Humor

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Off-season Mini-challenge, Dec 2007

criteria: 250 words +/-
Christmas theme
must use words:
paperclip, snow, shoe
may not use the word that
3rd person pov only

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“You wouldn’t catch me trying it on my David.” Nina made a prim mouth and then grinned at her own little joke. “Besides, my own darling couch potato could profit from a dose of what ails Clarence.”

“Well, I’ve done everything short of divorce. murder, or moving the family to Clarence's office.” Jeanie wheeled the Saturn around and pulled into the one available open slot. “Do you mind? I’ll only be a minute. Ten more boxes should do me.”

Nina flipped open her purse and plucked out a lipstick. “Not at all; I’ll just sit here and plan your funeral.”

“Very funny. With friends like you…” Jeanie’s green eyes flashed a comic warning at Nina, now focused on the reflection of her own puckering, magenta lips.

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As if programmed by the fragrance of dinner cooking, the telephone buzzed its usual. “You and the kids go ahead without me, hon; I have a stack of papers you wouldn’t believe.”

It was near midnight when Clarence let his stealthy self in the side door of his house. Carrying his shoes, he tiptoed down the hall.

“Well, I'll be. Who could’ve…?” A rainbow of bright paperclips covered something tall and conical in one corner of the large room. He moved closer. Was it really their years-old, scraggly Christmas tree - in extreme makeover? Around the base of it, mounds of the same utilitarian office stuff, only in white, really did resemble the snow they were meant to.

(I)Whew, what a relief. And here I've been beating myself up over spending too much time at the office. I should've known Jeanne understood and shared my vision.(/I) Suddenly Clarence knew this Christmas would be his most memorable ever. It was the most beautiful sight he had ever seen.

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