Our weekly Free Writers are now three. We met at the Vandoeuvres boulangerie and there was a dearth of people to use as prompts. Then we saw the Christmas tree, still decorated and lighted at the entrance. We picked up our pens and off we went.
THE CHRISTMAS TREE
Julia's Free Write
Last day of January and it’s still up in the corner – forgotten?
Appreciated for its lights and colors, which lend memories of the day?
“Why am I still here? Have my owners forgotten me? And why the one big bulb? Was it a child visiting the bakery cum mini-mart?
Oh well, I will enjoy my life as I know that all too soon my limbs will be stripped bare, my lights turned off and I’ll end up in the heap of other used once and tossed items of our Christmas past.
I only hope that over my short time here I have provided some joy, some warmth to all who passed me by.
I’m starting to list, start to tire – rest in peace Christmas 2023. It will be a brother, a sister or maybe even a cousin in eleven months.”
Rick's Free Write
Thirty-five days past Christmas and the tree was still up in the corner near the boulangerie door. Four foot high, Alpine green, artificial with a string of white lights and about a dozen large and medium globes for color.
The owner, Jakob, had put it up himself, then promptly went on holiday to the Seychelles.
Naomi, who minded the store, and served the croissants and tea, and the baker in the basement - Bruno - had not dared take down the tree because it was Jakob's thing and he might get mad when he returned and noticed it missing. Of course he might be mad, too, that neither took the initiative to do the obvious and take it down.
More serious was the problem of supplies - the flour, yeast, beverages and other stuff on which they depended - were dwindling down to almost nothing.
Naomi and Bruno did not have purchasing authority so could not order supplies.
What they had not realized that Jakob, who had no family, had drowned in the ocean while swimming on Christmas Day.
D-L's Free Write
Jana entered the bakery. Elaine had already unlocked the door. The Christmas tree was turned on.
It was January 31st for God's sake. When was she going to turn the damn thing off?
Elaine was a gold medal procrastinator, waiting for Jana to do the chores.
"Ho, ho, ho!" Hugo, who was usually their first customer, walked through the door.
Jana poured his coffee before he asked for it. She had just finished brewing it.
"Elaine, set up the tables,"
"It's your turn," Elaine said.
"I'm filling the cases,"
If she were the boss, she'd fire Elaine, although the girl was good with customers.
The tree was Jana's line in the sand. She'd set it up alone.
The bell on the door tinkled.
Shit, Jana thought, Sharon, the owner who almost never checked on them.
"What the hell is the tree doing still up? Are you waiting to turn it into an Easter bush?"
When neither girl responded, Sharon said, "Jana, take it down."
If Jana hadn't needed the money she would have quit.
Elaine smirked behind Sharon's back.
Julia has written and taken photos all her life and loves syncing up with friends. Her blog can be found: https://viewsfromeverywhere.blogspot.com/
Rick Adams is an aviation journalist and publisher of www.aviationvoices. com
D-L has had 17 fiction and non fiction books published. Check out her website at:. www.dlnelsonwriter.com
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