saber007's Light and Dark chapter 1:arrival

The rain beat down on the cloaked figure as it ran along the sidewalk carrying a large basket.The dark blanket of night consumed every inch of ground except for the front of a red brick, five storey building illuminated by a small porch light.Under this light a small metal sign was clearly seen,it read (The Shining Light orphanage:Reverend James Howard). The cloaked figure sat the basket on the front step and began to knock,but as it did a large hooded man grabbed it from behind.As he did this the hood of the cloaked figure fell back to reveal a young woman who had long,flowing golden hair and deep blue eyes."Did you think we wouldn't find you" the man said in a deep growling voice."You cant hide from the shadow, nor can you vanquish it".The woman turned her head a little."I cant ,but they can" she said gesturing towards the basket.Just then a light came on in a window above their heads,a woman poked her head out.As she did the man still holding the woman leaped over the stair railing and dragged her off into a dark alleyway.As she was being dragged she prayed in a silent voice."Dear Lord protect them from the shadow.Let them not be led astray from their destiny.I pray that their lives may not be so full of be so full of deception and darkness as mine has been,amen".She and the man disappeared into the darkness and she was never seen again.The front door of the orphanage opened and Sara Sanchez looked down at the basket with curiosity.She picked it up and lifted the dark cloth that covered it "oh my" she gasped.She took the basket in and rushed up the wooden stairs.She stopped when she reached a large wooden door.She pounded furiously on the door."Come in" said a tired voice on the other side of the door.Sara burst into the room.Reverend James Howard sat on the edge of his bed rubbing his eyes."What is it?" he asked.Sara handed him the basket,as he looked inside of the basket his eyes widened.Their inside the basket where two babies a boy and a girl, they each had a golden necklace that showed the symbol of the cross.The babies also had the deepest blue eyes the Reverend had ever seen.He lifted the baby boy out of the basket.As he did, Saras eyes widened in terror."What is it?" asked the pastor noticing her shocked expression.She only stared at the babies back, the Reverend turned the baby around to see what the fuss was about.Then he realised that she had good reason to be shocked, because there on the baby boys back was a pair of wings.They where small brown and looked like bat wings.He sat the baby boy down and picked up the baby girl.She also had wings, but hers where covered in pure white feathers."What are we going to do?" Sara had a habit of fretting when she wasn't in control of the situation."We keep them here." the reverend responded calmly."WHAT!" Sara exclaimed."Sara, this is an orphanage and they seem to be orphans so they stay."."But what about their wings?"she asked."They don't matter, where all equal in Gods eyes".With that said the Reverend pulled two of the drawers out of his dresser, emptied them and folded two blankets small enough to fit into them then he laid one of the babies in each one."That will do" he said in satisfied tone."Well since their staying, what should we call them?" Sara seemed to relax a little at this question."Lets name the girl Karen after my Grandma." she said."And the boy Daniel after my Father."So be it". said the Reverend.

Wassail: Hot Tea and Cider Punch

In the modern day, Wassail is most commonly recognized as an obscure reference in various traditional Christmas carols: "Wassail, wassail all over the town," for example, or "Here we come a-wassailing among the leaves so green". Wassail-themed songs were once sung by winter carollers who went from house to house, singing to the residents in exchange for small gifts of money, food and drink (often wassail.)

6 cups water
8 tea bags
2 1/4 cups sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon or 4 cinnamon sticks
32 cloves or 1 tsp ground cloves
5 cups cranberry juice
2 1/2 cups orange juice
1/2 cup lemon juice
1 cup grapefruit juice
4 cups apple cider
mandarin orange slices
marachino cherries

Boil water, tea bags, sugar, cinnamon, and cloves for 5 minutes. Remove tea bags. Add juices. Add more water/sugar to taste. Serve 1 cherry and 1 orange slice in each mug. Drink hot. Refrigerate extra and reheat when needed.

(For all my writers...what person is this written in? First, Second, or Third?)

Oak Tree, Jump Rope, and a Paper Clip

As promised, here is my free write about three unrelated things:

George's foot swung slowly back and forth as he sat in the arms of his favorite oak tree. How he loved Springtime. The meat of his apple tasted sweet and juice ran down his chin as he bit into it.

"George? George Snyder? Where are you hiding?" The voice sounded irritated yet playful.

Aw. That Nell never gives me any peace. George sighed and tossed his apple core at the feet of the young girl.

She let out a little yelp as she leapt away from the offending fruit. "Whatcha doin' up there?"

George laughed and shimmied down the tree. "Just thinkin' on how we might get a swing set up on this ol' monster."

"Really? Would you push me on it? I'd like that George." Nell batted her eyes at him. Her long black hair was bound up in some kind of clip that looked more like a torture device than a beauty product. But, it did show off her green eyes splendidly.

Blushing, George kicked at a pile of leaves. "Maybe. I've got some wood and a bit of rope, but not enough for both sides of the swing."

Nell smiled and held up a finger. "I've just the thing!" She took off running.

George pushed back his shaggy brown hair. How long had he known Nell? They used to play everyday, growing up next door to each other in the deep woods of the Blue Ridge Mountains. As he walked over to the barn he wondered when she stopped being his chum and became a girl? He shrugged and shook his head.

The barn door squeaked when he pushed it open. Now where did I put that wood? He found it under a pile of chicken feed, picked it up, and turned toward the daylight. On his way out, he grabbed the rope hanging on a rusty nail just inside the door frame.

Nell was waiting for him under the oak tree, skipping rope while singing a silly tune.

"Oh, gee, Nell. I can't be usin' a sparkly purple jump rope on my swing!"

"Come on, George. It's not like anybody'll see. Besides, it's part my swing, too."

"Fine. But we've got to label it...just in case someone does. Got a pen?" George tied off the purple rope's end and attached it to one side of the wood.

"Nope. I do have this though." Nell pulled a paper clip out of her jean's pocket.

"Yeah, like that'll help." He rolled his eyes and chuckled.

"Shows how much you know, smarty pants." Nell opened up the clip, grabbed the wood from George's hands, and started scratching the wood with the clip.

A few minutes later, she presented her workmanship to George.

"Okay. I like how your name is on the purple rope side and mine is on the normal rope side...but why'd ya hafta put that stinkin' heart in the middle of the seat?"

Nell smiled. "No reason."

George reddened again. "Girls," he mumbled and climbed back up the tree to tie off the swing.