The Magic of Yuletide

The airport was crowded with holliday travellers. Carl Seaton disliked travelling during such a season but his mother would be disappointed if he did not show at the family Christmas weekend. His older brother and sister will be there with their families. He was the youngest and being single was no exemption from the obligation. Only once he had missed such a celebration while exploring Europe after he finished College four years ago. Now, he was standing in the midst of a tsunami of travellers at Heathrow Airport as he returned from a photography assignment in France. At least, at Charles De Gaulle Airport he could see to the end of the interior wall but here, as far as he looked there was no ending. He wondered if he would catch his flight home. He was looking forward to his mother’s roast beef dinner and rum-fruit cake for dessert. The queue, surprisingly, moved quickly and he checked in with relief. Deep in thought Carl headed for the lounge seats, he will have to assure his Editor’s critical words of using the photographs for publishing an article in the company’s local newspaper. He stopped suddenly as he almost bumped into a lady approaching, “Can you tell which direction to Gate 9, as I seem to be going around in circles?” She had the accent of his native country! He looked directly at her and she stared at him, “Do I know you from somewhere?” He said, “I will answer your first question first. You missed the turn-off passage over there to the Gate and, you do know me from High School in our country. We studied Mathematics together for every examination.” She exclaimed, “Oh my gosh, ‘the Mathematician’. You look so different. Imagine meeting here on foreign ground after all these years. What a ‘small world’.” She was returning home from visiting relatives in England. He told her his profession caused him to travel. They both had immigrated to the United States. She had an earlier flight so will have to hurry. He caught her arm for a moment and suggested she take his number if she needed any more assistance, giving her his professional card. She gave him a number to call her phone and record it. Then hurried off, saying they should keep in contact. His eyes followed her. She had changed too. She no longer had large afro hair, it was permed and bounced as she walked, and where was her eyeglasses? It was a strange coincidence of two friends having a chance meeting, passing each other on foreign land outside their resident country after nine years since High School. It was like espionage Agents in their covert occupation. 

Sherry Bryan quickly found her Gate just as passengers were boarding. She wished there was time to converse with Carl and update information on school friends they had stayed in contact with over the years. They had each other's telephone number to renew the friendship of teenage years, she hoped. Then, he was a slim youth that kept the class laughing with his humour. His mature stature, attractively dressed in urban attire suited him and surprised her. She always liked a man with a debonair fit. She viewed his number on her phone and noticed its area code was the same as her State. She would wait for him to call first. They were teenage school friends in the past without intimate thoughts. It would be good to have a male friend from teen years to reminisce about those days. Funny how she chose him from the crowd - she now believed the rumour that Jamaicans can recognize their countrymen in a global crowd. The holliday break from teaching classes was a relief and opportunity to see relatives. She had taken a six-weeks vacation after Thanksgiving leaving a Substitute Teacher with her class. Trying to reach home was from her native culture to be at home for Christmas and New Year. She settled in her seat for the airplane long ride home.

Carl boarded his flight eager to reach home and rest before driving to the family dinner. He stretched out on the couch used for quick rejuvenation. The rising sun woke him. The phone rang, it was his brother checking on him if he wanted a ride. Carl said he was on his way. The house was full with extended families of adults and children. It was a nice feeling of togetherness with the smell of delicious aroma and happy chatter. His mother was an excellent cook and his father always helped her in the kitchen. Carl loved his family and knew they wanted him to have a family too with their insinuations. It was almost midnight he left with hugs and best wishes all round. Next morning he woke late but still relaxed in bed to get over the jet lag. He took up his phone to update his Editor, texting quickly the work in progress. Remembering Sherry, that it was a good time to call after lunch. She had changed so much and must be thinking the same about him. She was good at the Sciences too so might be in that profession. He connected on the first ring and she immediately said she was not waiting on his call but was on her phone viewing social media. Instantly, he knew she was single or not in a serious relationship. He was hesitant in approach, she overflowed with information about their friends from years ago. She had kept in touch. He said his career was demanding and in migration had lost touch. She was a teacher with holliday breaks that allowed social time. He stated It would be wonderful if they meet to exchange information and share adult thoughts of their teenage years. Sherry laughed accepting the rendezvous for a Sunday brunch. During High School she was the serious type intent on achievement and her adult exuberant voice was pleasant in his ear. 

The following Sunday they drove separately to his favourite restaurant of relaxed atmosphere where he frequented the after hours Sports Bar on Fridays. He heard they served excellent brunch in the mornings. He was outside when she drove by waving. They lived in the same State, same Town and met in a foreign country - it was more than a coincidence. He did not ask why she refused his offer to pick her up, maybe she did have a boyfriend. He admired her walking towards him with smiling familiarity as if they were a couple. What was he thinking! Carl quickly switched his thoughts and shouted to her to slow her steps for a photograph. He took the shot capturing her feature in a fresh sunlit motion. She asked if he always carried a camera and he replied shortly, “Yes.” Sherry thought, “His professional mood is showing, serious and confident in an attractive way. How he has changed and she likes it!” The quiet ambiance of the restaurant slowed conversation and they ate in silence enjoying the variety of foods. But, when later they strolled outside in the bright sunlight reflecting on the powdered snow on the ground they both felt its magic - gone were the memories of teen years, let us explore adulthood. He took her hand and she clasped his as if expecting the gesture. He suggested they sightsee the snow-dust mountains and return for her car. The silence was still there as he drove to a Museum near the shore. Inside was warm and filled with patrons enjoying the Yuletide songs while browsing paintings, photographs and sculptures. Still holding her hand Carl guided Sherry to the photography exhibition where her exclamations cemented his decision to ask for a serious relationship. She turned and he saw her eyes light up and the silence was broken when she said, “This is your exhibition! I love them!” She told him of her love for Art in High School but with limited finances she had focused on her main ambition to teach Sciences to developing receptive minds of students. His goal was teaching too, but at University he switched Major to his hobby, as his talent developed into becoming a professional Photographer with travelling perks. Words flowed as they viewed images of Art in the Museum with background music of the Season’s theme. Sherry spoke of her highs and lows to reach her goal as he related similarities to her experience in the pursuit of their careers. He was amazed how much they had in common which was never revealed in their acquaintance at school. He was too intent on mastering Mathematics, the subject of his teaching ambition, and her eagerness was only to learn its solutions in calculation. They were   never aware of each other otherwise, two different peas in a pod. He will keep the eureka momentum hurtling to more discovery. He asked if she was free for the day to enjoy it together then have an early dinner. She agreed to return to the restaurant’s Sports Bar with its social atmosphere of patrons’ laughter. Carl started the ignition and the sensual baritone of the Welsh singer flowed from the speakers filling the car’s interior with a song of unspoken words,

“You are my reason to live

All I own I would give

Just to have you adore me

Till the moon deserts the sky

Till all the seas run dry

Till then I'll worship you

Till the tropic sun grows cold

Till this young world grows old

My darling I'll adore you”

The playlist of provocative melodies permeated the silence as he navigated the snow dusted byway of wonderland. The dinner was delicious after which he celebrated their first date with a wine of her choice. He walked her to her car and said he would call. His experience is to never overwhelm on a first date.

The inclement weather curtailed personal contact and he telephoned every evening after she laughingly approved his “intrusion” as she called it. His intention was obvious and she knew it. Their personal stories were as if an introduction to adult life and its erotic attraction. She was recently single after a brief marriage and taught at a High School twenty-five miles from home. Preparing student lessons and evaluation, socializing with  few friends and electronic social media occupied her time. He never had the time for a steady romance to get married and had made a pledge not to before his thirty years. She said it was near so he should be thinking about a steady relationship, with her usual laugh. He said that was the reason he kept calling her. There was silence. He broke it inviting her to his office New Years Eve party. She usually goes to her family gathering but will be free all week. He would call again for another date of her choice of venue.

It was two weeks before they met again on a cold Sunday. His schedule clashed with her free weekends. He told her, it had to be before it is no longer a new year or else they would not be together for the rest of the year - reminding her of their culture that in the new year be with the person you want all the year.  She laughed, agreeing. So they braved the blistering cold to have dinner at a popular Seafood Restaurant. He said they could do so much more if it was summer. She said every year at this time she procrastinates to move to the southern warmth. He said they could make it a reality and both laughed, though, he keenly stared at her with serious eyes. Silence. It was becoming their safety net from falling into Cupid's inevitable trap. Carl had long realized Sherry’s caution, having been in a relationship so he was careful in pursuit. Patience was the key and he had time with nothing else to do in this long Winter. This time he could not stop himself from hugging her at the door, his excuse being he is giving her some warmth to last until they meet again. She reciprocated saying it was a thank you gesture and hurried inside, waving before closing the door. He could only smile and walk away. 

Friday after a meeting with the Editor’s critical compilation of the photographs he wanted more than chatting with colleagues at the Sports Bar to relax. He went home showered and stretched out to rejuvenate while calling Sherry who was stranded in her car waiting on roadside service. He arrived at the location the same time as the Technician who put her car on the flat-bed truck and they followed to the auto-shop. She was returning home from the Stationery store with supplies when the car stalled at the Stop sign. Outside snow was falling lightly in the late evening. Snow was the magical connection for them. The weather changed quickly in that State and now it did with gusts of snow obscuring distant view as he drove Sherry home. He was accustomed to nature’s surprise, reducing speed until he reached her home. A bad time for unexpected travelling. She invited him inside to wait until the storm cleared up. A spacious Condo living like his apartment only more organized with feminine decor. He pointed to the treadmill machine off to the side of the television as she handed him a glass of natural juice. She said it was her company too in relieving stress of daily living without walking in the park. He said he preferred the outdoors. Impulsively, she commended its manly effect on his physique then hurriedly tried to cover the words saying there was cooked dinner if he liked roast chicken and potato salad. He put his glass down, leaned over and took hers from her tight grasp and said, “I like you better.” Looking directly in her serious eyes. There was no more joyous laughter, just mesmerized submission to his kiss as he pulled her to him. Their passion was like the snow storm winds hitting the windows without any sign of subsiding. Oblivious of the sounds, caught up in their own rapture.

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