The Old Man

[enjenjo]

How long the old man had been there no one knew. Everyone just called him "The Captain." His little house was down by the beach. It was built in the old style and it was just as easy to imagine it was built by vikings as it was that it was built by Victorians for a folly.

For great lengths of time the little house was quite. It would sit by the beach and those from outside the area would wonder if it was abandoned. Yet at Christmas time the house would blaze with light.

Greenery would adorn the comfortable little porch and bows would be tied to the ever present rocker. "The Captain" would emerge from the lamp and fireplace lit interior with a giant sea chest and place the big box next to the old rocker.

The curiosity of the seeing the old man combined with how well lit and cheerful the house appeared drew many visitors. They would come by singly or in small groups to wish season's greeting or simply to say hello.

With each visitor the old man would smile, return the greeting and beckon the person or group forward. "Tis me way at the turn of the year to bestow on visitors a few wee gifts as tokens of me thanks for a good life and to acknowledge the generosity of the Almighty."

His bright eyes would twinkle out under his old sea cap and his wide mouth would smile as he spoke never letting his ever present pipe full of spiced tobacco droop. No one ever refused a gift. It just seemed wrong to do so.

Each visitor would be handed a small, wrapped box. The unique and curious thing was that each box was wrapped in a map. Maps from all over the world. Some were old, some looked newer, some were in foreign languages, and some were quite strange as they seemed to project arrangements of continents from times long passed.

Each box contained a small trinket. Some contained coins, some contained small carvings, occasionally a scarf, very rarely a small bottle of liquid, and once in a great while the box would hold a jewel. These were the most rare and they would glow from within and a person receiving such a gift would think themselves very lucky.

As the hour of Christmas day wound down to midnight "The Captain" would stand up from the rocker, wish any guests remaining on the porch a good night, pick up the box and head for the open door. Just before entering and closing the door behind him he would turn and say "May the Lord keep thee and thine and if you ever find yourself lost on sea or land remember me trinkets to get yer bearin's."

With this he would close the door and the house would go dark.

Those who had received gifts would soon discover their strange power. A man's life was saved during a bank robbery gone bad when a robber shot him in the chest. The man happened to have the coin the old man had given him in his shirt pocket and so the bullet was deflected. He has the coin, dented in the middle, to this day.

A woman received a little carved bird. She eventually added it to her key-ring. One day she had been hiking in the moors and become lost. She began to become afraid but as she stood wondering which way to go she felt a movement in her pocket. The little bird carving had become animated.

The moment she brought it out it fell to the end of it's little tether. No mater which way the woman turned the little carving always flew in on direction. Finally following the little bird for want of anything better to do she made her way out of the moors safe and sound. The little carving has never moved again.

The most famous story comes from a local fisherman. He had received one of the rare jewels. Something so fantastic he couldn't understand why he, being a humble man, had received a gift worth so much.

Not long after the man had become lost in a fog at sea. Though deeply experienced the fog was quite thick. The man began to be afraid he would never see his home again.

Suddenly the jewel, which he always kept with him for safety, began to glow. He pulled it from his pocket and as he did a great burst of light flared up. Flowing from the flat surface of the gem was a great golden yellow light.

It was the brightest light the fisherman had ever seen. On instinct the fisherman pointed the light to where he thought land might be. After a moment's search the beam's light cut through the fog and the fisherman could see the very end of the peninsula where he had his home. He'd drifted well past it in the fog. He made for the shore and as he arrived the beam went out and has returned to the soft glow it always had.

So, if ever you find yourself on a beach with a well lit old house decorated for Christmas with an old man in a sea cap handing out gifts, don't pass him by. The Captain's gifts are worth more than they seem and his map wrapped treasures might even one day save your life.

Merry Christmas from me and my family
Frank

[kb426]

Merry Christmas to all who choose to partake in the Rodder's Roundtable!

[WZ JUNK]

Great story.

Happy Holidays to everyone.

[Charlie Chops 1940]

Not complaining...we have a lot to be thankful for. Our family members are all well and cared for, with no illness of any sort. That's something these days. The Christmas tree is lit and the lights hung outside. We miss the chaos of our youngest Grands - 7 and 10- being under foot for the Holiday but as long as they are safe we believe better times will return.

I have plenty of work to do in the shop and look forward to being out here everyday. In a few days we will all have perfect 2020 hindsight.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all.

[Rochie]

Great story Frank!  Merry Christmas and a Healthy New Year to all of you south of the border!

[chimp koose]

Hope everyone is well and enjoys their Christmas.