A very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all Friday Fictioneers, wherever they may be.
This week’s photo prompt comes courtesy of Jean L Hayes.
The doorbell jingled; the Christmas Fairy shifted on her perch to identify the newcomer.
“Good Christmas, Mabel?” said Joe, perching next to the woman nursing a cappuccino.
“Oh usual stuff, kids everywhere, noise, noise, noise.” She’d spent the day alone, in bed. “You?”
He sipped his espresso.
“Same old…relatives…turkey…booze. He’d shared his Christmas with a whisky bottle; that much was true.
“Was gonna ask if you wanted to come round.”
“Same here. Glad you were sorted though.”
Both nodded.
Ten minutes later Mabel left, Joe ordered another coffee, and the Fairy sighed.
You could lead the lonely to water – but hell would freeze over before they’d drink.
castelsarrasin 
Dear Sandra,
As always I’m impressed, not only with your expeditious entry, but also with the quality of it! I appreciate the layers. Two lonely people hiding behind their masks, each one believing the other’s lies. Tragic and truer to life than we care to admit. Nice one.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I agree.
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Thanks Rochelle, and for taking the time out from your holiday celebrations to keep the Friday Fictioneers going. “Expeditious?” My old Gran used to say ‘first up, best dressed’. But you beat me to it today. 🙂 Have a good one.
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ahh reality… stings. ^^ loved this.
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Thanks kz. Happy holidays.
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This is very good Sandra. And so true to life.
We are such bottled up secretive people. There’s only so much a well-meaning fairy can do. 🙂
Brilliant, the way you wrote it.
Great work, like every week. 🙂
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Sometimes we’re just lazy as well. Thanks for commenting Parul.
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Good job again! Sad story.
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Thanks, happy holidays.
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This is a great story about too many people, living in the shadow of the truth where a dark world steals their own light. It is a shame that people are too afraid to speak the truth and allow others into their world. Really enjoyed this Sandra. I do not know how you do it but you seemed to top yourself all the time.
Tom
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Thanks Tom. Sometimes I think people are just too lazy to take the risk – of committing themselves to a day with someone new, of having to make an effort for someone else. And other times, just too embarrassed or afraid. Hope you’re having a great holiday.
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The masks we wear in the public eye
Help us to survive our little white lies
When in our hearts we would like to share
But for pain of the past, we did not care.
Wonderfully written Sandra!!
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And you too! Thank you.
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Beautifully written – the dialog is so true to life, and flows so smoothly into the description of their real Christmases, that I can see and hear them struggling to keep up a good front so everyone else will think their lives are just fine. Poor Christmas Fairy. Poor Mabels. Poor Joes.
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Thanks Sharon, have a good holiday.
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All too true. I enjoyed your holiday sprite a great deal.
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Thanks Erin. Yours was a corker this week! Happy holidays.
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It’s frustrating to see the truth and how close they are. Do you think it’s pride that keeps us from opening up to each other? Amazing story. 🙂
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Sometimes pride, sometimes fear, sometimes laziness. Whatever, it’s not doing them much good. Thanks for commenting David.
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Two lonely people…but yes, pride above all…poignant story, and reality is definitely there.
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Thank you; enjoyed yours.
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Packed a lot into this. Nice but very sad.
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Thank you! Happy holidays.
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Funny. I was tempted to go in this direction but could never have done it as well as you. Kudos!
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Thank you Paul. I’m sure you could. 🙂
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Well done Sandra, sad story but true. Pity the Christmas Fairy had no fairly dust…..
Dee
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Fairy dust would have been even better …
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🙂 Thank you Dee.
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So sad. But loved the snowflakes on your site. WIsh I was that creative.
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Can’t take the credit for the snowflakes Shirley, it’s a standard WordPress add-on. The challenge comes when I have to remember how I did it so I can take it off again after the holidays. 😦
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This happens. To learn to get off the pity pot is a joy in life, but sometimes hard to do. I liked your take.
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‘pity pot’ – Nice! Thanks for dropping by Ted.
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Hi Sandra,
This is great stuff and so true to life. People put up a brave front rather than admit to being lonely. What is that Brit quote? Most people lead lives of quiet desperation. Top quality writing. Ron
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Thank you Ron. (From my life of quiet desperation… 😉 ) Happy holidays.
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well done. it’s like a fable. a message that’s worthy.
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Fable-ous, that’s me. Groaaan! Thanks for dropping by.
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The many veils we wear trying not to be vulnerable…very well done, and painfully true for many.
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Thanks Boomiebol, hope you’re having a great holiday.
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Nice story. Not quite sure why they don’t connect now except they’re both afraid of the very intimacy they crave and unable to peel away their lies. .
Well, I’ll drink with both of them!
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Thanks for commenting Perry, have a good holiday!
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Ah, those missed opportunities–and a Christmas fairy can only do so much.
Here’s mine: http://unexpectedpaths.com/friday-fictioneers/habits-and-hearts-are-made-to-be-broken/
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So true. Thanks Maggie.
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Excellently written, Sandra. Belated Merry Christmas to you and a wonderful New Year in advance
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Same to you, and thank you.
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A sad story for this festive time, sandra, but very true of so many of us. Hope yours was much more cheerful!
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It was, thank you Jennifer. And hope Sebastian’s first Christmas went well.
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Oh dear. Why can’t people just be honest? Hopefully the fairy will be able to work her magic next Christmas.
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Hopefully! Thanks Sarah Ann.
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why do we act against our best interests so often? Is saving face so important?
A fine story, and thanks for sharing. I’m looking forward to cruising France via your blog.
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Welcome aboard Bill; your name’s on the crew list. Thanks for commenting.
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did you see my sign…. will work for croissants ?
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🙂
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Dear Sandra,
Your stories always feel so alive! I really loved this one, perhaps because it reminded me of me, but perhaps not. Send that Christmas Fairy round my way, would you?
Happy New Year and smooth sailing.
Aloha,
Doug
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Fairy’s on her way Doug. And the same to you. Thanks for commenting.
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Nicely done. 🙂 I liked that you added a fairy to express the truth behind the characters niceties.
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Thanks Jodie! 🙂
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Very Christmasy. Great message, and lovely writing, as always.
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Thanks Claire, hope you’re having a good one.
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Hi Sandra!
I really enjoyed this…maybe it’s time to take off the masks?
Happy Holidays!
-H
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I think you’re right. Thanks for dropping by and Happy Holidays to you too.
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Love that story. I have some elder family members who do that. I know they’re alone, but they won’t come over. It’s sad.
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Sometimes it’s just simply ‘can’t be bothered’, other times though it’s shyness, isn’t it. Thanks for dropping by.
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I’ve always wondered how the milk got in cappuccinos. Now we know some woman named Mabel nurses them. If I were Joe, I’d throw down the whiskey bottle and get in line behind the cappuccino.
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Yep, that Fairy is wise. Such a true little exposé of human nature here. Love reading your work as always.
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This is a really good story.
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Nicely done. Well rounded characterisation and bittersweet twist in a few words.
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Just too good Sandra. Loved the last line, so true.Happy New year and Happy holidays.
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Thank you Indira. And the same to you
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Thanks.:)
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What a sweet story, Sandra. if it was not so true to life, it would not have been as touching…so many lonely people and the holidays makes it more evident.
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Thank you Cheryl-Lynn. Happy New Year
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