Cornerstone Snippet 5

Sitrep:
Sanity has temporarily left due to the holidays. But I remembered to post this in a brief moment of quiet and lucidity :

The Christmas Gift:

She went into the back when everyone was happy to check in with Wally. Wally divided up some of the food that was left. He even gave her some of the pots and utensils to take home and pawn should she need to do so. She put everything in a neat pile for later, after her shift ended.

She peeked once or twice to check on her patrons, watching old Mrs. Kringle sip at her soup. "Where will she go?" she asked, turning to Wally. "She's been coming here since we opened after the war!"

"And undoubtedly she was going to other places before. She'll figure it out. They all will," Wally said.

The phone rang, interrupting Malory before she could respond. It was the school, Pat hadn't been picked up. She scowled.

"Go. Be back," Wally said as she took off her apron. He knew, just from the look on her face she could tell. He just shook his head in resignation and looked away. She left at a trot, forgetting her jacket in her haste. She made quick work of the block and a half to school despite her pregnancy. She made her apologies to the staff when she got there. Malory was fine, sitting near the tree coloring. "I know you aren't a daycare; Don forgot I bet. He's so wrapped up in finding work," She said, covering for her husband.

"I'm sure," the secretary said with a sniff. "We're not going to go this again in the New Year, are we Mrs. Randall?" she demanded. "If this happens again, child protective services will be called."

"Not if I can help it," Malory said as she hustled Pat into her jacket and then out the door. Pat was quiet the whole way back to the diner. She took a stool when they got there and then pulled out her books to color.

Mrs. Kringle went over to her, and she smiled in delight as the child gave her a coloring. Malory caught a glimpse of it in passing, a picture of Santa in front of a tree. Pat was getting quite good, she thought as the girl started to cough and wheeze. She went over and helped the girl find her medication. The girl took a couple puffs and then sat down heavily.

Mrs. Kringle and some of the patrons looked on but then went back to their conversations.

"Do have a good holiday," Mrs. Kringle said as she put her jacket on, then her shawl. "I left a tip," she said to a weary Malory. She patted her on the arm, and then gave Pat a kiss on the cheek and hug before she made her way outside.  She got past one window before she looked up with a smile as the first flakes of snow fell, then went on.

As Malory bused the dishes, she found the cash and a note written on a napkin at Mrs. Kringle's table.

"Joy, wonder, and love, dear, hang on to those. But a person cannot exist without something else, something we all clung to during the trying time with the machines—hope. Hope is more important than many things; for without it, we lead dreary lives. Love your dreamer for who he is. I hope this helps. I already gave Wally his gift. Happy Holidays," the note said.

Malory put her hand over her mouth to stifle her sobs as her eyes sparkled at the sight of the cash. Most likely it was all the old woman had she thought anxiously. But her breath caught when she lifted the napkin and found a lotto ticket laying there.

She stared at it, then picked it up and went to toss it. Something stopped her though; she took a moment to look at it. The date didn't make sense; it was from the past drawing. Someone had won that one, five seats on a ship leaving for Proxima. She looked at the vid screen in the corner, then went over to the computer and typed in an inquiry. When she saw that the ticket was the winning one and unclaimed, her eyes went wide in shock.

She looked down to stroke her belly as her hand clenched the ticket. "I know what I'm going to name you now. Faith and Hope," she murmured softly and reverantly.

"That is, if you're a girl," she said with a laugh.

"Mommy, come look! It's snowing!" Pat said from her seat as she pointed out to the window.

Malory went over and hugged her daughter as she kissed her forehead. "I know, baby," she said, looking out to the snow as it drifted down.

"That sound … is that bells?" a patron asked, looking up with a puzzled frown

Malory and the others looked up at the sound of fading jingle bells. To her they sounded like sleigh bells. She put the precious ticket in her breast pocket. "Maybe. Right now I think anything is possible," she murmured.

The End

 

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone!