Smoke's Kiss

It was two days later that the family got the news, Margaret Callan had passed away. And so the family gathered, they gathered to mourn and think about how she, know as many names: Grammie, Nana, mom, Aunt Maggie, Margaret, grandmom, and even great gran, had made such an impact on each member of the family. Family and friends flew from all corners of the united states to comfort each other and know that they were not alone in this mourning. Except her son and his two daughters.

Katie sat on the rock garden of her childhood and stared out ahead of her, watching as the breeze swirled and teased the snow, making it so that it looked bare, that foot prints that were once there were now covered. Almost as if they didn't exist.

Nikki was inside, watching Tv and some show that her older sister never even heard of, shoving food down her thick oiley throat. Ken, the father, had gone off on his own. Probably to the local bar just 5 mintues away, more than likely staying there until he could no longer feel anything.

What that girl wouldn't give, not to have any feeling at this particular moment. Just to drown all her emotions inside her, and keep them at bay. She pictured herself like that, having no feeling, not caring about anything at all. Maybe she coul have made some friends, maybe she could have friends. And maybe not feel completely alone in this small crap of a town.

But then, what would her mother think of her? What would she think if she saw her daughter, Katie, act like that? Not caring about her sister, or worrying about her family?

The girl pushed those thoughts away, knowing all too well her cowardice. Even if she got the chance to lose all her feelings and cares, she wouldn't do it. But really..... was that being cowardice? Thinking and caring when no one else would?

Katie's thoughts dragged her on, time seeming to pass by without realizing, until a motor cut through the quite afternoon.

The driver was an old friend of her mother's, always having a kind word for the girl no matter what had happened. But he was old and lived on the other side of town. They both knew that he would have to retire soon, and then that would mean Katie would no longer have a kind face to smile at her when things got tough.

Samuel smiled when he saw her walk up the diveway, her torn boots crunching agianst the gravel under her feet.

"What are you doing out here in this freezing whether?" he said with a fake scowl

"Making sure you don't mix up my mail with the neighbors sam" she teased.

He exaggerated a big sigh, slumping against the driver's seat in mock defeat, "One mistake and a man will never be left alone, always mocked by the young."

They both laughed, adn Samuel pulled from the big canvas bag the Callan mail.

"Anything interesting in there sam?" She asked, knowing all too well the real anwser there.

"I dont know maybe," He taunted

He handed the bundle to her, almost cradling it as he handed it to her. Immedidately she felt the weight of something else in there abd curiousity got the better of her. She opened the folded up mail and found a small package wrapped up. Christmas colors of red and green decorated the outside wrapping.

Katie placed the mail in the snow, knowing all to well they were just going to end up on her dads wooden desk. And tore at the wrapping paper. It was a porcelain figurine. A small angel was sitting inside a small flower.

Its creamy pale complextion stood out against the wam colors of petals that she was resting her head on. The face showed a peace and calm that Katie could onl imagine. Her dress was a soft blue that went beautifully with her brown hair. It was so beautiful.

The girl could only managed a whisper of a thank you.

"Do you like it?" he asked

"Its....its wonderful! Thank you, thank you so much" she paused and suddenly felt completely embarrassed, "But I didn't get you anything...."

"You talk to me like a person, thats teh best gift that anyone has gotten me in years. Your a good person Katie Callan."

He gazed sadly at her, "Besides, this will be one of my last runs. They need me for the upcoming hoilday rush, after that they wont need an old fart like me anymore. My christmas present from them is permanent retirement."

The last part came out with bitter resentment, but his eyes went soft again, "My mother told me this before she passed away, I think you need to hear it sweetie: Don't let your passed dictate who you are, but let it be part of who will become."

"Wait..... that sounds alot like something from My Big Fat Greek Wedding"

He sighed, "My mother was saying long before it was in that movie...... I know that your life and family isn't......"

He searched for the right words, " You family is in need of alot of repairing. But what you learn, even all of this will help you make you who you are. I know right now that you dont believe me rght now, and from the look on your face I can see thats true. But you learn from this and will help you. You take care of yourself Katie Callan, I'll see you when I drop off the mail"

They said their good-byes and Katie watched Sam drive off, a trail of snow left behind in his wake. And all Katie had to remind herself of him was the littel figurine left warm in her hand. At that moment she felt that she could do anything, and she knew that Sam was right. One day she may look back on all this and realize this had helped her in ways she didn't know.

"I'd better take full advantage of this feeling right now."

She left the mail where it was, let her father come and get it. Right now she wasn't afraid of him. Right now she had pther things on her mind, other things that were important. But she needed to get her folder upstairs first, the one marked Damon on it.