Lemony Christmas in July: Short Story

Posted on by Teagan Riordain Geneviene

Saturday, July 20, 2024

Teagan via Playground
Teagan via Playground

Welcome back to Christmas in July!  I hope everyone has been having a wonderful week.  If it wasn’t all sweetness, then this is the place to have some fun.

I haven’t been able to squeeze up any energy today.  I don’t have any zest.  So, my Christmas in July offering this weekend is a short story that I’ve shared a few times over the years.  It stars my first 1920s character.  She was also the heroine of my first blog serial, back in 2012.  If you don’t already know her, allow me to introduce Paisley Idelle Peabody, better known as Pip.

My Pip character is a world away from Lulu.  Pip is also a flapper, but she is more of a “girl next door.”  The following short story also appears in Pip’s Other Adventures: Short Stories of the 1920s. 

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Pip’s Lemony Christmas

Pip Christmas Frame Green

It had been a grand and glorious year.  However, it pos-i-lute-ly had ups and downs.  At that moment I was in one of the downs.  Even the long-distance telephone call from my best friend Mona failed (miserably I might add) to cheer me.  She might not be sure where she wanted her future to go, but at least it was going somewhere.  All my friends were moving forward, going somewhere.  Me?  It didn’t look like I would ever get anywhere.

Not only was I going nowhere, I seemed to be going there all by myself.  Worse, it was Christmastime.  Even my Pops suddenly had to go up north on business.  I offered to go and keep him company…  Okay, so I begged.

“Young ladies have no place at business meetings,” he told me in the stern, no nonsense voice that meant I wouldn’t get anywhere with my plea.

Idly, I looked at the lace covered table — lemons artfully arranged as a centerpiece.  I took one of the tangy fruits, tossed it in the air and caught it.  I pondered as I tossed the lemon.

Teagan via Perchance
Teagan via Perchance

What would any self-respecting flapper do in such a situation?  Refuse to be a sourpuss, that’s what a flapper would do!

I decided as I tossed the lemon.  If all I had for Christmas was lemons, then I’d make lemonade — so to speak, especially after I found the bottle of hooch Pops had squirreled away.  I would have rather had the champagne I knew he hid some place, but that had been ages ago and I couldn’t remember where I saw it.

Gin will do just fine, I told myself.

Suddenly inspired, I gave the yellow fruit a final toss.  I went to the shoebox that held Granny’s recipes.  She had given me instructions for all sorts of citrus treats, and I was a sourpuss with a sweet tooth.

Teagan via Perchance
Teagan via Perchance

A little while later I was cleaning up the kitchen as it filled with citrusy baking aromas.  Just as I picked up the remains of my lemons, a loud knock pounded at the front door.  It startled me so badly that I ran to the door with barely a wipe to my juice drenched hands.

“Delivery!” the words came with another thunderous knock.

I threw open the door and the cool December air hit my face.  It was downright brisk, for Florida anyway.  There was a truck in the driveway and a young man with a name embroidered on his jacket — Ronny.  I took the package, barely looking at the guy who handed it to me.  My hands tore at the twine excitedly, even before I went inside.  Meanwhile Ronny the delivery man wrote something on the receipt clamped to his clipboard.

“If you’ll sign here, Miss?” he asked.

There was a card inside the package from my friend Mona.  The front of it said “I’m sorry you’re alone at Christmas.”  Hurriedly I stuck the edge of the note between my teeth and tucked the package under my arm so I could take the clipboard and sign the form.

Teagan via Perchance
Teagan via Perchance

Only then did I notice what a cutie the guy was.  He tilted his head all the way to his shoulder and read aloud the note while I signed.  As soon as I heard him speak the words, I blushed scarlet.  To make matters worse, he made a sympathetic aww sound that made me feel like a six year-old.

In my flustered flurry of motions, taking the note from my teeth, trying to stick it back in the package, and pushing my hair back… wouldn’t you know I touched a lemon coated finger to my face.  I yelped as the citrus stung my eyes.  It made tears stream down my cheeks.

The guy sounded guilty when he pleaded to know what the matter was, as if he had caused it.  The only word I could manage to utter was, “Lemons!”

He pulled my hand away from my face and lightly sniffed it.  He gave a little chuckle that made me want to bean him.

Teagan via Perchance
Teagan via Perchance

“Yep, that’s lemons all right.  For a minute there I was afraid you got bad news,” he commented.  “But I guess being alone on Christmas Eve is bad enough.”

For some reason his comment made me lose my composure.  I burst out in real tears and sobs, no longer caused by the stinging citrus.  I plopped down on the porch and sat there with the package in my lap.  This upset poor Ronny.  He started blabbering apologies, clearly unsure of why he was asking for forgiveness.

“Look sweet cakes, you’re my last delivery.  Let me help you wash your face and get rid of that lemon juice before you put your fingers in your eyes again,” he offered in a contrite voice.

I insisted that it was okay, and with a sniffle, silenced my sobs.  Too embarrassed to look at him I turned my attention back to Mona’s gift.  Her card had fallen, but Ronny picked it up and handed it to me.  I took it from him and with a deep breath I spoke the words that humiliated me a moment before.

“I’m sorry you’re alone at Christmas,” I read the elegant script on the outside, and then opened the card.  “So, you’ll just have to make your own party.”

Teagan via Perchance
Teagan via Perchance

What? I thought in confusion.  

Digging through the packing paper I found two sparkling etched crystal goblets.  I held up one of the glasses to watch the light play on it.  I looked at Ronny, feeling utterly bemused.  He returned my gaze with a twinkle in eyes that I suddenly noticed were a heavenly shade of blue.

Ronny picked up the other empty glass and playfully tapped it against the one I held.  I suddenly remembered where Pops hid the bubbly.

The End

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 My intention in hosting this challenge (or blog hop) is to bring smiles to everyone.  Not religion, not politics, just relaxing fun.  I hope you’ve enjoyed your visit here.  Please “hop” over to other participating blogs and see what they’ve done for Christmas in July. 

Huge thanks to everyone who has participated.  I appreciate everyone who simply visits too.  You’re all pos-i-lutely the cat’s pajamas!  Friendly comments are encouraged.  Hugs!

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Christmas in July Participation

Christmas in July badge

If you have a Christmas in July post, don’t forget to leave a link to it in comments.

For complete guidelines click here.

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I must include the obligatory shameless self-promotion.

Pip’s Other Adventures, Short Stories of the 1920s

Pips Other Adventures cover by Teagan Riordain Geneviene

Kindle:  relinks.me/B09V3D6NPD

Paperback:  relinks.me/B09TQLZGNF

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Hullaba Christmas: Lulu and the Snatched Santa

Hullaba Christmas cover

Universal Purchase Links

Kindle:  relinks.me/B08JKP1RS4

Paperback:  relinks.me/B08JDYXPZM

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No part of this work may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission.  Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights.

All images are either the property of the author, or used with permission, or from free sources.

Copyright © 2017 and 2024 by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene

All rights reserved.

60 thoughts on “Lemony Christmas in July: Short Story”

  3. I’m leaving another comment here, since I read your post after this one and you closed the comments in that post. I’m disgusted that someone called your Christmas in July as “sickening.” How in the world could someone think that way about your posts, when you were trying to spread smiles in readers??? But then, the Grinch was grumpy while hearing the Whos sing in Who-ville. Ugh. I thought your Christmas in July was a sweet gift to us readers, and it made me smile. I hope your mood lifts to where you’re back to smiling 🌞

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  4. A delightful story for your Christmas in July! Pip already had a good sense of helping her lonely situation by baking sweet treats. Then you highlight the importance of good friends by Mona’s gift. And a lovely lift at the end with a new friend. Yep, lemons are sour — but they smell amazing, and they add a fantastic zing to drinks and food. Here’s to a zingy time for Pip! 🌞

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  5. I took my time to read this at night right after I read Dan’s Old Sturbridge story. I loved your story, it has this nice – when you have lemons make lemonade – theme to it. I relate to it because I’ve been in that situation for quite some time. For almost 4 years, I had no real friends (from age 15 – 19). I mean not that I was alone, but there was no one I could share my deepest thoughts with. While most boys of my age had family to protect them, I had no one. My parents were no more, my brothers and sisters were busy in their lives. So, I used to pamper and celebrate alone or with practically anyone available.

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    1. I understand and relate to that, Sharukh. Sometimes, with nothing good, and nothing to celebrate, I would “celebrate Tuesday” or whatever day. I’d get a cheap bottle of champagne and just pretend to celebrate… And the intent usually became real enough to lift my spirits.

      Thanks for reading and for your comment. Hugs.

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  6. Teagan I just read your last post on Christmas In July. So sorry about that sour story you shared about that sour soul. Forget it (her/him) —not worthy in our midst. They just can’t handle happy people. 🤷🏽‍♀️
    This celebration you have going here is the best. I managed to share three posts and doing so cooled me from the insides. So thanks wholeheartedly. You are tops, my friend. Don’t ever change. I bless you.
    This is all I’ll say.
    A fun July this has been. Again, thanks. Xoxox 🤗 🤗 🤗

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    1. You are very kind, Selma — thank you. And heartfelt thanks for participating in the blog hop. My original intent was to continue it through this weekend — but as I said, if anyone wants to keep posting throughout July — or when ever, I’m happy. I’m delighted that you enjoyed it. Big hugs.

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  17. That’s a lovely Christmas story, Teagan. Thank you!

    I came along to your blog after/late Pip, so it was neat to read this.

    Clink! There’s nothing like lemon champagne!

    Hugs

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    1. Oh, that’s right. It seems like we’ve always been blog-friends, Resa. 🙂
      Pip is so different from Lulu that I hesitated to post anything from her stories while I’m promoting Lulu’s novelette. But I was tired.
      Anyhow, Pip’s stories, while very lighthearted, show the challenges she faced as a woman in the changing times of the 1920s. Some people have criticized me for content like her father’s remark in this story, but that’s how it was back then.
      Cheers! I do love champagne! Hugs winging back to you.
      PS: I enjoyed your colorful mural today. Comments didn’t seem to be enabled. I hope all is well in your world.

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      1. Do you mean “Young ladies have no place at business meetings,”?

        That’s the only possibly offensive line, by todays standards. We can’t change the past, yet it seems many try to.

        Anyway, yes, I don’t know much about Pip, so it was fun reading this.

        All is well here. Thank you for asking! I’m swamped in a good way: building the new Art Gown, drawing, dealing with household appliance malfunctions (everything seem to break down at the same time), looking for a cat to bring home (bad experience at the cat shelter), reading, and an early tomato harvest coming in.

        I fell behind in comments and visiting blogs. So, I thought I’d do a post with no comments. I guess that’s my way of taking a break.

        Oh, also its Emmy season. I take my voting privilege seriously, so that means I need to watch all of the nominated shows I haven’t seen. Whew!

        Hugs!

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        1. Applesauce, Resa — what a time you’ve had… I hope you soon meet the right kitty. I was so very alone without Crystal. I still don’t know if I did the right thing (for the cats) by getting the Scoobies, but I was weak. What I’m trying to say is that I know how important cats are to our lives.
          You get a ton of wonderful comments at your blog. I can see how closing comments would give you a break.
          Happy nominee viewing. Hugs back to you.

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  23. It’s always a joy to read about Pip again, Teagan. Lovely story and the images to go with it are fabulous as well. Enjoy the Christmas in July spirit, big hugs, and love to Daphne and Velma.

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