Noel's Gift
Christine Byrne
Noel’s Gift
The Angel Sagas
(Christmas Edition)
By
Christine Byrne
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PUBLISHED BY:
Noel’s Gift
Copyright © 2012 by Christine Byrne
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Your support and respect for the property of this author is appreciated.
This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.
Reading Material for all ages
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Many thanks my brother Ian and my son James for their support. Both are my biggest critics, and the endorsement of my work has motivated me to write more stories within the Angle Sagas. Their support and inspiration has encouraged me to tackle different modern topics, within the realms of fiction. Thanks also go to my best friend Elaine who inspires me every day.
Please note that I use British spelling throughout. You will see doubled letters (e.g. focussed), ou’s (e.g. colour) and ‘re’ (centre) as well as a few other differences from American spelling.
I hope you enjoy the story as much as I enjoyed writing it.
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Noel’s Gift
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Chapter 1
December 14th 1993
The winter night sky over Wenceslas Square was stunning. The air was crisp, with the coldness of December, the stars shone with a promise of magical wonder, and the Prague Christmas markets were filled with visitors and locals, sharing the holiday spirit in a Christmas-card winter wonderland setting.
“You have to buy a puppet Christopher!” Annika screeched with delight, as she lovingly pulled him by his padded jacket, towards the brightly decorated wooden hut selling the Czech handicrafts, hanging brightly in the moonlight.
“Ok,Ok!” Chris laughed, as his sweetheart insisted that he took part in the traditions of her beloved Prague culture. “I will buy one for my little sister, she’ll love it!”
They both carefully inspected the stunningly crafted offering, residing in the red and yellow wooden hut.
“How old is your sister?” Annika asked, as they cuddled closely together whilst deciding on the right hand crafted puppet to purchase.
Chris smiled down into her beautiful smiling face; he had never loved anyone before, Annika was his first love and he knew in his heart they were destined to be together. He was a young 24 year old American who had been on vacation in Prague for four weeks. He met Annika on the very first day and fell in love with her instantly.
Their eyes locked in a moment of deep love.
“I can’t believe I have only known you for four weeks Annika.” He whispered gently as he kissed her cold, winter chilled cheek, “We must find a way to be together!”
“We will Christopher” she whispered back, her Czech accent heavy to his ears, yet musical to his heart and soul.
“You haven’t answered my question Christopher!” she playfully slapped him on the right arm, “how old is your little sister?”
“Oh right” he caressed his arm, feigning pain his face beaming with joy, his heart dancing in the spirit of the Christmas wonderland that surrounded him. “Charlie, she is just ten years old.”
“I am looking forward to meeting her.” Annika said; her voice rich with European culture. “What does she like to do?”
Chris scratched his head, ruffling his shoulder length sandy blonde hair, trying to find a truthful answer to Annika’s question.
“She is into everything! She is typical ten year old American girl, what do you expect!”
“You are a hopeless brother!” she mocked, as Chris pulled her close “I will select a puppet for your Charlie!”
Annika picked up a beautifully crafted hand-made marionette Blue Princess. Atop her perfectly red ringlet head, was a golden crown draping a single pearl upon the forehead of the wooden doll. Her face was as smooth as porcelain, and her skillfully crafted body dressed in white and sky blue satin.
She held it in her hand’s and presented it to Christopher,
“This is a wonderful example of our skill and culture. I think Charlie will love this; it will be a gift she will hold on to for the whole of her life, and can pass it down to her children. It will grow in value as it is an original Czech marionette.”
Chris looked at the wooden puppet and began laughing, his chin raised into the brisk night air, as the sound of amusement left his body.
“What is so funny?” Annika enquired, bemused at his reaction.
“This puppet my lovely Annika” he said, his laughter subsiding “It has your beautiful red hair and large beautiful eyes. I think you want me to buy this as a constant reminder of you!”
She looked down at the doll in his hands and smiled at the comparison between her and Charlie’s gift.
“Ha! Maybe you are right! It is a little expensive anyway!” she ginned as she looked at the price tag attached to the object.
“What? Five hundred! That’s, that’s, oh wait a minute, that’s only twenty five dollars!”
“Ah!” Annika jibbed “and it is Czech craftsmanship at its finest!”
Christopher took his wallet out of his coat pocket, still smiling into the face he loved. His business was about to move into the black after three years of struggling, and he relished with the thought of buying something so beautiful for his sister. This trip had taken a hit on his young moderate wealth, but at that moment in time, he didn’t care.
Annika clapped her hands together with childish joy. How she loved this man. How thankful she was to God, for bringing him into her life.
