Monday, February 1, 2016

Lost and Found, A Valentine's Day Blog Hop



The Season of Lights

His hair was the first thing she noticed. It made him look like a cartoon character, those curly yellow locks springing out in all directions. Yet who was she to judge? She’d been submitting to a four-hour spiral perm for her own blond tresses for years. In terms of hair, they would have made a perfect match.

His flirtation embarrassed her in the beginning. She ignored his calls from the lift where he was hanging Christmas lights. He was one of a dozen temporary workers hired to string lights through the zoo. She was the penguin keeper. Others working in the birdhouse teased her about it. Told her he was “cute”.

After a bit of time, she noticed his face, realized her co-workers were on to something. She began to say “Hi.” Quick conversations followed, smiles exchanged. She’d look for the lift  on the way to lunch. He’d duck into the audience to watch her during penguin feeding time.

One cold December eve, he invited her to “make the rounds” with him as he walked through the zoo, checking lights. Someone asked him if she was his girlfriend. She laughed too loud at this and regretted the strident caw of her voice. He said someone else was his girlfriend, and she regretted this more. It felt like a betrayal. What was she doing here? Why had he asked her to come?

Yet the flirtation continued and one day he met her outside the birdhouse with a small, green sprig in his hand. Mistletoe, he claimed. Then he leaped at the tall set of wooden doors to the birdhouse and it caught somehow, wedged tight into the carvings there. She held his eyes as long as she dared, but there was no kiss.

Soon after, the season of lights was done, the workers released. She’d look up at the sprig still stuck above the door and wonder if she should have tried harder to make something happen.

_____

Today's hop is brought to you by Arlee Bird at Tossing it Out and Guilie Castilol-Oriard at A Quiet Laughter, and co-hosted by Elizabeth Seckman, Yolanda Renee, Denise Covey, and Alex J. Cavanaugh. It is also the Question of the Month for Michael D'Agostino at A Life Examined. What love have you lost and/or found? Was it a person or a hobby or a pet? 

35 comments:

  1. They both had their chance. He might've just been too shy though.

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  2. oooh, I like. Yes either could have taken that extra step, but in reality we're all chicken to be the first. And then we miss out.

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  3. So sad that they didn't take a chance.

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  4. Aw. That's sad. Sounds like my luck in the past...too scared to take a chance.

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  5. Aw. That's sad. Sounds like my luck in the past...too scared to take a chance.

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  6. ACK, they were afraid to take that leap. They missed so much. Love your writing.

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  7. Oh! Life's biggest regrets are the chances we don't take, eh? Nice piece!

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  8. Hi,
    Interesting story about regret. What would have happened if I had...
    Shalom,
    Patricia

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  9. Oh! I so wanted them to kiss! I loved the zoo for a setting - how intriguing.

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  10. Ah, the regret of missed opportunities.

    Mary at Play off the Page

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  11. What's that old poem say? Something about the saddest words being "what might have been." These two people should have paid more attention to the "Just do it" Nike commercials.

    Great job, and it's very nice to meet you. Count me in as your newest groupie.

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    Replies
    1. ARRRRRGH! Not sure why, but I can't seem to sign on as a follower right now. Will have to come back again later, and give it another go.

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    2. Well that's a bummer. Thanks for trying though. Blogger is weird sometimes.

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  12. I'm a firm believer in taking that chance.

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  13. *sigh* There's nothing so sad as living in the world of regrets, eh? (Love the story.)

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  14. So what you're saying is "love is for the brave". I like this.

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  15. I hear what 'she' is saying but if he had a girlfriend outside of the zoo, was he the type to have others here and there as well?

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  16. Sorry but that laugh at her question would've had me running in the opposite direction. She did well not letting anything happen. There will be others. :)
    Wonderful addition to the hop! Thank you!

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  17. We all have those little regrets and questions about what might have been. Thanks for sharing this story!

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  18. Aww, nice, but if she has regrets, that cawing laugh must be one of them...who knows?

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  19. That's what alcohol is for. Just go for the kiss and if it's awkward, the next day you can claim you don't remember a thing.

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  20. Oh, that was a surprise ending. So much of potential love ends this way. So sad . .

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  21. Cool story, Namara. Love the line "strident caw of her voice."

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  22. GREAT story! I really liked it! I can imagine the regret she had every time she passed that mistletoe stuck in the carvings. I have to wonder if he was working the following Christmas and would they eventually connect and kiss...
    Loved that you set the story in a zoo. That was unique.

    Michele at Angels Bark

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  23. A story of an almost love. I think that's the worst kind of lost love. Always leaves you wondering.

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  24. Awwwww. Darn-it!
    So close.

    Thanks for sharing with us!
    Heather

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  25. When it comes to love, we sometimes have to drop the pride. If only she'd not worried about embarrassing herself!

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  26. Yes, she should have tried harder. Love the setting of this story. Cute.

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  27. Sometimes some things are just not meant to be. But I can understand the situation. Connecting can be uncomfortable and awkward.

    Arlee Bird
    Wrote By Rote

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  28. I decided to check out your other blog posts since A to Z challenge is over and all. Fantastic short. Looks like you participate in a lot of blog hops. which one is the most challenging?

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I will do everything in my power to visit commenter's blogs unless I've been abducted by aliens or my children get sick. (If my children get abducted by aliens, I will be very busy, of course, catching up on my sleep.)