| "A Christmas Frozen in Time" It was so very cold that her hands and feet were turning blue. Ginny had run from her house with her Mother's slippers on and they were so big, she had literally run out of them. Her gloves didn't help, the fabric was unraveling. She didn't own a hat for her exposed head with the golden tresses of hair. Snowflakes adorned her crown of beauty and long eyelashes. She stood outside a window and there was a family eating Christmas dinner, the steam was rising from the cooked goose. She could smell the aroma of wondrous food; the creamed potatoes, vegetables and plum pudding. There was Mother with her pearls, and Dad was cutting the goose with a smile, nodding as he counted the number of children eating. The stockings hung by the inviting fire, the candles gave it all a heavenly glow, and many brightly wrapped gifts were under the lovely tree. Ginny had matches to sell, and if they weren't sold by morning, her stepfather would beat her. She struck another forbidden match to warm herself. The match transported her into the house with the family. As soon it burnt out, the image faded away so, she struck another. She could taste the food, from her place above the family, where ordinary people couldn't see her. All of Ginny's dreams were coming true that night. She didn't need a tomorrow. The blessing of a wholesome family and her part in it came from her dreams. A message to her angel�s ear and then to God Almighty. She struck her last match. There stood her Grandmother, radiant in a flowing golden gown. She had died a month before and Ginny missed her so much. Grandma put out her arms and Ginny walked into the light and love of forever. In the morning, Ginny's frozen body was found in a dirty ally. She had a full box of matches and the cop wondered why she had not used them to keep warm. "One more Jane Doe," the cop shook his head in sadness; another of the panhandling frozen dead they collected every week. By Kathie Stehr 2002 |
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