It was positively freaky. Thanks to a twist of fate, here we were on our side of the block living in cold darkness and scary survival conditions, while the other side was celebrating merrily, warm, cozy, and well-fed. Somehow our neighborhood had become a metaphor for the human condition.
One day, one of the neighbors with power decided to run an extension cord across the street to help out. It was such a small thing, but that thin orange cord helped bridge the harsh divide that had opened up between us.
I thought about that time, about the haves and have nots. I thought about how little it takes to help but how life-altering it can be. I thought about neighbors. I thought about Christmas and fate and how people living on opposite sides of the tracks are essentially the same. Then I wrote this story.
Love,
Deana
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Thank you, Karey and Kim, for making sure this was ready for prime time. This story wouldn't have been the same without my dear friend's BFF (best feline forever), Max. And thank you my wonderful son and husband for honoring the headband in lieu of office space.
Jerk Boss: A New Highland Romance Page 8