We don’t have enough time.
Tears sting my eyes as Christmas music plays through the speakers.Toughen up, Sammie. You can do this, you can do this, you can do this…
Instead of heading home as I should, I drive right to the town square hellbent on gettingsomethingaccomplished tonight. Stopping in front of the gingerbread houses, I can’t help but smile. They look absolutely amazing. Quinn did a great job in getting the college involved in this project and I think it’s a nice touch.
Wandering through what we’ve already gotten done, we aren’t as behind as I thought. Lamp posts are decorated with lit garlands wrapped around the tall poles. The snowflakes we managed to save from the warehouse have been revitalized and are sparkling in the moonlight as they hang from tree branches. Lights are strung along the sidewalks with candy cane hooks and the evergreen tree next to the gazebo is picturesque with the lights and ornaments hanging. The light dusting of snow this evening has everything looking just as magical as I envisioned.
Turning in a circle I try to pinpoint different things that need to be completed this week before the big reveal. The gazebo still needs to be decorated, Christmas lights still need to be strung overhead, and the light displays we ordered are waiting to be unpacked and set up. All of these are things that I can’t do by myself. Scanning the area, my eyes rake over the large ornaments that Levi and I worked on. The peg boards were painted and placed over the frames we built together, all they need are the lights.
Which are in my trunk…
This is perfect. Stringing the lights through that pegboard will take some time and if I can get it done tonight, that’d be one less thing to worry about. Decision made, I march to my car to grab the lights. Plopping my purse in the backseat, I grab the bags with the things I need and get to work.
In designing the ornaments, Levi left a small hole in the bottom of each one that would help keep them level and also doubles as an easy way for the lights to be strung up and replaced when needed. They are already tilted on their sides and are just waiting for the lights.
Before crawling inside, I unroll a string of red lights and plug them into the outlet built in nearby. Each ornament will be a different color. Eventually, my goal is to have designs on each one, but this year due to time constraints, they’ll have to be plain. Still beautiful, but plain.
It takes longer than I thought it would to get the lights through the holes. The bulbs fit just right, each one being snug enough that they won’t fall out. After about thirty minutes, I have all one side completed.
How am I going to do the other side?
In order to complete the other half of the ornament, I need to get the side that’s on the ground up so that I can string the lights. In a moment of sheer stupidity, I push the ornament upright, leaving the hole I climbed in through flush with the ground.
Clarity hits a split second too late and now I’m stuck inside a fucking ornament. Pushing against the side to tilt it back, the damn thing doesn’t move. It’s too heavy for me to push over on my own. Frantic, my hands fly to the pocket of my jeans in search of my phone. It’s not there. My pockets are empty. Where thehellis my phone? Utter panic sets in when I remember my phone is safely tucked into my purse. Which is currently in the backseat of my car.
What the hell did I just do?
Shit, shit, shit.
The town square was dead when I got here. What are the odds that someone could be walking by? Hoping and praying that someone decided to go for a nice stroll through the winter night, I yell. “Hello? Is anyone there? Help!” Pushing against the side of the ornament with all my might it doesn't budge.
I’m well and truly stuck.
I yell for several more minutes to no avail. Not wanting to go hoarse, I decide to wait until I can hear voices before I start yelling again. With nothing better to do at the moment, I continue to push the bulbs through the holes until the entire thing is covered in lights.
It’s okay, I tell myself. At least it’s warm in here. And I know people will be showing up eventually, I just have to keep myself calm and not freak out. Which is easier said than done.
Deep breath in, deep breath out. Nice and calm. Deep breath in…
Nope, I can’t do it. I told myself I wouldn’t scream until I heard someone, but after what feels like forever stuck inside a glowing orb, I break. Pushing against the sides I scream for anyone to help me.
In an out-of-body experience, I picture a stranger stumbling on this giant glowing ball, shaking and moving with the voice of a crazy lady calling out for help. Struck by the visual and my panic, uncontrollable laughter takes over at the insanity of this situation. I laugh so hard that tears stream down my face and my abs start to hurt.
I’m laughing so much that I don’t hear the scuffle of boots coming toward me.
A deep voice startles me, making me jump. “Hello? Is someone in there?” Oh, thank God. I’m being rescued.
“Yes!” I scream. “I’m in here!” Still chuckling, I push against the side making the ornament shake.
The steps are closer now. “Sammie? Is that you in there?”
Recognition floods through me. “Levi?” My face scrunches with embarrassment. Of course, it would be Levi to rescue me. It seems that he’s the only person capable of coming to my rescue when I find myself in a predicament.
“Sammie, what the hell are you doing?” I can’t tell if he’s mad, frustrated, or titillated.
“Working on my tan, obviously.” What’s with all the questions? “Can you get me out or not?”
Footsteps walk around my cage almost like he’s weighing his options. Wait, he won’t leave me in here, will he? No, he couldn’t possibly.
