Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

The newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness throughout the world.

Hearts and Humor – A Michael Smith Column

April 16, 2007

Hi, Gang!

    What a wet day it is here in New Jersey. We have
   
at least three inches of rain so far. It's not supposed

to let up for another two days. I pity and pray for those

who live on lower ground or near rivers.


    As promised, here is part two of "Beware The Neighbor."
   
You get the inspirational part of the story this time.

If you missed part one, please go to:

http://archives.zinester.com/86758/127312.html

and read it first.


    If anyone is interested in greeting cards, Ginny

belongs to a group of artists. They've teamed together

to market their products. Check them out at:

http://www.etsygreetings.blogspot.com


    Ginny's cards and other crafts are at:

http://www.ginginsgoodies.etsy.com


    Be sure to check out my collection of inspirational
   
sites at the end. There's something for everyone.

    Now for today's story.



                Beware the Neighbor

    In the blink of an eye, one side of the tree burst
   
into flame. The small green needles, full of sap, turned

black and then grey, as they were consumed by the flames.

Heat lifted the ash into the air. Like a snow storm, the

flakes settled on my head and shoulders, turning my head

prematurely grey. "It's all over, John!" I screamed. "We're

all going to lose our homes." As fast as the flames incinerated

the tree, they died off - perhaps because of the rain the

day before.


    Two fire trucks bounced up our rutted driveway. Men
   
clad in rubber jumped out, unreeled hoses, and rushed up

the hill where John and I stood. "Where's the fire?" the

captain asked.


    "I took care of it." I said and wiped my hand across
   
my forehead. The charred remains of my eyebrows dropped

from my head and drifted in the light breeze.


    He looked at my sooty face, "You put this out?" He
   
surveyed the field and the tall trees that bordered it.

"You did a great job. This whole place could have gone up

in flames."


    "We should make him an honorary fireman." another said.


            *********************************


    The smell of fresh mowed grass filled the air. Below
   
my house, the sound of a chainsaw disturbed the peace. John

was cutting the trees, to give him a view of the cove below

our house. I pushed my mower toward the shed. As I crossed

the road leading to his house, I heard the crack of a tree

trunk snapping. To my right, I heard what sounded like the

string of a bow being released. The power lines that crossed

my property and provided electricity to the rest of the point,

whipped through the air and landed in the bbrush.


    Georgia yelled out the window. "Michael, the power just
   
went out."


    "I know." I yelled back.  "John just broke the wires."


    I ran up the road, ducked the fallen lines, and yelled
   
through the trees. "John!" His chainsaw went silent. "John!"

I yelled again. "You cut the lines. The power is out."


    John came through the brush. Small twigs stuck from his
   
bushy beard. "It's OK!" he said. "They're just guy-wires to

hold up the poles." He bent and reached for one.


    "No!" I screamed and turned my back to him, afraid to
   
see him electrocuted. "Don't touch them, John." I expected

him to turn into a dancing ball of flame.


    "Why?" He asked. "They're just guy-wires."


    I turned to face him. John stood holding the wires.

My heartbeat slowed. "John, look where those wires lead." I

pointed to the top of the pole. "They're attached to the

insulators at the top of the pole." John looked in the

direction I pointed. His face turned white. I continued.

"They must have crossed when they fell and blew a fuse down

the line. You're a lucky man, John."



            *********************************



    My friend and co-worker, Pat Carey, drove us home. We

both worked for the same company in a different province.

It was the day before Christmas Eve. "Thanks for driving me

home, Pat."


    "No problem, Mike. I was going home anyway." He glanced
   
in my direction. "How long has it been since you were home?"


    "It's been almost two months."


    "That's a long time to be away from your family."


    "It's been too long, Pat." I fought back tears. "I'm
   
lucky to get home for Christmas. Do you have your Christmas

tree yet?"


    "Yes, my brother brought one over and helped my wife
   
put it up. You?"


    "No, not yet." I sighed. "I'll be climbing through the
   
woods tomorrow." We used to cut our trees in the woods

back then. "It's going to be a busy day. I'm not looking

forward to it."


    Pat pulled his car into my driveway. "Merry Christmas,
   
Mike. Enjoy your family."


    I opened the door, stepped out and leaned back in. We
   
shook hands. "Merry Christmas, Pat. Thanks again. I'll see

you in a couple of days."


    After being away so long, I knocked on my front door.
   
I felt like a guest in my own home. Georgia opened the

door and held out her arms. "Merry Christmas, Michael."


    I wrapped my arms around her. "Merry Christmas, Hun."
   
We kissed. "I missed you so much."


    "Daddy!" Vanessa and Justin ran to me. I released
   
Georgia and dropped to my knees. Tears filled my eyes. I

wrapped my arms around them both. "Merry Christmas, guys.

I missed you."


    Over their heads, I surveyed the room. In the center,
   
where it stood every year, was a perfectly decorated Christmas

tree. The sparkling lights reflected in the tears running

down my cheek. I slowly stood. "Georgia?" I looked at her.

"Georgia." I looked at the tree again. Words failed me.


    "Do you like it?" She smiled at me.


    "Yes, but.how?"


    "John cut it for us. He got it in the back of our property."
   
She hugged me. "He wanted to help. It's his Christmas gift."


    "It's amazing, a little crooked, but amazing." I pulled her

into my arms, smelled her hair - the hair I hadn't smelled in

months - and allowed my tears to flow freely. "I'll never be

able to thank him enough."


    John scared me more than once, but his heart was pure. He
   
always meant to do the right thing, but mostly failed. On Christmas

Eve, 1996, John finally got it right. The tears spilling down my

cheeks were proof.


    Michael T. Smith



    I like to end on an inspirational note. In this long story I
   
think I succeeded. However, there's a bit more to this story that

needs to be told.


    Christmas night, Georgia and I held each other in bed. I
   
had to go back to work the day after Christmas. We didn't know

when we'd be together again. We clung to each other and drifted

to sleep.


    Four AM - I woke with a start, rolled onto my back, stared
   
at the dark ceiling and wondered what woke me. Georgia stirred

beside me. "You awake?" she asked.


    "Yeah!" I yawned. "I wonder what woke us?"


    "I don't know." she snuggled against my side.


    "Oh no!" I stiffened. "The tree!"


    "What about it?"


    I didn't respond, as I jumped to my feet and rushed
   
from the room.


    "Michael?" Georgia ran behind me. "What is it?"


    I turned on the lights. We both froze. The tree lay
   
on its side. Broken ornaments - many of them family

heirlooms - sparkled on the hardwood floor. A few that survived

the fall, rolled like pool balls in various directions.


    For two hours we cleaned, salvaged what we could, and
   
discovered the tree hadn't been properly secured in the stand.

Under the weight of the ornaments, it finally toppled over.


    We never told John what happened. His generous gift
   
was appreciated. The only words that needed to be spoken

were, "Thank you."



    Michael T. Smith



    If you enjoy a story, feel free to pass it on to your friends.

My only request is that you include the link for your friends to

join our family.

To join our family, go to:

http://subs. zinester.com/ 86758/

REMOVE THE SPACES TO GET TO THE SITE. SPAM BLOCKERS ARE

HURTING EZINES. DON'T LET THEM PREVENT YOU FROM READING

GREAT STORIES.


    As promised, here is a list of great inspirational sites.

I subscribe to all of them. You will love these sites.


Run by my friend Carol, Storytime Tapestry at:

http://archives.zinester.com/98907/

By my good friend Keith in Australia:
http://www.agiftofinspiration.com.au/

My friend Phil runs http://www.peoplestuff.com.au/
Phil's awesome and brutally honest

Zev, yes another friend, runs http://empoweringmessages.com/stories/

Heart Catchers is a wonderful site.  www.DianeDeanWhite.com

www.Heartwarmers.com and www.petwarmers.com are two

wonderful story sites.

http://hodu.com/

http://www.mydailyinsights.com/

www.ripplemaker.com

http://www.sermonillustrator.org

http://www.SkyWriting.Net

Here's a newly discovered one I like:

http://www.archive.zinester.com/9516

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WarmFuzzyStories/

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WithInSight/

That's all I can think of right now. If I come up with

more, I'll add them.

Enjoy!!!


I love your comments, Send them to msmith4@nj.rr.com.

I'll include some in every post.


    Here is a comment on the last story. It's the only one I
   
recieved. Your silence tells me I am failing in my writing.


Hi Mike...

Great story so far, anxious for part two next week...

and we are waving all the way from Campbell, CA...can

you see us??

Take Care, and try not to work too hard!

Blessings,

Andy & Barbara

Campbell, CA