A Christmas Campfire Story
A Christmas Campfire Story
By Mayflower1 and PeterJames0510
Pg. 1
It was the night before Christmas, and candlelight glowed warmly on the snow from a wooden cabin in Colorado. An evergreen pine tree stood tall and proud nearby in the forest. It glistened with a glitter of white snow and frost. The hunter looked at the tree with his axe and decided against cutting it down.
"No one will want one so tall anyway." He mumbled. He was about 50 miles from the nearest town and hadn't been there in a month. Pretty soon, he would have to take the trip into town to sell his trees and get food and supplies. He dreaded the idea, but Christmas was the biggest time of the year.
Looking at his pickup truck, he decided he probably had enough materials. He had long ago allowed loneliness to be his friend, he had long ago realized that if he wanted to maintain both a livelihood and distance, he would need to sell his wares in town. He of course didn't really do the selling, he would just go to the local vendors and be their suppliers. So very many things; trees; fur; hunting gear or bullets he had made; food items. Of course, he still needed groceries and supplies.
Speaking of supplies, he'd better go to town now so the food items would not spoil and become unsellable. Ice only lasted for so long.
The trouble with Peter was that he had a longing hole in his heart that he allowed to be buried in the ground long ago. After the accident, he swore he would never go out on a boat again or watch anyone else go out on a boat. No, he wouldn't think about it.
Christmas eve. Rats, he thought to himself. There'd be holiday parties and people trying to get him to wear those funny red hats. As he put on his coat (the weather wasn't horribly cold), he also realized that maybe there would be vendors that were closed. It was no matter, though. There were always people doing last minute shopping. Town was only a few miles away and most of the vendors would close by noon. He could get his shopping done, hopefully with minimal interference.
Peter drove the truck forward, leaving behind his log cabin and started down the road to town. He hardly had any neighbors, though he had to always look at that ugly big cross someone put up on the side of the road. I mean, whatever happened to separation of church and state?
Coming up to a light, he stopped the truck. He looked to his left and to his right; not that anyone was coming. He quickly took out his wallet and thumbed through the pictures. One of his wife, one of his sister. He didn't have any kids ... well he would have but ...
But nothing. The light turned green and Peter decided this morning wasn't the time to lecture God on how He ruined his life. He just wanted to drop off his wares, get a few supplies, and be on his way. No one cared about him anyways; as it should be.
Peter put on the breaks; someone was walking alongside the road. Wearing darker colors. Didn't that person know any better? Could get themselves killed out here without reflectors while it was still dawn. Maybe he'd give this stranger a piece of his mind ...
Lorena sighed in relief as she saw a truck coming down the road. She knew traveling would be risky, but it was something that had to be done. The small town of Canteberry Commons was the only place her old "drug" friends didn't know about. She wanted to get away, start over with a new life. Her black coat was warm enough, and walking helped. It had been years since she had been to Canteberry Commons. What was it...10 years back? She couldn't remember how far it was. If she had any money left, she could have got gas at the last station. Even though she did not have any money left, she thought she could make it. If only she could get to town, her aunt and uncle would surely help her...she hoped they would, if they still lived there...town had to be close...
"Thank goodness." She said. "My car ran out of gas a little ways back..." She looked at the man and instantly knew who he was. A flash of his sister came to her mind. It was her best friend back then...they had never officially met though.
"Um...do you have any gas for my car? I am trying to get into town...or just a ride?"
Do you have a death wish or something?" Peter said, slowing the car but never really bringing it to a complete halt. "There's no sidewalk; only fools would walk this road. And next time, wear something a bit brighter. I almost didn't see you there."
Waiting for a moment, he slowed the car down to a complete stop and then said, "No passengers in this car for many years. My dog ain't even allowed in here. Besides, the passenger seat has food that can spoil. Maybe someone else will come by."
He felt like he should know this person; it didn't matter. She was just another traveler; he'd driven by dozens of them in the past year ... well, the ones who were brave enough to walk this road. They usually find their way ... he's not needed.
********************************************
"Am I seeing what I think I'm seeing?" Sam commented. He often talked to himself, his dog wouldn't listen to him. Guess it was difficult, he was hard of hearing. He immediately called someone he knew in Canteberry Commons ... to tell them the bad news. Unexpectedly, they were going to be hit with a snowstorm even though the previous forecast was to be clear skies. Gotta love doplar radar.
Lorena looked at the food in the passenger seat. She couldn't remember the last time she ate, and it looked really good.
"It is my only coat." Lorena said. I can't help my car running out of gas... "And you have been the only one that has come down this road...can't I ride in the trailer or something?"
For some reason Peter started looking into the distance; he got lost in thoughts, thoughts of very many people who have needs. Thoughts of his own neediness. Thoughts of his former family. Thoughts of ... no ...
He snapped himself out of it, he couldn't waste his time on the past. He looked back at the girl. He nodded his head. "I was left on the side of the road when I was much younger. Made me a better person; this is a character builder. Town is only 5 miles down the road. I'd think you'd make it by the afternoon." Plus, he wouldn't have to rearrange his inventory, especially since he really didn't have that much room.
And with that, he drove away.
A Christmas Campfire Story
By Mayflower1 and PeterJames0510
Pg. 1
It was the night before Christmas, and candlelight glowed warmly on the snow from a wooden cabin in Colorado. An evergreen pine tree stood tall and proud nearby in the forest. It glistened with a glitter of white snow and frost. The hunter looked at the tree with his axe and decided against cutting it down.
"No one will want one so tall anyway." He mumbled. He was about 50 miles from the nearest town and hadn't been there in a month. Pretty soon, he would have to take the trip into town to sell his trees and get food and supplies. He dreaded the idea, but Christmas was the biggest time of the year.
Looking at his pickup truck, he decided he probably had enough materials. He had long ago allowed loneliness to be his friend, he had long ago realized that if he wanted to maintain both a livelihood and distance, he would need to sell his wares in town. He of course didn't really do the selling, he would just go to the local vendors and be their suppliers. So very many things; trees; fur; hunting gear or bullets he had made; food items. Of course, he still needed groceries and supplies.
Speaking of supplies, he'd better go to town now so the food items would not spoil and become unsellable. Ice only lasted for so long.
The trouble with Peter was that he had a longing hole in his heart that he allowed to be buried in the ground long ago. After the accident, he swore he would never go out on a boat again or watch anyone else go out on a boat. No, he wouldn't think about it.
Christmas eve. Rats, he thought to himself. There'd be holiday parties and people trying to get him to wear those funny red hats. As he put on his coat (the weather wasn't horribly cold), he also realized that maybe there would be vendors that were closed. It was no matter, though. There were always people doing last minute shopping. Town was only a few miles away and most of the vendors would close by noon. He could get his shopping done, hopefully with minimal interference.
Peter drove the truck forward, leaving behind his log cabin and started down the road to town. He hardly had any neighbors, though he had to always look at that ugly big cross someone put up on the side of the road. I mean, whatever happened to separation of church and state?
Coming up to a light, he stopped the truck. He looked to his left and to his right; not that anyone was coming. He quickly took out his wallet and thumbed through the pictures. One of his wife, one of his sister. He didn't have any kids ... well he would have but ...
But nothing. The light turned green and Peter decided this morning wasn't the time to lecture God on how He ruined his life. He just wanted to drop off his wares, get a few supplies, and be on his way. No one cared about him anyways; as it should be.
Peter put on the breaks; someone was walking alongside the road. Wearing darker colors. Didn't that person know any better? Could get themselves killed out here without reflectors while it was still dawn. Maybe he'd give this stranger a piece of his mind ...
Lorena sighed in relief as she saw a truck coming down the road. She knew traveling would be risky, but it was something that had to be done. The small town of Canteberry Commons was the only place her old "drug" friends didn't know about. She wanted to get away, start over with a new life. Her black coat was warm enough, and walking helped. It had been years since she had been to Canteberry Commons. What was it...10 years back? She couldn't remember how far it was. If she had any money left, she could have got gas at the last station. Even though she did not have any money left, she thought she could make it. If only she could get to town, her aunt and uncle would surely help her...she hoped they would, if they still lived there...town had to be close...
"Thank goodness." She said. "My car ran out of gas a little ways back..." She looked at the man and instantly knew who he was. A flash of his sister came to her mind. It was her best friend back then...they had never officially met though.
"Um...do you have any gas for my car? I am trying to get into town...or just a ride?"
Do you have a death wish or something?" Peter said, slowing the car but never really bringing it to a complete halt. "There's no sidewalk; only fools would walk this road. And next time, wear something a bit brighter. I almost didn't see you there."
Waiting for a moment, he slowed the car down to a complete stop and then said, "No passengers in this car for many years. My dog ain't even allowed in here. Besides, the passenger seat has food that can spoil. Maybe someone else will come by."
He felt like he should know this person; it didn't matter. She was just another traveler; he'd driven by dozens of them in the past year ... well, the ones who were brave enough to walk this road. They usually find their way ... he's not needed.
********************************************
"Am I seeing what I think I'm seeing?" Sam commented. He often talked to himself, his dog wouldn't listen to him. Guess it was difficult, he was hard of hearing. He immediately called someone he knew in Canteberry Commons ... to tell them the bad news. Unexpectedly, they were going to be hit with a snowstorm even though the previous forecast was to be clear skies. Gotta love doplar radar.
Lorena looked at the food in the passenger seat. She couldn't remember the last time she ate, and it looked really good.
"It is my only coat." Lorena said. I can't help my car running out of gas... "And you have been the only one that has come down this road...can't I ride in the trailer or something?"
For some reason Peter started looking into the distance; he got lost in thoughts, thoughts of very many people who have needs. Thoughts of his own neediness. Thoughts of his former family. Thoughts of ... no ...
He snapped himself out of it, he couldn't waste his time on the past. He looked back at the girl. He nodded his head. "I was left on the side of the road when I was much younger. Made me a better person; this is a character builder. Town is only 5 miles down the road. I'd think you'd make it by the afternoon." Plus, he wouldn't have to rearrange his inventory, especially since he really didn't have that much room.
And with that, he drove away.
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