The 12 tales of Christmas season 2: Family bonding
Welcome everyone to the third story of the 12 tales of Christmas. For story number 3 we have a fellow who for transparency reasons wishes to be known as Cordell. And they’ve chosen the word Rudolph. 3 and Rudolph those are the words. Now let me show you what I can come up with as the 12 Tales of Christmas continues.
Mira Brooks pulled into the driveway of the two story house she owned with her husband Jake. The package from Amazon had arrived and everything was set. Mira checked her watch and saw that the kids weren’t home yet. Good thing this is a school day for them and a day off for me. Otherwise, I’d never be able to get away with this, she observed.
She got out of her car and started to go around to the back. Then she heard the front door to the house open. Out walked a lean looking man with a mustache. His hands were calloused like those of someone who used them a lot. Mira smiled and said flashing a sultry smile, “Here’s the perfect ending to my trip. Coming home to a handsome dude coming to meet me.”
The man who had a full head of brown hair and dressed in artist rags flashed a wry smirk. “Hey there to you too beautiful,” he greeted the blonde woman.
Mira’s husband walked up and pecked her on the lips. “How has the icy sculpture been going hon?” she asked.
Jake Carlton, Mira’s husband, flashed a warm smile. “It's coming along very well. My progress on the sculpture is ahead of schedule. I should have it done in a couple of days.”
Mira thought for a moment. “As I recall the client said she wanted it next Tuesday?”
He nodded and said, “I sent a picture to her of the progress, and she’s quite pleased about it. The sculpture will be perfect for the Christmas party she’s throwing.” The ice sculptor stated.
Mira smirked and said, “I’m so glad that things are going well with your sculpting Jake.”
He rubbed the back of his head and commented, “Truth told I couldn’t have done this without your help babe. Your idea to build the website for my services helped a lot.”
“One of the advantages of working in the tech industry handsome.”
She stated before they turned their attention to her car. "Now can you help me with something? "
She opened up the back of the car and the two saw the stuffed Rudolph figures. Before he could ask, she pointed to a nearby bag. He took it out and pulled the large box out. “So, this contains the smaller Rudolph stuffed animal and the DVD and Blu-Ray huh?” Jake asked.
“I have to give Amazon credit where it's due they came through in good time.” Mira put in.
Then a thought came over the website designer. “The question is where are we going to put this where Michelle and Hugo won’t find them.”
“Let’s get these in the house and put the car away then we can figure that out.” Mira's husband suggested.
Mira nodded her agreement to the idea. It didn’t take long to get the items into the house and put the car away. The two went into the living room and looked over the stuffed toys and the box. “I don’t think we should put them in the attic,” She noted. “We'd end up forgetting we bought them that way.”
“And the kids might get nosy enough to look in our bedroom closet if we were to put them there.” Jake added.
The blonde woman chuckled and said, “I’ll give our kids this. They may be naive but they’re not stupid. So, we’re going to need a place to put them that they won’t dare go.”
The artist's face brightened as he flashed a Cheshire cat smirk. “I know someplace we can put them.”
"What did you have in mind hon?" The Website designer asked.
“The one place the kids won’t dare go, my workshop. I have a closet there with a shelf I can reach.”
He then winked and said, “Besides that, you and I are the only ones who have the key to my workshop.”
Mira couldn’t help but chuckle at that. “That’s right,” she noted.
“That would be a great place to put them. Since you use it quite a bit there’s no chance either of us will forget. And our son and daughter know better than to go in there.”
Jake nodded his agreement. “Yep, why don ‘t we see to that right now while we’re thinking about it.”
Mira nodded and grabbed the stuffed toys while Jake grabbed the box. They headed downstairs to his workshop room. He opened it and the two walked in. Mira felt the cold air touch her exposed skin as jake turned on the light. The room was bare bones with a tiled floor, whitewashed walls, and a ceiling with one overhead light.
Before them was a large table with an ice sculpture that looked halfway done. It was a ballerina dancing. Even back in college Jake has always been good with his hands in more ways than one. She thought a quiver on her lips turning into a slight smile.
The artist noticed this and asked, “What’s on your mind babe?”
Mira said, "Not much, I’m thinking about how you’ve always been good with your hands, in more ways than one."
He chuckled and said, “Careful my love, talk like that got us our kids.”
The woman set the stuffed toys down and walked over before she wrapped her arms around her husband. “And what’s the matter with that mister Jake Brooks? Our kids have an awesome daddy!”
The artist set the package on the table. He wrapped his arms around her. “Only because I have the best wife in the world.”
The blonde woman laughed and said, “And this is another reason I married you mister!”
Then he let her go as she looked at the halfway done ballerina figure. The table looked like it had gotten wiped clean of shavings a short time ago. She nodded in approval. "As always you do great work.”
The man said, “One of the advantages of a childhood in Alaska’s cold climes. When it comes to ice sculpting I learned from the best.”
Mira chuckled and said, “And I got a big strong Alaska man as my husband and the father of my children.”
“Would you ever want anyone else?” he asked but she could tell the tone he was giving her was teasing.
“Not a chance mister.” She responded with a smile of her own.
She nodded in approval. “This figure looks very good. I can see why Karla Bakerton is going to love it when it’s done.”
Jake chuckled and said, “I hope so, for the money she’s got ready for me on completion it’ll help this family a lot.”
Then a thought came to him. “By the way babe, I have to ask how’s work on the new Nike website going?”
Mira sighed and shook her head in consternation. “We’re having some issues with the interface for the main screen of the website. I’m having one of my tech teams go through it now. Damn it, I was certain there wouldn’t be any bugs in the system!” She snapped in mild consternation.
“As any website designer should know Gremlins can get into everything.”
Mira rolled her eyes and sighed. “Yeah, that’s true.”
She then moved away from Jake’s worktable and walked over to the closet with sliding doors. She opened it and nodded her approval. “As long as it doesn’t get too cold in here it should be perfect.”
“Won’t be a problem much longer.” Jake pointed out.
He pointed to the mini freezer nearby. “Once the sculpture's done, I’ll put it in the freezer until it’s time to take it to the client.”
Mira nodded and said, “This should do very well for keeping our gifts for the kids safe until it’s time.”
“Here I’ll put those up on the shelf.” Jake said coming over to her.
He put the items on the top shelf of the closet. the woman being five feet seven smiled in relief. It’s also good to have a husband who’s taller than me.
As soon as they were on the shelf, he closed up the closet. “And that will do it,” the artist said.
Mira shook her head. “It’s too bad they’re not showing Rudolph on any of the regular TV stations anymore.”
"I know but that’s the time we’re living in. Many of these big companies think streaming is going to be the next big thing. Even though the streaming bubble’s pretty much burst.” Jake pointed out.
“And why you keep saying physical media is the way to go.” The web designer observed.
The artist nodded his agreement. “Yup, granted we have to take care of the DVDs and Blu-Rays. But it’s a small price to pay for making sure we have something we love that’s ours.”
“So when do we bring out the Rudolph video?” The artist's wife asked.
Jake thought about it for a moment. “Let’s do it tomorrow night when it's five days before Christmas. That’ll be a good time to show it to them. I know they'll love Rudolph as much as we did as kids.”
The two then left the room and closed it up. Mira asked, “Aren’t you going to finish the project?”
He nodded end answered, “Yeah I will but I’ve been at it for a while, and I needed to get out. Even artists need to get some fresh air.”
She chuckled and said, “Makes perfect sense.”
A day later Mira walked into the living room with the DVD and Blu Ray box. The player had already been set up in front of the flat screen television set. A blonde boy of 8 years and a girl with dark blonde hair of 6 years sat at their chairs on either side of the set.
Mira flashed a smile and said, “Surprise!”
The boy and girl turned around, and their eyes widened at what their mother had. “You got Rudolph?” Michelle squealed.
Hugo smirked and said, “Sweet, I thought we’d never be able to see it. I don't understand why the TV stations won't show it anymore."
Mira said, “Kids it’s like your father has said.”
Jake finished the thought. “When in doubt there’s always physical media.”
Mira walked over and put the Blu-Ray into the player. She pressed it and the black screen lit up with life. Soon the kids were watching the Rankin/Bass version of Rudolph the red-Nosed reindeer.
Mira and Jake sat on their couch and watched it with them. The artist put an arm around his wife. Mira whispered, “We nailed it honey.”
Her husband nodded his agreement. The parents watched Rudolph and the entranced expressions on their kid’s faces. And Mira relaxed enjoying the family bonding.
Not the most exciting story I admit but a good wholesome slice of life story. Get ready because in the next 12 Tales of Christmas story we’re heading to the worlds of fantasy. A familiar face is returning for another tale. Who that is you’ll have to wait and see.
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Thank you so much for reading this story. Until next time this is Animeman73 signing off. Stay true to yourselves, stay classy, and God bless you all. Enjoy the Christmas season everyone.
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The 12 Tales of Christmas season 1
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