SkrivarSara - Tales from an Aspiring Writer

Believe

He was eighteen years old and still believed in Father Christmas. True, people said he was a bit strange, he read a lot of books and was known to play WoW, CS and such. And RPG's. What sane person played RPG's? And he had no friends at school (don't know if he had any somewhere else), but was in the library most of the time, when he wasn't playing teacher's pet at lessons. It was there I found him, around a fortnight before Christmas.

   I spent a lot of time in the library, too, studying for the exams, but I do have a few friends. This sunny Wednesday I went to the library at lunch break, and there he was, standing in front of a shelf and scanning the backs of the history books. He half-glanced at me, a blush creeping up his cheeks. I took no notice, but merely put my book bag on a free table beside the window. But, - shit! - I needed a book about the Napoleon Wars, which was why I was here. He took my approach as an invitation to speak.

   "Hi Liza", he said, half-looking at me. His eyes were brown.

   "Hi", I said, studying the shelves without looking at him. "Could you please move a bit? I need a book over there."

   He stepped aside, now gazing straight at my back. I tried to ignore it, but he was making me slightly sweaty and it was like having a fly on my neck. I took the book I needed and was about to get back to my table, when he spoke again.

   "My name is Kim", he said, holding out his hand. After a moment's hesitation, I shook it, and of some reason unknown to me, he followed me to my table. When I buried myself in my papers and books, he did nothing but stare at me, his hand resting on the table. When I looked up, he was still staring at me. I started to read and write again, but now I reread the same paragraph again and again, and couldn't finish my sentences before I got lost.

   "So", I said, giving up at last, "how'll you spend your Christmas?"

   He shrugged and blushed. "At home, I suppose. I hope Father Christmas will come." Kim finally lowered his gaze, to see his finger follow a carved-in name in the wood. Now I was staring at him.

   "So you hope Father Christmas will come?" I said. "Have you sent him a wish list, yet? Or are you doing it soon?"

   "Father Christmas actually knows what we wish, and what we need, we don't really need to send him wish lists", Kim said matter-of-factly, meeting my eyes. They had a very calm brown shade. "What do you want for Christmas?"

   "A guy in his right mind." I rose and took my book bag, striding out of the library.

I did not see Kim again until the day before Christmas break, when we ran into each other outside my last Biology class. He dropped a book on my foot. A very heavy book.

   "Ouch!"

   "Sorry! I'm really sorry, Liza!" He hurried to take up the book and said to the floor. "I didn't see you! Does it hurt much?"

   "Yes!" I had tears in my eyes as I massaged my foot, glaring at his mousy-brown neck. "Why are you hurrying? Going to meet Father Christmas?"

   Kim blushed as he straightened up. "Father Christmas comes at Christmas. He told me he would come this year. You could meet him too, if you want."

   "No thanks, I meet old men disguised as Father Christmas every day, now", I said coolly. "Are you saying hello to all of them?"

   "No!" Kim's colour darkened. "They aren't real! I mean, they are real, but not the real Father Christmas."

   "Who are you meeting then?"

   Kim blinked. "Father Christmas."

   I rolled my eyes, making Kim looking funny at me, his head slightly tilted. "If you come to my house six o'clock at Christmas Eve, you will see him. So, what do you say?"

   I stood unmoving for a moment, left hand on the hip and eyes fixed on him. "Ok", I said at last. "But if you are playing with me somehow, you'll pay."

   I turned my back at him and marched away with a slight limp.

Christmas Eve that year was a Christmas-card like one, with a dark starry sky, glittering white roofs and apple-cheeked people outside calling "Merry Christmas!" to everybody. It was nearly six o'clock and I was hurrying to Kim's house, which was standing right behind the church.

   I panted slightly when I reached his gates, my breath looked like smoke and the snow crunched crisply under my feet. Kim was already outside, his face lit up when he saw me.

   "So, you came", he said, the corners of his lips twisting into a shy smile.

   "Apparently." I took a deep breath, hands on my knees. "I like to prove people wrong."

   Kim did not answer, he merely shrugged and looked up into the sky. Silently we waited, the wind biting our faces. I shivered.

   "Where are your parents?" I asked, breaking the silence. I hated silence. Silence is empty. Kim startled. He seemed to like silence.

   "Away", he said. "They are always gone at Christmas Eve."

   Then he fell quiet. I couldn't think of what to say. My parents and sisters had not wanted me to go out, even if I said it was only for a short time. The waiting silence returned, and this time, I did not dare to break it. After a moment, however, the church's bell chimed six, and Kim suddenly tilted his head, rather like a dog, as though he had heard something.

   "Listen", he said, staring into the night. I listened, but could hear nothing.

   "Listen to what?"

   "Father Christmas' sleigh bells. He's coming."

   I frowned at him. "I don't hear anything but the wind."

   He shook his head. "You have to listen. Really listen."

   I listened, but could not hear any sleigh bells, or a car door for that matter. It was dead silence.

   "The sound is getting stronger", Kim said, an intense gleam in his eyes. "Listen!"

   I listened. I listened so hard I thought I heard the faintest chime of bells. I frowned and listened even more. The bells were coming nearer.

   "There!" Kim pointed up in the sky, behind the church tower. I gasped. A sleigh flow in the air, dragged by reindeers. I stared in bewilderment as they landed and the coachman climbed out. He was a huge man, thickset, with a long and wavy white beard. Gentle eyes twinkled merrily behind the glasses on his big nose, a kind smile almost hidden behind the beard. He was dressed in a red cap and coat with a belt that nearly dug into his vast belly. He gave me a merry wink when he reached us.

   "Father Christmas", I whispered, rather faintly, and he chuckled.

   "That's me! And you are Liza."

   I nodded, mute, and Father Christmas turned to Kim. They hugged.

   "Kim, my old friend! How are you?"

   "Never better", said Kim, beaming, "the best time is now."

   Father Christmas laughed. "You are so right, and I have a gift to you, something for your role-playing."

   It was a red Father Christmas-dress. Kim laughed and putted it in front of him, as Father Christmas turned to me. I suppose he caught me rolling my eyes.

   "You don't like role-playing, Liza? Kim does, and that's all that matter." I blushed. "I'm giving a gift to you too, and a piece of advise. Believe; believe in yourself and in other people. Who knows, they can have right in their beliefs." My colour darkened, as he gave me a small parcel. Inside was a necklace, with the word Believe carved in.

   "Believe", I said. "Why just believe? I want proof."

   I looked up to Father Christmas, but he was gone.

   "Where is he?" I said, looking around. Kim shrugged.

   "It's Christmas Eve, so I suppose he's busy", he said. "So, you have just seen Father Christmas. Do you believe in him now?"

   "I suppose...", I hesitated, but could not find the right words. "When did you meet him? For the first time?"

   Kim shrugged. "I was eight. My parents had left me home for Christmas for a friend's party. He came and gave me a hug, and told me I wasn't alone - he was there. And he always says to me to do what I want to do, without caring for other people's opinion."

   "Like mine?"

   He nodded, a faint smile played on his lips. It was actually quite nice lips. "You don't believe in anything, do you?"

   "I believe in hard work. What do you believe in?"

   "You."

   Our eyes met, really met, for the first time. A shiver went down my spine and I breathed faster.

   "Me?" I tried to sound casual. Don't know if I managed that "Why me?"

   "Because you need it." His smile widened. "You don't believe in anything."

   "Oh, should I believe in you, then?" I looked away and crossed my arms.

   "No need for that", he said, softly. "I have everything I need and want. So, what are you doing now?"

   I looked down at the necklace, and then up in the sky. Was it my imagination, or could I hear Father Christmas' warm chuckle? I smiled at Kim.

   "I'll believe."

Trying to get some criticism from a friend. Dunno how constructive...

Well, I'm tired as hell right now, so this will be a short summary of what I've been up to.

Finished my first term at college this Wednesday - we had a small party the last half of the lesson, while eating Christmas food from England and other countries and looking at some pictures the teacher had. He's very good at drawing.

Here in the family is everything normal, but I'm a bit in a hurry: have to buy Christmas gifts (do it tomorrow), have to send money home to my  family for their presents, get a library card... and still no snow, so I refuse to believe that this is December.

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas, just as the one I used to know.

Next writing project, except my big one, will be a short story. Question is, what will it be about...?

Sincerely Sara

A few days later, the prince came with a pompous entourage to their country home. Cinderella's stepsisters greeted him at the gate, and took in turn to try the glass slipper, while the prince and his fellows were served tea and excellent cakes by the lady. Cinderella had seen them come and she heard all the people's voices from downstairs. At last, when neither of the sisters had managed to get into the glass slipper and the prince had swallowed his last éclair, she saw the prince and his entourage begin to depart from the house. After making sure that neither her stepmother nor her stepsisters were nearby, Cinderella slipped swiftly down the tree and came running after the prince.

   "Your Highness, wait!" she said, out of breath, when she reached the group just outside the gates. She was dressed in her best dress, and had combed her hair very carefully. After all, she was the soon-to-be queen and she had to be neat and beautiful.

   The prince lit up when he saw her. "It's you!" he exclaimed, and climbed down his horse. He made a gesture to the fat fellow that was keeping the glass slipper, who gave it to her after a stunned moment. It fitted perfectly on Cinderella.

   "This is her!" The prince was jubilant. "The one I am going to marry. But of course", he looked at Cinderella, "only if you want to marry me."

   "To marry you is my only wish, Your Highness", said Cinderella with a deep courtesy, to the cheers of the entourage. The prince did not say anything, but bowed his head over hers and kissed her.

Her stepfamily was, of course, surprised by this turn of events, and not a small portion sceptical, but the wedding between the prince and Cinderella came very quickly, after less than a week. All in all, they were happy to see her disappear, but slightly worried how she would be as the consort of the prince.

   They did not need to worry for too long. Cinderella settled down nicely as a princess at the beginning, but quite soon her position grow too large for her. She was demanding to the point that she regarded the servants as her personal slaves, rude to nobility and important guests, she shouted at the prince and did not mind the orders the king gave her. The charm she had once had over the prince was since long gone, and after less than a year of all this, he decided on a divorce. Cinderella got her own house at the country side, and had after a while no one who wanted to serve her, and she lived nearly completely alone.

   Her stepmother and her daughters moved to the seaside, where they found a lovely house in a wonderful little town. They got friends immediately, and soon even young men who courted them. Both sisters got happy marriages.

   The prince got a new wife, and people said she was a blessing after the horrible first one, sweet and gently. He had wanted to meet up with lady Fiona again, the young lady he had befriended at the ball, but he was most disappointed when he heard that she had married another man, with whom she lived happily even after.

Alright, so I have nothing else to do... but I hope my readers will be pleased

At the ball, the prince was for once not surrounded by hopeful girls, but had found the company of a young lady called Fiona, whom he had a nice chat with behind a pillar in the dancing hall. Fiona was a pleasant-looking girl, with a gentle, happy smile and twinkling eyes, and if she was a bit stout, nobody cared about that. The prince though he had found his future consort, when he noticed a stunning latecomer, in a dazzling silvery dress and golden locks, with a regal composure and haughty features - Cinderella.

   The prince excused himself for lady Fiona, and went to have a closer look at the unknown girl. Cinderella recognised him and spread her skirts out in a deep courtesy. The prince made a bow and they began to dance.

   They danced for most of the time, and when they were not dancing, Cinderella was flirting charmingly with him. The poor prince was enchanted by her, and did not leave her side the whole evening. Lady Fiona, the forgotten young girl, did not grieve the absence of the prince, but chatted happily with a young nobleman.

   As the evening passed to night, Cinderella kept looking repeatedly at the great clock over the chapel nearby, counting the valuable minutes to twelve. The prince did not notice, but continued to talk and dance with her. He was dreaming about a live with the stunning young lady, when he realised that he did not even know her name.

   "My dearest love", he said. "You haven't been presented for me, have you? I can't for my life, I most ashamed have to admit, remember your name."

   Cinderella was about to answer when she took a look at the big clock, and it began to chime - the first of the twelve strikes. Cinderella hurriedly gathered her skirts and with a quick "I have to go!" she disappeared from the stunned prince, who stood frozen for a moment and then began to run after her.

   "Hey! Wait! Wait, dear - please..."

   Cinderella ran down the front steps, when she tumbled and lost one of her glass slippers. The prince was closing in, so she could not pick it up, and there was the carriage coming. Quite ungraceful, Cinderella managed to tumble into the carriage and close the door in front of the prince - he was not about to see her in her normal clothes - and the carriage took her away quickly.

   The last strike of twelve was heard a bit outside the castle, and the carriage transformed into a pumpkin, and the rest back to the dog and the mice. Cinderella's rather muddy dress went back into place, and she quickly hid behind a tree in a public garden. From her hideout, she saw the prince leading a searching party, but fortunately, he never saw her. She slowly limped back home, daydreaming about being a queen and ruling the country.

Cinderella heard her stepfamily's carriage depart through the gates, and she went slowly down into the garden. She sat down at the tree trunk and sopped heartily in her hands. At a sudden, chiming noise, however, she looked up and turned around. Behind her was a beautiful woman, dressed in white and with a silver glow emitting around her. Cinderella stared, with a sudden rush of hope.

   "Godmother!" she exclaimed, jumping up. "Can you make me to the ball? I‘ve been told you shall do whatever I wish for."

   "That is why I am here, my dear", said the fairy godmother, with a slight frown. "But I hear you have been thrown out - would it not be better to make some arrangements of that, instead? You have only one wish, you know."

   Cinderella brushed that comment away, unworried. "I want a very beautiful gown in pure silver and silver beads around the neck and sleeves. And glass slippers - can you fix that? I really want glass slippers."

   The fairy's frown increased. "Simple, my dear, but you really should..."

   Cinderella interrupted her: "That's my wish, godmother, that I will go to the ball in a silver gown and glass slippers."

   "As you wish", said her godmother reluctantly. "Hmm, as means of transport..." She waved her wand over a pumpkin, transforming it into a carriage. A dog became a golden horse, and two mice became coachman and valet. "And for you..." A wave over Cinderella gave her a spectacular silvery gown and a pair of pristine-looking but strong glass slippers. Cinderella gasped in admiration. "Now, my dear, you are ready."

  Cinderella was helped up in the carriage by the mouse-valet, and seated elegantly. Her godmother gave her a last warning.

   "You have to return before twelve, my child, before the spell will be broken."

   "Don't worry", Cinderella said, and the carriage began do move. "Good bye!"

   The fairy followed the carriage with her gaze, and shook her head. "Not even a thank you", she muttered.