Valentine's Day Short Story #1

For the next 5 days, I shall be writing 5 short stories based on 1st Corinthians 13:4-8a. It's rather cheesy, but it'll be kinda fun. :~)

*All stories are fiction for friends. Any resemblance to people, places, or events are purely coincidental!

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Lizzie and the Mailman

1st Corinthians 13:4-5a  

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude.

Lizzie sighed as she slouched on the couch. Christmas was over, the winter was grey, and it felt like Valentine's day was fast approaching. No one had ever given her a valentine. Sure it was silly to want one, but it was still rather sweet. She sat up a little straighter, and stared out the window at the falling snow. It had been falling, and falling, and falling. She was sick of snow and cold and winter. She quickly stopped her thoughts. "Do not complain." she scolded out loud, "You need to be patient. One of these days the snow will leave, and one of these days I will get a Valentine." She glanced out the window, and saw that the mailman had arrived. He was a new mailman, tall, young, and rather handsome. Her face grew red as he caught sight of her in the window. He waved, grinned, and put the mail in the mailbox. Over the next couple weeks, when ever the mailman came, he waved with a grin. 

One day, Lizzie was clearing off her car, when the mailman came. "Hello!" he called. "Hello!" replied Lizzie. "How are you, this fine day?" he asked as he put the mail in the mailbox. "Good!" she replied, "I'm off to run some errands, pick up some groceries, and run to Church for my Sunday school lesson." "What Church do you go to?" he asked. "The one on the corner of Main St and Violet Ln." she replied shyly. "I'll have to visit that one sometime!" he called as he started to leave, "I'm looking for a good Church right now." "You are welcome to come!" she called after him, kindly. After he had disappeared from view, Lizzie couldn't believe all that had happened. 

The following Sunday, she headed to Church with very low expectations. "He was just making small talk." she said to herself. Much to her surprise, he came into the sanctuary shortly after her. "Hello!" he said with a smile. "Hello!" she replied, quite surprised. "We haven't officially introduced ourselves." he said kindly, "My name is Jacob McCard." "I'm Lizzie Wick." she replied. "Nice to meet you!" he said cheerfully, and they shook hands. Lizzie's hand tingled so she held it behind her back to hide her nervousness. She introduced him to several of the young men at Church. She didn't know that it was making him envious to meet other young men that, from what he could see, obviously liked her. He did his best to refrain from showing it, for there really was no reason to become envious. "So what do you do for a living, Jacob?" asked a young man named Mark. "I'm a mailman!" he said, doing his best not to boast, for he was very proud of his job. "That's pretty neat!" added a young man named Rob. Suddenly, Lizzie looked at the time, she was almost late for her SS (which she taught). She excused herself as gracefully as possible and quickly left. The rest of the day went smoothly, Jacob sat with her and she showed him around the hymn book. Lizzie waved good bye as he left Church, and then she headed home herself. 

The next couple weeks passed the same, soon it was a week before Valentine's day. Lizzie was slowly finding that Jacob was a really nice guy. Jacob thought the same about Lizzie. One day, on an impulse, Lizzie left some warm chocolate chip cookies in the mailbox for him. Another day, a hot cup of coffee. Once Lizzie opened her mailbox and found a box of tea she had been dying to try. They were getting to know each other through the mailbox, and through Church. 

The Sunday before Valentine's day, dawned bright, clear and cold. Lizzie donned her red skirt, a black shirt and a black sweater. She headed to Church, ready to teach and ready to learn. At the door she was greeted by Jacob. "Ready for Valentine's day?" he said teasingly. "Yep!" she said, "I'm not expecting anything, so yes I'm ready." "Haven't you ever gotten a valentine?" he asked surprised. "Never." she said firmly. He looked thoughtful as she headed down the hall to her class. 

Every day that week, Lizzie found delicious chocolates in her mailbox. She smiled because she knew he was trying to make her feel better about not getting a valentine. Valentine's day arrived, and she saw him grin, wave and put the mail in her box. As soon as he had disappeared, she raced outside to see what was in there. She brought the mail in, and eagerly began to look through it. 4 bills, 3 pieces of junk mail, 2 catalogs, and a letter from her insurance company. She flopped on her couch dismally. Yet another year had gone by, and no valentines. The rest of the day moved as slow as a snail. With dinner time fast approaching, she headed to the kitchen to prepare a bite to eat. Just then, she heard a movement behind her. She whirled around to see a valentine being slipped through the old mail slot. She picked it up and read it. 

You are special, kind and sweet,

patient with everyone you meet.

You never envy, you never boast,

you've never been arrogant, or rude.

With these qualities so precious to me,

I ask you, dear one, will you be my valentine?

Lizzie opened the door, and there stood Jacob. She smiled, and gave him a great big hug. "Yes!" He hugged her back, then picked her up and spun her around. He took her out to dinner, and they continued to become good friends, with the hope that one day, they'd be best friends.

The End