Post by sezja on Nov 11, 2009 19:29:57 GMT -8
December 25th, 2010
5:00 am
5:00 am
Sezja ran a hand through her tousled blonde hair, leaning against the counter in an early-morning sag. She hadn't brushed it yet, and as such it still stuck out in odd places here and there; a cow-lick at her forehead lifted a large blonde lock away into a bowed shape that came back to stick the end in her mouth every time she yawned. Still, it was early Christmas morning. In Russia, Christmas was celebrated after the New Year -- but here, it was still before it. It didn't particularly matter what day it occurred on, because these people needed ol' Father Frost... err, 'Santa Claws'.
She had sewn a costume for the occasion, convinced that a really spectacular Christmas was needed to cheer the children. She found that when the children were cheered, it was much easier for the adults to have hope. Children just didn't understand the damage that allowing oneself to cry publicly did to the resistance. She wore the under-dress to the costume now, a simple long-sleeved v-neck that went past her knees and was made out of a simple green cottony material. The thick,white, fur-lined overcoat that completed the costume was thrown over the back of a chair. Although the English might not understand the character, she was dressing up as Снегурочка, the Snow Maiden.
Beside her the egg beater was whipping around some eggs, and she bent to poke one thin finger at the contents of the brick oven, pulling the sugar cookies from the enchanted flame just in time. She hissed as the cookie sheet burned her thumb, sliding it onto the counter to cool. "Tepesio," she whispered, withdrawing her throbbing hand from the now cool sheet.
She sighed, leaning her back against the counter and wiping her brow with the back of her arm, going over the list in her head. She'd stocked the recent coffee donations, bought some toffee, the peppermint was ready for morning tea. Sugar cookies in the shape of pine trees were made, and the children's socks, lying in their families trunks in the makeshift dormitories, had been stuffed with carved animals and figures. Check, check and check. Goodness, what a trial! She closed her eyes, breathing long and deep, enjoying the moment of rest.