Super Christmas
Secret Supers, Micro Story
Aurora Springer
Copyright © 2016 Aurora Springer
All rights reserved.
Estelle
placed the bowl of cranberry relish on the dining table and stepped back to
admire her handiwork. She had chosen the green tablecloth to match the
Christmas tree by the window and arranged five place settings. The red cloth
napkins were folded into neat triangles beside the best silverware and the special
china plates decorated with green leaves and tiny yellow flowers. All prepared
for their holiday feast. She glanced out the window, hoping to see Toby arrive.
A
white pigeon flopped onto the windowsill, folded its speckled wings and cooed,
“They’re here!”
Shaking
her finger at the bird, Estelle sent the mental warning, “Don’t let anyone see you, Rockette. You’re supposed to be asleep in the
cage in my bedroom.”
“Boring!” Rockette snorted. “I’m going to tease Growler. He hates me
perching on his head when he has to keep still.”
Seconds
later, Toby appeared. Instead of riding his motorcycle up the driveway, he strolled
in from the street with a package in one hand. His long dark hair was tied back
neatly and the black leather jacket emphasized the breadth of his shoulders.
Estelle
ran to open the front door and tugged him inside. “Hi Toby!” He slipped his
free arm around her and she leaned into his embrace. Peering over his shoulder
at the street, she asked, “Where’s your motorcycle?”
“Parked
round the corner.” Running his fingers down the cascade of her blonde hair, he
pressed a sedate kiss on her cheek and whispered in her ear, “Hidden under the bushes
so the cat can stretch his legs.”
“Do
come in, Mr. Ryan,” her mom called from the kitchen.
“Good
afternoon, Mrs. Wright.” Toby was invariably polite to her parents. He unzipped
his jacket, took two strides to the door and stared around the busy kitchen. Bowls
of vegetables, plates of bread and a large turkey lay on the countertops. The
fragrant odor of roast turkey mingled with cinnamon and honey in the warm air. “Your
food smells delicious,” he drawled, holding out a bottle wrapped in red paper.
Even standing at the door, his bulky figure and dark clothes made the kitchen
seem smaller.
Mom
stood by the oven, looking hot and bothered with an apron covering her holiday dress.
She brushed her hair off her face, leaving a streak of flour on her forehead.
“I’m so sorry for the mess. We’re not quite ready yet.”
Nearer
the door, Dad held a carving knife and long fork over a platter containing a large
turkey. He looked up and smiled at their visitor. “Hello, Toby. Make yourself
at home. Help yourself to a beer.” He waved the knife at the fridge.
“Thanks,
Mr. Wright. I’ll wait for dinner.” Toby offered him the bag. “I brought a
bottle of wine.”
Granny
waved from her station at the stove, where she was fixing her special brandy
sauce. “Ah, my favorite young man!”
Toby
grinned. “You’re looking real pretty, Mrs. Livingstone.”
“Oh
shucks! You’re a real sexy charmer, but you don’t fool me.” Shaking the mixing
spoon at him, she chuckled and urged, “Drag Estelle under the mistletoe and
give her a big smooch.”
Estelle
flushed bright pink.
Clearly
scandalized, Mom glared daggers at her coarse-mouthed mother.
Matching
the old woman’s style, Toby drawled, “You’ll be the next, Mrs. Livingstone.” He
squeezed Estelle’s hand.
Wiping
her hands on her apron, Mom said, “Please excuse us for five minutes. Estelle can
look after you while I pull the pies out of the oven.”
Resisting
the urge to roll her eyes, Estelle said, “Sure, Mom.” She slipped her hand
under Toby’s elbow and led him across the hall. “Come and look at our Christmas
tree.”
They
stepped into the dining room and stood, admiring the spruce tree by the window.
The ceiling high tree was decorated in spirals of silver tinsel and glittering
white ornaments. Lights sparkled around the branches and a silver star capped
the top.
“Beautiful,
Star!” Toby said, wrapping his arm around her waist. With no one else in
hearing range, he could call her by his special name. Her family had no idea
she was the famous Super Starrella with the flying horse.
Now
they were alone, she murmured, “I found a little gift for you.” She gave him a
small package wrapped in gold paper.
He
tore off the wrapping and pulled out a tiny china cat, a black cat with red
crystal eyes, sitting with its tail curled round its legs. “Growler!”
“It’s
not giving away your secret,” she said. “With your cat tattoo, everyone knows
you like cats.”
“Yep!
Real cute. Like you,” he drawled. He ruffled her hair and handed her a small
box “Got you a gift too, Star.”
She
opened the box and pulled out a silver chain with a star pendant of iridescent
metal. “It’s beautiful! Thank you, Toby.” She looped the chain over her index
finger and let the star twist and shimmer in the lamplight.
“Ain’t
fancy. Just reminded me of you.” He touched the metal star. “Give it a flame.
Not too hot.”
Cupping
her hand around the star, she created a tiny yellow flame. The pearly sheen
brightened until the star shone bright silver. “Wow! A heat sensor!” She
giggled and bowed her head so he could fasten the chain around her neck.
“Who
needs mistletoe?” he murmured, tilting up her chin and kissing her lips.
Standing
on tiptoes, she hooked her hands around his neck and their kiss deepened. Five blissful
minutes in his embrace to begin the holiday festivities.
~ ~
~ ~ ~
If you would like to read more about Estelle
and Toby, their adventures are described in the Secret Supers Series. Book 1, Super
Starrella is available at Amazon.
Secret Supers
Teen superhero,
Starrella, and her flying horse combat vicious killers in Atalanta, a sunnier,
southern Gotham City.
Super Starrella, Book 1
Starrella Falls, Book 2
Gargoyle Hunt, Book 3
AWESOME!
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