THE GIFT
THE SAILOR AND THE MAIDEN
ROBERT THOMPSON FOR SANDY S. In Somerset Pa. My one true love.
JUNE 2020
You can reach the author at Bobbytinnaptown@gmail.com
This story is available through Smashwords as well as other stories by Robert Thompson.
You can find more info at https://thompsonb417.wixsite.com/commander-Bob
It seems as days go by we are watched over by our guardian angels who at times ask god to give us a nudge, and those nudges can lead to a happiness that would otherwise pass us by.
Sandy a maiden of a local village was going home down a path she was very familiar with, and this day seemed like any other. Finished with work she was headed home to be alone as usual, which now seemed the way life was.
Bob was a sailor who loved the sea, and had a similar story to Sandy, he had been many places, seeing wondrous things and was in love a couple of times at least he thought so.
Time was moving on and now Bobs day like Sandy’s was his work, home to loneliness, which seemed normal to him.
One day heading down a familiar path he felt the need to stop under a tree and work on his journal, for Bob used times like now to write, mostly now how he had accepted what god had given him.
As he sat under the tree by the path, sadness seemed to envelop him and he sat thinking of what words to place in his writings.
As sometimes happens our guardian angels convince god to give us a nudge, today seeing Bob and his sadness as well as Sandy and her acceptance of what she has, gave her a nudge. She saw the sailor sitting under the tree and that nudge pushed her toward Bob.
“Hello, what you doing here I could see that you seemed so sad and wondered why.”
“My fishing has been poor and my family is gone, so I thought I would stop under this tree and think of what I have, and so far it is not much, except the stories I write.”
So she asked, “ what of your family, and your wife?”
“My family lives far away and they have their own lives, I would be ashamed to burden them. And my wife is no more, she found peace by not being with me and so lives away from me.”
As Sandy was listening to him she could hear the sadness in him and decided to pass a little time under the tree with Bob, and talk of things they might share, because she was alone as well and not realizing it was looking for something as well.
They soon found that they did share a lot, from music to food. Bob being alone learned that cooking was a happy way to please the body and to occupy his time. And Sandy was known to be a good cook, though mainly cooking for herself and a family member once in a while, occasionally she would share a recipe and that got her known by some in the village. But not someone who could share her life with.
They talked on into the night not realizing the passing hours, until a owl came to call and looking up to see him they both realized that time had passed, and it was late.
Bob rose and offered his hand to help Sandy up, then they continued towards where their homes were, Bob making sure that Sandy was safe to her home and before continuing on, gave a promise to meet Sandy under the tree again to talk more on what they both found to be shared experiences, and likes.
They met again the next day under the tree, both having worked and wishing for the day to hurry along so that they could again enjoy each others company and stories.
Bob listened as Sandy told him of her marriage and that it ended poorly, even though the man was well to do in the village, he was a poor man in his heart and feelings he shared with her.
They talked of family and friends or lack of friends and their wishes and dreams. Again the time passed and they found themselves walking towards their home late again. And Sandy promised Bob to meet him again, and this time she would bring some food so that if they ran late again. At least they would have a lite supper.
This then became a routine where Sandy then Bob would bring a lite supper as they enjoyed telling each other their dreams.
One day as Sandy was listening to Bob tell about his adventures overseas, she felt that this man was who she was looking for, his consideration, his warm heart, and she loved the stories that could enthrall one for hours.
In her pocket she had a gift from her Grandmother, and she remembered what she had told her on the day she gifted it to her.
“My sweet child, I have decided that this family gift should go to you, for I see a need for you to have it and use it one day.” “When you meet a man who captures your true heart, you will give this gift to him as a token”
Grandmother was known to have special powers in the village, but Sandy only knew her as Grandmother, she cooked and loved her so she was a special person to her.
Remembering this as Sandy rose for their trip down towards their cottages that feeling came over her for Bob and she reached into her pocket for her gift, because she liked this sailor Bob.
“Bob I want to give you this, it’s a family gift for those we like.”
As Bob looked up into her smiling face, he thought of his feelings for Sandy and his heart seemed to grow bigger in his chest as he received the beautiful wood box of many colors and a radiance that caught ones eye, he them turned to place the beautiful box in his knapsack so that he would not loose it on the trip down the path.
Bob knew that his feelings were more than friendship and decided to tell Sandy that he loved her, but as he finished raising up and turning he found that she was gone. How could this be? Was she hiding, or playing a trick. Bob looked around the tree and through out the grove, then down the path to her cottage, but she was no where to be found.
Bob looked everywhere until he was chases away by merchants because of the lateness of the day. Bob thought maybe she would be at his cabin so hurried home, finding it empty and lonely as usual . Bob fell into a light slumber but woke at early light and immediately began his search for Sandy.
Bob was told that Sandy was not at work at the Inn, and she was no where to be found. He looked all over the area and after days decided he had to go home for some rest.
Alone again, and sadness followed Bob home and into his cottage.
As he started a small fire, he then started to sit down and he moved his knapsack and out fell the beautiful box that he was given. As tears ran down his cheeks realizing he may never find his love again, one fell on the box and the box shown with a brightness so bright that Bob was frightened causing him to drop the box.
Looking at the box he saw that it was growing and changing shape. Bob watched as it slowly grew to the size of a petite woman and as he watched the shimmer changing he saw that the lid was opening. He could see inside what looked like the shape of a small girl but was growing larger and larger the box then became very bright and he could no longer see inside and looked away. He then noticed the light dimming and decided to look back and saw to his amazement a smiling face that he recognized and his heart leaped as he reached in to take Sandy’s hand and help her from the box.
Sandy with a smile that seemed as bright as the light from the box, kissed Bob and told him that the family gift was her heart being given to the man she loved. And that the spell told her that she was loved by the man who could open the gift.
Bob then told Sandy that she was his true love and that they should be together, thus Bob proposed to his love.
Epilog:
Unfortunately, real life stepped in Sandy decided to refuse Bob after all., and that is another story, the adventures of Bob and Sandy.