Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: DROP IN A BUCKET (10/24/19)
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TITLE: Christmas Stroll | Previous Challenge Entry
By Dennis Gallemore
10/30/19 -
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“No. I hate Christmas and so should you.”
“Really? I knew you were the most misanthropic human in our fair city but that’s a bit much, even for you.” Jasmine crossed her arms. “Remind me again why we’re friends.”
“Opposites attract?”
“No, that’s not it.” Jasmine shook her head. “Temporary insanity on my part probably.”
“We’ve been friends for three years, Jasmine.”
“Temporary insanity that stretched into permanent insanity.” She linked arms with Felicity. “Come on, let’s stroll down to Casey’s Café and get a cup of hot chocolate. I can’t believe I have known you for this long and didn’t know you didn’t like Christmas.”
“I hid it well. I decided to admit my true feelings.”
“Well, you should’ve kept them hidden. I love everything about Christmas. The presents, the trees, the decorations, the food, the presents…”
Passing Briarwood Church, Felicity waved at the old red-brick building. “Jill wants me and Dad to go with her there on Christmas Eve.” She shook her head. “I still can’t get used to her being my mother. She’s not much older than I am.”
Jasmine rolled her eyes. “Here we go again. Jill is your step-mother and she is quite a bit older than you are; she just looks a lot younger than she really is. You know that; we’ve been over this a hundred times. So, go to church with them. Big deal.”
“You don’t seem to spend much time in a church. Strange for someone who simply loves Christmas and everything about it.”
“What can I say? I’m complex.”
A middle-aged woman wearing a heavy coat came out of the church and stepped down the stairs as Jasmine and Felicity looked on. “Good morning!” Merry Christmas!” She reached the bottom of the steps. “Out doing some last-minute Christmas shopping?”
Felicity shrugged. “She is but I’m just along because…actually I don’t know why I came along.”
“Don’t mind her,” Jasmine said, “She’s just a Scrooge wannabe.”
“I see. Well, too bad. I’m Susan, by the way. I’m the secretary for the church. If you two don’t have a church home, we’d love to have you come here.” She laughed. “I’m always recruiting for Jesus. I can’t help it! Say, I was going to the Post Office, but that can wait. I’ve got hot coffee and hot chocolate inside. How about a cup before you continue shopping?”
“Well…” Felicity began.
Jasmine cut her off. “We’d love to! Come on, Felicity!” Stepping inside, Jasmine’s eyebrows lifted. “Wow! This is place is really decorated! It’s awesome!”
Susan stepped inside the atrium and closed the door. “Yes, it is a rather special time for us.” Stepping over to a side table, she raised an eyebrow. “Coffee or hot chocolate?”
“I love hot chocolate,” Jasmine replied as she turned to Felicity. “And so do you.” Felicity shrugged.
“Okay, two hot chocolates.” “So, any plans for Christmas Eve? We’ve got a great service planned. Starts at six.”
Jasmine eyed a large red bucket that rested on the side table. “Drop in a Bucket” was spelled out in white letters on the bucket’s side. “What’s all that about?”
Susan smiled. “I’m glad you asked. That’s the name of a fund drive we are currently holding. We’re raising money for a new roof. The current one leaks like a sieve and so we often having buckets sitting around under drips.”
Leaning over, Felicity peaked into the bucket. “You haven’t collected much money.”
“That bucket is really more of a reminder. Most of the donations are mailed to us or dropped off at the office,” Susan replied. “You know,” she added, “It’s a lot like our own lives. One drop of water in a bucket doesn’t amount to much, but when you add enough of them you can fill a bucket or even an ocean. Likewise, when you need a bucket of water, you need each drop. Going to church on Sunday or even on Christmas Eve may not seem like much, but when you do it over and over, your bucket fills up with living water.”
Felicity frowned. “Living water? What’s that?”
“It’s what Christmas is all about,” Susan said. “There’s more to Christmas than gifts. Why don’t you come to the Christmas Eve service and find out?”
“We’d love to come!” Jasmine replied before turning to Felicity. “And so would you!”
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