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Into the Shadows

The cold Bethlehem night hummed with frustrated murmurs. Inns overflowed, their doors shut against the weary. Mary, heavy with child, leaned against Joseph, her breath coming in ragged gasps as another innkeeper shook his head apologetically. "No room, good people. Not a single corner". Across the crowded square, another figure knew that same crushing disappointment. He was a man of striking contrast: black hair was placed above a face etched with travel, and eyes the startling colour of indigo seemed to absorb the dim lantern light, reflecting a deep weariness. He was not old, but his shoulders slumped with the weight of countless rejections. "Nothing, sir", a voice boomed from a doorway he'd just approached. "Try the next street, maybe, but I doubt it". He'd heard it a dozen times tonight. His dark features, perhaps his silent intensity, seemed to put people off even more readily than the general lack of space. He wasn't belligerent, mere...

The Birdie Song Unplugged



I couldn't believe it. The once-serene and dignified atmosphere of my living room was now consumed by the undignified and frenzied dance of The Birdie Song. A group of five young girls, clad in neon tutus and feather boas, were twisting and leaping around the room, their little bodies moving in sync to the cheery, infectious tune. I watched, both amused and annoyed, as they flapped their arms like wings and shook their behinds with reckless abandon.
As if on cue, the youngest of the group, a curly-haired girl no more than six years old, skipped over to me and tugged at my pant leg. "Come on, Auntie Liz! Join us!" she exclaimed, her brown eyes sparkling with mischief.
I couldn't resist her eager pleading, so with a sigh, I got up from my armchair and joined the dancing frenzy. For a few moments, I let go of my worries and just bopped along with the girls, feeling their carefree energy infuse my body. And as we reached the chorus, I couldn't help but smile and join in on the lyrics, "With a little bit of this, and a little bit of that, and a shake your bum!"
Before I knew it, the song was over and the girls were scampering off to the kitchen, leaving me alone in the living room, breathless and grinning like a fool. But for those few minutes, I had forgotten all about the stress and responsibilities of adult life. I had let myself be swept away by the simple joy of a silly song and a child's innocent request. And as I sank back into my armchair, I couldn't help but feel grateful for the reminder to let loose and enjoy the little things in life.

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