A Capitol Christmas 
Love at Christmas Time is the Best Present of All

Sophia Tesch, Yahoo Contributor Network

Representative Joseph Christenson spoke to the press corps Christmas Eve. During his speech, given in a church's kitchen, he turned to see-- covered in turkey gravy and mashed potatoes --a heavenly woman with shiny black strands escaping the loose bun that held her long, straight hair. Her chocolaty eyes and caramel colored skin at first glance held warmth unknown to him prior, the warmth turned uncomfortably hot as her eyes narrowed like a fierce jungle cat about to pounce. This intrigued him.

Maria saw the expensive looking man and she knew who he was. His ice-blue eyes were as cool as the December night, aloof. "Oh Lord please help me hold my tongue, it's Christmas." She begged her Heavenly Father. The State Senate passed a bill last session that cut funding for the poor, sending more people to this food kitchen to survive. Yet with television cameras around, they portray themselves as charitable men of God. She was furious! Nevertheless, she must show mercy on Christmas Eve. She began to smack the metal spoon full of potatoes onto a metal dish with frustration.

Joseph turned his head, reacting to the metallic thwacks coming across the row of turkeys and vats of cranberry sauce. A surprising urge to grab this angel in his arms overtook him, despite the gravy, potatoes and cranberry sauce that would ruin is custom-made suit. He reapplied his concentration to the Senator's speech. "We believe the American people will pull themselves up by the bootstraps and continue living the American Dream. Happy Holidays everyone!"

Joseph, bored by the speech, flashed Maria a smile. Her heart melted, her body betrayed her. Was this a cruel trick from God? Perhaps the Devil was tempting her with this arrogant man across the counter, she cursed under her breath while adding dollops of cranberry sauce to each dish before her.

"We'd like a picture in front of the tree," said the newspaper photographer corralling Joseph and Maria between the Senator and Maria's father, the Pastor. "Closer, closer please." The photographer urged. Maria resisted. But the photographer was impatient to return to the office holiday party and shoved Maria into Joseph"There, perfect." He returned to snap the shot while Joseph was trying to ignore Maria's soft body and the longing to untie her apron like a present, while Maria prayed the rosary to keep from thinking about Joseph's wonderful spice scent, the feel of him making her heart rum-pa-pum-pum like a drummer boy.

Now five years later, slightly more than a month after the election, Senator and Mrs. Maria Christenson kiss beneath the Capitol's Christmas tree. Maria looks deep into her husband's eyes with affection, "Joseph, I have a Christmas present for you." Joseph mischievously pulls her to him. "And what might that be my Christmas angel?" "We're expecting a baby, we will name him Jesus." The light from Joseph's smile rivaled the Christmas star. The couple entered the black sedan that drove them home through the twinkling Christmas lit night.

Short Story Romance Short Story first KissBy: Sophia Tesch 

• Published: August 20, 2010

 
Sheila Wilkes had a crush on Tommy Braxton since she was three years old. They shared blocks at pre-school, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches at summer camp, and hours playing and talking up in the tallest branches of the old oak tree that grew in the park to be found half the distance between his house and hers.


It was in this warm earthy scented tree in the tallest branches, hidden by emerald green leaves that they sat one warm June afternoon as the sun was setting in the sky. It was the afternoon of the last day of school and they were discussing their summer plans. This year would be different because Tommy’s family had a reunion in Montana and he would be leaving with his family for two weeks which in the lives of fifteen year olds is an eternity.


Sheila’s gaze was locked into Tommy’s soft green eyes. Those eyes always partially hidden behind a cloud of dirty blonde hair always held a spark of mischief that always promised fun, laughter and a bit of trouble every now and again. The spark never failed to ignite her heart and in the soft orange glow of sunset this time was no different. She noticed that today Tommy’s eyes had something else in them something mysterious that Sheila didn’t understand and that scared her because Sheila thought she knew everything there was to know about Tommy Braxton.


“Well I guess we had better start heading for home.” Sheila said as she started to shimmy back over to the huge trunk of the old oak. She looked away hoping Tommy would not see the tears that were starting to well up in her eyes. “No, wait!” tumbled from Tommy’s mouth as he instinctively grabbed Sheila’s arm pulling her back toward him. “What?” her voice quivered slightly as Tommy coaxed her to look into his eyes.


The trace of tears in Sheila’s eyes looked to Tommy to be like magical diamonds glistening there. As if by magic those tears cast a spell on Tommy, a spell that revealed Sheila to him in a way that he had never seen her before in these many years, he noticed the fit of her old cut offs and the soft curves hidden under her old cotton camp t-shirt in a different way. Tommy became so nervous that his next move was awkward as he pulled Sheila toward him, her soft brown hair brushed his cheek and he almost missed her face entirely. Sheila as she had done so many other times with so many things they had done together intuitively moved in to Tommy’s kiss. Their lips met together naturally the warmth and tenderness they found there surprised them both.


As they both wiped the moisture of Sheila’s tears from their faces. Sheila smiled and they both began to laugh together. “So I’ll see you in two weeks.” Sheila managed through her laughter and her tears.  Tommy’s voice caught in his throat in a thick fog of newly discovered desire.   

“Yes, two weeks.” 

Lots of taking,

Not much giving.

Lots of dieing,

Not much living.

Lots of crying,

Not much laughing.

Lots of lying,

Even more grafting.


But there's still hoping,

And there's still praying.

There's still loving

So it's worth staying.


The world's not perfect,

But it's better than before.

Today is another chance for peace,

To try again once more.

I was Going to Live My Dream But. A Poem About the Little Ways Our Days Evaporate and so Do the Opportunities to Live Our Dreams

I was going to live my dream today. Live to my potential make the best of my life but the children needed breakfast. They wanted scrambled eggs with toast today.

I was going to live my dream today but my husband lost his car keys. He was late for work and it took fifteen minutes to find them.

I was going to live my dream today but on the way to feeding the dog I noticed a long line of ants marching to the kitchen. I had to find the spray to make them go away.

I was going to live my dream today but the baby needed her favorite toy pony that she lost for the fifth time today, it took about forty-five minutes to find it, change her diaper again and put her down for nap. She wanted her favorite story read twice.

I was going to live my dream today but it was lunchtime and the older kids wanted tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. Then it was time to clean up and grab something out of the freezer for dinner.

I was going to live my dream today but I needed to put in a load of laundry, do more dishes, and clean up the front room before someone tripped on the toys.

I was going to live my dream but Johnny was having trouble with his homework and tomorrow is the day we are supposed to provide the snack for the class. Then it was time to put dinner in the oven.

I was going to live my dream but then my husband came home. It was time for dinner and he wanted to talk about his day before reading the paper and falling asleep watching baseball on the couch.

I was going to live my dream but the dog needed to be walked.

The cat needed to be fed--again.

The baby can't find her toy pony now and it needs to be found before bedtime in a half an hour.

I was going to live my dream but the HOA says the front walk must be swept and in acceptable condition, by their standards, by tomorrow.

I was going to live my dream but I am exhausted.

I'll try to live my dream again tomorrow.