The Magic Start!

And today we continue The Magic End!

The Magic Start!

Tom’s hair is that of Einstein and with a few well placed licks on his hand he straightens them across his head. The wrinkles of the blanket leaving folds in his cheeks has ever one laughing at him. 

“Morning to you to Tom. You must have been tired sitting here all that time.” 

-“Yeah but why are you not sleeping?” Cheeks turning a brighter red, the colour difference of the creases of that pale skin drawing a map. 

“Thank you dear Tom for being so caring and concerned, and sorry I slept so much before.” 

-“Now, now, no need for a fight it is almost new year and we got a surprise for you. After being here for some time, Theresa and I could not help over hear your stories Tom. And we felt we wanted to do something to bring it all together this magic night.” Theresa slides open the window, to show a view of a perfect dark blue sky with not a cloud in sight. The pale silver moon almost full painted right in the middle of this dark canvas. 

I place the tray on de side table and give each a glass. “I know we are not allowed, except for you Tom, but here is a little something to toast with.” 

From outside screams come roaring up. People out in the streets from the houses that surrounds us are counting down. 5,…4… 3… 2… 1… HAPPY NEW YEAR. As soon as the words echo in the night so do the whistling arrows that burst into different colours, lighting up the sky. In between hugs kisses and new year wishes we watch mesmerized out the window as sparkles of gold and silver slowly fade. Though there is no time to be fooling around for to long, We still are at work and I bump into Theresa. 

Together we stand at the end of the bed holding the tray of pastries. “Claire and Tom after hearing your stories we wanted the whole family to be together in some way. You have overcome so much and as if a fairy tale you had a baby girl being born while fighting for you life. Tom himself much of a wreck held his head up proud telling his stories to little Noelle. Not a day went by without Tom being here by your side. Magic has happened and even tonight for the first time you held you daughter Clare.” Tears start flowing as I am starting to get lost for words. Not a tear is shed of sorrow or sadness, t is all happiness and jy that warms my heart and soul. 

Theresa continues best she can as she to was crying. “Only once every few years are we witness of something great and this time it is you here on Christmas and now on New Years Eve. Giving hope and sharing love. In everyway you can. his is for you from us and those on dayshift. We celebrate a new year with family.” 

Her hand reaches out and shows the pastries to Claire and Tom, an envelope proudly standing in the middle. Tears stream down creating tiny waterfalls on each of our cheeks when Tom puts the tray down on Claire’s lap. 

“Where,? How? You shouldn’t have. And what is this?” 

-“Dear Claire and Tom, 

Congratulations with the birth of a beautiful baby girl. I heard you called her Noelle, because of Christmas and that Tom is taking good care of her while you rest, so you to can get back on your feet. 

When this Lady came to my shop and told me her idea, I could not help but cry. The meaning of bringing family together to start a new year. She heard the stories from Tom of which I am sure you told him. I was There when it happened. Saw the whole thing unfold before my very eyes. I am so sorry that we were to late to help your children. It was then I decided to make he sprinkled cupcakes and strawberry puff cakes. 

Your appreciation was shown whenever you would stop by.B ut even more joy was brought to the fact you would share them with those unfortunate orphans. Adopting them in some way. Until that day you met Tom. 

It took you some time Tom before you finally ventured in and greeted her. Yes I did see you walk pass the window many times taking a peek inside and walk away with a twinkle and that dimpled smile. Who would have thought that a big man like you could be so timid and shy. 

Seeing you two come in together after that day in the park where the pigeons were the lucky ones to get fed some crumbles. Just made my day, everyday again. The two of you shine so brightly and I hope for many more years to come.  

So thank Jessica for bringing you all together, and just in case I just use a little more sprinkles on the those delicious pastries. Enjoy them as I put them together just for you. 

Happy new year to all of you and may you forever spread the magic called love with that lovely smile of yours. 

Love Sue xx” 

It was the end of the card and tears would not stop falling. All four of us were crying like little children who just got there wish granted. Each of held a cupcake up and made a wish for this upcoming year, before sinking our teeth in and take a bite. 

“Thank you Jessica, Theresa and thank you Sue where ever you are for bringing us together on this occasion. Me an Tom will do our best. May all our wishes come true.” 

The night may have been young but Claire was tired and Tom sat speechless with his red eyes in his chair. We said good night and went back to work. Filled with a  warm fuzzy feeling as if magic has touched our hearts. Never did we forget those two who changed our live and helped us realise why we do what we do. Why we love helping those who need that little help we can give. 

The End or is it?

©Ranting Crow2014-2015

Best wishes for 2015 May you have enjoyed this little piece of writing.
Ranting Crow

The Magic Ending!

Remember the Christmas story? Just a small follow up. Because I love writing and a little magic can go a long way.

The Magic Ending!

Night shift at the hospital this new years eve. I will be watching over Claire and her new born who had been in a small accident. Her love Tom sit quietly with her hand in his with a soft and gentle touch. I over heard him tell the baby girl the stories of how he met her mother. The cupcakes and pastries that were left at the table or in a kitchen. I used to smile when he spoke of himself buying a pastries just to meet her. All for a smile on a monotone day.  

His tears rolled across his cheek broken by lips curled up in a smile. But the one story that hit me most was how he lost his wife precisely one year after Claire had a loss. How two lives got so connected through a day filled with the ominous death of a love one. 

When changing her bandages I kept looking away, crying at the sadness of his story. tales of half brother and sister from another father, who loved eating cupcakes with coloured sprinkles. Now but loving memories when feeding the pastries to the doves.. Heartfelt he would tell her the history of her parents. 

And in the corner of my blurry tear filled eyes I could see Claire smile en let a tear fall on her pillow. A quick draw of handkerchief and she would fall asleep again. Her body must be tired, all battered up and trying to heal itself.  

Shift just getting started and I am waiting for the clock to hit 12 together with my colleagues. A tiny little bottle of champagne awaits us if only for a sip. but the heart is running wild, beating in my throat with an nervous twitch. holding back the tears and still  have smiles thinking about the story, the smile and bakery’s wife. Doing my rounds I have their room for last. 

An open door suggest she is sleeping but as I come closer I stop and lean against the doorway. There on the bed sitting up after a long time is Claire holding her baby and smiling. Tom stuttering as he is being told how to behave and what to do. Just like the small moments she would talk. Knowing exactly what words he needed to have him smile and feel in love again. The hand on my shoulder gently pats me, Yeah I was a bit early. 

Theresa smiles and leaves with a whisper, “You do have enough cupcakes right? 

-“Oh my god you looked in the box didn’t?” My outburst has everyone in the room look at me. With a strange starer wondering what I was talking about. But Tom isn’t quiet for long. 

“She came to, she’s awake. Holding her little girl. Happy new year Jessica.” His eyes shine brighter than a sky full of stars above a blushing pair of cheeks all rounded from a smile. My shift is one to start with such great news it promises the new year to be even better. “Happy new year Tom, Claire and little Noelle. Don’t go anywhere I got a surprise for you” 

“We’re not going anywhere soon.”

With a smile I turn way and let a tear run down. The year is ending with a baby girl born on the day they lost so much. and now here at the start of a new year they are together and smiling as a family. 

Hours pass and with the clock almost striking 12, me and Theresa head over to Claire’s room where Tom has fell asleep beside her. Sitting in his chair his head fallen over against her hips. In my hand a tray with seven cupcakes accompanied by a card from Sue. 4 glasses with but a drop of champagne to have a toast. 

“Wake up, straighten yourself up.” Claire throws his head in the air from underneath the blanket. “We got company.” 

-“what, who, Jesus… Claire” 

“No not Jesus silly, the nurses.”

The Witch’s Vial!

The Witch’s Vial!

“Dude! Do you know what we can do with this?” Danny points at a blue transparent vial, holding a strange liquid that gives off a purple sheen. “Come one, we should use this man!”

Before Danny could grab the small bottle, Zach intercepts it by snatching it away from the table. “Oh come one, what the fuck is that for huh?”

Zachery looks a bit annoyed at Danny with his arms thrown up in the air and letting them drop down beside him. Leaning back over the back rest of the chair he raises his head back up from behind. “What is your problem anyways, don’t tell me you are going to be screwing me over again, being all sensible and stuff. I may not be as smart as you but I got way more fun.” Eyes widened he leans in with a little devilish smile making him look even more like the rascal he is.

Zach places the vial back on the table and puts a hand in his pocket. “Danny I know, okay I am boring compared to you. Did you read that piece of paper that came with it? Come across that small corner that was missing, or did you not see that” Grabbing the note from his jeans and slamming it in front of Danny.

“So what Zach. Use this vial to dispose of all evil … in the world.” He was holding out the unfolded piece of paper next to his face. His trembling finger gliding across the beautiful calligraphic font stating those exact words he spoke of with the rip after the word evil.

Zachery is drinking from his glass of water. Ice cubes thrown around by the tilting glass make the glass tinkle.

“Look bro, don’t you want to get rid of all evil? Take a chance for crying out loud. I would not mind seeing my old man go, with his drunken arse; I am done with his beatings all the time. So what you say.”

“I do not know Danny, okay. For one I do not want to lose you as a friend. You are the only one who ever talked to me. So what if that evil they talk to is theft huh. What if that grave we robbed makes us evil?” Zach looks frustrated and confused; his tears are barely staying on the edge of his eyelids.

Danny starts laughing and leans back over the chair again. “God yeah, It wasn’t smart accepting that bet That was way creepy digging up that witch’s grave. Remember that vial laying there inside that silver skull. Fuck men I even wet my pants. We ran like a bunch of pussies when the damn hand rose up through her casket soon as we grab hold of it.”

“Yeah screaming like little girls we did” Even Zach now has a smile on his face “That was the scariest shit we ever done”

-“We already won the bet Zach, what do you say? Let us do this bro? As you said we already have an Oscar performance for best Horror flick?” Danny holds up his glass for a toast. “Put it there buddy.”

What will Zach be doing? Magic can be a dangerous thing.

©Ranting Crow2014

Hope you once again enjoyed one of my writings. Leave me a thought or even some critique, it will all be appreciated. This short story was brought to you by the Crow, after an idea brought to you by a prompt from Tipsy Lit. You can read all about this weeks prompt HERE. There is still time for you to join in on the fun, Friday is the link up. Come back to Tipsy Lit then to read more amazing entries. You will not be disappointed.

Best Wishes
Ranting Crow

Sheppard’s Magic Heart!

Yeah it is Wednesday, the day after the ImPromptTuesday challenge on A girl who writes. Now as you can read yourself she plants those challenges on her blog on a Tuesday. But since I post one post and one thought a day it had to wait to be posted today. So here is my story with out further ado. Hope you enjoy the read.

Sheppard’s Magic Heart

This story begins in a city of bones.

A city created after raging wars between the law and lawless. In this stinking little town hidden away from a world as we know it, on an island in the pacific. Here lives a lady as a single mother of a little girl, age 9. Cornelia was brought here 11 years ago in a time of a truce by a pirate only known by the name of Captain Sheppard. Though his name is well known nobody really knows anything about his past or where he has been for the past 10 years. Cornelia gave birth shortly after he went out on a meeting to prolong the truce, so they could live happily ever after.

Knowing she was pregnant he left a necklace with a large red ruby shaped in a heart surrounded by sparkling diamonds laid in a golden frame. A beautiful piece Cornelia is wearing with pride. On the floor her little girl, Christine is playing with her dolls. Playing house.

“Mommy?” Christine looks up at her mother, “Who is daddy, I am playing house but do not know his name?”

Mum is shocked and holds on to her necklace thinking quick about what to say.
“Your daddy’s name, well he was always called Captain Sheppard.”

“Was he a pirate mommy?” Christine has a sparkle in her eyes when asking this question.

“yes, yes h was, he told me he has a treasure somewhere to.” Cornelia is confused, she knows so little of this man who took her with him. She got pregnant of the me she DOES love. But what can she tell her little girl. It is true he said he has a treasure, but that is all she knows. What else can she tell her daughter who is so happy to hear her daddy is a pirate. Will she stop at this like she used to just happy or is she going to go on. Cornelia starts sweating, hoping her daughter will leave it at that.

“Mommy, do you know where daddy hid the treasure, can we go look for it”

In an instant Cornelia thought up a perfect answer: “But sweetie, you are his treasure and you are right here.”

Christine thinks hard and looks up at her mommy with great round eyes; “But mommy I am not buried like a real treasure.”

The conversation is rudely stopped by a loud bang on the other side of town. Cornelia and Christine look out the window and see a large black puff of smoke reach for the skies. Another loud bang, this time closer. Erupts in a cloud of flames. A house down the street is burning. It is the bakery of Mr. Grinder. Without hesitation Cornelia picks up her daughter and runs to the bedroom. Slamming clothes for her and her daughter on the bed and making a knot with the corners. She picks up the big ball of cotton and grabs Christine by hr arm

We got to go Christine, we need to escape now, they are coming for us.
“Mommy you are hurting me” Christine cries while being pulled on her arm.

“I am sorry baby but we need to go, stay close to me okay.” Cornelia says calmer this time squatting in front of her little girl. “Will you do that for me” Holding the shoulders of Christine.

Christine nods and runs after her mum through the small streets and over the jetty to a small boat. Cornelia ges in the boat and ask for Christine to jump in as well. A whistle is heard and a boat close by the two ladies explodes. They need to hurry. The town is covered in black smoke from the flames burning the houses to ashes. Who would do such a thing. What are they after. It was a safe haven. We were so well hidden before, never did we have trouble.

Lots of thoughts go through the mind of Cornelia as she helps her sweetheart in the boat and starts rowing to a near by cave. A man made cave carved out of the mountain. It was told to her if anything ever happened she had to escape through that cave. Behind her the explosions keep on going after the whistling canon balls. A wave of water created by a shot that landed behind her speeds her up into the cave. The water fountain created making them wet in the process. Cornelia rows with all her might to keep her daughter safe.

Christine is surprisingly calm. Just having a single tear from her eyes rolling down her cheeks all black from the swipes with her moldy hands from the wood of the docks.
“Mommy, will we be okay?” she asks with a trembling voice. She is barely holding it together.

“We are safe now Christine, this cave is dug by captain Sheppard after all for us both.” Cornelia smiles and holds her sweetheart to her chest.

“Okay mommy” Christine letting out a soft sigh and closes her eyes. A tear rolls down and falls on the heart shaped ruby. That starts to shine an fiery red glow, lighting up the cave.
Both women look up surprised at the walls and ceiling. Where a line of yellow starts showing as if fireflies are lined up. Up ahead the cave splits up but the yellow line only enters one.

Could this be the way to out, or the treasure. Cornelia is unsure but goes with the yellow line. She is might have heard about it but in the years may have forgotten anything Sheppard has said. Like his life it is a mystery.

-“So this is how far we go for today boys, it is bed time now. So let us close the eyes and go of to a world of dreams.”

“Mommy, mommy, is the necklace you are wearing the one from the story, it has a heart”

“Now, boys, it is indeed my mothers’ necklace, but you will hear about that next time, okay.”

“Okay mommy, good night mommy” the two boys say to their dearest mommy with a smile on their faces they roll under their quilts.

-“Sweet dream, my little pirates” Christine kisses her boys and turns out the lights keeping the door slightly open after one final look and a smile of accomplishment.

The End?

©Ranting Crow 2013

Wow still had 7 minutes to spare. Whoohoo. I done it. Made it in an hour this time around, so pleased with that.
It is still an open story. The options are endless and feel like fun, who knows, I might pick it up to extent or build a story around it. I do believe it is worth it.
So share your thoughts, critique and/or comments.

Tomorrow is another day for a new chapter of ‘Cursed Diary’, So stay tuned, tension rising, will we reach the end?

Best wishes
Ranting Crow