Jacqueline could not sleep for tomorrow was Thanksgiving day and with that she would once more, maybe for the last time, meet her Grandparents.
She had not often as of late seen them. For they lived in Paris. Paris the city of love and lights. Jacqueline does not remember the many sunny summer days spent at their villa by the lake.
She had been but a young child then and happening and memories seem to ever fade.
Now they were coming and she so longed for their arrival
Nana was beautiful by all counts and the lovely photographs that her father had shown her and Papa was of course as handsome as she was beautiful. They had always lived their lives in Europe, in one country or another. How they had raised her father, she would never know.
Now that she was the magic age of thirteen, they had promised to come once more to celebrate her life in Thanksgiving.
Mara and Theo were coming to see her. She wished she could magically fly away forever. Back to Paris. Away from this nothing town and nothing life. She would bring him, Will with her. That she knew for certain . Not that it was bad for them but she wanted to grow and she wanted Will to be with her.
Together they would roam Europe and see all the wonders that there were to seen. To be a part of Nana's and Papa's lives to the end.
(Written by Melanie)
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Saturday, November 18, 2006
A Christmas Letter
Dear Will,
We just decorated the Christmas tree, and I couldn't help thinking of you. Watching Tad and Ellie taking handfuls of tinsel and carefully placing clumps of them on the lowest branches of the tree reminded me of doing the same thing with you. Remember how Mom always told us to put one strand on at a time? And we couldn't manage to do that. Bless her heart, it must have just killed her to leave our clumsy clumps, but she loved us enough to do it anyway. And now I look at my tree, no tinsel at all on the top 2/3's, and huge clumps on the bottom third, and think of Mom, and think of you, and it makes me cry because I know the day will come all too soon when I'll have a perfectly decorated tree with tinsel evenly strewn over the whole thing.
The twins are really excited that you're coming for Christmas this year. They have all sorts of surprises planned for you, none of which I'm at liberty to reveal. I will only caution you to be careful when you get into bed. Tad recently learned the art of short-sheeting when he went to a slumber party at a friend's house. He's tried it on everyone in the house. But be gentle with the little guy, and yell as loudly as if you'd broken every one of your twelve toes, okay?
Michael's been working hard, as always. If he knew I were writing, he'd tell me to send you his love. He's a good man, Will. I can't believe how blessed I am, to have found someone like him. He's wonderful with the children. He spins the most fantastic yarns, and has them more than halfway convinced that they're true.
Oh, and Will, you've got to hear what he did last week! We thought it would be fun to take the children to Six Flags. Michael decided to surprise them, so we pretended that we were just going out and running errands. You remember how boring that used to be, when Mom and Dad dragged us all over town, and we had to sit in the car and wait for what seemed like hours. Well, we did run a few errands, and then Michael pretended that he was running out of gas. He didn't notice that he was right next to Six Flags, until the kids began screaming with joy, pointing out where he was. "Why, that's perfect!" he said. "I'll just pull into their parking lot, and you three can wait in the car while I walk to a gas station." You never saw two such crestfallen faces. He pulled into a parking space, rolled down the windows, and told me to keep an eye on the kids, and he'd be back just as quick as he could. He actually got out of the car and started walking away. He got maybe ten steps away, before turning around and coming back. The kids perked up as quickly as anything, and when he said, "You know, I think I have a better idea. Why don't we go to Six Flags first. I can get gas anytime," they started screaming for joy. It was a lovely day to go, not too cold, and they had artificial snow hills so Tad and Ellie got to ride on sleds. It's fun to visit Six Flags in the summer, but I think I enjoy it more when they have their Holidays in the Park in the winter.
I told Mom about it, and she told me that we should move back to Iowa, and we wouldn't have to pay to let the children play in artificial snow. Maybe someday that will happen, but it's just not in the cards right now.
I'll close this letter with one last memory. Do you remember the only time that either of us would voluntarily clean our rooms? Christmas Eve Day? Well, that's one more thing that Tad and Ellie have in common with us. I mentioned to them today that Santa Claus does room inspections when he comes down the chimney, and Ellie casually remarked that she has plenty of time, because Christmas isn't for two whole weeks, and that's forever!
See you soon, little brother.
Love,
Jacquie
(Written by Faith Stencel)
We just decorated the Christmas tree, and I couldn't help thinking of you. Watching Tad and Ellie taking handfuls of tinsel and carefully placing clumps of them on the lowest branches of the tree reminded me of doing the same thing with you. Remember how Mom always told us to put one strand on at a time? And we couldn't manage to do that. Bless her heart, it must have just killed her to leave our clumsy clumps, but she loved us enough to do it anyway. And now I look at my tree, no tinsel at all on the top 2/3's, and huge clumps on the bottom third, and think of Mom, and think of you, and it makes me cry because I know the day will come all too soon when I'll have a perfectly decorated tree with tinsel evenly strewn over the whole thing.
The twins are really excited that you're coming for Christmas this year. They have all sorts of surprises planned for you, none of which I'm at liberty to reveal. I will only caution you to be careful when you get into bed. Tad recently learned the art of short-sheeting when he went to a slumber party at a friend's house. He's tried it on everyone in the house. But be gentle with the little guy, and yell as loudly as if you'd broken every one of your twelve toes, okay?
Michael's been working hard, as always. If he knew I were writing, he'd tell me to send you his love. He's a good man, Will. I can't believe how blessed I am, to have found someone like him. He's wonderful with the children. He spins the most fantastic yarns, and has them more than halfway convinced that they're true.
Oh, and Will, you've got to hear what he did last week! We thought it would be fun to take the children to Six Flags. Michael decided to surprise them, so we pretended that we were just going out and running errands. You remember how boring that used to be, when Mom and Dad dragged us all over town, and we had to sit in the car and wait for what seemed like hours. Well, we did run a few errands, and then Michael pretended that he was running out of gas. He didn't notice that he was right next to Six Flags, until the kids began screaming with joy, pointing out where he was. "Why, that's perfect!" he said. "I'll just pull into their parking lot, and you three can wait in the car while I walk to a gas station." You never saw two such crestfallen faces. He pulled into a parking space, rolled down the windows, and told me to keep an eye on the kids, and he'd be back just as quick as he could. He actually got out of the car and started walking away. He got maybe ten steps away, before turning around and coming back. The kids perked up as quickly as anything, and when he said, "You know, I think I have a better idea. Why don't we go to Six Flags first. I can get gas anytime," they started screaming for joy. It was a lovely day to go, not too cold, and they had artificial snow hills so Tad and Ellie got to ride on sleds. It's fun to visit Six Flags in the summer, but I think I enjoy it more when they have their Holidays in the Park in the winter.
I told Mom about it, and she told me that we should move back to Iowa, and we wouldn't have to pay to let the children play in artificial snow. Maybe someday that will happen, but it's just not in the cards right now.
I'll close this letter with one last memory. Do you remember the only time that either of us would voluntarily clean our rooms? Christmas Eve Day? Well, that's one more thing that Tad and Ellie have in common with us. I mentioned to them today that Santa Claus does room inspections when he comes down the chimney, and Ellie casually remarked that she has plenty of time, because Christmas isn't for two whole weeks, and that's forever!
See you soon, little brother.
Love,
Jacquie
(Written by Faith Stencel)
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Jacquie’s Melody
So intensely she played. Her body flowing back and forth as the sound of her cello filled the warm summer's eve. Her long thin hands flew, like butterflies quickly across the vibrant strings. Each note so exquisite that it hurt the soul to hear. Even now, he could hear the echo of that sound within his mind.
Once not so long ago, on a clear summers day, Jacquie sat, bow in hand upon the lush green lawn behind her house.
So still, she might have been asleep. Silent for now, her music.
The slim girl with hair as dark as night and vivid green eyes could not remain thus for long.
Her nature had always been bright and searching. Her laughter seemed ever to sore like a rush of wind.
He watched her closely, this changeling. Waiting for Jacquie to once more lift her bow and play. Play the music he loved almost as much as she. He waited for her to play her cello again.
Moving as if in slow motion, Jacquie gently caressed her bow as the lazy summer sun played with patches of light in her hair. So deep in thought of wondrous things, her gaze never wandered. She thought as always of him. The brother so much a part of herself. Her mind drifted amid playful images of him.
He loved her for her beauty. Her skin so pale she seemed to fade in the bright summer’s sun. Her smile, her sweet, sweet smile that ever warmed his heart. He would be her champion, following her anywhere. He would keep her close forever.
Jacquie slowly lifted her bow and began to play once more. His heart swelled as the music grew intense.
She would grow as would he and face the world, Jacquie's world together.
Even now Will could see her smile and just hear the faint sound of a melody. A melody so ingrained within him that it had became a part of his soul.
(Written by Melanie)
Once not so long ago, on a clear summers day, Jacquie sat, bow in hand upon the lush green lawn behind her house.
So still, she might have been asleep. Silent for now, her music.
The slim girl with hair as dark as night and vivid green eyes could not remain thus for long.
Her nature had always been bright and searching. Her laughter seemed ever to sore like a rush of wind.
He watched her closely, this changeling. Waiting for Jacquie to once more lift her bow and play. Play the music he loved almost as much as she. He waited for her to play her cello again.
Moving as if in slow motion, Jacquie gently caressed her bow as the lazy summer sun played with patches of light in her hair. So deep in thought of wondrous things, her gaze never wandered. She thought as always of him. The brother so much a part of herself. Her mind drifted amid playful images of him.
He loved her for her beauty. Her skin so pale she seemed to fade in the bright summer’s sun. Her smile, her sweet, sweet smile that ever warmed his heart. He would be her champion, following her anywhere. He would keep her close forever.
Jacquie slowly lifted her bow and began to play once more. His heart swelled as the music grew intense.
She would grow as would he and face the world, Jacquie's world together.
Even now Will could see her smile and just hear the faint sound of a melody. A melody so ingrained within him that it had became a part of his soul.
(Written by Melanie)
Monday, October 09, 2006
My Brother Will
“I am going to tell Mom & Dad, Jacquie.”
The pretty young girl with the long, blonde curly hair turned around and looked at her younger brother. “Tell them what, Will?” She asked with a smile playing at her lips.
“I am telling that I saw you kiss Jason and that you have his ring on a chain around your neck.” The little boy with the freckled face and serious blue eyes answered back.
Tears formed in Jacquie’s eyes as she thought about that day. It seemed like only yesterday, but it had been more than twenty years ago. A lot had happened in those twenty years. She went to college, and then law school and now she was a lawyer. Her younger brother, Will was writing his second book, after his first became a huge success. She was very proud of him.
Through the years she always asked him for his advice, even though he was a few years younger. She remembered when she quit college and was bumming around and working at a secretary job. “Will, do you think I should go back to school?” Will looked at her, grinned and said. “Well, Jacquie if you want to be a secretary and get your boss’s coffee for him every morning I don’t think you should.”
“Will, I am thinking about going to law school. I don’t know if I am smart enough or if I can do it, but I want to try.”
“Of course you are going to law school, Jacquie. What else could you possibly do?” He laughed.
Then, one day she called him. “Will, hi this is Jacquie, your sister Jacquie. I want to tell you something important and I wondered if you have a minute to talk.”
“Jacquie, hi how are you doing? Of course I have a minute. What is up with you?”
She hesitated. “Well, Will I want to tell you first before I tell anyone else. Jason and I have decided to get married.’
Less than a minute passed but it seemed like eternity. She wanted Will to say it was okay. She needed to hear him say it, then she could be sure that she had made the right decision when she told Jason yes.
“Jacquie, Congratulations Sis. I am really happy for you and Jason. To tell you the truth I can’t wait to become Uncle Will.”
“Thanks, Will. That means a lot to me. Jacquie let out a sigh of relief. “Will, do you remember the time you were going to tell Mom and Dad when you caught Jason kissing me?” You never told anyone, why not?”
“Well, uh, I don’t know. I just didn’t.” Will stammered. “Okay, Okay. I better be honest here. I never told you this before but Jason gave me a dollar and made me promise not to tell anyone”
“What?” What, I don’t believe you. You made me worry for months that you were going to tell them. I will murder you when I see you. Do you hear me, Will? I will kill you.”
“I love you, too. I need to get back to work Jacquie, let me know the date and I will be there. Take Care and Jacquie?”
“Yes, Will?”
“I wouldn’t have told them anyway, sis.”
“Jacqueline Louise Wright do you take this man, Jason Lee Stapleton as your Husband?”
Jacquie looked out into the familiar faces in the church and her eyes locked with a pair of piercing blue eyes in the crowd. As she looked into his eyes she knew that everything would always be okay. “Yes, Yes I do. She smiled up at her husband.
(Written by Linda Fort-Bolton)
The pretty young girl with the long, blonde curly hair turned around and looked at her younger brother. “Tell them what, Will?” She asked with a smile playing at her lips.
“I am telling that I saw you kiss Jason and that you have his ring on a chain around your neck.” The little boy with the freckled face and serious blue eyes answered back.
Tears formed in Jacquie’s eyes as she thought about that day. It seemed like only yesterday, but it had been more than twenty years ago. A lot had happened in those twenty years. She went to college, and then law school and now she was a lawyer. Her younger brother, Will was writing his second book, after his first became a huge success. She was very proud of him.
Through the years she always asked him for his advice, even though he was a few years younger. She remembered when she quit college and was bumming around and working at a secretary job. “Will, do you think I should go back to school?” Will looked at her, grinned and said. “Well, Jacquie if you want to be a secretary and get your boss’s coffee for him every morning I don’t think you should.”
“Will, I am thinking about going to law school. I don’t know if I am smart enough or if I can do it, but I want to try.”
“Of course you are going to law school, Jacquie. What else could you possibly do?” He laughed.
Then, one day she called him. “Will, hi this is Jacquie, your sister Jacquie. I want to tell you something important and I wondered if you have a minute to talk.”
“Jacquie, hi how are you doing? Of course I have a minute. What is up with you?”
She hesitated. “Well, Will I want to tell you first before I tell anyone else. Jason and I have decided to get married.’
Less than a minute passed but it seemed like eternity. She wanted Will to say it was okay. She needed to hear him say it, then she could be sure that she had made the right decision when she told Jason yes.
“Jacquie, Congratulations Sis. I am really happy for you and Jason. To tell you the truth I can’t wait to become Uncle Will.”
“Thanks, Will. That means a lot to me. Jacquie let out a sigh of relief. “Will, do you remember the time you were going to tell Mom and Dad when you caught Jason kissing me?” You never told anyone, why not?”
“Well, uh, I don’t know. I just didn’t.” Will stammered. “Okay, Okay. I better be honest here. I never told you this before but Jason gave me a dollar and made me promise not to tell anyone”
“What?” What, I don’t believe you. You made me worry for months that you were going to tell them. I will murder you when I see you. Do you hear me, Will? I will kill you.”
“I love you, too. I need to get back to work Jacquie, let me know the date and I will be there. Take Care and Jacquie?”
“Yes, Will?”
“I wouldn’t have told them anyway, sis.”
“Jacqueline Louise Wright do you take this man, Jason Lee Stapleton as your Husband?”
Jacquie looked out into the familiar faces in the church and her eyes locked with a pair of piercing blue eyes in the crowd. As she looked into his eyes she knew that everything would always be okay. “Yes, Yes I do. She smiled up at her husband.
(Written by Linda Fort-Bolton)
The Pony
“Grandma, tell me about the good ole days,” the little girl said. She shifted around on her Grandmother’s couch in a yellow dress with a red ribbon in her hair. “You know when you were my age and you got that pony for your birthday.”
“Jacqueline Louise Wright how many times have I told you that story?” her Grandmother asked as she adjusted herself in a big easy chair so that she faced Jacqueline.
“I don’t know, Grandma maybe a million times, but it’s my birthday today.”
The old lady put down her knitting needles. “First, Jacquie you have to answer a few questions for Grandma.”
Jacqueline’s eyebrows rose. “Are they hard questions, Grandma?”
“No child. They’re easy ones.”
“Jacqueline nodded and smiled. “Okay, Grandma.”
The old lady sat and thought for a moment, twisting her mouth from side to side. “Okay, first question. How old are you?”
“I turned six today, Grandma. Don’t you know that I am six years old?”
“Yes, child I know that you are six today. Okay, here is a hard question. Are you ready?”
Jacqueline nodded eagerly.
“When were you born?”
Jacqueline rolled her eyes. “March twenty fifth nineteen sixty-two. Six years ago Grandma, don’t you know how to subtract?”
The old lady smiled. “Okay, smarty pants. What is your Mothers and Fathers name?”
“Edward and Jean, I think, but I call them Mom and Dad.”
“How many brothers and sisters do you have?”
Jacqueline counted her tiny fingers. She looked up sharply with a smile. “I have five.”
“Do you know their names?”
Jacqueline shook her head. “Of course I do, Grandma. Jean, Mae, Edward, Loren, and my baby brother Will.”
“That’s right child, and where are your Mother, Father, brothers and sisters?”
“They’re at home. It is my special day, so I got to come here to visit you, Grandma.”
“Do you like coming to visit Grandpa and me, child?”
“Yes, Grandma. I love your stories,” Jacqueline’s eyes widened. “Now, will you tell me, Grandma? Will you tell me the story of the pony?”
The old lady let out a deep sigh. “It was a long, long time ago when I was your age. My Father, you never met my father, went to heaven before you were born. He was a strong and handsome man.”
“More handsome than Daddy, Grandma?”
The old lady grinned. “Oh, I guess about the same. Anyway on my sixth birthday my Father bought me a pony. We lived out in the country where ponies were permitted, ponies are not permitted here in the city.”
“I sure wish I could have a pony. I live out in the country. Well sort of. I live close to a park. Is that good enough, Grandma?”
“No child you have to live in the country. A pony needs a place where he can run free.”
Jacqueline shifted around on the couch. “Tell me more, Grandma.”
The old ladies eyes lit up. “Oh child, this was such a beautiful pony, and he could do all kinds of tricks.”
“What kind of tricks, Grandma?”
“Well for one. He would stick his nose right down into my coat pocket and pull out the apple I had hidden in there. ”
“Gee, Grandma that was a pretty smart pony.”
“Oh that pony was smart all right. His hair felt like silk, and his eyes were bright. Did you know he could carry three children at once on his back?
“He must have been a real strong pony, Grandma.”
“I guess as far as ponies go. He was really strong.”
“Tell me his name, Grandma.”
“You know his name child.”
Jacqueline’s face lit up like a Christmas tree. “It was Magic, right Grandma? Because he could do all kinds of tricks.”
“That is right, Jacquie”
Jacqueline lowered her head. “I wish I could have a pony like Magic to ride,” she whispered.
“Jacquie, come here and sit on my lap, child.”
Jacqueline got up from the couch and moved over to the chair where her Grandmother sat, and climbed onto her lap.
“Jacquie, when Grandpa gets home. I am going to have him take you to a place where they have ponies. And you know what, child?”
“What, Grandma?”
“You are going to get to ride one of those ponies for your birthday.”
Jacqueline threw her arms around her Grandmother’s neck, and kissed her on the cheek. “Grandma, do you know something?”
“What child?”
“I love you.”
(Written by Robert Rohloff)
“Jacqueline Louise Wright how many times have I told you that story?” her Grandmother asked as she adjusted herself in a big easy chair so that she faced Jacqueline.
“I don’t know, Grandma maybe a million times, but it’s my birthday today.”
The old lady put down her knitting needles. “First, Jacquie you have to answer a few questions for Grandma.”
Jacqueline’s eyebrows rose. “Are they hard questions, Grandma?”
“No child. They’re easy ones.”
“Jacqueline nodded and smiled. “Okay, Grandma.”
The old lady sat and thought for a moment, twisting her mouth from side to side. “Okay, first question. How old are you?”
“I turned six today, Grandma. Don’t you know that I am six years old?”
“Yes, child I know that you are six today. Okay, here is a hard question. Are you ready?”
Jacqueline nodded eagerly.
“When were you born?”
Jacqueline rolled her eyes. “March twenty fifth nineteen sixty-two. Six years ago Grandma, don’t you know how to subtract?”
The old lady smiled. “Okay, smarty pants. What is your Mothers and Fathers name?”
“Edward and Jean, I think, but I call them Mom and Dad.”
“How many brothers and sisters do you have?”
Jacqueline counted her tiny fingers. She looked up sharply with a smile. “I have five.”
“Do you know their names?”
Jacqueline shook her head. “Of course I do, Grandma. Jean, Mae, Edward, Loren, and my baby brother Will.”
“That’s right child, and where are your Mother, Father, brothers and sisters?”
“They’re at home. It is my special day, so I got to come here to visit you, Grandma.”
“Do you like coming to visit Grandpa and me, child?”
“Yes, Grandma. I love your stories,” Jacqueline’s eyes widened. “Now, will you tell me, Grandma? Will you tell me the story of the pony?”
The old lady let out a deep sigh. “It was a long, long time ago when I was your age. My Father, you never met my father, went to heaven before you were born. He was a strong and handsome man.”
“More handsome than Daddy, Grandma?”
The old lady grinned. “Oh, I guess about the same. Anyway on my sixth birthday my Father bought me a pony. We lived out in the country where ponies were permitted, ponies are not permitted here in the city.”
“I sure wish I could have a pony. I live out in the country. Well sort of. I live close to a park. Is that good enough, Grandma?”
“No child you have to live in the country. A pony needs a place where he can run free.”
Jacqueline shifted around on the couch. “Tell me more, Grandma.”
The old ladies eyes lit up. “Oh child, this was such a beautiful pony, and he could do all kinds of tricks.”
“What kind of tricks, Grandma?”
“Well for one. He would stick his nose right down into my coat pocket and pull out the apple I had hidden in there. ”
“Gee, Grandma that was a pretty smart pony.”
“Oh that pony was smart all right. His hair felt like silk, and his eyes were bright. Did you know he could carry three children at once on his back?
“He must have been a real strong pony, Grandma.”
“I guess as far as ponies go. He was really strong.”
“Tell me his name, Grandma.”
“You know his name child.”
Jacqueline’s face lit up like a Christmas tree. “It was Magic, right Grandma? Because he could do all kinds of tricks.”
“That is right, Jacquie”
Jacqueline lowered her head. “I wish I could have a pony like Magic to ride,” she whispered.
“Jacquie, come here and sit on my lap, child.”
Jacqueline got up from the couch and moved over to the chair where her Grandmother sat, and climbed onto her lap.
“Jacquie, when Grandpa gets home. I am going to have him take you to a place where they have ponies. And you know what, child?”
“What, Grandma?”
“You are going to get to ride one of those ponies for your birthday.”
Jacqueline threw her arms around her Grandmother’s neck, and kissed her on the cheek. “Grandma, do you know something?”
“What child?”
“I love you.”
(Written by Robert Rohloff)
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