| THOMAS J. PRESTOPNIK |
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| Copyright © Thomas J. Prestopnik 2005 - 2012 All rights reserved. www.TomPresto.com |
| Read Chapter Eleven from A CHRISTMAS CASTLE |
| CHAPTER ELEVEN |
Gloria leaned back, her hands folded as if in prayer. She rested her chin on the
tips of her knuckles and stared at Jack with subdued wonder.
“So after all these years, I finally discover the missing page in the story of
Charlie and Alice,” she said. “When your sister Loretta had met my mother in
the school library and told her the secret news about Charlie and Alice, it must
have been you, Jack, who first told Loretta.” Gloria closed her eyes for a
moment, smiling contentedly. “Everything fell into place because you looked up
at a shooting star on Christmas night in 1966. And because of that, I exist. So I
thank you.”
© Copyright 2008 Thomas J. Prestopnik
Jack eyed Gloria, squinting in a billowing cloud of confusion. “I still don’t
believe I’m on the right track, Gloria. You’re speculating faster than I can
process.”
“Then I’ll walk you through it, Jack. But I think the story should be fairly obvious
by now,” she said, raising a finger in the air. “You told me earlier, after all, that
a shooting star had led you to Charlie and Alice.”
Jack nodded as his mind dipped into a well of distant memories. “It did lead me
to them,” he said, suddenly overwhelmed by the sweet scent of snow-covered
pine. He eyed the popcorn garland while sorting through a handful of
competing thoughts. “And after I overheard what they said…”
© Copyright 2008 Thomas J. Prestopnik
“…you then told your sister Loretta all about it,” Gloria gently replied, touching
his sleeve. “When my mother, Jenny Campbell, finally heard those words
repeated to her, it changed her life forever. Instead of following Charlie to his
college, my mother applied to a different school, all because Loretta had
divulged your Christmas-night secret. My parents would never have met each
other in their Hawaiian shirts otherwise, and I wouldn’t have been born. Now
do you understand?”
Jack tilted his head, a mental fog beginning to dissipate. He smiled like a boy
at a carnival as the wondrous dots of the past began to connect.
“Yes, Gloria, I think I do,” he said with a glint in his eyes, delightfully amused at
this particular strand in life’s intricate tapestry. “I think I do understand now.”
© Copyright 2008 Thomas J. Prestopnik
Read Chapter 12
tips of her knuckles and stared at Jack with subdued wonder.
“So after all these years, I finally discover the missing page in the story of
Charlie and Alice,” she said. “When your sister Loretta had met my mother in
the school library and told her the secret news about Charlie and Alice, it must
have been you, Jack, who first told Loretta.” Gloria closed her eyes for a
moment, smiling contentedly. “Everything fell into place because you looked up
at a shooting star on Christmas night in 1966. And because of that, I exist. So I
thank you.”
© Copyright 2008 Thomas J. Prestopnik
Jack eyed Gloria, squinting in a billowing cloud of confusion. “I still don’t
believe I’m on the right track, Gloria. You’re speculating faster than I can
process.”
“Then I’ll walk you through it, Jack. But I think the story should be fairly obvious
by now,” she said, raising a finger in the air. “You told me earlier, after all, that
a shooting star had led you to Charlie and Alice.”
Jack nodded as his mind dipped into a well of distant memories. “It did lead me
to them,” he said, suddenly overwhelmed by the sweet scent of snow-covered
pine. He eyed the popcorn garland while sorting through a handful of
competing thoughts. “And after I overheard what they said…”
© Copyright 2008 Thomas J. Prestopnik
“…you then told your sister Loretta all about it,” Gloria gently replied, touching
his sleeve. “When my mother, Jenny Campbell, finally heard those words
repeated to her, it changed her life forever. Instead of following Charlie to his
college, my mother applied to a different school, all because Loretta had
divulged your Christmas-night secret. My parents would never have met each
other in their Hawaiian shirts otherwise, and I wouldn’t have been born. Now
do you understand?”
Jack tilted his head, a mental fog beginning to dissipate. He smiled like a boy
at a carnival as the wondrous dots of the past began to connect.
“Yes, Gloria, I think I do,” he said with a glint in his eyes, delightfully amused at
this particular strand in life’s intricate tapestry. “I think I do understand now.”
© Copyright 2008 Thomas J. Prestopnik
Read Chapter 12
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