California Dreaming
My Weekly|December 16,2017

Is Christmas the time for hopeless romantic Alan to wake up?

Peter J Hedge
California Dreaming

I called Donna around three, just after I’d arrived at my California hotel room, but got her answering machine.

“Hi,” came her as ever-bubbly greeting. “This is Donna. Sorry I can’t take your call, but leave a message and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.”

After the beep I left my message.

“The eagle has landed,” I said. Feeling pleased with my choice of words, I hung up and went downstairs to the hotel lounge.

“Season’s greetings,” said the pretty girl behind the bar as I sat down and pulled my stool in close.

“I think you mean Merry Christmas.” I smiled at her.

“No,” she answered emphatically. “I meant what I said.”

“So what’s wrong with Christmas? Today is December the twenty-fifth, 1991, last time I checked.”

“Nothing,” she said. “Except that you might be Jewish or Muslim, when the day would have no special significance whatsoever.”

“But I’m neither,” I protested.

“Then in that case…” She smiled sweetly. “Merry Christmas!”

I shook my head in amusement.

“Sometimes I think this political correctness has gone a bit overboard.”

“Maybe,” she acknowledged. “But when tips make up most of your income that is supposed to support you through medical school, it doesn’t pay to risk offending anyone.”

I looked at the name badge that was pinned to her blouse.

“OK, Toni,” I said. “Then… the compliments of the season to you too.”

“See – you’re learning.” She grinned mischievously.

“You’re a medical student, then.”

“In my final year,” she said proudly. “Are you English?”

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة December 16,2017 من My Weekly.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة December 16,2017 من My Weekly.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

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