Ted Headman's Christmas
Chapter Eight: Sanctuary
Copyright © Over Productions. All Rights Reserved.Ted sat in the tree fort and tried desperately to enjoy what was left of his Christmas Eve. The snow was coming down harder now and the wind was howling mercilessly through cracks in the poorly-constructed walls.
"I shoulda insulated this damn thing when I builded it," mumbled Ted as he breathed on his cold, wet hands. "This wind shit sucks. I gotta get a fire going."
Ted raised himself off of the wooden trunk that was the tree fort’s only furnishing, save for the piles of old burger wrappers and empty beer cans. With trembling, icy fingers, he fumbled with the lock. Finally, owing more to age than any competence on Ted’s part, it fell open.
Ted lifted the lid and sighed deeply. Inside the rotting trunk was his prized collection of Playboy magazines. He’d been saving them since he was thirteen and built the tree fort mainly to house them, safe from his Mothers’ disapproving hands. He picked up an issue and stared longingly at it.
"Miss Feberwary...I loveded you most of all..."
He kissed the centerfold rather indiscreetly and returned it to the stack. The wind hissed through the walls mockingly.
After three tries a match was lit and dropped into the box. Ted watched as flames licked at places he had always dreamed of. The wind howled again, but Ted could stand it no longer.
"NOOOOOO!!!" he yelled and reached for the burning magazine.
"AAAARRRRGH!" he screamed and jerked his singed hand back, scattering bits of flaming paper everywhere.
In an instant, the tree fort was ablaze.
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