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The
Perfect Night Crystal was full of smiles as she left the ice with 5.9’s across the board. “Nice job,” said Natasha from the Russian team as she skated by, “at least I beat the Germans this time.” Crystal responded with “thumbs up” before she headed back to the locker room. All the hours of training had finally paid off and she was in the best shape of her life. Standing only 5’3” she was solid yet slender and she wore her hair up during competition because her long golden mien was a distraction while performing the high-speed spins worked into her choreography. The atmosphere was damp inside the locker room. Steam rose from the showers as other competitors washed and discussed their routines. The bench by Crystal’s locker was covered with moistened towels and water-spots in the shape of behinds. Her locker was kept neatly as she had only been an occupant of it for three days. Her skates were neatly placed on the bottom shelf just below the hook where she kept her uniform hung neatly, wrapped in plastic. Her blue jeans and tee shirt, she kept folded and on a higher shelf to keep them dry and free of wrinkles. “How can you guys make such a mess in such a short time,” she said out loud, but didn’t expect the others to hear her over their laughter in the shower. The other lockers looked as if drunken sailors in port had been sharing them, even though it was one girl per unit. Sitting on the end of the bench, the only dry spot left, she worked with enthusiasm to get the knot out her sneakers shoelace when she noticed from the corner of her eye, a note that had been taped to her locker door. The paper was from a notebook and folded in half with the writing on the inside. A colossal grin came about her face as her eyes focused on the red heart drawn in crayon on the outside of the folded paper. “Meet me at the Fantasy Inn,” were the only words written inside the note, also with crayon. The Fantasy Inn was a large yet quaint lodge which gave the impression of rustic cabins. It was located romantically adjacent to Timbuck Lake, which was frozen over and served as the host to the Grand National Snow Cross competition every December. Time passed slowly as she waited in the lobby. The only entertainment was the bearskin hanging on the wall above a cleverly positioned peace of petrified log. It was amazing how much detail the taxidermist used when fitting the bear’s teeth and realistic looking eyes that seemed to follow you every were in the room. It was dark outside and drowsiness was setting in when Jason finally showed up. He was an average size man with sharp extremities and wore his thick dark hair long, hanging just above his shoulders. Dressed in a colorful racing jacket and carrying a helmet below his left arm he spoke remarkably soft for a person of his demeanor. “I see you found my note,” he said. The sound of his voice startled her as she was beginning to nod off. “How was your day” were the first words that came to her lips. “Another checkered flag,” he replied. “Team Arctic’s going all the way again this year thanks to me, and superior machines,” he said with a laughing grin. Handing her a room key with the number 19 forged on it he said, “I’ll be in 20 sumpthin, see ya soon,” and walked away as if he hadn’t been there at all. Now inside room 19 she hears a knock at the door. Opening it slowly, she expects to see Jason, but instead, it’s an employee of the lodge dressed in what appeared to be a lumberjack outfit. He was holding two boxes and said, “I’m supposed to give these to you” as he extended them towards her. He gives the girl the two boxes as she stands in the room with a warm glowing light, and then he leaves without another word. Inside the first box she finds white thigh high silk stockings, two garters, and white lacy undergarments. The second box contained a short black skirt and a white blouse along with black high heels. All signs of drowsiness dissipated as she put on the outfit, which fit well and looked stunning on her firm, tan body. The lodge seemed different as she exited the room to look for Jason. What looked like a regular hallway before now had the appearance of a long corridor fashioned all in white with no particular definition. Half way across the corridor something is lying on the floor. As she approaches it she realizes that it’s a red rose with something lying next to it. Walking cautiously and with a sense curiosity closer to the mirage, she discovers that next to the rose lays a chocolate Hershey’s kiss. Bending down with a curtsy type movement to pick up what was obviously left there for her, she can hear soft music coming from the next room. “REO Speed Wagon,” she thinks. With a sensation filling her entire body, she felt as if she had swallowed a butterfly. She never had a feeling like this before, not even before performing on the ice in front of thousands of people with TV cameras aimed at her from every direction. Knocking softly on the door where the music was coming from she hears a familiar voice say, “Come in.” Upon entering the room she finds the gentleman sitting at a candlelit table next to a low fire glowing in the fireplace next to it. The table was decorated with paper plates and Styrofoam cups. The candles that light the room came from a birthday cake and took the form of a 1 and a 2 and the napkins looked as if the might have came from a fast food restaurant. The whole setting was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. Jason said, “hello,” and called her by her name, “you look beautiful.” “Thank you Jason, I love the cloths.” As the handsome young couple eat a light evening meal from serving dishes that have the words “Ken’s Truck Heaven” on them, they stare into each other’s eyes and drink ginger ale from champagne glasses. Following their meal they move to the couch sitting directly adjacent to the crackling fire. The room is cozy and has the same rustic feeling the lodge gave in the beginning. The walls are covered with untreated wood giving the sensation of being in a log cabin. To their right, against the outside wall, is a window with a crooked frame and small curtains of burlap opened enough to see the full moon reflecting against the star spattered sky.
It is late in December and the snow is falling outside the slightly
frosted window. A light is reflecting off the Arctic-Cat sitting in the yard and
gives the snow beneath it a beautiful reflection of green. He doesn’t notice
however because he can’t take his eyes off of his lovely company.
They stayed on the couch for hours in each other’s arms reminiscing
about the old days and talking about the competitions that took place earlier
that day. Crystal told him that Natasha, from the Russian team, had finally
spoken to her in a friendly tone. Jason was excited to tell her about the close
finish in his final race of the day. Their talking only gave way to tender
kissing from time to time. As the light from the fireplace grew dim, they fell
asleep while holding each other close.
Awaking in the early hours of the morning, Jason was careful not to
disturb his sleeping beauty while she slept. He rose from the couch and gazed
upon her beautiful, peaceful body dressed in white satin, lace and silk. Then
from a nearby shelf he fetched a red flannel blanket and placed it over her to
keep her warm. He
was careful as he browsed the room looking for the folding chair he had spotted
earlier, when the light allowed. It was veiled behind a small end table next to
the bed. He remembered the lamp at the edge of end table but didn’t turn in on
and risk waking his friend. There was a half full glass of water on the table,
some keys and loose change. One wrong move and he might tip the lamp or glass
and make a disturbing noise. Being careful, and as quiet as possible, he managed
the folding chair from behind the table and placed it next to the couch facing
Crystal. Again, stumbling through the dark, he searched for a perfect log to
restart the warming flame of the fireplace. When he was satisfied with the fire,
he sat on the folding chair next to his friend and watched her sleep. Admiring
her beauty he watched over her until the orange sun began to peek over the
horizon, bringing its glorious light. He smiled because the night had been a
perfect night that he would never forget. |
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