to be on the Springfield High School Graduating Class of 1972 Face Book Page in the spring of last year in preparation for their reunion which was held in August. Before the reunion was held they had amassed over a hundred of the graduates on that page. The class of 72 was an exceptional class. They were also the first class to graduate from the new high school building. It has always been a class full of talent and a group that knows how to have fun. I was the journalism advisor during that time.
About a week ago I issued a challenge on their page to write a group Christmas Story. The following is the story as participated in by the following. I thought you might enjoy what they came up.
Writers were: Ken Newman, Bev Garrett, Angela Carmen, Gwen Mower Wills,
Virginia Snodgrass Seelen, John A Cook, Rod Nave
Ken Fenter: Tim processed another litho negative
and watched the combination of columns of fine newsprint and headlines emerge.
He would strip in the halftones in clear rectangles and circles. It was the
Christmas issue and larger than the usual weekly papers. The staff had gone all
out with borders, photos, art and features. He would have to work late. The
dark room suited him. The rest of the staff was celebrating in the outer room.
Their job was done. That was fine. He didn't have friends among them. They were
probably exchanging gifts and drinking punch and having cookies. He smiled. Let
them have fun. He was content to do his part there in the dark.
Angela Carmen: The
dark of the processing room suited Tim. It is where he found himself safe and
comfortable. What did he care if everyone was having fun? Tim didn’t think of
himself as a loner, or anti-social. He just didn’t feel like he fit in with the
‘crowd.’ As Tim listened to the fun everyone was having, he wished more than
anything that one person, just one person might walk in and invite him to the
party when he finished with his job. Will they still be there, when I am done,
he wondered?
Ken Newman: Still there when I am done...a sweaty
palm inducing thought…stay safely in my
protective cocoon of the darkroom? Am I being a coward? How do I make eye,
contact, idle banter with people that I am around every day but have no sense
of kinship. Dilemma…time is running out. What to do?
Gwen Mower Wills: Tim
saw the sliver of light against the back wall, even though he didn't hear the
door open. Quietly and expectantly, he turned to face the door. He watched a
small shadow slip through the opening quickly and silently. Tim's eyes were
already adjusted to the dark and he had the advantage of being able to see who
had entered the room even though the other person could not yet see him. Tim
felt his heart stop as he realized it was… Gina.
Virginia Snodgrass Seelen:
Gina’s slender silhouette stood quietly in the doorway, particles of dust
chased one another in the small stretch of light that filtered into the
darkroom. Tim stood motionless staring at the blonde girl that consumed his
thoughts. Tim stopped breathing and shuddered. He had longed to speak to her.
His fears and dreams were about to collide. She stepped towards him, playfully
touched his arm and leaned in close, just when he felt his head start to spin,
forgetting for a moment how lonely he was, she whispered, “There are no windows
in here. Why are there no windows in here?”
Gwen Mower Wills: Tim
felt relief that he did not have to think of something to say. Leave it to Gina
to never leave silence hanging in the air. A shy smile threatened to break free
as Tim replied, "Windows let the light in. Kind of like what you're doing
with the door open." Tim reached around Gina and felt the warm closeness
of her as he tugged the door shut.
Angela Carmen: Not one
to fear the dark, Gina reached into her crocheted, multi-purple shoulder bag. Digging
deep she pulled out a lighter and flicked the Bic. She also pulled out a set of
car keys that dangled from an oversized metal peace symbol. Turning to Tim, she
jingled the keys and said, “Far out Tim you are just about done with the
Christmas issue. Let me help you finish and we can get this baby to bed. My VW
is parked near the back door. We can run the layout to the printer and be back
in a flash to join the party.”
Tim yelled
out, “Awesome, thanks Gina.” They turned to the worktable to put the finishing
touches on the issue. Tim was smiling, thinking to himself, “Can you dig this?”
Ken
Newman: Sweet..finish the issue...blow
off the party and plenty of time to catch most of a bowl game.. there is a
Santa Claus!! Tim Thought.
Gwen Mower Wills:
Gina turned on the heel of her black leather 'granny' shoes, and with a flick
of her almost scandalously short mini skirt slipped back out the door. The
scent of her patchouli cologne lingered to entice Tim to follow. He quickly
grabbed up all the work he had finished and hurried after her. "Wait for
me," he called and then collided with Gina knocking her rose-colored
glasses askew on the bridge of her nose. She looked so funny standing there
that Tim couldn't help but laugh "Sorry." Somehow, it didn't sound
very sincere even to Tim. All thoughts of watching any sports went totally out
the window as he vowed to spend the rest of the evening better getting to know
this funny, sexy girl with legs clear up to there.
Ken Newman:
With legs like that, Gina would probably
be up for a couple games of horse, ah, the legs of a basketball player, who
would of thought? Tim mused.
Angela Carmen:
The layout of the Christmas edition was completed in sweet time with both Tim
and Gina working together. Tim bundled up all the pages and said, “Let's get
this to your Bug and be on our way."
Gina grabbed her purse and opened the door for Tim. It
was a short walk to the car. Gina opened the passenger side door for Tim and he
set the Christmas edition on the back seat. Gina popped into the driver’s seat
while Tim settled into the passenger side. A turn of the key and they would be
off, however nothing happened when Gina turned the key. There was just a tiny
clunk, clink, bwrrrr sound.
Tim said, “Hey Gina that doesn't sound good."
"Not a prob," said Gina. She hopped out of the
Bug, whipped open the engine cover and began to tinker with the spark plugs. By
the time she had adjusted a couple of plugs wires, Tim was standing behind her,
watching in awe that this girl was working on her own car.
Virginia
Snodgrass Seelen: Time stood still as the last few hours fast
forwarded thru Tim's brain. Gina's words only half heard and muffled. The aroma
of Potlatch burgers filled the air. In that moment, Tim realized that women are
groovey, wondrous, mysterious, and magical creatures…
Angela Carmen: “So,
Gina how the heck did you learn to work on cars,” Tim asked just before he took
a big bite out of his double cheese burger with extra dill pickles. “I’ve never
seen a girl work on a car, before.
“My step-dad taught me. I get to help him out in the
evenings when he is grading the day’s work in the auto shop at school.”
“What?” gasped Tim, “Your step-Dad is Mr. Patterson?”
“Yeah, ya know girls can’t take auto shop.”
“By the way, you need to take another look at your
carburetor. I think you are going to run into some problems with it,” Tim said
with a sly grin enjoying Gina’s discomfort just a tiny, tiny bit…
Bev Garrett:
As Tim gulped the last bite of his hamburger and pondered Gina's ability
to diagnose a carburetor problem, he quietly said..."Would you like to
share some of my fries?" She smiled coyly and looking deeply into Tim's
eyes she whispered in that deep lusty voice that only a girl could...."Can
you pass the ketsup?"
Angela Carmen:
“Gina, I was just wondering…your last name isn’t Patterson and I don’t think
anyone knows that the auto shop teacher is your step-dad?” Tim asked as he was
passing the ketchup bottle to her.
“Yeah, I don’t think any of the other kids know. My mom
let me keep my real dad’s last name after she married my step-dad. I didn’t want
to be hassled for being a teacher’s kid,” explained Gina between sips of her
lemon Coke. “Anyway it’s no big deal, but would you keep it to yourself? He’s a
pretty cool guy and he is helping me repair my real dad’s 1964 Triumph Spitfire
that my mom kept in storage for years. Maybe, you’ve seen it? It’s in a corner,
covered up in the auto shop. I’m hoping to finish the engine repair before
December 24th, because that’s my 18th birthday and my mom and step-dad are
giving me the title to it. I want to drive it on Christmas Day! There is still
quite a bit to do and crap, I promised my mom I would help in the evenings at
her hair shop because of the Christmas rush. Dang it, it may have to wait until
after the Christmas school break to finish."
Angela Carmen: What a night, Tim thought to himself riding his three speed AMF
Hercules Cruiser to school that chilly Monday morning. Next Monday is Christmas and we will be let out of school early on this
Friday…hmmmm. It was really cool of Gina to come in and help me out with the
Christmas Edition and she’s not as weird as I thought, Tim continued to run
last night through his brain. I had a
great time at the Potlatch. She laughs kinda loud and that Patchouli oil is
yuck and those funky rose colored glasses… oh, well… she really isn’t that
weird even though she looks and acts like she is, Tim laughed at the
thought of Gina working on her Mom’s VW Bug before they went to the printer
with the Christmas Edition. Tim just knew he wanted to do something to help
Gina fix her Triumph before Christmas Eve. I
wonder how I can do that and get my car fixed, too, Tim was almost at
school and still thinking, thinking, thinking…
Bev Garrett:
Tim had asked a neighbor who was an import car guy for his advice the night
before thinking if he had gotten an experts opinion the repair of Gina's car it
might go a little smoother and then of course her help with his car.
"Buddy," his neighbor said; "You might get that engine together
in a snap, but I can guarantee you it will be New Year's if you’re lucky before
it actually runs. That electrical system sucks and after being stored so long.
It will take a lot of patience and work. You sure ya want to take this
on?"
Tim's disappointment showed all over his face. With
frustration he asked his friend,"If I need to ask you some questions,
would that be okay?"
The man chuckled, looked at Tim out of the corner of his
eye. "It's a girl isn't it?"
Ken Newman:
It took Tim a moment to realize that he had been spoken to. "What?"
"It's a girl isn't it?"
“Uh, uh…yeah.” He was devastated by this body blow, numb,
his mind was a void. Before finding common ground with Gina while grease
monkeying, he would have bet his mustang that his existence had gone unnoticed
by girls in general, much less a "keeper like Gina". There was an ease
and comfort when they were tinkering with the cars, it just felt "right"
and he hadn't a clue why, but he liked it, he liked it a lot. All he could do
now is to share what he had found out and let the cards fall where they may,
and move forward from there.
Gwen Mower Wills:
Tim began to mull over what the neighbor had said. He didn't have months to get
this project done. His cousin Nick might be able to help. Sure, he had spent
some time at the juvenile facility, but he sure knew a lot about cars. In fact,
that's how he ended up incarcerated--hot-wiring cars and taking them on joy
rides. Oh well, that was behind Nick now. He was playing it pretty straight
according to Aunt Edna. Besides, blood was thicker than water, wasn't it?
Angela Carmen: “Norah”
Gina whispered at their locker on Monday morning, “I’ve found a guy in our
class I really, really think I like. He is kinda quiet, he’s on the school
newspaper staff and he likes to work on cars! I’m hoping that maybe he will
give me some help fixing my Triumph. You know that the Christmas Day Parade is
special, all the auto shop guys get to drive their cars down Main Street and my
step-dad leads the parade in the ‘best car’ of the year. I wanted to lead the
parade with my red Triumph all polished and purring, but I really want Tim
Wilson in his ’67 Mustang to be the first car in the parade. He deserves it.
Tim has worked really hard all year to fix his ‘stang. Please, please
Norah….work my hours tonight at Mom’s salon, I will pay you extra from my
savings so I can go with my step-dad tonight to work a bit on my car, but
mostly it’s to leave a note for Tim under the front floor mat of his…”
Bev Garrett:
"Hey! Nick....I've got to have your help......This'll sound crazy but
there is this girl at school, her name is Gina and she has this Triumph
Spitfire that needs a lot of help and she really wants to be able to drive this
car on Christmas Eve in the parade. Hey! man do you think you can help me?
Besides, it's her 18th birthday and it would be a great surprise for her to be
able to drive it. I think I can work something out with her step-dad to get in
and work on the car when she's not around." Tim's voice had a sense of
desperation in it and Nick, having been in a similar spot once or twice before
regarding girls had complete sympathy for him.
"Sure, I haven't worked on one of those little
babies in a long time. You name the time and place and I'll meet you there."
A feeling to total relief washed across Tim's body and a
quick flash of Gina's smile rushed through his brain. "Cool! O.K. Tonight
7:30 at the high school auto shop. I'll talk to Mr. Patterson. “Ssee you
tonight."
Ken Newman:
Gina stood there silently, smiling inside, while trying to keep it off her
lips, listening to Tim's over animated explanation about his neighbors opinion
about the car, and Nick. Pausing a moment after his assessment of the
situation. Gina said, "Before dad put the car in storage, he had all
new wiring harnesses put in the car. So the cars' electrical system should be sound.
new wiring harnesses put in the car. So the cars' electrical system should be sound.
At this revaluation, Tims' mouth went slightly agape, and
there was a vacancy in his eyes. So this is "twitterpated." She had alwaysthought
it just a quaint saying passed on from one generation to the next, but, there
it is, all over Tim’s face. HE'S MINE,
she thought, smiling wryly in her mind.
John A Cook:
Meanwhile back at the party that had been going on for days now, there were
other interesting people getting to know each other.
Rachel was gently pressing against Ferdinand the Spanish
exchange student and talking about how Mr. Turner had chased her and Bryan out
of one of the private study rooms because the lights were off.
Phillip and Bethany were considering leaving since all
the food had been devoured by the skinny guys on the track team.
There was a definite need of new music as many of the
available albums had been replayed several times.
Angela Carmen:
“Mr. Patterson”…Gina called out as she scanned the auto shop for any students
that may have popped in during her stepdads usual break time. Gina usually
called her stepdad Sean after all he just married her mom less than a year ago,
but was careful at school not to let anyone hear her use his first name.
“Over here, Gina” he called out, “I’m under the Mustang
checking some work done by a student this morning.” Gina headed towards the
Mustang and saw Sean just as he was rolling out from beneath the car. “The kid
who owns this car finished up his car project. I was wondering when he would
figure out that the jets and air-bleeds were slightly plugged. He did a good
job running some compressed air and a bit of gas through the carburetor to
clean out built up gunk. Lucky kid, he could have been stuck with a complete
carb rebuild. Maybe, you know him? His name is Tim Wilson.” “Hmmmm, yeah sort
of”…Gina said, distracted in her thoughts as she gazed to the corner where her
Triumph sat under cover….”I just got to know him last night. He also works on
the school newspaper. Tim is kind of a loner, but then you know I am too.” Sean
Patterson looked at his stepdaughter and quietly said, “Think about it Gina,
you really aren’t a loner. This is what, the 10th school you’ve been at in 12
years? You and your mom were always moving from place to place for your Dad’s
career. I think, now that you’ve been here almost two years you are starting to
feel less alone. Anyway, Tim is a really smart kid, Sean Patterson continued,
adding, “He will do well when he heads to Community College in January. He’s
been accepted into the master mechanics program on my recommendation.” Gina was
hearing what Sean was saying, but all she could think was, What!? Tim is leaving? He didn’t say anything last night about going to
college and, and…
Bev Garrett:
"It's LCC Gina, not Portland Community College. You can still hang
out and get to know him. Did you know that we've had several guys from
Springfield go to Nationals? Just a huge amount of natural mechanical talent
from here I guess. So, does he know I'm your step-father?" Sean asked her.
"Well, I guess I did kind of let it slip during our
conversation. He's cool with it. I know he really likes you as a teacher and
basically said he's learned a lot in your class."
Angela Carmen:
“Wait up, Gina. I’ve been looking all over for you.” Tim was on his bike,
waving something at Gina as she was walking south of the high school towards
her mom’s downtown hair salon. Gina decided to help her mom and Norah, rather
than work on her Triumph. She needed some time to think about what her stepdad
had shared with her. Gina turned and was watching Tim ride closer and saw that
he was waving a copy of the Christmas edition. “Gina, come on hold up, I want
you to see the paper. There is a story on page 3 that explains why I am leaving
for the program at LCC. It is going to open up opportunities for my future. I’m
sorry that you had to hear about it from Mr. Patterson, but I just met you and
couldn’t share the story before the printing of the edition.”
“That’s okay Tim, and thanks. I’ll read it later. Right
now, I’ve got to go help my mom.” And, with that Gina turned on her heels and
continued walking towards town. “See you around, I hope,” she called over her
shoulder without looking back.
Ken Newman:
Lost in a sea of emotions, Gina covered the distance left to her mothers' salon
with no recollection of having traveled the distance. She absent mindedly blew
through the salon door with a vacancy in her eyes. She robotically crossed the
room to the coat rack and hung up her jacket, leaving both hands, grasping the
jacket on either side of the collar for support. Dropping her head, she stared
at the floor.
"Are you ok?, her mother asked.
"No," she replied, and drew within herself and
her thoughts, shutting out all else. Why
am I so angry? Why does it make me want to cry? I am shaky, queasy, I have a sense
of a profound loss. WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH ME? Then it came to her, I am his…
Gwen Mower Wills:
“Mom, would you mind if I took tonight off?” Gina asked in a shaky voice.
“No, you probably should get some rest.” Her mother
reasoned.
“Thanks.” Gina had her coat on and was out the door
before her mother could ask any other questions. She ran as fast as she could
until she caught up to Tim where she had left him. She was out of breath but
managed to wheeze, “I’m so glad I caught you. Let’s go somewhere and talk.”
They walked aimlessly and hardly spoke at all. All they
knew was that they were happy to be together. When she finally got her
bearings, Gina noticed that they were in front of the auto shop. “I’ve got a
key. Let’s go in.” Gina invited.
Ken Newman:
With that, Gina slipped her hand into her pocket and pulled the key out, put it
in the handle and with a twist opened the door. As she walked through the door,
she felt Tim’s hand grasp hers, she gently tightened her grip around his strong
fingers. She turned, her eyes meeting his as well as their lips. It was a
short, but sweet kiss, Gina pulled away slightly and laid her head on Tim’s
shoulder to drink in the moment. After a short pause, she reached around Tim
and flipped on the light, bent her head back so she could look into his eyes,
gave a coy smile and walked over to the Spitfire. Tim walked over to a tool
cart and began wheeling it over to the car.
Gwen Mower Wills:
They worked together comfortably and easily without having to speak, but the
silence was broken when Tim informed Gina that he had enlisted his cousin Nick
to help. “Maybe I should call him to come and help out.” Tim added.
“No,” Tina answered. “We’re really not supposed to be
here after hours. I just hope nobody can see the light.” Gina gestured to the
translucent overhead garage door, knowing full well that the light diffused
easily through it and could be seen by anyone passing by. Suddenly, the side
door flew open and a large man in a ski mask and coat burst in. Before either
of them could think, the man had grabbed both Tim and Gina by the collar and
forcefully shoved them into a utility closet. The door slammed shut and they
heard the lock click into place. A loud scuffing came next, and they heard
something heavy forced up against the door.
Crammed up against each other face to face, Tim could
feel Gina’s warm peppermint breath on his chest. Now was not the time to think
of things like that; he needed to figure a way out.
Ken Newman:
Or, after working on the car for about an hour, Tim had gone to the drinking
fountain for some water and was walking back to Gina and the car, when he
spotted a small silver object flying through the air towards him. He deftly
snatched it out of the air and was immediately hit with 25,000 volts when his
fingers tightened around it grounding the condenser. Tim immediately went into
his happy feet touchdown dance, shaking his hand violently.
There was raucous laughter coming from the far side of
the car, doubled over with unbridled glee. “Something my dad showed me,” Gina
laughed with an impish grin. "Does it hurt?" Asked Gina.
"Yes, it hurts" answered Tim."
“Here, let me see" prompted Gina. Taking his hand in
hers, she held it to her lips and gave his boo-boo a kiss. With a twinkle of
mock anger in his eyes, he wrapped his arms around her and gave her a big deep
kiss. Gina broke his grasp with a gentle push, smiled and said, "When did
you have your tonsils removed?"
Ken Newman:
Or, there they were, stuffed in a closet like a couple of anchovies in a tin.
Just as Tim was starting formulate an escape plan, the door creaked, and then
opened. There right in front of him and his unbelieving eyes, was a 6ft. tall
green turtle with a red bandanna around its head with two eye slits in it.
Behind the first turtle was another just like the first but with a green
headband and the third, wearing a blue headband had an open Pietros pizza box
and was lifting a piece out. The big guy was unconscious on the floor next to
the spitfire. "What the…? bzzzzzzzzzzz..Tims alarm clock went off. He laid
there for a moment, rubbed the sleep out of his eyes, befuddled by the dream. That is the last time I eat a …Pietros
Pepperoni pizza after 10pm on a school night, he thought then smiled remembering the afternoon
in the autoshop with Gina.
Bev Garrett:
Before she knew what she was saying, out of Gina's mouth came words she not
only couldn't stop, but she wanted to say more.
Bev Garrett:
"Tim, you know I really like you.... right?
There was silence that could have been cut with a large
sharp knife until Tim lifted his head from under the Triumph's engine
compartment hood. He turned slowly towards her, not quite believing what he was
hearing. He stumbled over the few words that came from his mouth. "Well, I
suppose, but just because I'm working on your car doesn't obligate you to
anything.". His words trailed off as he kept his eyes glued to her. They
both stood quietly for what seemed to be hours. Suddenly, Gina snapped back
into reality. She started laughing out loud at his innocence and thinking how
goofy they both sounded.
"You are such a Gourd. I just spilled my guts to you
and you think I just want to be friends?”
Angela Carmen:
“You are not a Gourd. I was hoping you might feel the same as me,” Gina’s voice
was trailing off as she slid underneath the Triumph to think…about what Tim
just said and about getting the clutch and Vitesse close ratio gear upgrade
done before Christmas Eve. Tim, would you come check this out with me? I have
an idea."
“Hey!” the shout was so loud it reverberated against the
concrete floor Tim and Gina were lying on. “What are you two kids doing in here
at this time of night…and, how did you get in?”
Tim and Gina looked up from beneath the car and saw Mr.
Stevans the night janitor glaring down at them. “Oh, boy”, Tim whispered in
Gina’s ear…any good ideas for explaining this one?”
Bev Garrett:
"Nope" Gina uttered.
"You?"
Angela Carmen:
The alarm clocks shrill ringing brought Gina out of her deep slumber. Whoa, those were weird dreams. I’ve got to
stop eating hot dogs smothered in chili late at night. Gina jumped out of
bed and threw on some faded jeans, a heavy sweater over her turtleneck.
Grabbing her shoulder bag and work gloves Gina was out the door and doing a
quick walk to school. As she hurried, she was thinking, Two more days before the 24th and I’ve got to get busy on that wiring
mess and fix those electrical connections. Gina was running all this
through her mind, and thinking of Tim, too as she pushed open the doors to auto
shop at 6 am. Gina figured she could get an early start before the guys started
coming in around 7:30 am to work on their cars. Gina was stopped at the door by
an unexpected sight...for what to her wondering eyes did appear, but eight guys
in overalls led by Tim. They were working on her car!
Rod Nave: And
Gina says, "This is the most unusual Xmas Eve, ever! "Then she looked
around and thought about it for a moment and said, "One heavy sweater, two
chili hotdogs, three pair of work gloves, four electrical connectors, and five
turtle doves inside the battered cars, beneath the auto shop Christmas tree!!
Ken Newman:
Six silver sockets, seven shiny set screws, eight odd parts, nine gnawed on
cheetos, ten tiny t-nuts eleven inch timing chain and twelve inch pepperoni
piiiiizzzzzza from pietros!
Rod Nave: And
a Partridge Family in a PEAR (HYDE) Tree!
Bev Garrett:
Gina looked on sadly, as the final verdict for the Triumph was given. Tim and
the rest of the guys, including his friend Nick were all standing around the
car looking into the engine compartment after Gina had walked into the cold,
smelly auto shop. "Gina, we've got good news and we've got some bad news."
Tim could barely get the words out.
She looked him straight in the eye. "Give me the bad
news first please," she said.
Tim made an attempt to explain. "Well, the thing is…I
mean… I'm really sorry but…"
"BUT WHAT?" Gina shouted out.
"The car is just not going to be running in time for
the Christmas parade." Nick chimed in to save what was looking like a no
win situation for Tim. "Gina, there are just too many things that need
more work and it just won't happen tonight...I'm so sorry."
Gina had tears in her eye. She was so looking forward to
riding down the middle of Main St. with the top down waving to all of the
parade goers lining the street. It had been her dream since the day her step-father
promised her the title to the car. "I was just hoping for too much I
guess. Turning 18 and driving the car in the parade on the same day. What was I
thinking?" Her voice trailed off. She buried her head in Tim's shoulder
and held onto him tight. He slowly placed his arms around her as his friends
watched.
"I know how much it meant to you and I am really
sorry".
Her quiet sobs hurt him, but what could he do? Nick
decided to tell her the good news and hopefully prevent Tim from being
absolutely miserable. "We've got good news though. You are going to love
this. Mr. Patterson gave this envelope to Tim when we got here tonight and told
him to give it to you. Here, open it up." He handed her the manilla
envelope. She fumbled with the metal brad that was holding it shut. Her eyes
got huge as she saw what was inside.
"I can't believe it, it's the title to the Triumph,
he gave me the car for real. It's really MINE." Her joy was short-lived
and after the initial thrill had passed and the reality of her not being able
to drive to the car in the parade rolled over her again, she became sullen.
The guys tinkered with the car a while longer, still to
no avail. Tim tried hard not to make eye contact with Gina. his wish to make
the car run just wasn't going to happen but he had to think of something. He
couldn't let her down and he wanted so badly to write a happy ending to the
story for the paper. He had a lot of ideas screaming though his head but
nothing was coming together. Suddenly, he walked over to Nick and whispered
something in his ear. After a few moments, Nick smiled broadly and said,
"Yep! that will work, man! you’re not as dumb as you look". Tim
walked slowly over to Gina. She watched him cautiously. "O.K., so this
isn't your dream but it's the next best thing. and I am going to ask you to
just go along with this and I think you'll really love it...okay?" He put
the question to her.
"What's the idea?" She queried.
"That’s the thing. We can't tell you anything more
but to show up tomorrow morning right here at 7:15 and by the way come dressed
for the occasion." She studied him for a minute. "Trust me, please.
This is going to be really cool." She swayed back and forth and finally
she stopped and answered him. "Fine, but this better be good." She
picked her envelope off of the greasy workbench and walked out the door.
Bright and early the next morning Tim pulled his Mustang
in front of the large garage doors and waited. Within minutes, Nick came
barreling up with a long trailer hitched to the back of his truck. They both
hopped out of their vehicles and Tim went to the trunk and pulled out bags of
Christmas decorations that he found in his parents garage. "Let's do this."
Shortly, the trailer was transformed into a bright and shiny means of showing
off the Triumph. Nick and Tim dropped the trailer enough to load the car. Just
about the time the car had been loaded onto the trailer Gina walked into the auto
shop and started laughing.
"Oh! my gosh..you guys."
“The parade starts at 8:30. Jump in the Mustang, Gina and
we'll get down to the parade staging area." Tim shouted from across the
asphalt parking lot. As they made their way to what was now an empty parking
lot soon to be filled with the Grand Marshalls car, the high school band, the
St. Alice float and several boy scout troops, Gina looked at Tim after a long
silence.
"You are probably one of the best friends a girl
could have Tim Nelson."
Tim blushed and answered her. "I'm kind of hoping
that we can be a little more than just friends Gina."
Within the hour the noise from all of the people waiting
for the parade to start became overwhelming to Gina. She hopped up onto the trailer
and into the car as Tim shut the door for her.
"Are you ready?" Her mittened hand found his
and she squeezed his hand tightly. "I'm ready. And, Tim. I'd like to be
more than just friends."
As Tim pulled onto Main St., people were clapping and shouting
as the trailer with Gina and her shining red Triumph passed by them. The
Springfield News photographer took several pictures and as Gina smiled and
waved, she noticed her mom and step-dad on the sidewalk...proudly waving back.
It was a day that dreams were made of and not only did her dream come
true...she got an extra added bonus. Tim's grin was electric as he drove along.
He waved and threw several handfuls of candy at children lining the street.
Never thinking of anything else but Gina and her beautiful smile. The front
page of the Springfield News Monday read Local Girl Gets Her Christmas Wish."
Gina's huge smile beaming back and hands waving. Tim looked at it as the butterflies
in his stomach took over as he added his final words to the article he had been
writing, "Never underestimate the power of a Christmas wish."
THE END
There was an earlier alternate ending:
Ken Newman:
Consumed by her disappointment, Gina failed to notice, overly sad eyes and long
faces. Also, there was a tension in the air that was almost palpable, as her
disappointment abated, she began to sense that something was afoot. When her
eyes met Tims', she knew that she had been played.
“TIM?"
Tims, hand immediately went to his pocket retrieving the
keys to the Spitfire. Dangling them at arm’s length, he held them out towards
Gina. "Sorry" "messing with you seemed like a good idea at the
time," said Tim. Giving Tim a flesh melting gaze, she stomped over to Tim.
Snatched the keys from him, turned to the car, opened the door an plopped into
the driver’s seat. Hesitating for a second, she thrust the key into the
ignition, pushed in the clutch, took it out of gear, feathered the gas pedal
twice and turned the key. The engine leapt to life, purring like a freshly fed
lion, as the purring of the engine filled her body, the anger became bliss.
Kenneth Fenter
I wanted to congratulate all who contributed to the Christmas Story. There were
over 60 posts to the saga of Tim and Gina and several writers emerged... Well
done...
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