(Soonish)
December 21, 2016
She’d seen them on tv shows, those sappy holiday love movies, and made for tv movies that made you feel like you were getting cavities. She had never thought they were real, had never heard of nor seen them, but as Keely went to open her door she was shocked by what she saw. Standing there with little santa hats on and dressed warm, yet festively, were carollers. Shocked by the sight she held up a finger and hurried to get her phone, she needed a picture, or a video perhaps, so she could send it to her mother.
Returning with her phone she hit the record button and held her phone, to her chest, as they started singing. Some were, in her opinion, a bit off key but they made up for it with spirit and their bright smiles. The group was ten strong more slightly more women than men but it was a fairly even grouping in that regard, there was also a nice range of vocal range. The group was all bundled up and holding little song booklets so they could keep to the songs, it was like in some of those sappy made for tv movies her mother loved to watch around the holidays.
When they finished so too did her recording, her phone found itself slipped into the stocking hanging from the table by her door, as she asked them in for something warm to drink - they had to be cold.
After a few moments of insisting she had them seated, her door shut, and was going to make hot chocolate, tea and coffee as she planned to warm the group up. They had been busy, they said as much as they spoke amongst each other and to her, sharing the holiday spirit with any who would listen to them. They were most pleased, or so it seemed, when little children would squeal, laugh, giggle, and smile as they sang all with bright smiles on their faces though some children were shy. It didn’t surprise her to hear that some people were surprised about seeing them, asking them if they did it every year or were new and other questions, she also wasn’t surprised that people wanted to join them next year.
It was, as she heard, a bit late to join them now but next year...next year it seemed their little merry group would be expanding and would cover more of the city. It was nice to think about, very nice indeed, and as she hurried about her kitchen she brought the drinks over to the group and sat herself down to listen to them talk. Joining in every so often she had no problem informing them that she couldn’t sing - in fact she sounded like a dying animal...or at least a wounded one. She had no ear for music, at least as far as she could ever tell, but that was ok. She’d never been too terribly bothered by it, as she’d been taken more by sports than music in school and it was a love which continued even now.
When the drinks were done the group slowly started to get up, stretching and smiling, laughing, as they bid Keely a Merry Christmas and a safe and happy new year - something she wished them all as well. They had been nice, very warm, and as she led them to the door and held it open she thanked them for the visit. Wishing them a safe remained of the day, and hoped they kept warm, she closed the door finally, as they headed down for the stairwell.
How she had not noticed, or rather heard, them she knew - easily. She had her headset on and so hadn’t heard them singing, and she was the last door on the floor, so she was the last visited here. At least they were inside a large building but they were no doubt heading back down to the first floor and out to the street to continue their singing for others.
Word count: 675
