The Little Fir Tree

by Tina Burton

ginger lemonade 

The little fir tree was dug up from his home in the rich soil, put into a pot, and stood in a row with lots of other fir trees.

‘Why are we here?’ he asked the tree next to him.

The taller tree looked down at the little fir and sighed. ‘So that people can come and look at us, then, if you’re lucky, you might get chosen.’

‘Chosen? What does that mean? What happens?’ asked the little fir in a scared voice.

‘They take you home and dress you up with pretty lights and decorations. It’s an honour to be the chosen one, you become an important tree for a week or so.’

The little fir tree thought that sounded lovely.

‘What happens after, when they’ve finished dressing you up?’

The older fir coughed. ‘Aherm, I’m not quite sure. Maybe you’ll be picked and then you’ll find out.’

The spruce on the other side laughed. ‘Nobody’s going to pick him. Look at him, he’s too small.’

The little fir tree’s branches drooped. The spruce was right. Looking along the row, he could see that all the others were quite a bit taller. Nobody would choose such a tiddler as him.

He’d been standing there for two days while people came and went. The older tree beside him had been chosen along with many of the others, and now there was only himself and the spruce left. An elderly couple came and the spruce gave a laugh. ‘Ha, see ya, Shortie, I’m going, looks like this couple will choose me.’

But, the old lady stopped in front of the little fir, and he looked into her kind eyes. He shook his branches to fluff them up and tried to stand tall and proud, despite the spruce beside him laughing and telling him he was wasting his time.

‘I like this one, George, look how cute he is, and his branches are lovely and full, even at the top, not spindly like that old spruce. Can we take him?’ she asked her husband.

The little fir tree couldn’t believe his luck. He had no idea what was awaiting him, but he looked forward to becoming an important tree for a week or so.

After a rather scary journey, a couple of young men pulled him out of the van and took him to a garden where the old lady stood waiting. 

‘Can you stand him here on the patio please, boys, then once he’s decorated we can see him through the patio doors,’ the old lady said.

‘There you go, Grandma, is that okay?’ one of the boys asked.

‘Just perfect,’ she replied.

Oh what a wonderful time the little tree had. He was draped with pretty white lights, sparkly snowflake ornaments, and glass baubles, and he stood on that patio feeling as if he was the most important tree in the whole world. Inside the house, the old lady placed her armchair by the patio doors so she could look out at her tree while she sat reading or watching tv.

After a couple of weeks, the elderly couple went out and removed the decorations, and the little tree got a bit worried. What would happen to him now? He wouldn’t be needed anymore.

But the old lady patted his branches as if she could read his thoughts and said, ‘Don’t worry little tree, we’re going to look after you. And hopefully you’ll survive so that we can decorate you again next year.’

Well, that little tree carried on for another four years, but then when the time arrived again for him to be decorated, nobody came. He hadn’t seen the old lady for several days but he saw the old man through the glass doors, looking sad and lost. The little tree waited and waited, but his old lady never came, and the old man just sat, staring into space. The fir tree was sad. His branches drooped and his colour dulled. He felt like he was fading away and couldn’t do anything about it.

Then one day the old man looked out at him. His eyes widened and he stood up. He opened the doors and walked out to the tree. ‘Oh look at you. You’re in a sorry state,’ he said scratching his head. ‘She loved you, and would be annoyed with me for letting you get into this condition.’

He paced up and down the patio, muttering to himself, before seeming to come to a decision. ‘Right, let’s get you back into good health shall we? She’d give me a right telling off if she could see you now.’ He wiped away a tear before going back inside and returning with a watering can.

Ooh that felt good. The little fir didn’t know what was in the water, but it filled him with vigour and he felt himself gaining strength.

After a few months of tender care he was back to full health. He’d grown taller and with lots of new growth, his branches were even bushier.

One afternoon, the two boys who’d first collected him came and put him into their van. The tree was scared, wondering where he was going.

They pulled up outside a house and carried him into the garden. Then to the tree’s delight, he saw the old man, and also a little girl who ran up to him and put her arms around him. ‘Oh you’re such a lovely tree, we’re going to have so much fun decorating you.’

The fir tree’s soul filled with joy, and he thought he was going to burst with happiness. He was going to be important again. 

The old man smiled at the little girl. ‘You take after your great-gran. You’re just as dotty about trees as she was,’ he said.

‘I miss Granny. I bet you do too. Shall we decorate it together, Grandpa?’ the little girl said, her upturned face looking at him questioningly.

With tears in his eyes the old man nodded. ‘I think your gran would like that, and I reckon the tree would too.’

And although there wasn’t a sign of rain in the sky, a few little drops of water fell from the branches of the tree as if he too missed his little old lady, but he was happy as well, his purpose in life would now continue, with his new family.

About the author

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tina-K-Burton/e/B0076W2ACG 

 

Santa's New Recruits

by Tina Burton 

ginger latte

It was two months before Christmas, and Santa Claus sat in his workshop holding a list. He scratched his head and sighed.

Rudolph, the chief reindeer, walked over and nuzzled his master's hand.

'We're in a bit of a predicament this year, Rudolph, old boy,' Santa Claus told him. 'There are so many children in the world now, and you reindeer are old and slow. You've worked so hard for me over the years, I'd like to retire you all.'

Rudolph snorted. 'I'd love to rest, Sir, and I think the others would too, wouldn't you, boys?'

The eight other reindeer nodded their heads and snorted in agreement.

'Oh, the thought of a lovely warm barn, and as much hay as we can eat. No more months of training or zooming around the world on Christmas Eve. It would be bliss,' said Prancer, tossing his head.

'We've loved working for you though, Sir,' said Blitzen. 'You've been a kind and fair master.' 

Santa looked fondly around at his faithful reindeer, and a tear escaped his eye. 

'And I've been pleased with your work. You've been excellent reindeer. You always got me around the world on time. You've earned your retirement. I'll tell the elves to build you an extra big barn and to make sure they put warm cosy beds in it for each of you. Don't worry, boys, you'll live out the rest of your lives happily with me. But I still have a problem. How am I going to get around the world this year? Even if I get a new set of reindeer, I'm not sure they'd be fast enough.'

'Not even with the speed up magic dust?' asked Rudolph.

'Not even with that. I need an animal faster than reindeer.'

'How about a cheetah? That's the fastest land animal,' said Dancer.

Rudolph snorted in disgust. 'It's also a wild animal, you dunce.'

'Now now, boys, no arguing.' Santa patted Dancer's head fondly. He wasn't the brightest of reindeer, but he'd been a loyal and hard worker.

'It was a good idea, Dancer, a cheetah is certainly fast, but we need a gentle animal as well as a fast one.'

Santa got up, put down his list and headed for the door. 'I'll have a think. I'll see if the elves have any ideas, and if any of you come up with something, let me know.'

Suddenly, Rudolph's nose shone like a beacon, something it always did when he got excited.

'Mr Claus, Sir, I've just had the most wonderful idea.'

Santa stopped, his hand on the door handle, and turned back. He sat down and stroked Rudolph's ears.

'I think we can dispense with the Mr Claus, and Sir. You've known me long enough now. Santa will do.'

'Thank you, Sir, I mean, Santa. What about greyhounds? They are such gentle, kind creatures, and they're very fast.' Rudolph looked up at his master, hoping his idea would please him.

Santa slapped his thigh. 'By Jove, Rudolph, old boy, I think you've solved it.'

Santa jumped up in excitement, and started pacing around the room. 'Okay, we need nine greyhounds, the fastest and most gentle. And they've got to be happy to do some training and work for me.'

'I'm sure they'd love to work for you, and many greyhounds are used to training aren't they, because they race,' Prancer said.

'That's true. Right. I need to get moving on this quickly. We need to get those greyhounds here and training as soon as possible. I'll send the elves out into the world, and tell them to choose me the best nine greyhounds they can find.'

Santa stood up and rushed out of his workshop to find his elves, with a big grin on his jolly round face.

A week later, Santa stood in front of his new recruits. The elves had searched far and wide to find greyhounds with the kindest of hearts, and lightness of feet. They'd chosen retired dogs, who were excited and delighted to be working with Santa Claus. There were eight elegant black dogs, with sleek shiny fur,  and one beautiful fawn coloured, who would lead the pack.

They're currently doing their training, and have shown a real aptitude. They weren't even scared when Santa rubbed the speed up dust on their paws.

They caused a bit of commotion when they did zoomies through the clouds, and Santa had to laugh when he heard that several people had reported seeing unidentified flying objects.

So, if you're up late on Christmas Eve and you hear sleigh bells, have a look out, and you might just see Santa with nine glorious greyhounds galloping across the sky.

About the author

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tina-K-Burton/e/B0076W2ACG

Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot.

by Tina Burton 

hot chocolate

It started in the jacuzzi.

After a nice long swim in the hotel pool, while my husband stayed at the bar with a drink, I got out and sat in the jacuzzi with the bubbles on full blast. After about five minutes, a man and his wife joined me. His wife and I chatted amiably – as people staying in the same hotel often do – and I noticed the man giving me the occasional furtive appreciative glances, which made me glad I’d worn my new sexy costume.
After chatting some more, I wished them a good stay, got out, had a quick shower and went into the sauna. I was the only one in there, so I relaxed with my eyes closed, enjoying the heat.
Then the door opened.

‘Mind if I join you?’

I opened my eyes. ‘No, come on in,’ I said with a smile.

We sat side by side, then I felt a gentle stroke on my thigh and a whisper in my ear.

 ‘Have you ever had sex in a sauna?’

I shook my head, my breath coming out in gasps as the stroking fingers explored further. Gentle, teasing kisses trailed across my lips and down my throat. Then my costume straps were slipped down over my shoulders and the kisses became more urgent as they sought out my breasts. Fingers delved inside my costume, making me moan with pleasure. We were frantic as we gave in to the sheer lust that overtook us. The combination of heat – not just from the sauna – and that exciting, scary feeling that we could be caught at any moment, made it one of the best sex sessions I’ve ever had.

Once it was over, we parted with the agreement that neither of us would ever mention it.

When my husband and I went down to dinner that evening, I nodded politely to the couple in acknowledgement, and the woman and I shared a secret smile. I had to turn away as the memory of her soft lips exploring my body sent a ripple of pleasure through me.

About the author

Tina K Burton writes novels, short stories, articles, flash fiction, and the occasional haiku.

Her first two novels were signed with a publisher, but once her contracts ended, she decided to go it alone.

Her first novel Chapters of Life, her second book The Love Shack, her anthology of short stories Eclectic Dreams, and her latest novel Hello from Another Time are all available on Amazon in kindle format and paperback.

She's got stories in several anthologies, she's sold dozens of articles and short stories to women's magazines, and she's also produced a collection of true greyhound rehoming stories, with the proceeds going to greyhound charities.

She is currently working on a sequel to Hello from Another Time.