eBooks „pregnant“
169 eBooks were found for the search term „pregnant“.
JAMES HUNEKER
PROMENADES OF AN IMPRESSIONIST
- Essay
- English
- 95688 Words
- Ages 18 and up
- 2
James Gibbons Huneker (January 31, 1857 - February 9, 1921) was an American art, book, music, and theater critic. A colorful individual and an ambitious writer, he was "an American with a great mission," in the words of his friend, the critic Benjamin de Casseres, and that mission was to educate Americans about the best cultural achievements, native and European, of his time.Huneker was born in Philadelphia. Forced by his parents to study law, he knew that a legal career was not what he wanted; he was passionately interested in music and writing, hoping one day to be a concert pianist and a novelist. At twenty-one, he abandoned his office job and Philadelphia ties and (with his pregnant girlfriend, then wife) left for Paris, telling his parents that he was departing only the night before the ship sailed.[1] On a tight budget supplemented with money his parents sent, he studied piano under Leopold Doutreleau in Paris and audited the piano class of Frédéric Chopin's pupil Georges Mathias. He also began a lifelong immersion in European art and literature and was thrilled to catch sight on his wanderings through the city of Victor Hugo, Ivan Turgenev, Gustave Flaubert, Guy de Maupassant, and Émile Zola as well as Édouard Manet and Edgar Degas.[2] That year abroad changed Huneker's life.
Huneker and his wife and child returned to Philadelphia the following year, but he was never happy again in his native city and longed for the wider stage of New York, where he hoped to try his luck as a journalist while he continued his study of music. He moved to New York City in 1886, having abandoned his wife and child.[3] There he scraped by, giving piano lessons and living a downtown bohemian life, while he studied with Franz Liszt's student Rafael Joseffy, who became his friend and mentor. (Huneker's musical gods were Liszt, Chopin, and Brahms. He published a biography of Chopin in 1900 and wrote the commentary on Chopin's complete works for Schirmer's music publishing company. His analysis of the piano solo works of Johannes Brahms, written shortly after that composer's complete works were published posthumously, is still highly regarded.) By the 1890s, after finally giving up his dream of a music career for himself, he was working full-time as a freelance critic responsible for covering the music, art, and theater scene of New York. A voracious reader, he also became a prolific and entertaining book reviewer. [more]
For Free
Chalen D.
The Self Harmed
The real story.
- Family & Relationships
- English
- 62113 Words
- Ages 16 and up
- 3497
- 25
*TRIGGER WARNING* Charlie is a cutter. She self-harms. When Her parents find out they send her to a recovery home, which is a school with dorms, Which have Doctors and Nurses crawling around, with sharp tongues and steel eyes with clip boards ready to write down every cut, suicide attempt, and pound lost. Charlie used to be normal She didn't used to cut. But then Her best friend Owen killed himself and She went down hill. Charlie Meets Clara at the school first. A starving Anorexic girl, who just wants a family of her own to raise. She doesn't care if she starves, but she hates it when her friends try to do the same thing. She's Charlie's roommate. Next she meets Ryder. It wasn't his piercing eyes that caught hers' but his small waist and his sticking out ribs. They soon bond over their mutual love of taking pictures. Ryder is Anorexic, cuts, and is suicidal. He's smart, quick, and protective, but a loner at the same time. She then meets Ayelie, A girl who is cynical, sarcastic, thinks her situation is hilarious, and wants anything but to recover. Charlie then meets her friends Daniel, Alen, and Ava. Charlie soon comes to find out she has the means to be Anorexic if she just cuts out the junk food. And when she does and drops weight, she craves to be skinny. Just when she thinks things can't get any worse, Owen walks through the front doors of the school straight from the grave. Three months of crying, of cutting, of wishing she was dead, all for nothing, because Owen is still alive. And she's pissed. Soon her Child hood friend Moves back into her old town. Caden and Charlie hit it off again, when Charlie heads home for a vacation. While she's away Her Dad cheats on her Mom and they split up. When Charlie and Caden are hanging out Caden makes a mistake, and Charlie see's his scars. So not only does Charlie head back to the school broken hearted about her family, She heads back to school with a new Crazy kid, (Ck) to meet her crazy Family. Owen and Caden don't get along. Caden's Dad and Charlie's Mom get married and Pregnant with twins. So now Charlie has two choices. Get better so she can teach her younger siblings to not hate themselves, or continue to starve, and stay in the school until she withers away into nothing. Light as a feather. [more]
Keywords: Eating disorder, Ana, Mia, Purge, cutting, cut, Self-harm, Ed, Recovery
For Free
M. Anthony Phillips
Pray for Daylight/the Blood Feud
- Horror
- English
- 59448 Words
- Ages 16 and up
- 311
- 3
A half-vampire hybrid warrior named Simone is humanity’s last chance against vampires and demons from the underworld who is led by their leader, the vampire Kristain, her father.
Fought over at her birth by angels and demons of the Underworld, Simone Akonjo, a half vampire-human was rescued at birth by a rogue Shaolin Monk who killed his own master to protect the infant from being destroyed in a vampire raid.
Set in 1850’s Paris, France, and present-day Seattle, Simone is raised by her adopted father Arkamun, a former Monk preparing her to battle ancient vampires he fought for years, including her father, Kristian. Kristian, a painter in the impressionist style like Monet, when on the evening of showcasing his life’s work is laughed at by aristocrats he invited including his beloved fiance’s father.
He walks the streets of Paris and is bitten by the original vampire Andras and seeks to get revenge on those who wronged him. While killing his fiance’s father, he then turns on her who is pregnant with his child.
After killing the Shaolin Monk Arkamun raises the baby as his own with the help of others in a warrior society until he starts to realize that Simone is different than other girls.
Secluded from Parisian society for fear of the unknown, Arkamun keeps Simone’s heritage a secret from her until Kristian shows up to take his daughter. As Arkamun ages Simone ages very slowly and Arkamun knows that Simone must choose the path that was foretold for her.
Simone is given the biblical “Spear of Michael” weapon by Arc Angels and is chosen to lead an apocalyptic war against Kristian and his clan and demons for the sake of humanity along with the charismatic anti-hero Malic Turner, whose on a killing spree against vampires for killing his whole family, rogue Shaolin Monks and a courageous priest in this dark and exotic tale.
[more]
Keywords: horror, fiction, vampire, acton, adventure, martial arts, black, african, urban, young adult, period, modern day, fantasy
$2.99
Rose Cooper
Never Ending Life
Where there's life, there's Death
- Fiction
- English
- 5907 Words
- Ages 16 and up
- 147
The guy (Calvin) has three younger sisters. He knows alot about medicine and is very smart. Could maybe even come up with a cure with the right equipment and time etc. There father died when they were young, but because of how good his job was, they had enouhg money to never nead to work and still be rich. So there mother was always with them. She died in a car acident when the zombies broke out. Since then the guy has taken care of his sisters, and they barely survived. There parents had a safe room in there house, stocked with supplies. So they stayed there through out the whole thing. But they ran out and had to leave. They got supplies and were goona go back to the safe room in there house, but here was a gang of people there. They got away without being seen, but they've been trying to find a way out for a while.
The girl (Tatiana) used to have an older brother who was her best friend. she wasn't very popular in school with the other kids, so he hung out iwth her and kept her company, and always put her before his friends. When the apocolyps started she was with her brother, and they both had to watch quietly as there parents were killed in front of them. They were poor so they didn't have anything to bring with them when they ran away. Her brother was super athletic and taught her everything she knows. He helped her survive. One day a group of people (gang or whatever who steal from others to survive) came and stole their stuff. They to of them were taken and tortured by them. She was better at torture than her brother. But she still screamed. Anywhoo when they got bored of her brother, they tortured him to death in front of her. They reaped her, but she managed to escape when the guys were asleep. She got pregnant from the rapers and a doctor she found told he it was a girl. But the girl died in her.
The guy and his sisters all have brown hair and green eyes.
2= Layla
6= Samantha
8= Daina
18= Calvin
The girl and brother both have blonde hair, she has blue eys and he had brown eyes.
18= Tatiana
20= Joshua (dead)
5= Suzie (black horse with a while spot on face)
The zombies have been around for 1 and a half years. [more]
Keywords: Zombies, Death, Reborn, Survival
For Free
Isioma Jemimah Okonicha
Kegel series
- Short Story
- English
- 2210 Words
- Ages 12 and up
- 66
"I'm tired, I don't want to live anymore; I never asked to be born, nothing works for me, I have to end it."
The thought of how her mom had treated her, a week earlier lingered. "How could a person treat another one that low?"
Kegel’s mom had stood by the door asking what she wanted, without even inviting her in. Kegel told her she’d come to see a friend in the neighborhood, and decided to say hello before leaving, which was a lie. She rolled on the bed that night crying.The only crime she’d ever committed, was being born at the wrong time, and to the wrong people. Her mother had gotten pregnant as a teenager, and had dropped out of school because her father had kicked her out. And now she just got more bad news.
Doctor Martins had diagnosed Kegel with depression. She’d gone for a check-up to find out why she kept losing weight.
The doctor said she needed counseling. "You’re drowning. Do you have a job?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Are you married?”
“No.”
“What about your family? Are you close to them?”
“No.”
She hated speaking about her family, she was brought up in an orphanage. She’d always known her roots, even though she never heard of her father, grandma Louise had often visited the orphanage to meet with Mother Superior, her close friend. And sometimes she left without seeing Kegel. Her upbringing was difficult, she thought of what Katherine looked like now; she was the mean little girl that would always mock and call Kegel names.
"Cow-gel," The other kids at the orphanage would mimic and mock. And then there was uncle Savador, the stout man that was called Savage, by most of the maids because he was cunning.
"Oh, Mothercare orphanage." She quietly said, it was the name of the orphanage. "So many sad memories," she thought, and they still hunted her.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"About what? No!" She snapped. "I'm good." [more]
Keywords: determination, Passion, Forgiveness, Friendship, Family, Motivation, Courage, live, kegel, depression, knife, pizzaman
$1.49
PLK
Not another soap
- Drama
- English
- 1 Words
- Ages 16 and up
- 434
- 2
Not another soap
"Psst Cassy" Dana said leaning over to her desk "We need to talk about what happened with Saxton" she continued to whisper as the bell rang and they immediately got up and put their backpacks on and walked into the school hallway "Cassy" Dana looked at her as they were walking towards their locker "What?" Cassy replied "Did you here what I said, I said I want to know what happened with Saxton the other night?" Dana asked "Nothing" replied Cassy nervously "Oh come on don't tell me nothing happened, you were all over each other when I left" Dana said as Cassy looked at her "I saw you go upstairs before I left the party" she continued "Ok something did happen" Cassy said "I knew it, what was it?" Dana asked excitedly as Cassy just stares at her anxiously.
Meanwhile across town Jim, a very successful business man is in his office filing some paperwork when he gets a phone call. "Hello" he said as he gets no reply "Hello" he said again as this time there is a response "Do you know where your son is?" the caller said "Who is this?" Jim replied nervously "I have you son" the caller replied "WHAT, Who are you?" Jim demanded "Just do what I say and he won't get hurt" the caller said "What do you want?" Jim asked frustrated "I want you to bring me 50 million dollars to the ally behind Wall's warehouse in an hour and come alone" the caller hung up and all Jim could hear is a dial tone "Hello, HELLO!" angrily he slams down the phone and put his hands on his head while he thinks how he was going get the money.
Back to Cassy & Dana at school.
"So tell me what happened?" Dana asked "I don't wanna talk about it" Cassy said "What, why, no you have to tell me please Cassy?" Dana pleaded with her "Ok, I'll tell you, but you can't tell anyone promise?" Cassy said sticking her pinky out "Promise" Dana held out her pinky
as well "Ok, well me and Saxton went up to one of the bedrooms and well I was really nervous, and scared, and he gave me something to help calm me, and then we had sex" Cassy said. "Wait did you want to have sex sex?" Dana asked "I guess, I mean yes, yes of course I did" she replied looking at Dana "Why do I get the feeling your not telling me everything?" Dana replied "Like what? Ok, umm I'm late, with my period" Cassy said "What, your not saying...." Dana started to say "That I might be pregnant" Cassy looked at her scared and anxiously.
To be continued...... [more]
For Free
Charles E.J. Moulton
the haunted kingdom
Shadows of the Realm
- Fantasy
- English
- 144389 Words
- No Age Recommendation
- 4395
- 33
PROLOGUE: The blood brothers St. Lucifer and St. Michael are created out of one falling star. Lucifer cannot handle sharing his glory with eleven brethren and is excommunicated from heaven for playing creator. As revenge, he corrupts God’s first village and its original woman Rebecca, whose husband Joseph remains steadfast and faithful. God creates an alternate reality, but Lucifer infiltrates it with Rebecca’s reincarnation Lucinda as a good king’s exiled sister.
BOOK ONE: 15th century King Alexander III of Prosperania returns home after a trip abroad to find his family quarreling, his country attacked. Preparing for an international alliance and for the wedding of his daughter Belinda to her Prince Steven, he is haunted by old enemies, Belinda finds comfort in love and religion. The wedding is a success, up until the last day of feasting, when the king’s exiled sister Lucinda returns, sent by Prosperania’s archrival King Adnicul I of Nocturnia. She curses the country with three plagues. Shaken, the newlyweds go on their honeymoon. Belinda returns pregnant. Their son Alfred is born. A stranger, Nomed Snekawa, enters the land and becomes a man for all seasons. To cure an epidemic, Nomed produces a herbal cure that puts the palace in a deep sleep on September 23rd 1425. Nomed is Lucinda and the palace is now cursed, becoming a sleeping beauty.
BOOK TWO: When the court awakes, Nomed is gone. Savage war, perverse scandal, sickness and death then haunt the land, finally leaving Alexander alone and desperate as the only inhabitant in the haunted kingdom. But Belinda reappears, claiming that this world is Lucinda’s illusion to trap him and that the family members are all actually asleep, poisoned by Nomed and caught in hell in a time trap. Alexander’s mission is to track down his sister and kill her. Werewolves in an enchanted forest petrify him, challenging his sanity, but Belinda leads him to his three angels, who send him into The Dark Forest. There and in The Wasteland he endures demonic visions, but is protected by love. Meanwhile, King Adnicul has been betrayed and encaged by his master Lucifer, who has told him he was but a vehicle to tutor Lucinda. Adnicul’s dead servant Eric comes back to him as an angel and promises him eternal peace if he helps Alexander find his sister. Alexander is lead by his younger self to a forest tribe, who tutor him to become an magical warrior. His reward is St.Michael’s Sword.
BOOK THREE: King Alex meets an old hermit that leads him to four evangelists down in a valley. They in turn lead him closer to finding his family. The last of the evangelists is St.Michael himself, who shows him Adnicul and asks him to team up with his former enemy in order to find peace. Strongly apprehensive and plagued by nightmares at first, he learns of Adnicul’s fate. He is a reincarnation of Lucifer’s first angel and wants to return to his tree in Eden. Together, they almost
defeat a monster, but Adnicul is captured by the reawakened beast. Alexander is forced to go on without him. The third and most vicious demonic forest leads him to the Cave of Original Sin where he meets Lucinda, who tempts him with roman riches and sensual fame. Adnicul escapes the beast in order to help Alex and together they finally kill Lucinda. A race against time begins, taking them through the seven horrid levels of hell, only to find the trapped family hanging in cages above a lava tunnel where they chase away Lucifer. Adnicul finds his peace in Eden. The family returns to their own restored time and Alexander decides to erect a monument to the archangelic memory of his past.
EPILOGUE: Alexander, sitting in front of the fire in his home, is visited by old long gone friends and dies happy, knowing he will see the other side content to have succeeded in his saving mission. [more]
Keywords: fantasy, magic, mystery
For Free
Rizwan Ullah
The WolfMan of Hanover
- Horror
- English
- 10143 Words
- Ages 12 and up
- 80
Friedrich Heinrich Karl "Fritz" Haarmann was born in Hanover on 25 October 1879, the sixth and youngest child born to Johanna (née Claudius) and Ollie Haarmann. Fritz was a quiet child, with few friends his own age or sex and who seldom socialized with any children other than his siblings outside of school. From an early age, Haarmann's behavior was noticeably effeminate. He was known to shun boys' activities and instead play with his sisters' dolls and dress in their clothes. He also developed a passion for both needlework and cookery,and would develop a close relationship with his mother who spoiled her youngest child. Reportedly, Haarmann's father married his mother, when she was 41 years old, and seven years his senior, on account of her wealth and the substantial dowry their marriage would eventually bring him. Haarmann Sr. was known to be argumentative and short-tempered who, through several affairs he conducted throughout his marriage, would contract syphilis in his later years.Despite his being an authoritarian who had little time for his children and a notorious womaniser, Haarmann's parents remained together until his mother's death in April 1901. In 1886, Haarmann began his schooling, where he was noted by teachers to be a spoiled and mollycoddled child who was prone to daydreaming. Although his behavior at school was noted to be exemplary, his academic performance was below average and Haarmann had to repeat a school year twice. On one occasion, when he was about eight years old,Haarmann was molested by one of his teachers, although he never discussed this incident in detail.This was a major point on his life,that forever changed him. Haarmann grew into a trim, physically strong youth. With his parents' consent, he finished his schooling in 1894. Upon leaving school, he briefly obtained employment as an apprentice locksmith in Neuf-Brisach before opting, at age 15, to enroll in a military academy in the town of Breisach.His military training began on 4 April 1895. Haarmann initially adapted to military life, and performed well as a trainee soldier. However, after five months of military service, he began to suffer periodic lapses of consciousness which, although initially described by a medical professional as being sudden signs of anxiety neurosis, would subsequently be diagnosed as being "equivalent to epilepsy" in October 1895. The following month, Haarmann discharged himself from the military and returned to Hanover, where he briefly worked in a cigar factory his father had established in 1888. At the age of 16, Haarmann committed his first known sexual offenses, all of which involved young boys whom he would lure to secluded areas—typically cellars—before proceeding to sexually abuse them. He was first arrested for committing offenses of this nature in July 1896. Following further offenses of this nature, the Division for Criminal Matters opted to place Haarmann in a mental institution in the city of Hildesheim in February 1897. Although briefly transferred to a Hanover hospital for psychiatric evaluation, he would be certified as being "incurably deranged, and unfit to stand trial by a psychologist named Gurt Schmalfuß. Schmalfuß ordered Haarmann to be confined at the mental institution indefinitely. Haarmann was returned to the mental institution on 28 May 1897. Seven months later, Haarmann escaped the mental institution. With apparent assistance from his mother, Haarmann fled to Zürich, Switzerland. Here, he lived with a relative of his mother, and obtained employment as a handyman in a shipyard. Haarmann remained in Zürich for 16 months before he returned to Hanover in April 1899. Early the following year, he became engaged to a woman named Erna Loewert,who soon became pregnant with his child.[n 2] In October 1900, Haarmann received notification to perform his compulsory military service. On 12 October 1900, Haarmann was deployed to the Alsatian city of Colmar to serve in the Number 10 Rifle Battalion. Throughout his service, Haarmann earned a reputation among his superiors as an exemplary soldier and excellent marksman, and he would later describe his period of service with this battalion as being the happiest of his entire life. After collapsing while on exercise with his battalion in October 1901, Haarmann began to suffer dizzy spells, and was subsequently hospitalized for over four months. He was later deemed "unsuitable for military service and work" and was dismissed from military service on 28 July 1902. Discharged from the military under medical terms described as being "probable" dementia praeox, Haarmann was awarded a monthly military pension of 21 gold marks. Upon his military discharge, Haarmann returned to live with his fiancée in Hanover, briefly working in the small business his father had established, before unsuccessfully filing a maintenance lawsuit against his father, citing that he was unable to work due to the ailments noted by the military. His father [more]
$0.00
DAVID MITCHELL
A CHRISTMAS STORY
- Fiction
- English
- 3213 Words
- No Age Recommendation
- 1562
- 7
A CHRISTMAS STORY
By
DAVID MITCHELL
-------------------------
The year was 1932. The Crydale Orphanage was a grim and forbidding looking building and being late evening the lights were being extinguished one by one by the staff.
Outside in the dark and gloomy street a young girl staggered through the snow carrying her new born baby boy. She had left home because her father was a strict disciplinarian and would not hear of the girl’s illegitimate baby being brought into his house – it must be remembered, this was 1932 when attitudes were quite different.
Her name was Elly, and she was destitute. She was desperately unhappy but her only thoughts were for her tiny baby wrapped warmly against the very cold weather - for this was December and just a few days before Christmas. As she walked along she passed the gaily lit shops displaying colourful Christmas items. Here and there she noticed the Christmas trees with their coloured lights and fleetingly her memory took her back to happier times when she was younger and her father then seemed more tolerant, even kind. In her state of total and forlorn unhappiness the tears rolled down her cheeks and she kissed her small baby thinking all the while how determined she was that his future will be much better than her past.
As she drew nearer the orphanage she could see through the large window. No doubt this expansive room was where the orphans gathered each morning. It was empty and dark now. She was thinking deeply about what she proposed to do. Her plan was to leave the baby on the doorstep, ring the bell, and retire to a safe distance where she could not be seen; just so that she could be sure the door was answered and the baby found by the orphanage staff.
In her plan, she reasoned that later on, when she was a little older and had perhaps secured a job, and was receiving an income, she could return and re-claim her son. She watched carefully as the front door of the orphanage opened and a young lady bent down and picked up the small baby lying on the doorstep. And so, when Elly was satisfied that her baby was now in good care she withdrew and went on her way, sobbing all the while. This was not at all what she wanted to happen; but in the light of her father’s cruel and totally unreasonable attitude she felt no other course was open to her.
However, she brightened up a little when thinking that, if good fortune should come her way, it may not be too long before she would be able to return to the orphanage and reclaim her small son to care for him as a loving mother herself.
So that was the manner in which little Chris arrived at the orphanage. They decided to call him ‘Christopher because it was so close to Christmas. The stern lady in charge of the orphanage, Mrs Briggs, ran the establishment in quite a strict manner but, like a lot of people who seem to be quite fierce in their demeanour, deep down in her heart she was a kindly soul and loved all the children that came under her care – every single one.
Quite a number of children were lost to her as a result of adoptions through the years and she was very sad at the loss of each one and was at once sad at the departure of every child - but on the other hand she was glad to see them settled in a happy home. But somehow that never happened to Chris. For some reason that nobody could quite understand he was never selected for adoption. Later the orphanage began a new policy of advertising “HAVE AN ORPHAN FOR CHRISTMAS” and this seemed to be a big success. Some children had even been adopted permanently after being a “Christmas Child”.
But this was now Christmas 1937. The snow had begun to fall and all of the children had gone to their ‘foster parents’ for the holiday - but not Chris. He was due to go to a Mr & Mrs Holden but with just over a week to go they advised the orphanage that Mr Holden had been called abroad, and that Mrs Holden would be accompanying him. As they had no idea how long they would be away they said they would have to reluctantly cancel the arrangement for Chris.
It was too late then to find another temporary foster parent and so it looked very much as though Chris and Mrs Briggs would be the only inhabitants of the orphanage over the holiday. Mrs Briggs was quite resigned to her task, but she didn't mind at all. She got on very well with Chris and although the resources available to her were meagre she told herself that she must try to make it as nice a Christmas as possible, if only for the sake of little Chris.
However, on the day before Christmas Eve Mrs Briggs received a call from the Holdens to say that Mr Holden’s mission abroad was accomplished sooner than he had anticipated, that they were now home, and that they would love to have Chris for Christmas after all as originally planned. When little Chris heard this his little face broke into a wide beaming smile. Poor old Mrs Briggs hesitated for just a moment when given the news. She had been looking forward to spending Christmas with just her and Chris. On the the other hand she wanted Chris to have a wonderful Christmas and so she too allowed herself a smile or two, and accepted that she must spend Christmas alone.
And so it was that Mr & Mrs Holden collected Chris from the orphanage that very same day and took him to their very handsome home where a beautiful Christmas tree stood in the lounge, fully decorated with lights and ornaments, and with presents spread underneath; a lovely log fire was roaring up the chimney and the atmosphere was very nice, cosy, and very homely.
Chris was then introduced to other members of the Holden family. First of all, there was Aunt Emily - a dear old soul who wore her spectacles perched on the end of her nose and seemed to be knitting all the time; she also often appeared to be chatting to herself as some old folk do. Then there was Grandfather Holden who held his hand out for Chris to shake. Chris did so dutifully for all the children at the orphanage were taught good manners. It was a very jolly atmosphere indeed and everyone seemed to be in a good mood – just as Christmas should be.
But after a little while Mrs Holden noticed that Chris was looking rather sad and that one or two tears were rolling down his cheeks. “Why Chris my dear” she said “what ever are you crying for ? Aren’t you happy to be with us ?” At which the great big tears welled up in his eyes and poor little Chris began to sob. Urged by Mrs Holden to say why he was sad Chris then said “Well Mrs Holden, I am surely very happy to be here with you but I cannot help thinking of poor Mrs Briggs back at the orphanage. She will be all on her own for Christmas now that I have come to you and I am feeling I aught to be there with her to keep her company and make sure she has a nice Christmas too”. At this, all the Holden family could not help but remark what a very nice little boy Chris was to be thinking of others at this time.
And so the conversation on the subject seemed to wane and die away. But not in Chris's mind. He went to sleep in his room but during the night he tossed and turned for he was still thinking of poor old Mrs Briggs and how very lonely she must be all by herself.
The next morning everybody arose from bed. The snow lay crisp and several inches deep. It was a true Christmas scene All were looking forward to the day’s festivities. However, Mr Holden seemed to be absent. Chris did ask once “Where is Mr Holden ?” but was told by Mrs Holden “Oh, he has gone on an little errand for me - don’t worry, he’ll be back quite soon – in time for Christmas Dinner to be sure”.
But now it was approaching time for the great Christmas Dinner and still Mr Holden had not returned. Mrs Holden had purchased a nice fat turkey and the smells were wafting through from her kitchen and were truly delicious. They were making everyone feel very hungry indeed. But where was Mr Holden ? Well, there was no need to worry for just at that moment the front door opened and in a flurry of snow flakes blown in by the wind there stood Mr Holden - and with him was none other than Mrs Briggs herself ! She had been absolutely thrilled and delighted when Mr Holden telephoned her to extend an invitation to join the Christmas party for she had resigned herself to spending Christmas by herself, as Chris had feared, and wondering what to do !
She had considered her Christmas Dinner but rejected the idea of cooking the turkey she had managed to buy for the occasion. Cooking a turkey for one person would not be sensible she thought. And so she decided she would save the turkey and Christmas Pudding until after the holidays when the children returned. "I'll just manage with a sandwich" she thought to herself. But when Mr Holden phoned to invite her to join the Holden family she accepted very gracefully; however she could not hide her absolute delight and happiness. The Christmas she was not looking forward to at all had now changed for her totally and completely. She was determined to enjoy the occasion together with Chris and the Holdens and appreciated their kindness very much.
So little Chris, once he had recovered from the surprise and the great pleasure of seeing that Mrs Briggs had joined them rushed to her and gave her a big hug. They then joined the others and all enjoyed a truly splendid and jolly Christmas dinner - Mrs Holden, a very good cook, did them all proud and there was plenty for everybody. There were Christmas crackers to pull and small gifts inside - there was much laughter as each cracker was pulled. Chris loved everything - especially the Christmas Pudding.
After the great dinner it was time to open the presents which still lying at the foot of the Christmas tree. Of course there were gifts for Chris and even a couple for dear Mrs Briggs - Mrs Holden had quietly taken the labels off two of her presents and placed new labels which said "TO DEAR MRS BRIGGS - WE WELCOME YOU TO OUR FAMILY". At this even the stern Mrs Briggs melted and a tear or two could be seen on her cheeks.
The Holdens were so taken with Chris, and he with them, that after the holiday was over they offered to accept him on a permanent basis and not too long afterwards, after all the necessary legalities had been completed, Chris went to live at the Holden’s home. But he never forgot Mrs Briggs and went to see her periodically at which she was very pleased indeed.
But what about the poor mother of Chris - Elly ? Well, after leaving her baby at the orphanage she did manage to obtain a live-in position as a scullery maid with a well-to-do family. She was quite happy there but the position was very poorly paid. There was no absolutely no chance of obtaining her own place to live and try to reclaim her little baby who, of course, had now grown up somewhat. The years passed by but there wasn’t a day when she didn’t think about her little boy and wondered how he was faring. Sometimes she retraced her steps on that awful day when she left her small son on the doorstep of the orphanage. She wanted to ring the bell and enquire about her baby; but each time she lost her nerve and walked on. And then one day, quite out of the blue, she was informed that her wealthy aunt had passed away and had left her a legacy of £15,000 in her Will.
She was totally astounded and not a little surprised because this aunt had not been especially kind to her when it became known she was pregnant and, like her father, treated her with disdain. Maybe in time she relented, changed her mind, and decided to help her niece after all even if her father wouldn‘t. But most of all Elly was very happy for her first thoughts were that she could now find somewhere to live, reclaim her son, and live happily as a small family. Back then with the average wage around £3-£4 per week one can imagine the value of £15,000 ! Elly felt exceedingly rich.
So she made contact with the Orphanage. At first she was rebuffed because the orphanage itself was controlled by a number of regulations - one of these being that they may not reveal the details of any adoption. Mrs Briggs felt exceedingly sorry for Elly and tried to pacify her. But Elly, who rather foolishly had thought that all she need do is to re-claim her son and all would be alright.
Elly sought advice and was told the prospects of seeing her son again were bleak. And so Elly returned to the orphanage and threw herself upon the mercy and understanding of Mrs Briggs. Elly pleaded and pleaded with her until something within Mrs Briggs snapped and she just knew at that moment that she would have to help this pathetic young lady. So she went to her desk and wrote a name and address. She then turned to Elly and said "NOW ELLY, YOU KNOW THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO DIVULGE WHERE YOUR SON IS NOW. I JUST CANNOT DO IT. IT CANNOT BE DONE. BUT SOMETIMES I AM CARELESS AND LEAVE LITTLE PIECES OF PAPER AROUND - her eyes then went to her desk "I REALLY MUST CURE MYSELF OF THIS HABIT" Elly looked up, saw Mrs Brigg's eyes wander to her desk, and gratefully collected the piece of paper on which, of course, was the Holden family's address. She kissed Mrs Briggs before departing and Mrs Briggs advised her to tread very carefully and with understanding.
And so Elly contacted the Holdens, and made an appointment to see them - and little Chris. Mr & Mrs Holden were of course shocked to learn of this development for they had cared for Chris just as if he was their own son. He was now attending a very good private school and the Holdens were giving him every chance to progress in life. But they were nice and understanding people and therefore agreed to meet Elly.
The reunion between mother and son was a remarkable and heart warming spectacle to behold. Chris was a little reticent and shy at first, but something attracted him towards his mother. He went to her and she placed both arms around him and smothered him with kisses as only a loving Mum can. Pitifully she pleaded with the Holdens to let her have her son back. Chris, of course was quite bewildered about all of this because although he loved his long lost real mother and took to her very naturally, he also loved the Holdens. His poor little mind was in a turmoil and he was very confused.
Problems of this kind are extremely difficult to solve at any time but when they occur between nice and understanding people it is often possible to reach a conclusion which is satisfactory to all concerned
And so it was that Elly and the Holdens agreed to share the affections of Chris. Elly succeeded to find a small cosy flat quite near to the Holden's place and some of the time Chris went there and some of the time he spent with the Holdens.
It was a very happy arrangement and it worked very well with surprisingly few problems. Chris was a studious little boy, did well at school. When he grew up he attended university and chose medicine as his profession. When he qualified as a doctor Elly, the Holdens, and even dear old Mrs Briggs - now rather old and somewhat infirm - were all there to witness his awards.
This is just a Christmas story - but we should all try to remember that such problems and situations do occur. That is part of life. But between nice people, who are understanding and are prepared to see the other's point of view there is always a solution to be found - provided the willingness is there to recognise it.
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY ! [more]
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