A Taste of WINTER TALES

Stephen Kiernan has blessed Vermont Stage with his talents on several occasions; from performing with Ethan Bowen in O'Carolan's Farewell to Music in 2003 to providing musical accompaniment for our second Winter Tales show in 2006. Last year he shared his writing talents with us with his story about the prodigious holiday meals in the newsroom, "All Tucked In." This year, we are fortunate to have another new story from Stephen. Here, to whet your appetite, is a short excerpt from "A Grain of Rice."

      The post office line moved slowly, and Marshall tapped the music against his belt. Once the mailer was stamped, tossed in a bin and swallowed by the comforting rituals of bureaucracy, Marshall left the building singing. As he crossed the street, he enjoyed the crowd's indifference to his appearance; this was a town that did not notice a man with a ponytail. He jogged to his last task, dodging the fat flakes of a snow squall. A bank clock read exactly 32. As he opened the door of a small shop, the bell overhead tinkled a friendly G, right on pitch. "Hello folks," he called.

            The balding tailor stood at the counter before a splayed red dress, pins in his mouth. "The young man is here," he called without looking up.

            An old woman tottered out with a cardboard box. Her grin had gaps but it was huge. "Only last night I finish." She set the box on the counter.

            Marshall opened the box and spread a quilt out wide: grey and red, a flying geese pattern. "Big enough for mama and baby. It's beautiful."

            "Is not bad. The back stitching is hurry job," the woman said.

            "I told my mother she should charge you more," the tailor added.

            "Ach, you," the woman said, poking her son's back with a stiff thumb. She faced Marshall. "You wife will love this, no?"

            "If she doesn't brain me for breaking the no-presents rule."

            The woman gave her toothy grin again. "No woman complaints a gift of love."

October 28th, 2009