10 Magic of Christmas
Carina snuggled up in front of the roaring fire in her lounge room. The wind whistled around the side of her log cabin. Snow covered every inch of the landscape. No leaves dangled from the branches of the trees. Ghostly sounds echoed around the house as the wind tried to enter the log cabin. The howl of the wolves echoed on the wind as they called to their mates. Snow piled by the side of the log cabin where the wind had blown it. There would be no escape from the mountain valley until the snow had thawed except by dog sled, or snow mobile. Carina did not want to escape. She had come to the log cabin to escape from all the happy people who were waiting for Christmas to come. For Carina Christmas had been a time of sorrow. Sorrow to great she had not been able to over come the tragedy of losing her beloved husband and six month old son one Christmas Day. A time of joy turned to a time of sorrow.
The family were on their way to celebrate Christmas at the home of Carina's parents. During the night there had been a heavy snow storm which had covered the roads with inches of snow. Snow ploughs had been out early to clear the roads before the travellers began to drive to their destinations. The storm had passed to bring in the new day with bright sunshine which dazzled on the white landscape. Snow melted to make the roads slippery. Car tires had very little traction on the icy wet roads.
Carina, David and Simon set out early to drive at a save speed so they would safely reach their destination. The car packed with presents for all the family members who would be there for the special Christmas dinner. Clothes were packed so as to stay and not have to travel back the same day. The weather bureau were predicting another night of stormy conditions.
David stopped at the intersection where he had to make a right turn to look for traffic before going out on to the busy highway. A semi was coming toward them. A car with a driver who had no snow experience jammed on his breaks at the last minute when he spotted the car stopped at the intersection. The brakes of the car locked as it barrelled into the back of the car pushing it into the path of the oncoming semi. There was no hope of the semi driver stopping in time. He swerved but the three vehicles became a tangled mess where they came to rest in the snow bank beside the highway. David and Simon were killed. Carina suffered with a broken leg and a few other injuries which kept her in hospital for weeks.
Depression set in because she could not leave the hospital to say her final good bye to her husband and young son. When Carina finally had her health back she resigned from her job as a kindergarten teacher because she could not face looking after small children. She kept herself away from families. Most of her life she had wanted to be a writer to be able to work from home and take care of her family. Selling her family home Carina went to do a course and started with freelance writing. With this job she could move at will and would not have to stay too long in one place to wish she was part of a happy family.
One day as Carina drove through the countryside she found the log cabin which seemed to beckon her to stop. The for sale sign looked as through it had been there a long time because it was old and on a lean. Or it could have been discarded once the log cabin had been sold. Continuing on to the town Carina went in search of the real estate agent who? name had been printed on the sign.
“Could you tell me if the log cabin is still for sale? The one out on Logan Road?”Carina asked the girl in the office.
“Logan Road? I didn't know we had a place for sale out there. I'll have a look on the books.” The girl went to the filing cabinet to look for the file. Her fingers came across a green folder. They never used green folders. Taking the file out she opened the folder to read as she moved back to the counter with a deep frown of puzzlement on her face.
“Don't tell me the log cabin has been sold?Carina had fallen in love with the building on sight. She had this huge craving to live there. The house calling to her.
“You wouldn't be Carina Briggs would you?”
“How did you know? I've never been in this town before.” The girl placed the folder on the counter for Carina to read. “This explains you should go over the road to Page Summers. There you will be able to collect the key to be able to move into the log cabin. It seems you are the owner.”
“That can't be.”Carina looked at the words written on the folder in disbelief. “Then where do I find this person?”
“You cross the street and go right to you come to a green building which has Page's name on the window. Page should be in her office this time of the day.”
“Thank you.” Carina left the real estate office. Crossed the street in a daze as she made her way along the street to find Page Summers.
On entering the office Carina told her story and Page went in search to return with the same kind of look as the last girl with a green folder in her hand. I don't understand, said Page. I've never seen this folder in my files. I go in the cabinet lots of times and have never seen it before now. Page opened the folder to read the contents and found a key stuck to the inside of the folder. Did you say you were Carina Briggs?”
“Yes. I get this feeling everyone knows me. As though I have been expected.” Carina felt as thought she had been invited to the Mad Hatter's party.
Carina was given the key after she had signed the paper to say she had taken it. Leaving the office she went back to her car to go back to have a look at the log cabin. Driving past the food store the Carina had this idea she was meant to enter the store to buy some food. On arriving at the counter there were a few boxes of food beside the counter. Before she could tell the owner what she had come to buy,” he said, 'Where's your car? I'll carry all the boxes for you. Nice to finally get to met you Carina.”
“Excuse me? How did you know who I am?
“The nose knows,” replied the man pointing to his nose with his finger. I don't ask questions. I just know. The owner rushed around the counter to take the boxes of food to Carina's car.
Carina shook her head as she drove the car. A shiver ran down her spine. These people were freaking her out. Someone was guiding her life at the moment. Pushing her in the direction of the log cabin.
Opening the door of the log cabin Carina expected to find the surface of the cupboards and floor covered in years of dust. Spider webs hanging from the ceiling. Unwanted animals roaming through the cottage. She expected she would have to work for days to get it clean enough to live in. Clean! Everything was sparkling clean. Not a speck of dust or cobweb to be seen. Carina collapsed into the nearest chair until the shock had past enough for her to stand. Carina began to move her things into the log cabin from her car.
When Carina woke early the next morning Carina had been compelled to get out her computer to write. He fingers flew across the keys and the story of her dreams flowed to the screen until hunger made her stop. A walk in the fresh air to take some of the stiffness from her shoulders from sitting at the computer for so long. Carina worked long hours not realising the festive season was on the way because she didn't have to make trips to town for food as it kept appearing on her door step.
Winter began to move in with a vengeance. Wind whistled through the trees blowing away all the leaves leaving the branches bare. Falling snow gathered on the ground and the bare branches before becoming frozen. Only the hardest of animals still roamed across the snowy landscape looking for food. Carina had to light a fire in the fire place to keep the cold from entering the walls of the log cabin. He usually long walks became shorter because of the cold. The chill seemed to reach through her body to the bones.
This year she would not have to see all the happy faces of the people as they merrily went about their shopping for the coming festive season. Would not have to hear all the Christmas songs while shopping or on the radio. Would not have to listen to people shouting Christmas greetings. Carina would be able to concentrate on other things. There would not be reminders at every turn of the family she had lost.
On Christmas eve Carina was bundled in a blanket sitting in an olden rocking chair she had found out in the shed behind the log cabin. She had dusted it off, washed it and carried in the chair to place in front of the fire place. She still worked long hours on the story which kept growing. A never ending story or an idea to keep her occupied so she would not realise Christmas was approaching.
Carina had just moved out of the chair toward the fire to bank it to keep the log cabin warm for the night when there came a sound from the front door. She stood listening for the noise to come once again. Scratching on the door followed by a bark had Carina moving slowly toward the door.
“Who's there?Carina called. The barking came again. Carina slowly opened the door to see what type of animal stood outside her door. She hoped the animal was not one of the wolves she had heard calling during the past few nights. No way would she be letting one of them in side.
There stood three huskies connected to a sled. No one was in the sled. Carina open the door further to see if the owner had stepped from the sled. The lead husky grabbed the leg of Carina's jeans wanting her to go with him. The others howled to let her know their mission was urgent.
“Okay, guys! I need to grab my coat. Carina close the door to keep out the cold as she hurried to put on another jumper and her jacket. Pulled on a thicker pair of out door pants over her jeans. Two pairs of socks on her feet before she shoved them into her boots. Put a wool hat on her head and slipped her hand into fur lined leather gloves. She grabbed a couple of blankets on her way to the door. She may need them to keep her warm as she travelled in the sled. Or she may need them to wrap someone in if they were out in the snow hurt.
The huskies had moved back from the door ready to take off once Carina stepped into the sled. She had just seated herself when the lead husky turned to the front barked to let the other two know it was time to move out. Carina held on to the sides of the sled so she would not fall out. It had been many years since she had been on a sled. There was no need for them where the weather was warm and sunny most of the year. She was a bit worried what she would find when the huskies had taken her to their destination. They knew where they were headed. The lead husky never hesitated in what direction he should take.