Joseph Stephens and the best Christmas Ever part 1

            It was the eve before Christmas and it had been raining all day, the air outside was chilly and the skies were all gray. Joseph Stephens was in his kitchen with cookies to bake and it had not snowed all day, not even a flake.

            Joseph Stephens’ house was lined with Christmas lights that sparkled and shined brightly out against the gray skies and dim light of day. The smell of pine trees and cookies added a comforting aroma to the air. Joseph and Jaye had been listening to Christmas music, relaxing, finishing up last minute gift-wrapping and cookie baking. Joseph noted that when Jaye was visiting he would run out of cookies ten times as quickly.

Joseph and Jaye sat on the floor next to the Christmas tree as they placed the last of their gifts under the tree “hey, so I was wondering…” Joseph started to say as he turned to his friend. Jaye was noticeably eating another cookie. Joseph wasn’t sure where that cookie even came from because the cookies they baked were in the kitchen and neither of them stood up in the last half hour. “Yeah?” Jaye asked with his mouth full of cookies. The pointed end of a star shaped cookie was sticking out of his mouth. Joseph chose to ignore that. “So, yeah I was just wondering if you heard from Old Man winter since you bashed him over the head last month” Joseph asked. Jaye slowed his chewing but didn’t stop. He had a thoughtful expression as he tried to remember. “Yeah, I think I remember him saying something about no snow for Christmas because he was annoyed with me” Jaye said. Joseph sighed. “Maybe I can talk to Old Man Winter tonight and see if he will make it snow for tomorrow. By the way do we have any more of those cookies left?” Joseph said. Just as Joseph asked, Jaye was in the middle of taking a cookie out of his pocket and was about to eat it. Joseph looked at him, then at the cookie. Jaye slowly moved the cookie to his mouth and then ate the whole thing in one bite. “No, we just ran out of cookies” Jaye said with a mouthful.

            Joseph stood up and went into the kitchen to get a snack. “If I cant have cookies maybe I will have some coffee or hot chocolate” Joseph called back as he rummaged through his cupboards. “Ooh! Whatever you make, make some for me too!” Jaye called into the Kitchen. After searching through the cupboards Joseph checked the refrigerator. When he opened the door to the fridge he spotted a pumpkin creamer left over from Autumn. “hey I found some pumpkin creamer, I think Patches left it here. Pumpkin is kind of a winter thing too right?” Joseph called into the living room. “yeah, Totes! Brew up some coffee and lets take a trip to flavor town” Jaye called back.

            Joseph started his coffee machine and looked at the bottle of pumpkin flavored creamer as he waited. He remembered trying it in the Fall and he remembered how fresh it tasted. It tasted like it was made with real cream, sugar, spices and fresh pumpkin. Only Patches would bring something like that with him. soon the coffee had finished brewing and Joseph poured two cups of coffee, both with pumpkin creamer.

            Joseph walked into the living room with two cups. He saw Jaye holding a cookie out, offering it to Joseph. “I just found this in the side pocket of my hoodie, do you want it?” Jaye said. Jaye was wearing a green hoodie and often kept food stored away in its large pockets. “it was in a plastic baggie, so don’t worry” Jaye added with a laugh.

            Joseph sat down and took the cookie “thanks man”. Joseph took a bite of his cookie and then washed it down with a swig of pumpkin coffee. As soon as the flavor hit his tongue his eyes lit up. The creamer tasted even better than he remembered. Joseph and Jaye both looked at each other and nodded with big smiles on their faces. “This stuff is magical!” Jaye said. “yeah man its so good!” replied Joseph.

Joseph looked at his tree and smiled, the lights sparkled so brightly with Orange, yellow and red lights. “Wait…didn’t we use Christmas lights?” Asked Joseph. “And weren’t the trees bare?” Asked Jaye. Joseph looked outside and saw that all of the trees that lost their leaves had returned but with their fall colors. Christmas lights and decorations still covered houses, trees and street lamps but everything had an autumn look and feel to it. “Its like an Autumn Christmas” Jaye said as he ran outside. “Maybe that creamer really was magical” Joseph said as he followed his friend outside.

            Outside the air smelled of woodsmoke, the ground was damp with fallen leaves and rain. the light rain sprinkled down on their heads. The trees were in full autumn colors, the lights were white, yellow, orange and red. The creamer made the two friends see autumn everywhere they went and they would see autumn colors until the magical effects wore off. “This is the best!” Jaye cheered. “this is great but I hope Christmas day looks like Christmas day. “Don’t worry! Winter will probably help us with that. I mean he cant stay mad forever right?” Jaye said with a laugh.

Joseph Stephens and the trouble with Winter

            Joseph Stephens sat in his car as snow gently fell to the ground. The car was running and Christmas music was playing on the radio. Joseph was waiting in a parking lot alone, just him and a bag of fast food. Joseph peeled back the paper on a large burger and took a bite.  The taste sensation that filled his mouth was extraordinary, the savory flavor of meat and cheese mixed with the sweet flavors of ketchup and pickle. After one bite Joseph knew he was a changed man. He took another bite, then another, each bite as wonderful as the last. Joseph looked through his frosted driver side window and saw Jaye Williams walking toward the car. Joseph was waiting for Jaye and wanted to get out of the car and greet his friend but the burger called to him. Joseph took another bite. It was impossible to resist. The burger was so good that Joseph felt compelled to eat it, the same way someone wouldn’t be able to stop kissing someone they loved. The two lovebirds knew they would have to depart but every kiss felt like fireworks and ‘just one more kiss’ was never enough.

            Jaye knocked on Joseph’s window and Joseph turned to see his friend and then waved. Joseph unlocked the passenger door and Jaye climbed into the car. Joseph had ketchup on his face, empty burger wrappers in his car and a feeling of shame in his soul. “So what is up my homie?” Jaye said, making sure to enunciate each word. Joseph started the car. “Not much man, just waiting for you” Joseph said hoping that Jaye wouldn’t ask him about his burger experience. “Sorry it took so long, you’d be surprised how many weird looks I got when I asked for Christmas clothes for my hamster. At least I was able to find the decoration we needed” Jaye replied. Joseph and Jaye almost never spent the holidays together but due to a strange stroke of luck they had been able to spend both thanksgiving and now Christmas together. “Sweet Turduckin Christmas this is gonna be the best Christmas ever!” Joseph said as he backed out of his parking spot and drove off.

            Jaye was staying with Joseph for the holidays and they both decided to go all out and decorate like madmen with a mission. As soon as they arrived at Joseph’s house they set to work hanging Christmas lights and making eggnog, which is the second best nogg just behind Pumpkin nogg. While Joseph was trying to balance on the later Jaye did his best to steady the ladder, that was until Jaye got bored and they began banging the ladder with a hammer because it sounded funny. “H-hey, how about some eggnog. You should go make some” Joseph called down. “You sure you don’t need help out here?” Jaye said sincerely. “yeah, I am fine. You go on and start the nogg a’brewin’ “ Joseph replied as he did his best not to fall off ladder.

            Jaye went inside to make Eggnogg. As Joseph was working on string up lights a hard wind blew and shook the ladder. Joseph clung to the roof as the ladder shook under the force of the wind and was eventually swept away. Joseph fell but grabbed onto the rain gutters just in time. The rain gutters cracked and Joseph lost his grip and fell two floors to the ground. Just before impact a winter wind grabbed Joseph and gently set him down. Before Joseph could say “what was that” a well-groomed blue and white skinned gentleman appeared out of nowhere. He wore a large coat, had a white beard, blue and white skin, black eyes, dark blue winter boots and a stylish winter hat. “Old man winter?” Joseph said sounding skeptical. “That’s right my boy! Winter is here for another wonderful season!” Winter cheered then put his arm up in the air to emphasize excitement. “What happened to you? Usually you are cranky and have anger problems also you drink in excess and chase off Autumn. Autumn actually left town a little early just so he wouldn’t have to fight with you like that one time you and he fought so hard half of the city almost was destroyed” Joseph told Winter. Winter let out an old man chuckle as he remembered the good times. “Oh ho ho, yes indeed I remember that. I am pleased to say I have given up booze and have been working on my temper. I am a new winter” Winter said with a smile.

            As Joseph was talking to Winter Jaye came rushing out of the house. “Old man winter! I am tired of your shenanigans!! Feel my wrath!” Jaye shouted and then swung a sledgehammer down and smashed Winter over the head with it. At that very moment Jaye remembered that Winter was immortal and probably wouldn’t be knocked out even by a sledgehammer, the searing pain made Winter instantly enraged and Joseph wondered how Jaye was able to get into the tool shed and find his sledgehammer.

            Winter screamed in pain and then took a deep breath in and blew out as hard as he could. The full force of winter winds was aimed at Jaye and Jaye was thrown backward. He sailed through the air half frozen and immediately regretting his decision. Joseph jumped in front of Winter “Its ok Winter, remember your progress? Ok? Also remember you weren’t always the nicest guy and Jaye didn’t know you were working on being a better person” Joseph said. Winter started to calm down but was still angry “Yes, you are right. I will leave though, I can’t risk being set off again by your friend” Winter said as he barely contained his rage. A cold wind blew over the area and Old man Winter was gone. After he disappeared snow began to fall from the sky, but only over Joseph’s house.

            Joseph looked over at Jaye who was upside down, half frozen and stuck in a tree. Jaye smiled and gave a thumps up. Joseph nodded and then sighed. Joseph helped Jaye out of the tree and into the house. The two friends then made some hot chocolate and sat in front of the fireplace to get warm. The fire crackled and the two friends sat in silence.

            Jaye finally spoke up. “Ever think…” Jaye was about to say but then Joseph interrupted. “…How hard it is to balance life, work and relationships? How after a while you see time, emotional energy and physical energy as commodities or currency like money, something to save up, spend and budget? How, no matter how much you yearn for the past you can never recapture it? Yeah I feel like that too” Joseph said all in one breath. He replied in day dreaming voice as if he was just airing out his thoughts and not actually talking to Jaye. “Uhh..What?” Jaye said finally. “what?’ Joseph said as he snapped back into reality. They both stared at each other with quizzical expressions. “What was that thing you just said?” Asked Jaye. “Oh, sorry, I was thinking about a hamburger I had today” Joseph replied.

            The two friends sat in silence for a while. Then Jaye looked outside to see it was still snowing “Want to build a snow fort?” Jaye asked. “yes, I really do” Replied Joseph. The two friends always preferred Autumn and missed it dearly but winter had its own good side and despite all of the trouble with Winter, Joseph Stephens and Jaye Williams were determined to have a great holiday season together.

Joseph Stephens and Winter's fury

            Joseph Stephens sat in his house shivering. It seemed like an eternity since his good friend Pumpkin Patches left and winter came along.

Old man winter was an unpredictable fellow, coming on strong and inviting himself in and lazily lingering into months that didn’t even belong to him. He was a jolly fellow in the holiday season but by January he was more like the drunk uncle that wont leave your house after a Christmas party. Joseph Stephens knew all too well, both the drunk uncle AND the persistence of Old man winter. “Isn’t it time for spring? It is march after all” Joseph said as he shivered. Winter was asleep in the rocking chair using his blue robe and slippers. His long white hair ran down to the floor and tangled into the rocker as it went back and forth. “Oh yes, I should be going. Just another five minutes” Said Old Winter.

            Outside of Joseph’s house was a timid little bunny. “E-excuse me. I think Easter is approaching and I-it should be nice and green for the spring.” Said the little furry brown bunny. Spring tail the rabbit was basically a talking rabbit that made flowers grow, but every time he tried to revive the flowers Old Man Winter’s cold air breath would make the flowers retreat back into the ground. As winter slept cold air would escape from his mouth as he exhaled. Spring would never arrive if the silly old king of winter stayed.

            “Ok, Winter wake up!” Joseph said jostling the old King of the snow and ice. “Who DARES?!” Shouted Old man winter. He stood up quickly and cold air blew in every direction. Cold air followed Old man Winter, when he slept it was chilly, when he was awake it snowed, when he was angry it made blizzards. Snow began falling inside and outside of Joseph’s already drafty home. “I will go where I please and when I please!” Said Winter as his voice became that of the howling wind. His appearance changed from that of a sleepy old man to an enraged Wizard who had power of the elements. Springtail the Bunny retreated into a hole under Joseph’s house. If Spring wasn’t going to stand up to winter, Joseph would have to. “That’s ENOUGH!” Joseph said and he pushed Winter with all of his might. Old man winter stumbled backward and hit his back against the wall. This jolt brought him back to his senses. “Oh…I am sorry Joey. I didn’t mean to lose my temper again. It is good of you to let me stay at your house. I-I should leave” Winter said sounding ashamed and a little dazed. “tell Spring I said goodbye and I’m sorry” Winter added as he collected his things and put on his fuzzy blue winter hat. A knitted hat that said “Winter #1” on it.

            “I will, goodbye and sorry for shoving you” Joseph said, though he wasn’t really sorry. It was just better to stay on friendly terms with the seasons because they come back every year.

            A rush of wind blew through the house and then went out the window, taking Old Man Winter and all of the snow with it. “You can come out now” Joseph said. Spring Bunny poked his head out cautiously. “R-really? Thank you Mr.Stephens” Said Springtail. “Don’t mention it. go do your thing and spread the Spring season. And maybe try to be a little braver around Winter” Joseph replied. Springtail nodded and smiled. Then hopped off. Green grass and flowers sprung up behind the magical little rabbit, then a warm breeze blew through the town. The smell of freshly grown flowers and rain floated through the air. Joseph smiled, took off his sweater and went inside. It was finally spring, he would enjoy the pleasant rain, the cool breeze and the sunshine while he waited for his chance to see Pumpkin Patch again in the Fall.

Empty House

            On a snowy night I sit at home. Alone again. The feeling of sadness and exhaustion washes over me as I look around at my ruined house. There was no grand fight, natural disaster or even a break in, this was destruction from a wounded man.

            Sadness and frustration filled my head and that led to anger. Anger led to rage and that led to destruction. I sit on the floor as sadness takes hold again. I feel like a dog chasing his tail, running in circles and never getting anywhere. I feel like I spend my days beating my head against the wall and when the pain is too much I explode and then start all over again. I do not know how to break this cycle, how to feel better. I know happiness is possible but it seems so far away.

            I dream of a happier day as I continue to run in circles. No one is forcing my life in any direction, I am doing this to myself. I continue the cycle of pain and then get angry when I get hurt. I realized I had a problem when I started spending most of my money replacing my cheap furniture on a regular basis.

            I don’t see any outside help, no one is trying to get into my life, and no one seems interested in helping me. They see me like they would see an old empty house. They take a look, they might even peek their head in the window, but no one goes inside. My life isn’t a shelter for the weak or a place to warm up. But if someone took the time to turn on some lights and maybe start a fire in the fireplace my empty house of a life might seem a little cozier.

            No one wants to put in the investment and so I am stuck doing it all myself. The only time I might get someone poking their head in the door is the few times I get a nice fire going for myself. They see the warmth and want to be apart of it, but if the fire goes out they leave as fast as they came.

            So sit on the kitchen floor of my actual house, staring into the living room at all of the broken furniture. Chairs I need to replace, a new couch I need to pay for. It will give me something to do, something to distract my mind for a little while.

            Until I find someone willing to help me rebuild my life or gain the energy to do it myself, I will continue to feel like an empty old house with broken furniture in the living room.

The Beast and the rain

The rage of the Beast was fierce as it always had been. Abandoned by the world and left alone in the wilderness the Beast spent its days in a dark cave hidden away from sight. Roars echoed through the stone tunnels as the Beast thrashed around his dwelling. The Beast slammed its powerful fists into a stone pillar smashing it to pieces and lashed out at the stone wall with its razor sharp claws, adding another set of marks to an already torn up wall.

The source of the rage was long forgotten and buried down into the creature’s soul. The words were lost but the gnawing pain remained. It ate at the Beast so feverously that anything could set the creature off into a frenzy.

Despite the loud roars and sound of crumbling stone, the faintest noise reached the Beast’s ear, the sound of rain. The Beast stopped terrorizing the cave walls and its eyes relaxed. Sadness washed over its face as it slowly walked toward the mouth of the cave. Its two hind legs made loud soft ‘pat pat’ noises against the stone floor.

Outside was a beautiful forest, rich green trees rising up ten feet or more from the soft soil. A winding river went through the forest like a snake adding the reflective touch of water to an already scenic landscape. This scenery was lost on the Beast most of the time. The Beast never came out of its cave during the day and it only surfaced at night to hunt. Large monsters rarely have patience to admire a tree. Day or night, when it rained, the Beast surfaced from the depths and stood in the mouth of it’s cave and it would stare at the rain.

The pouring rain added a different kind of beauty to the forest. Replacing the sparkling river waters and the illuminated green leaves with a calm cloudy sky and the gentle hush of raindrops. It was a mystery why The Beast changed its behavior when it rained, The Beast didn’t even know. It would stare puzzled up at the sky and watch rain fall from nowhere and little the landscape. The constant steady drum of raindrops hitting leaves was hypnotizing and The Beast fell into a trance.

In a daze The Beast sat down on the cold ground and put its hands over its face, its long clawed fingers stretching up over its head and its rounded snout sticking out from between its palms. As the fury and pain seemed to subside The Beast began to shrink. The horn ridges on its back slowly faded away and the thick dark gray fur began to recede back into The Beasts body. After several minutes The Beast had transformed into a man.

The Man had dark gray hair and a thin face with narrowed eyes and nose, like a wolf. He opened his eyes like he had just woken from a dream. As he looked himself over all the memories and deep buried feelings came rushing back. The questions that eluded the Beast were now all answered in the mind of the man. He knew everything that happened, why, when and how it all happened. He couldn’t stand it and began to sob. The rain poured down and drowned out the sounds of the man crying.

There was something about the rain that tied him to his humanity, a single piece that wasn’t corrupted by rage. The rain brought this out of The Beast and it would transform.. The Beast was its true form and the man was an echo of its past. A man so consumed with rage that he willingly became a beast to hide the pain away.

The day turned to night and the raining stopped. The man lay curled into a ball. He had a choice, every time it rained he had a chance to remember and to choose to stay with those memories as a human and every time he willed himself back into a Beast.

In the deep dark woods on a cloudy night a large Beast stalked the forest.

Mysterious Stranger

    In the cold of the night a lone figure stood under a street lamp. It was midnight and the city streets were empty. The surrounding houses and buildings were run down and old and litter blew around with every winter wind that rolled through. The figure of a man was wearing a black trench coat and a hat. He was trying hard to conceal his face, but while doing so looked like the most suspicious character anyone can imagine. He also seemed out of place, not only was the trench coat fairly new looking but his shoes looked expensive and his hat was clean and well cared for.
    The man stood motionless by the street lamp, he didn’t even flinch or shiver when the cold wind blew through the city. It was the kind of wind that would cut through your layers of clothes and chill you to the bone, yet the man did not move. He stood unaffected by the cold and the wind. He didn’t seem restless or bored from standing around nor was he nervous about looking so suspicious. He was like a phantom or the image of a man caste on the sidewalk.
    A car pulled up and a tall man in a suit stepped out. He didn’t speak, instead stood next to the figure like he was waiting for a bus. The man in the suit set down a brief case and adjusted his tie. “The deadline is Saturday” said the suited man. Then he stepped back into the car and the car drove off.
    The mysterious figure stood stern and imposing, unflinching at the transaction. He seemed to be a man that was so used to these kinds of meetings that they seemed mundane. Then with a loud snort the mysterious man woke up. Albert Lewis was a business man who had been waiting for the bus. He had been working twelve hours a day for the last eight days and often had to take the late bus home. Albert rustled in his coat and shook his arms to further wake up. He checked his watch and smiled. “Must of dozed off” he said. Then the bus pulled up, right on time. Albert stepped up onto the bus and took a seat. He felt silly for falling asleep standing up and was happy he hadn’t fallen over or been robbed or worse, missed his bus.
    The bus pulled away and drove off. The mysterious briefcase was left sitting on the sidewalk with no one to claim it and the ‘mysterious’ stranger was just a sleepy business man.
In the cold of the night a lone briefcase stood under a street lamp….