Debt Consolidation

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Ryan looked up from his stack of bills. Sighing, he began to calculate how much the family would have left after all of their creditors were paid. It seemed like every month they were getting further and further into debt. His wooden chair creaked as he leaned back and stared at the ceiling. "Out of sight and out of mind..." he told himself. He wife Teresa entered the room and stood behind her husband. She was so proud of him. He had worked his way through college and now was working two jobs so that she could stay home and care for the two children, Laura and Samuel. Since giving birth to Samuel less than a month ago, Marla was in no hurry to rejoin the workforce anyway. She put her hands on Ryan's shoulder, leaned down, and kissed the top of his head. Turning around in his chair, Ryan held on to Teresa and pulled her on to his lap. "What was the kiss for?" asked Ryan, his face illuminated by the warm desk lamp, "Do I have to have a reason for kissing my own husband?" responded Teresa in mock disbelief. There was a reason, actually. She was proud of him. Very proud. But still, she missed him more and more lately. They used to stay up until the wee hours of the morning, snuggled close to each other under the warm blacnkets of their bed and talk for hours and hours. Now, working two jobs, it just seemed like Ryan only had time to sleep. How was she going to get her best friend back?

Later that night, long after Ryan had fallen asleep, Teresa snuck down the stairs. One by one she delicately tip-toed each stair, down to the desk where the family kept the financial records. She looked over how much they had and how much they owed. Not a pretty picture. Then she realized, they could convert their home's equity into cash and pay off some debts! That way Ryan could spend more time at home and not be so stressed about money. She would talk to him in the morning and get his thoughts...

Making her way back upstairs, Teresa climbed back in to bed. She lay next to her husband. Ryan put his arm around her and pulled her close. The happy couple held each other tightly and drifted off into slumber....

Spirals

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Wind… It seems like it’s been stronger lately. Lying in the dark, I find myself feeling something is wrong. What it is, I do not know. The bedroom is dark. The only sounds that pierce the muteness of night are the oceanic rustle of wheat in the fields, and the metronomic tick-tock of the brass alarm clock beside my bed. Convinced nothing is amiss, I quietly slip back into slumber.

Three in the morning, I wake again. The room is bathed with a blue light - an eerie glow which chills me and confirms my cast-aside fears.

This is not a dream.

My heart races, my pulse quickens. The reliable clock I had awoken to so many times had stopped ticking. The wind was gone. The only thing I could hear was my own heart beating in my chest. Each breath I took seemed closer and closer to my last. Any sense of courage or bravery I once had now leaves my body as I pull the soft flannel blanket over my face and pray. I pray that whatever or whomever is bringing this nightmare will leave.

And then nothing.

I awoke to the usual sounds of morning. Calm winds sweeping through the fields. The pulse of the clock has returned to normal, as has mine. I turn and set my feet on the cold hardwood floors and make my way towards the open window. Drawing the curtains, I’m faced with an image that will change my life forever...

What was it?

Dance Partners

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Nina knew only dance. Luis knew only Nina. Every day, Nina would walk the three miles to Madame Olena's dance studio. The sunrise would barely clear the mountains as she turned the path into the rickety old house which doubled as the Olena residence. Since she was four, Nina practiced day in and day out. Perfecting her form. One day, she knew in her heart, she would travel to America and become a great dancer. Luis had loved Nina for as long as he could remember. She was the first thing he thought of when he woke up. She was the last thing he thought of before he went to bed. His love, however, was to be from afar. He knew that she could never have time for him or his heart. She was a rising star destined for great things. He was an errand boy living on the poor side of the island. One day, Luis passed Madame Olena's and glanced through the window. There was Nina. She was beautiful. A representative from an American dance company had heard of Nina from a mutual friend and made a special trip to the island to see her. This was her chance. This was also his last. A lump fell in his throat as he watched her dance and twirl in a shimmering pink gown. Her hair fell softly on her shoulders when she paused and flowed freely as she danced. Her dance. He would miss her dancing. He would miss her voice as she called out hello to him whenever their paths crossed. He would miss the smell of her hair as she teased him when they were both too young to know anything but hopes and dreams. And now she was leaving. He knew it. Gathering all his courage, he made the journey up the cobblestone that Nina took everyday. He knocked on the door and the piano stopped. Madame Olena arose from the piano, walked hurriedly to the door and opened it to find Luis. Tears running down his cheeks, Luis asked if Nina could come to the door. Madame Olena replied that she was simply too busy to come to the door and to go away. A small angelic voice echoed from the den where the audition was being held. "Who is it?" Madame Olena replied that there was no one at the door and to continue her exercises. Luis, however, stated that it was he, the one man who had loved her all his life. He told her that if she left the island without knowing his heart and soul had long since been given to her, he would wither and die from lonliness and heartache. Slowly, Nina approached the door and asked Luis what he had said. She, of course, knew what he had said but only wanted to hear such wonderful passages once more. And once more, Luis confessed his undying love for her. Opening the door fully, Nina held Luis by the hand and asked why he had never said anything earlier. Luis admitted that because he was poor and could only offer his love, he did not feel worthy enough to dare approach her with such things. "Silly boy, " Nina replied, "I've always loved you." These were the words Luis had waited a lifetime to hear. Luis pulled her close and kissed with the love of a thousand lifetimes. This was love's first kiss. The one kiss that they would tell their grandchildren about. But what of America? Madame Olena told Nina she would have to choose: Dance or Love. Nina replied: "I'll take both." and walked down the cobblestone path, hand-in-hand with Luis, down the same path she had always taken day-in and day-out.

Over the next few years, Nina taught Luis the joy of the dance and Luis taught Nina the depths of his love. Five years later, a member of the New York Ballet Company came to their island to see for himself the two dancers which danced with such passion and such intense love, that anyone who dared watch for more than a few moments were moved to tears of ecstacy. He witnessed a lifetime of love displayed through a dance, a union of two bodies. Upon seeing such expression, he knew that they were destined for greatness.

Nina and Luis moved to America and danced for thirty more years.

Now grey and aging, Luis and Nina sat on their tattered brown couch and held their grandchildren close. Luis looked fondly into Nina's eyes and once more told the tale of love's first kiss.

"Nina knew only dance. Luis knew only Nina."

And so the story continued....

Diamond-Essence

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Bob walked in to the restaurant with hesitation. He'd only known Joyce for three weeks and already he was proposing??? Was he mad? Sure his friends Eddie and Lou said not to rush in to things. Enjoy the single life. Mom and Dad seemed confused as well since Bob had never really been the settle down and raise kids type. Still, Bob knew that this is what HE wanted and so he reached out for the cold metal handle and pulled. The glass door closed behind him and the hostess asked how many was in the party. "Actually, I'm meeting somebody.” he replied. Joyce, noticing her boyfriend entering the restaurant, stood up and waved. Bob made eye contact and walked over to her table. They exchanged kisses and your usual mushy new relationship cooing, then sat down and waited for the waiter. "Hi, I'm Craig and I'll be your waiter this evening." said the pimply faced youth sounding like he had said the same thing at least twenty times already. Dinner was ordered and afterwards, the two lovers enjoyed their remaining wine. "Joyce," Bob began with trembling voice, "there's something I need to ask you.". "What is it, honey?" she replied. "Will you marry me?"

With that, he pulled out the engagement ring he had purchased from Diamond-Essence, opened the box, and presented it to her. She looked at the ring and tears began to well in her eyes. "Oh darling, of course I will but where's the real ring?" His heart sank. He'd only been working for the factory for two months and could not afford a real diamond. How did she know? Was she a closet gemologist, did she work for Diamond-Essence. It didn't matter. He had to think fast....

"Oh," he improvised, "the REAL ring. He he, of course... You didn't fall for my little joke at all did you, honey? I'll be right back." Quickly scanning the room for any available jewelry, he made his way to the restroom. The door swung back as he walked to the mirror and washed his face. 'What am I going to do?' he thought to himself. Then it hit him. He quietly and discreetly left the restaurant and down the street to the jewelers. It was nine in the evening and the store had been closed for the night. Looking around, he found a large metal trash can. Perfect. Picking it up, he hurled the waste receptacle through the plate glass window. Alarms immediately sounded. He knew time was of the essence. Carefully stepping over shards of broken glass, he found the perfect ring. Snatched it from the display case, and stuck it in his pocket. Exiting much more discreetly than he entered, Bob walked back to the restaurant and, covered in sweat, kneeled before his lovely bride-to-be. "Here is the REAL ring!" Bob proudly proclaimed as he pulled the jewel from his jacket pocket. "Oh honey, “Joyce exclaimed, "It's beautiful! Of COURSE I'll marry you!" Success! "But..." "But WHAT?", Bob interjected. "But it's the wrong size. I'll just go that jewelry store down the street in the morning."

Sometimes people do strange things for love, like committing breaking and entering in order to steal a ring that doesn't even fit. When you're in love, don't worry about material possessions. And when you find that special girl, don't try to impress her with diamonds and lies. Just be honest and give her all the love that you have. Despite what the commercials tell you, Diamonds are NOT forever. Only love is....