Better late than never, as they say. I’m squeaking in today for Friday Fictioneers. I love the blue sky in this picture. I just had to offer something. Today’s Friday Fictioneers and photo is graciously brought to you by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. Congratulations to Rochelle and her husband on their 41st wedding anniversary. Amazing!
For more wonderful stories related to this prompt, please click here.
Copyright-Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
Guardian Angel (105)
The gift danced in her head. She envisioned a wooden reindeer with a bell for a nose, dusted with sparkles, and a candle glowing in the center. She’d seen it online and in Christmas catalogs. With her time running out, only two stores remained.
She walked into the last specialty store, harried and dazed, and did not notice the man who followed five steps behind.
He selected an item and bought it in a flash. With brilliant eyes he handed her a plush pillow. “My gift for you.”
Stunned, the woman smiled and accepted the gift.
“Now you can get some rest,” he said gently.
AmyReeseWrites 
Beautiful! 😉
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Thanks, Dianne. I wish someone would do this for me one day 🙂
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i tried. i was following you, but i lost you in the crowd or i would have done it. 😉
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Oh, how sweet 😉 I’m sure you would have.
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yes, i would have. but i also would have had trouble keeping my eyes focused on the gift i should have been looking for.
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Why, pray tell?
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give you a hint. looks like a gracefully curving letter W.
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Well, that’s understandable. How could you not be distracted 🙂
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zzzactly. so that’s what distracts me. what distracts you?
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I’m not sure you would make a good guardian angel…what? Hmm….the look that kind of sees into your soul….
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sure i can be a guardian angel. depends on what i’m guarding…..oh there you go. just when i’m trying to drag things into the gutter, you have to do that emotional-connection thing. but it does sound magical.
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Yeah, I was on to you. The W works for me, too. A non-curvy.
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hmmm…well….i’m just not grasping that image. let me think. however to overcome this dilemma….?
gonna sleep on that and come up with a solution in a dream tonight. now look the other way while i browse your blog for something…g’night.
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You know what? Following behind? That’s just redundant. Now I have to add words…dream well.
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Send me the name of that story (or of the angel.) I know several people who could use pillows like that.
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Yes, me too, Janet. I wish someone would follow me around when I went shopping.
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you just never know who’s watching. well done, miss. one of those magical tales.
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Thanks you, sir. Yours was magical, too.
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then we’re just a pair of magicians. rock-paper-scissors to see who gets to cut who in half first.
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I’m not the one getting cut in half….I’ve never been called a magician before.
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always a first time.
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Very nice… A lot of us need that angel ASAP :). Well done
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Thanks, Boomie. I know, I could use one, too. I’d love it if one could do all my shopping. And, of course, just for everyday life! 🙂
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A really warming Christmas tale… lovely.
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Thanks, Sandra. I’m glad you liked it.
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Cool story! You are an optimistic person writing about an angel and I write about the Dark Lord. Very sweet fairy tail …
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Thanks, Perry. I did go for the optimism. I could very easily have gone to the dark side. I’m trying to be upbeat. Hopefully, it will last.
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Very sweet and unexpected. when I saw that she had someone following her I tensed up for a bitter ending. Happy that it didn’t happen. Nice work, Amy.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks, Rochelle. I guess I wanted a happy ending. Sometimes there’s goodness out there 🙂
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I also thought this would have a sinister ending…the pillow, would he cover her face. It was all nice! …and restful…..
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Thank you, Claudia. That would be a surprise he smothered her with it. Oh, no! Not happy at all.
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Very nice. Christmas can be so stressful.
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Thanks, Shirley. I hope your holidays are stress free.
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Nice one Amy! I love the ending. Sweet.
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Thanks, Jackie. Isn’t a relief not to be NaNoing?
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It is and it isn’t. I feel a little lost today! Isn’t that strange? I’m not done with my book, but I’m not up to doing anymore on it. Yet, I feel sorta, ummm guilty. Maybe it’s NaNo post let down or something.
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I know, I get it. It must be a post NaNo syndrome. Certainly there must be one. There’s something to be said for carving out a little space and time for perspective. So, I guess enjoy this time, right?
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I think so yes. so lets enjoy! 🙂
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A beautiful story, Bumble. Liked it a lot.
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Thank you, Stephen. I’m going for the cheer.
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I am sure you have lots of angels, sweet dreams!
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I do think I have one! I bet you do, too. Thanks, Bill.
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Dear Amy,
At first read your story doesn’t seem to fit in anywhere in the Christmas Story canon but then, slowly a soft glow seems to fill the air and it’s true message becomes ever more clear. I ended up really enjoying this piece. We should all have such a guardian angel, even if its only us, thinking lucidly and counseling ourselves to step back from the mad dash of the holidays and to take a deep breath and relax.
Outstanding.
Aloha,
Doug
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Doug,
Thank you so much. It means a lot to hear that from you. I’m certain at times in my life, I must have had a guardian angel. I believe everyone has one, or maybe it is just positive thinking. I swear my guardian angel has saved me on more than one occasion. The expectations of the holidays can be such a weight on people’s shoulders. It would nice to have someone to just relieve you from it. That would be nice, huh?
Amy
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Oh, I so need a gift like that. One day, one day, I will participate in Friday Fictioneers – that statement itself might be a work of fiction
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Oh, you definitely should try it! It’s a wonderful group of talented people. I’m always amazed I can come up with something! Give it a shot.
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Such a heartwarming tale, Amy. The unexpected gifts are always the most meaningful – and best! Of course, the gift will only work if she now uses the pillow. 🙂 Like Rochelle, I tensed up at first when I read someone was following her.
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Thanks, Debra. I hope she uses the pillow. I know I would. That would be a real sign that it’s ok. For some reason, maybe the blue sky, I went for a happy ending.
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HI Amy,
The last lline jangled me. I couldn’t decide if it was a kind act or if “rest” was more of an eternal one as she was being stalked. But after I thought about the title and read the comments, I realized it was the former. You really stimulated my brain. Thanks for commenting on my story. Ron
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Thanks, Ron. You know that thought did come to mind…was I trying to say something more with this pillow? But, not really. I was trying to have it be something comforting. I guess it could have been a blanket.
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Rest is a great gift. Probably the one most people need most during the Christmas season.
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Right! I would happy if I could at least get that. If someone gave me a pillow, that would definitely be permission enough for me.
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Very nice little story I must say. That fellah walking behind her fell a little in love I think though! But no harm in that! – I remember twenty years ago, in Venice, was sitting having a coffee, and a solitary Japanese woman came into the small coffee shop carrying a violin case, and got a cup of tea. Of course a Japanese woman with a violin case in Venice is something someone who wants to write just cannot ignore! But she was beautiful, somewhat tired, and I left my coffee, went outside, bought a wooden giraffe from an African guy selling things on the pavement, came back and gave it to her. After her confusion, the way her face lit up was absolutely wonderful. See what your story did! Reminded me to be that person again….
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Pirate, then it was worth everything to write it! Wow, I’m so happy. What a great little story for you to share. I didn’t think my story would happen in real life, although it could. Well now you’ve proven me wrong. I didn’t know I was writing about you. Unexpected kindness goes a long way. You are that guardian angel.
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Oh no no no – I’d rather be pillaging on the seven seas!
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Pretty big giraffe too, by the way..!
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That must have made her really happy!
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With reserved..polite Japanese style..yes..to be honest, maybe puzzled as well. But yes, a big smile.
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I almost expected it to be yet a stalker here. A pillow is an interesting gift to give, but I guess she looked like she needed it. Very nice.
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I agree, a pillow is kind of odd. She must have really needed it. I would never turn it down!
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I actually said, “Ohhhhh, that’s so sweet!” when I finished reading the last line of the story.
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And, when I read your comment, I said, “Ohhhhh, I love it!” Thank you, Weebs!
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I see what you mean about thinking on the same lines, Amy. I liked this very much, and suspect the thought would mean almost as much as the pillow.
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Thanks, Anne. It’s nice to write a comforting story once in awhile.
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A plush pillow?! I swear I read this story after commenting on your following post, B.F!
Still! This must be a sign!
Awesome tale, B.F!
🙂
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And, now this!! 🙂 Well, I’ve done a number on you today. I really do hope you got at least a cat nap in! Thanks!
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A Santa Claus when needed.
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Why, yes! We all could use one, couldn’t we?
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