Qt Terrace Review — Wednesday, December 23, 1987 - Simon discovers the gift of giving — A Christmas story - e Philip Musselman The cool crisp snow crackled: and. gave way as the sled cut - through it at great speed. Wind rushed through Simon’s hair and slammed against his face as it swished behind him. Ahead of him, over half of the hill patient- ly waited to yield its thrills to the adventure-seeking boy. Fast ap- proaching the bottom, Simon - . prepared for the most thrilling portion of the ride. . Several bumps and twists were ahead, ones which would pro- vide roller-coaster-like satisfac- tion. ; Here they come, he thought and Simon clamped on to his tobogan as it began nose diving, swerving and flying in mid-air. His heart raced, his fingers ach- ed and he felt a warm sensation running all through his body, despite the cold winter day. . Suddenly he hit the point which he called the clincher, because it was the last and most treacherous portion of the hill. His stomach had just finished doing a flip-flop as his sled came out of the air and landed mer- cilessly into a snowbank; he struggled to get up but he found - that he couldn’t get any. footing— he’d have to crawl out of the holehe had made. Simon reached back to push - himself out of the deep hole when he noticed that he was touching the: ground. His flight had projected him into several feet of snow and had had -col- lapsed part of the bank on top. Of. him. As he pushed he noticed a hard circular hard object under his hand. Raising himself out of his predicament, Simon looked down into the miniature cave he’d made and saw a shiny gold ‘object, half buried in the ground from the pressure he'd put apon it, Carefully he re-entered the hole, and reached for the object with an ungloved hands. He dug it- out with his fingers and retrieved it, - In the light he saw that it was a beautiful golden ring with the _initials S.C. engraved ‘on it. The ring was pretty plain otherwise and wasn’t very interesting, but © Simon. stuck it in his pocket anyway. _ “Simon, supper!’’ his mother called to him, and he left his sled ‘at the foot of the hill and ran to -the house. Entering the house, Simon MOTOR =INN= Where it’s at .. FEPLENIRNG | took off his. boots and started working on removing his snow suit; it was soaked and covered with snow from his last en- . counter. _ “Are you ever wet!’? his mother exclaimed, pointing at the water on the floor. “You: had better dry yourself off and change your clothes before sup- per.” “Okay, mom,’’ Simon replied cheerfully and hung up his wet snow suit and put his boots near | the heater to dry. Rushing upstairs, the young boy entered the bathroom, where he found ‘a towel that his mother had put out for him and his dry set of clothes, When he had finished getting. ready, Simon headed down to the kitchen for supper. him. . “Dad!” running into his father’s husky arms... The family ate and talked about father’s long week in the bush, “Did you cut lots of trees, _dad?”? asked Simon, hinting at the size of ‘his Christmas presents, . “Yes,” his” father replied. “You can hardly wait - until tomorrow morning can you? -What did you do today?”’._- -“T was sliding. down the hill,’’ said Simon enthusiastically. t “Go watch TV Simon,’ his mother urged. ‘‘I want to talk to daddy. ” ” sc: Simon-she ‘room after rinsing off ‘his- plate” _and turned on the TV. He strained to hear what his parents were talking about but could only catch a bit. “IT told you Simon would take to that hill in the winter,’’ his dad said, | watched TV until it was time to hang up the stockings.. “Do you think Santa will be able to find us out here?’’ said Simon, hinting at the location of * "his warm bed and considered ‘mother said, his father nodded their home, even though he didn’t really. believe in the myth. “Shouldn’t we have told him that we moved?’’. **It’s okay, Simon,” his father assured him, quite aware of the clever hinting the boy was rested his imagination. He head- - Joyful ‘dreams followed the ed towards the bathroom, young boy's thoughts, and a brushed his~ teeth and then smile crossed his face, just as he returned to the bedroom, Turn-. parents looked in on him. ing out the light, he climbed into" ‘‘He’s a good boy,” his PNT Besides, the ring ‘seemed to his friends in town, they 9 were SO make him feel comfortable and: far away now, he dreamt of the _ looks on their faces. “Hi, son,’’ his father greeted ‘his pajamas. It was quite cool in Simon exclaimed, enough it was as big-as it ap- ‘Simon felt warm and: comfor- gaded for .the. living, . capable of. ‘‘Santa will be able to find you, it doesn’t matter where we live.”? - Simon smiled and finished hanging the stockings. ‘It was just about time for bed and Simon decided to head up to his room to get ready; his mother and father watching him climb the’ stairs with surprised Simon wasn’t known to go to bed will- ingly. ; In his room he changed into. his rqgom; he’d have to tell his mother to turn the heat up. Putting his pants away Simon remembered the ring. He reach- ed into the pocket and took it out. Looking at its plain features, the boy couldn’t help but notice the size of the trinket. It was big enough to fit over two of his. fingers. He tried it on, and sure peared, in fact it fit loosely over two fingers. All-of a sudden, table despite the'room’s cool at- mosphere; perhaps he was hav- ing hot and cold spells? special. He turned over-and fell into a relaxing slumber. fun they had together and their _continued on page 17 For some reason the ring ap- peared to glow a, littl 1 SOft, warm red color. Simon tuttied .< his attention from the ring and — Each year Thomhill Primary School-has a tree in its entrance decorated _.With ornaments made by the students. Charlene Buck is one of the many students who contributed food items to the collection under the tree for distribution to people in need by the Salvation. Army. TERRACE DINING “But, Frank he does need to find some friends. | still don’t understand why we had to move’ way out here, couldn’t you have - found a job in town?” his mom asked, “Don’t worry honey, taken care of everything,”’ his _ father calmly. assured. “What do you mean?’’ she in- - quired, “You'll see tomorrow. Don’t - j worry,’* he said, and everything § fell silent. “‘Yech, they’re kissing,’’ Simon thought and turned up the volume on the television. Later Simon’s parents joined him in the living room and they Aguide to Terrace’s night life — the “who where and when” for entertainment. Outstanding Entertainment nightly! I’ve. _ GUIDE | Copper . . Grill. of the f Terrace Hotel Thurs.-Indonesian Night features International Dinners Mon.-ltalian Night Tues.-English Night All you. can eat for Wed.-Spanish Night G@ Sat.-Canada Day . $4.99 § Daily Luncheon & Dinner Buffet $6.75 Sunday Brunch $5.95 Fri.-Oriental Night & Polly’s Cafe. | grok & Western Cuisine © eae <5 Mon.—Thura. 10:30 a.m. — midnight . Fri. & Sat, 10:30 am. — 1 am, Sunday 12:00 a.m. — 10 p.m. 638-1848 0 638-8034 Fine Dining in quiet surroundings! @ An 5 p.m. — 10 p.m. th 4620 Lakelse Avenue ST sgsa-8141 Try our Greek Specials Best Pizza in Town 635-7229 4606 Lazel le Ave., Terrace, B.C. 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