Page 10 of Merry with a Captain

Robyn watched the children, eager for her own so she could give them the same wonderful experiences and create memories to last a lifetime just as her parents had.

The aroma of food tickled her nostrils, and she realized just how hungry she was. She followed the delicious scents to discover a small food court with picnic tables ringing a bonfire. Multiple food trucks were lined up, totally complicating her decision.

She could choose from burgers, chicken fingers, and fries; other trucks specialized in gourmet grilled cheeses, meatballs, savory and sweet pastries, sausages, fish and chips, pierogi, and even one that was all about salads and healthy eating. While she typically watched her diet, no way was she going healthy today!

Robyn wandered over to the grilled cheese truck and was blown away by the offerings. She’d never even considered a grilled cheese could be anything more than a plain grilled cheese and possibly with bacon. She couldn’t decide, so instead went to the pastry truck. It was very British with sausage rolls, pasties, meat pies, chips – the French fry kind – breads, rolls and sandwiches. The menu offered a sampler which was perfect! She ordered it, glad that the decision was made for her, and a cup of tea to top it off.

When the food truck worker handed her the box, Robyn was shocked at the size of it. No way would she be able to eat it all. Good thing she had a fridge and microwave in her room. She glanced around and saw an empty picnic table on the other side of the bonfire. Moments later, she sat facing the fire, warmth radiating from the flames, and she soaked it up.

Lifting a corner of the box, she peeked inside. The aroma of fresh pastries made her mouth water. It was a perfect evening with the scent of wood smoke on the air, happy voices, jingle bells, Christmas carols coming from hidden speakers.

The fire warmed her while she munched on pastries, sipped tea, and people watched. Couples and families roamed the aisles and sat at the picnic tables with food, drink, and the treasures they’d bought. Excitement was in the air.

Only one thing was missing. Someone to share it all with.

Fletch couldn't getover how many times he had to drive around to find parking. The place was jammed and he hadn’texpected it for a Thursday. With his wrist hooked over the steering wheel, he kept an eye out for a spot that would fit his big truck.

He was back along the street next to the Christmas Market, and if he didn’t find a spot this time, that was it. He’d get some take-out at a drive-through and head back to the motel. There had to be a game on.

As a rule, he liked to be with people. He wasn't a loner, but the last month while being here that's exactly how it had been. He decided with Christmas just around the corner, it was time to get out and embrace the Christmas spirit. Even if it wasn’t his most favorite time of year.

"Come on, someone leave," he muttered. Then, just as he was about to throw in the towel, the blinker of a car lit up indicating they were leaving. “Perfect, hopefully I can squeeze in."

Fletch flashed his high beam as a courtesy to let them know he was waiting for their spot, they pulled out, and he did the perfect parallel park. He pulled his jacket from the backseat and stepped out of the truck, locking the door.

He stood on the sidewalk while he did up his coat and gazed around. He admitted it was pretty and festive and made his way into the market. It felt good to be among the crowd of people all in the Christmas spirit. The place was packed with families and couples and he wandered through them. He wasn’t planning on buying anything, but he kept his eyes open just the same in case he saw something that caught his fancy.

He had a few treasured items he’d picked up along the way over the years and had them shipped and stored at the company warehouse. He didn’t have a home base,Intrepidheld that role, because he was so transient. He supposed one day he’d buy a house, settle down, and pull everything out of storage. But he had no idea when or if it would ever happen.

It was festive, and the Christmas spirit creeped into his soul, a feeling that he had lacked for so long. Unless they were people aboardIntrepid,they rarely decorated for the seasons. Just small little items would be put out to give a bit of Christmas cheer.

A delicious aroma of food and wood smoke caught his attention. He hadn’t eaten anything since breakfast, and he was starved. He hadn’t done much of anything today, other than physio, and he was supremely bored.

Through the crowd and the pop-up tents, he found his way to an outdoor food court. It was also busy. Food trucks had lineups. He didn’t want to wait, so his decision would be made by choosing the one with the shortest line. Gourmet grilled cheese was the winner.

He ordered an ordinary, plain old grilled cheese and a generous side of fries with a big hot chocolate with whipped cream and candy cane sprinkles. He was handed the box of food and turned to find somewhere to sit. There wasn't much open, except a spot right next to the trucks which he didn't really want, so he wandered down through the tables. Finally found a relatively empty table and sat next to a family with three kids.

They were wound for sound and could barely sit still. He nodded at the parents and opened his box. It was the most monstrous-sized grilled cheese he'd ever seen. He ate the sandwich and fries while looking around. It was nice to see so many families out and having a good time. He felt a bit melancholy being alone. Christmas was a time to spend with people, family, friends. And all his were otherwise occupied or no longer on this side of the grass.

He realized he was lonely.

He finished his food and rose to throw the packaging into the garbage. He still hadn't finished the hot chocolate, so he carried it with him. The festive feeling he felt on first arrival began tofade. Now all he wanted was to get back to his room and watch a game.

Even that seemed dismal.

He scanned the faces of all the people he passed and knew who he was looking for. But he wasn't overly hopeful at finding her in the crowd. What were the odds of that? Even still, he looked and hoped.

Ever since their night together he always looked for her. The chance of stumbling across her again was remote at best. Again, he wished they’d exchanged contact information, but they hadn't. Which meant she would live only in his memory.

7

Fletch finished his hot chocolate and headed towards the garbage to toss it out. He pushed his way through the crowd of people stopping to watch a marionette performance on the mini stage, and it caught his attention. He paused to watch with them, the crowd jostling him. He moved to the back, tall enough to see over top of everyone's head, and smiled at the antics on the stage.

He left enough room that people could weave between him and people gathered for the show. A few minutes into it a number of festive — meaning drunk— teenagers stumbled by, knocking people along the way.

“Hey, careful dudes," Fletch muttered as they passed.

One of them turned to him, not watching where he was going, and slammed into a woman. Fletch leapt forward to try and catch her.

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