The Christmas Eve Festival

“Are you packed?”

John cringed at his mother’s voice somehow coming from his living room. Curse that stealthy middle-aged woman. How did she get past his locks every time? She must be bribing the locksmith for a spare key each time he changed his locks. That was the only explanation.

“Be gone dragon woman!”

He walked out of his office to see his mother tidying his already clean living room by fluffing his sofa pillows.

“Now is that anyway to talk to your mother?” she asked with a wide grin.

He smiled at her. “It is when your mother is a skilled break in artist.” He softened his statement with a kiss to her cheek.

“Enough flattery, my boy. I want to know if you are packed and ready to go. The festivities start tomorrow.”

“Don’t you mean the chattel call?”

She rolled her eyes at him. “Not when you go with a positive outlook and the choice to have fun. Only a curmudgeon would label it so.”

He shrugged. “I am what I am.”

For the past five years, he taught art history at Crystal University, came home, and worked on his new book. This, to his family, made him a tragic hermit and completely helpless man. He just liked his peaceful life.

But time was up. He somehow won a two-year reprieve from his mother. However, it was clear by her presence that the clock had ran out this year.

On the island, if a man had not found a spouse by age thirty, then they attended the Christmas Eve Gala. A two-day event where still-spouseless men meet all the lovely people ready to claim their mate. He attended the Christmas Ball a few times in the past where the newly joined couples danced the night away with friends and family surrounding them.

They always seemed so happy. He just hated the pageantry and over-the-top proposals that led to the coupling.

He had to admit to himself. He was lonely. Their kind were not solitary creatures. They thrived as a pair. He saw it with every couple in his life.

“I had your suit cleaned and pressed,” his mother said holding up a black dress bag. “There is a crisp white shirt and your green tie ready to go.”

He sighed.

She put her hands on her hips. “Danny, I have helped organize the Eve Festival for two decades. I know exactly who will have multiple proposals and who will go home alone. You, my son, will have your pick. Just be kind to the ones you do not wish to marry and say yes to the perfect person for you.”

“And who is that?”

She smiled at him. “Not tellingt. If I did, you will turn her down just to prove me wrong."

She picked up his empty suitcase she somehow snuck down from the attic during her break-in and handed it to him. “No more procrastination. Go pack so we can leave.”

He took it grudgingly. “I can get myself there, mother.”

“Yeah, like I’m going to trust you,” she mumbled.

His fate sealed, he went upstairs to pack for two days and nights of marriage and mayhem.

Daniel set his bag on the bed and sighed. He had to change and join the Greetings Meetings—a name he was sure his mother created.

Still, maybe he had a chance. Perhaps there was someone here who would like him for himself. Someone who liked quiet nights over parties.

He took the stairs down to the ballroom. It was already packed with people milling about. The lady manning the entrance smiled brightly and handed him a bright red ribbon to pin to his shirt. Reluctantly, he pinned it and accepted that he was now fully and completely marked as eligible. The ones looking for mates would have yellow ribbons. Tonight’s activity was only for those participating in the Eve festivities. Tomorrow, family and friends will join to celebrate the proposals and, in many cases, helping the proposal demonstrations.

He weaved his way across the ballroom to reach the bar. There was no way he would survive the night without a few little liquid sedatives.

“Double citrus whiskey, please,” a woman said as he found a place at the bar.

He looked over surprised. Very few people liked that drink. A favorite of his, it was a sipping drink that had a very sweet bite to it.

“Same,” he said to the bartender.

The young woman turned to him and grinned. “That nervous?”

He noticed her yellow ribbon and fought immediate instinct to turn away. He reminded himself this was what he was here for. To meet his mate.

“Call it conversation fuel,” he said with a shrug.

She nodded. “Understood.”

He watched her take a long sip of the drink the moment the bartender set them down. “That nervous?”

She shook her head. “Nope. I’m not looking.”

He glanced at her yellow ribbon. “Really?”

She shrugged. “Yep. It’s all a ruse. I’m a mole, planted to send intel back to the mothership.” She pretended to take out a notebook and pen. “So, tell me red ribbon man: Do you work, have money, leave your socks on the floor instead of the laundry basket?”

He laughed. This chick was nuts. “I deny nothing.”

She nodded theatrically. “Mysterious. That will please her highness.”

He turned to look around the ballroom. “And who is this queen you serve?”

She sighed. “My cousin. She is dead set that she will find her husband this year. She said something about having a premonition dream.”

He looked at her. “So, you are here checking out the men for her? Where is she?”

She pointed with her drink to a large group in the center of the ballroom. “Right there holding court. She talked my mother into getting me to help with her proposal which ok, fine, I can help.”

He tried to see through the circle of people to get a look at the cousin. “How did helping with a proposal lead to getting a yellow ribbon. I mean, there is a ton of paperwork to get in—or so my mother tells me. She did mine so I didn’t ‘accidentally’ miss the deadline.”

She took another sip of her drink. “Well, things got a little out of hand and I went from computer set up girl to clandestine interloper scoping out the competition and the prey.”

He blinked. “That seems like a huge leap in positions.”

She nodded. “I sure thought so, but the family united against me. Eh, it’s a couple of days of my life.”

He grinned at her. “Well, I wish you well on your spying adventure, miss…?”

“Leigh,” she said with a smile. “Good luck finding a mate, Daniel.”

He blinked.

She winked. “I’m that good.”

She disappeared into the crowd and Daniel grinned. Taking another sip, he pushed away from the bar. The night no longer seemed too bad.

“Time to get up,” his mother’s voice rang out from the door.

Daniel groaned and climbed out of bed.

He opened the door as his mother, two brothers, and their wives rushed into his room.

Groaning, he closed the door and watched as the women tore through his suitcase and his brothers settled themselves far too comfortably by his fireplace.

“How did it go? Anyone stand out to you?” his brother Kevin asked.

“Did you really mingle or hide in a corner?” Stewart added unhelpfully.

He scowled at his oldest brother. “I was a good boy and spoke to dozens of people.”

“Yay,” his mother squealed. “And?”

He shrugged. “And I don’t know. They were all nice enough.”

Kevin sat forward with a serious expression. “Nice enough. No one sparked anything inside you? Something exciting or like electricity shocking you?”

He shook his head. “No, nothing like that.”

His sister-in-law, Katie, came over and sat on the arm of Kevin’s chair. “It’s not always thunderbolts and lightning. Did anyone make you feel at peace or maybe more comfortable with yourself?”

He shook his head but felt his stomach drop. There had been one. Leigh. Talking to her made him ready to talk to others. She calmed him with her silly spy talk. But she was not truly there for the Eve Festivities.

“None of the people wanting to find their mates made me feel any of those things. I guess we will see how today goes."

He dressed and they made their way to the breakfast buffet and separated to fill their plates. He went right for his favorite.

“Back off red ribbon, these are mine,” a laughing voice said at his side. He looked over and saw the cute ginger from last night at his side. Leigh hip checked him and grabbed two of the waffles. She went right for the gingerbread syrup and dowsed the waffles in deliciousness.

“Stop liking all my favorites,” said in mock anger. “One of these days, I’m not going to get what I want.”

She shrugged. “From the intel I gathered last night, you will have your pick."

He stared at her in shock. People actually wanted him? it didn’t make sense. He’s boring. Super boring! He liked to look at art for fun!

He took his plate back to his table and found he was sitting back to back with Leigh. She was with her cousin Victoria, a platinum blonde who knew her appeal. She held court all last night and barely asked others about themselves.

She needed a politician for a spouse. That would be a perfect match.

Leigh leaned back in her chair. “Sorry if I scared you.”

He grimaced. “It’s just not something I expected.”

She nodded. “Well, good luck. I hope you find your mate."

He smiled. “Me too.”

Just as he started on his waffles, the taste bringing back some of his joy for the day, a loud song started playing over the speakers. He looked up to see Candy, a nice girl he met last night. She was a little dumb but still sweet.

She started undulating toward his table and he froze. Started taking off her clothes as she came nearer to him.

“Oh no,” he heard Leigh gasp with feeling. He too felt for the little fool. A strip tease proposal at breakfast.

She danced around him for a good two minutes smiling brightly and shaking her breasts at him. When the song ended, he thanked her but kindly declined her proposal. He said that he felt there was someone else for her. She nodded and hurried out of the dining room.

His family patiently went back to their meal and said nothing about his declining.

He felt a small tap on his shoulder. “Thank you for being so nice to her. She’s a sweetie. Her family convinced her that she needed to show her body to catch a man.”

“How sad.”

“Miles Owens thinks she’s wonderful. I think I’ll orchestrate a meeting for them.”

He knew Miles. The man was a happy go lucky mechanic with a thriving business. Yes, those two would get along very well. “Good idea.”

She shrugged. “I know. I’m very smart.” She laughed and turned back to her family.

After breakfast, he was met with his second proposal of the day. He and his family walked out into the snow covered garden to see a twelve piece orchestra and Amber Graham in a sequined cocktail dress. She held up a microphone and started singing a very rough, very awkward song about a professor falling in love with his student.

“Was she in your class?”

He glanced over to see Leighbeside him. The cousin sneered at the young girl as Leigh just looked on puzzled.

“I only her last night.”

“So, just a fetish?”

He shot her look. She turned her head and hurried away but not before he heard her laughter. He bit back smile and turned back to the girl singing to him. There really was nothing wrong with her. She seemed nice enough. The song had seven verses. He gave her credit. She certainly could write a long song in a short amount of time.

He stepped forward to talk to Amber after her very long last note. He smiled kindly and told her that he was flattered but the answer was no.

His family all questioned him on turning her down. He saw the disappointment in their eyes, though.

He felt it too. Even though he had dragged his feet about coming, he still secretly hoped he would find his mate. He wanted to find the person meant for him.

They sat outside in the cold for a long time enjoying watching a few more proposals. All of them ended with yeses. He felt happy for them. He looked across the courtyard and saw Leigh with her cousin sitting in front of a laptop working hard on something. It must be Victoria’s proposal. He wondered which man she set her sights on today. He also wondered if, despite her spy agenda, Leigh found someone that caught her eye. She deserved a nice man. She clearly had a heart. He watched her an hour ago introduce Miles and Candy. The two were still sitting together laughing and enjoying the day. A match made perfect.

“Where do you keep staring, Danny?” Stewart asked peeking over his own shoulder.

“Isn’t that Victoria Hawkins?” his wife asked not even subtly pointing across the courtyard.

“Has she caught your eye?” his mother asked surprised. “I would not have thought someone so social would appeal to you.”

Kevin shrugged. “Sometimes opposites attract.”

“Very true. I never thought I would find someone due to my brilliance and beauty,” Katie said with a grin.

Kevin nodded then frowned. “Hey!”

Daniel smiled at the couple. They really did make a cute couple. All his family found their perfect matches at the Christmas Eve Festival. Maybe he could too.

The twinkling sound of a sappy ballad rang out around the courtyard. Suddenly, two people stood and started dancing. As the song progressed, more and more people joined in until nearly fifty people danced in sequence.

He looked over to Leigh who was staring at him. He shook his head in denial and she gave him a sympathetic smile.

Another one. And he still had no idea who it was.

Until Richard Milhouse pirouetted to the center of the dance troop and soloed quite beautifully.

He came forward and went down on one knee. Daniel gave his hand a gentle pat and explained that while he was honored, he was not the one for Richard. The man nodded and walked away.

He was really beginning to think of himself as the cooler of the party. Three proposals and not one acceptance.

His mother smiled sadly at him and reminded him that it did no good to say yes to the wrong person.

The rest of the afternoon was blissfully quiet for him.

Dinner came and the day neared the end. Christmas Eve would be ending in a few short hours and he still had yet to find his mate. His heart sunk.

“It’ll be ok, Danny,” Kevin assured him. “Lots of people like to wait until dinner. It guarantees a full audience.” 

He cringed. That was exactly what he did not enjoy.

A drum roll started, and he looked up to the stage. A screen lowered and a masterful video presentation started. Victoria Hawkins was making her proposal. It was a twenty-minute-long presentation on her many attributes.

He looked over and saw Leigh at the light table controlling the computer and adding special lighting effects to the show. Victoria walked the stage posing for pictures that many people snapped.

Leigh looked at him and something snapped in him. She looked sad. He only knew her for a day, but already knew that something was very wrong. He stood to go to her but just as he rose, Leigh swung the spotlight on him.

“Daniel, will you marry me?” Vitoria asked loudly in the microphone. He swung his head to Leigh and she was staring down at the computer screen. It hurt his soul that she was sad. Everything in him snapped like a thunderbolt hitting him. He suddenly, desperately, needed to make her smile.

He looked back at Victoria and shook his head. “I’m sorry Victoria. There is someone else.”

Leigh’s head popped up and he stared at her before walking out of the room. Victoria stood shocked on the stage as others whispered in shock. It was true, she was considered one of the prettiest women in attendance and the most wanted.

She just wasn’t for him.

He liked a fiery ginger who spied for a cousin and still ran her proposal when it was for the one he prayed she loved.

He stood out on the balcony and took a few deep breaths. He had no idea what to do now. The rules of the isle said that he had to let Leigh come to him. He was not allowed to pursue her.

He prayed she heard him and prayed that she knew he was waiting for her.

A hand softly slid into his. He looked down and saw Leigh by his side.

“I didn’t plan anything,” she whispered.

“Good,” he said earnestly, squeezing her hand.

She looked up at him. “I like games and reading. I teach biology at the high school and love it. My nights are grading papers and drinking a little wine.”

“You sound perfect.” He smiled brightly at her.

“Marry me?”

He turned to her and pulled her close. “Yes.”

She smiled and hugged him back. His family, the nosy busybodies they were, were instantly surrounding them and hugging them in excitement.

They all celebrated outside Christmas Day bells as they rang out across the island.

He looked down at his beautiful bride-to-be and smiled. Peace, excitement, thunderbolts, and happiness filled his heart.