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Joined: May 2011
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Nobel Peace Prize Winner
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OP
Nobel Peace Prize Winner
Joined: May 2011
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I was initially going to post this on Christmas Eve, but I got it done early and I probably won't get a chance to that night. So you all get my gift to you two weeks early. I hope you enjoy it. Merry Christmas!
Battle On, Deadly Chakram
"Being with you is stronger than me alone." ~ Clark Kent
"One little spark of inspiration is at the heart of all creation." ~ Figment the Dragon
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Top Banana
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Top Banana
Joined: Jun 2013
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Beautiful. Just beautiful.
"Oh, you can’t help that," said the Cat: "we’re all mad here. I’m mad. You’re mad." "How do you know I’m mad?" said Alice. "You must be," said the Cat, "or you wouldn’t have come here.”
- Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland
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Hack from Nowheresville
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Hack from Nowheresville
Joined: Aug 2016
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Beautiful, indeed. And quite moving. Thank you.
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Posts: 9,509
Nobel Peace Prize Winner
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Nobel Peace Prize Winner
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 9,509 |
Beautiful. I like the compare and contrast between the two parts. What a difference the filling the void in her heart made to the sound of silence. I know that since becoming a mother I appreciate the sound of silence. I've always liked it but now it's soothes me like the taste of chocolate. Silence is chocolate to a mother's ears. It's so sad of how Lois felt complete in her life, in her heart, except for this one thing, this one failure that she couldn't overcome. When I saw it was two parts, I didn't know if you'd show Clark upstairs, not sleeping in the silence either (as Lois had thought), but in his own depression hole for not being able to become a father, blaming himself as Lois blamed herself. I'm glad you ended it on a happy note. Christmas stories are much better with a happy ending. (I was afraid you might go full circle and return to silence being bad, children grown & gone and Superman killed or something.) It's so sweet to see how much happier Lois is knowing that, but for Clark, she is no longer alone. Clark always had the Kents to fall back upon, but Lois really had no one (other than her friends).
VirginiaR. "On the long road, take small steps." -- Jor-el, "The Foundling" --- "clearly there is a lack of understanding between those two... he speaks Lunkheadanian and she Stubbornanian" -- chelo.
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Features Writer
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Features Writer
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 911 Likes: 2 |
What a wonderful, warm WAFFY Christmas story.
I also love the comparisons and contrasts between the first and second parts. And it's great to see how Lois appreciated the little things in life--cherishing both the sounds and silences.
Thanks for sharing this marvelous story!
Cuidadora
"Honey, we didn't care if you were a Russian or a Martian... You were ours... and we weren't giving you to anybody." ~ Martha in Strange Visitor
"A love that risks nothing is worth nothing." ~ Jonathan in Big Girls Don't Fly
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Pulitzer
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Pulitzer
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,975 Likes: 11 |
*sniffle* That was lovely. :')
~•~
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 6,142 Likes: 2
Nobel Peace Prize Winner
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OP
Nobel Peace Prize Winner
Joined: May 2011
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Beautiful. Just beautiful. Thanks, Annie! Glad you enjoyed it!
Battle On, Deadly Chakram
"Being with you is stronger than me alone." ~ Clark Kent
"One little spark of inspiration is at the heart of all creation." ~ Figment the Dragon
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 6,142 Likes: 2
Nobel Peace Prize Winner
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OP
Nobel Peace Prize Winner
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 6,142 Likes: 2 |
Beautiful, indeed. And quite moving. Thank you. Thank you! Glad you liked it. It was a special project for me to write it.
Battle On, Deadly Chakram
"Being with you is stronger than me alone." ~ Clark Kent
"One little spark of inspiration is at the heart of all creation." ~ Figment the Dragon
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 6,142 Likes: 2
Nobel Peace Prize Winner
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OP
Nobel Peace Prize Winner
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 6,142 Likes: 2 |
Beautiful. I like the compare and contrast between the two parts. What a difference the filling the void in her heart made to the sound of silence. I know that since becoming a mother I appreciate the sound of silence. I've always liked it but now it's soothes me like the taste of chocolate. Silence is chocolate to a mother's ears. It's so sad of how Lois felt complete in her life, in her heart, except for this one thing, this one failure that she couldn't overcome. When I saw it was two parts, I didn't know if you'd show Clark upstairs, not sleeping in the silence either (as Lois had thought), but in his own depression hole for not being able to become a father, blaming himself as Lois blamed herself. I'm glad you ended it on a happy note. Christmas stories are much better with a happy ending. (I was afraid you might go full circle and return to silence being bad, children grown & gone and Superman killed or something.) It's so sweet to see how much happier Lois is knowing that, but for Clark, she is no longer alone. Clark always had the Kents to fall back upon, but Lois really had no one (other than her friends). Thanks, Virginia! The comparing and contrasting was important to me. It's something that actually plays on my mind every Christmas now that I have my girls. For me, the "before" sadness wasn't so much the silence on Christmas Eve, but putting up the ornaments and taking them back down - another Christmas come and gone without a baby in the house. Now, with the "after," I have two kids and roughly 9,000 "Baby's First Christmas" ornaments on my tree. Still, the silence is something I appreciate every night when the kids are asleep. But even though I'm glad for the break, I do miss the chaos! Lois' feelings here very much come from where I was in my darkest infertility days. Feeling complete and at peace with myself except for not having kids, no matter how hard we tried. And the knowledge that, even with the help of fertility specialists, there was never a guarantee that we'd be able to have a family. It's funny, I never considered Clark's view on the matter. It always felt very much like a Lois piece, given that she's often been home alone and smothered in absolute silence. Of course I had to end on a happy note. Even my dark, twisted muse couldn't leave a Christmas fic on a sad note! BUT! I'll admit, when I first thought of this story, I considered it as a "looking back" fic with Lois and Clark being older, their children grown and out of the house, with families of their own. Or maybe all of the kids and grandkids visiting and sound asleep in the middle of the night. Thank you for reading!
Battle On, Deadly Chakram
"Being with you is stronger than me alone." ~ Clark Kent
"One little spark of inspiration is at the heart of all creation." ~ Figment the Dragon
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 6,142 Likes: 2
Nobel Peace Prize Winner
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OP
Nobel Peace Prize Winner
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 6,142 Likes: 2 |
What a wonderful, warm WAFFY Christmas story.
I also love the comparisons and contrasts between the first and second parts. And it's great to see how Lois appreciated the little things in life--cherishing both the sounds and silences.
Thanks for sharing this marvelous story! Thanks for reading! I'm glad you liked the comparisons and the contrasts. I think Lois stopping to savor the little is a huge step for the character too. She's definitely changing and softening.
Battle On, Deadly Chakram
"Being with you is stronger than me alone." ~ Clark Kent
"One little spark of inspiration is at the heart of all creation." ~ Figment the Dragon
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 6,142 Likes: 2
Nobel Peace Prize Winner
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OP
Nobel Peace Prize Winner
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 6,142 Likes: 2 |
*sniffle* That was lovely. :') Thank you! Glad you liked it.
Battle On, Deadly Chakram
"Being with you is stronger than me alone." ~ Clark Kent
"One little spark of inspiration is at the heart of all creation." ~ Figment the Dragon
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Posts: 2,082
Kerth
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Kerth
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,082 |
This was a really good story. I clearly heard your voice in Lois' pain and in her conflicted emotions. The introspection has authenticity, and I know it's because this story came from a real place in your heart. Thanks for sharing this piece of yourself with all of us.
You can find my stories as Groobie on the nfic archives and Susan Young on the gfic archives. In other words, you know me as Groobie.
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Joined: May 2011
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Nobel Peace Prize Winner
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OP
Nobel Peace Prize Winner
Joined: May 2011
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This was a really good story. I clearly heard your voice in Lois' pain and in her conflicted emotions. The introspection has authenticity, and I know it's because this story came from a real place in your heart. Thanks for sharing this piece of yourself with all of us. Thanks so much. It's interesting, being able to so clearly and strongly identify with a character in this way. It's both difficult to find the words to express the feelings in a relatable way, but easy and kind of cathartic too. Thanks for taking the time out to read something so close to my heart.
Battle On, Deadly Chakram
"Being with you is stronger than me alone." ~ Clark Kent
"One little spark of inspiration is at the heart of all creation." ~ Figment the Dragon
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,466
Top Banana
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Top Banana
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,466 |
This was completely lovely, DC . Amongst all the 'to-do' lists, chores, shopping, etc (and etc ) getting ready for the holidays is entailing, it was such a 'stop and think' moment of clarity for me. I had a few moments before picking up my son at preschool, and had been trying to clean the house top to bottom for some plans coming up. Anyway...I was going to try to get another room clean and 'done', but then told myself to 'stop'. I heated up some soup. Grabbed the ipad. F-I-N-A-L-L-Y gave myself some time (for myself ). And out of all the stories I've been wanting to catch up on, found this one. Definitely needed that acknowledgement of how lucky/blessed we are to have that fallen behind house (because of those kiddos of ours), and how wonderful it is to be getting ready for those plans with family and friends. Thank you for that reminder on a busy afternoon ... Wonderful job--so personal and very touching. Loved it! Laura
"Where's Clark?" "Right here."
...two simple sentences--with so much meaning.
~Lois and Clark in 'House of Luthor'~
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Joined: May 2011
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Nobel Peace Prize Winner
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This was completely lovely, DC . Amongst all the 'to-do' lists, chores, shopping, etc (and etc ) getting ready for the holidays is entailing, it was such a 'stop and think' moment of clarity for me. I had a few moments before picking up my son at preschool, and had been trying to clean the house top to bottom for some plans coming up. Anyway...I was going to try to get another room clean and 'done', but then told myself to 'stop'. I heated up some soup. Grabbed the ipad. F-I-N-A-L-L-Y gave myself some time (for myself ). And out of all the stories I've been wanting to catch up on, found this one. Definitely needed that acknowledgement of how lucky/blessed we are to have that fallen behind house (because of those kiddos of ours), and how wonderful it is to be getting ready for those plans with family and friends. Thank you for that reminder on a busy afternoon ... Wonderful job--so personal and very touching. Loved it! Laura Thanks for reading, Laura! I know how hard it can be to find a few minutes to yourself around the holidays, so I'm honored that you picked my story. Fallen behind house? I feel like mine is so far behind it's still in 2014. Glad it was a "stop and think" moment for you. I think we can all benefit from those to put things into perspective. (I'm currently sitting in a room which looks like Toys R Us threw up in and I'm grateful to have that opportunity. But I'm waaaaay too tired to clean tonight!) Thanks for reading and I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Battle On, Deadly Chakram
"Being with you is stronger than me alone." ~ Clark Kent
"One little spark of inspiration is at the heart of all creation." ~ Figment the Dragon
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,466
Top Banana
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Top Banana
Joined: Sep 2013
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DC stated: Fallen behind house? I feel like mine is so far behind it's still in 2014. Oh yeah! I can totally relate! The mess is a constant. Toys, toys, toys . Laura
"Where's Clark?" "Right here."
...two simple sentences--with so much meaning.
~Lois and Clark in 'House of Luthor'~
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Joined: May 2011
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Nobel Peace Prize Winner
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DC stated: Fallen behind house? I feel like mine is so far behind it's still in 2014. Oh yeah! I can totally relate! The mess is a constant. Toys, toys, toys . Laura Yes! My den is like an obstacle course! A cute one to be sure, but I have zero willpower in buying for my munchkins.
Battle On, Deadly Chakram
"Being with you is stronger than me alone." ~ Clark Kent
"One little spark of inspiration is at the heart of all creation." ~ Figment the Dragon
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Posts: 8,941 Likes: 28
Boards Chief Administrator Nobel Peace Prize Winner
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Boards Chief Administrator Nobel Peace Prize Winner
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 8,941 Likes: 28 |
Hi Vicki! Christmas story? Silence.
The sound of it rings in my ears and deafens me.
It wraps around me like a stifling, invisible cloak.
It openly mocks me. Clark in space? Tonight is Christmas Eve. The one night of the year where I've always felt like the world holds its breath in collective anticipation. Clark in Kansas? The most peaceful night of the year, or so people say. Lois? . It was such a relief, not to hear Mom and Dad fighting with each other. It was a much needed break, to not have to step in and be a mother to Lucy. Okay, Lois. Also, because her father is next door, giving his presents to the neighbor and her mother is passed out drunk on the bed? I think it might have been the one night of the year where my coworkers actually appreciated me. After all, if I worked, it meant that some of the others could be home with their families. We've done everything humanly possible to try and boost our chances of conceiving a child together, no matter how off-the-wall and unscientific it may have seemed. PERRY: I swear, if they requisition a couch for the supply closet, I’ll send them on a mission to report on salmon smuggling in Anchorage. Silence.
Blessed silence.
Music to my ears. So, this is Clark, now? For what feels like the first time tonight, I sit down on the couch, a fresh, hot cup of tea cradled in my hands, warming me before I can even take the first sip. My lower back pops as a hundred knots are released with the motion, bringing much needed relief. No, a pregnant Lois one year later, after Clark finally made it to puberty. I'm not sure. And I'm not sure that I want to know. For me, it is enough, just to bask in the silence and magic of this night. Because, as I've learned, it's all too fleeting and fragile a thing. And I intend to enjoy every moment of it. Very nicely done! Michael
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Nobel Peace Prize Winner
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Okay, Lois. Also, because her father is next door, giving his presents to the neighbor and her mother is passed out drunk on the bed? Hopefully wrapped gifts, or he might have another kid to give a gift card to next Christmas. PERRY: I swear, if they requisition a couch for the supply closet, I’ll send them on a mission to report on salmon smuggling in Anchorage. Lois: So, that's a "no" then? Thank you! Thanks for stopping in!
Battle On, Deadly Chakram
"Being with you is stronger than me alone." ~ Clark Kent
"One little spark of inspiration is at the heart of all creation." ~ Figment the Dragon
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 8,941 Likes: 28
Boards Chief Administrator Nobel Peace Prize Winner
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Boards Chief Administrator Nobel Peace Prize Winner
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Hopefully wrapped gifts, or he might have another kid to give a gift card to next Christmas. Lois: So, that's a "no" then? PERRY: LOIS: What? I just had to make sure I got that one right. Michael
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