Prosfic Rec Advent Calender - Day 10 - And the story is...

[macklingirl.livejournal.com]

The story is Boxing Day by The Hag. The clues are again under the cut, so you can look if you would have known it.

I love this story because it shows me how much Bodie thinks of Doyle and how highly he values him. And it shows how vulnerable the tough ex-merc and CI5-Agent Bodie is in the inside. And because in this story Bodies youth isn't all violence and hate like in many other stories. It is sadness but in the end there was much love in his youth.

Clue one

Deeper down in the little cache he found what he was looking for.



Clue two

He had bought a live Christmas tree in a pot, only twelve inches high. He'd set it on the windowsill among his forced bulbs and draped a string of tiny lights around it. He cut out the figure of Cowley from one of the photographes he and Bodie collected for various bits of foolery and fastened it to the tip of the tree, remembering the Christmas trees of childhood and the noisy squabbling excitement of siblings and cousins as they speculated about the presents stacked under and around.



sometime later

He set down his cup and went into the living room, drawing back the curtains to let in the grey morning. On the windowsill the little tree stood forlornly, and he thought about relieving it of its undignified burden of decoration. He'd have to sort out a place it could get enough light, or find it a proper home in the earth, somewhere he could keep an eye on it while it got its roots dug in. He and Bodie could sneak it into a corner of the park - -

"What are you staring at, you malevoelnt old sod?" he demanded of Cowley's picture. "Working on the next helping of chaos?"

Oh, and have the third clue as well. It is only a picture this time *g*

Clue three

He picked up the little box, unfolded the card and read *Merry Christmas, Will, with much love from Mum.*



That are all clues you'll get from me. :-)


Even if it wasn't so easy, we have two fans who knew it only with the first clue. The first one was cornishcat, the second was msmoat.
byslantedlight said it rang a bell with the first clue and she got it after the last one. cloudless_9193 knew it too and of course hagsrus couldn't even begin to guess. *g*

I hope you enjoyed this little game and you enjoy the story. It is one of my favorites.

Comments

[unbelievable2.livejournal.com]

Great game! I only worked it out at the third clue! It's a lovely story.

[macklingirl.livejournal.com]

Then I did my work right. *g* Yes, it is a very lovely story which covers the Christmastime wonderful.

[heliophile-oxon.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry to have missed playing - I was AWOL for the day - because this is one of the stories I love most in all the world! It's beautifully crafted and observed, and the final image is one that always sticks with me. Thank you for posting the game, sorry I missed out on playing and all the hearthside warmth in the world to our lovely hagsrus for her wonderful creation that resonates so perfectly.

[macklingirl.livejournal.com]

There will be another Guess-The-Story story at 23rd and then you play.

Yes, the third image was the first what came into my head because the fountain pen and the Milk Tray are connected to this story in my brain. Show me a fountain pen and I think of Bodie and Doyle. What a connection. *lol*

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

Now that you've told us I can recognise it but I would never have guessed it! This *is* a fun challenge, I'm enjoying it!

[macklingirl.livejournal.com]

I'm glad that you like the challenge. My problem is that I can't describe the stories in so many words, but I always have pictures in my head. And it is fun to share them with all of you.

I'm glad you enjoyed it. :-)

[cim3745.livejournal.com]

What a lovely story. I couldn't guess and I had to play my own game - waiting for the next story. Knew it will be a good one and I have enjoyed it.

[macklingirl.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you like the story and it was a new one for you. :-)

[etain-antrim.livejournal.com]

One of my favorites, too! Thanks.

[macklingirl.livejournal.com]

Good to hear. And you're very welcome!

[msmoat.livejournal.com]

In all the excitement of remembering the story, I forgot to mention that your accompanying illustrations are fantastic. Absolutely perfect for the story. I'm really impressed with those. So, thank you for that as well!