Kiss for a Rose Christmas was lonely, as always. Rose sighed and looked to the photographs on the mantelpiece. Her children wouldn’t come around, she knew it. Alison because she lived in Australia, at the other end of the world. And Joey – he was always busy. Too busy to visit his mother out in the Nowhere-at-the-back-of-the-World. At least she had her christmas tree. It was beautiful this year. The doorbell rang. Rose rose from her armchair. Her leg crackled and she groaned. Slowly she moved to the door and opened it. Her son always told her not to be so trustful out here, but she still opened the door without taking a look through the viewer. A young man stood outside, shivering and with chattering teeth. His skin was already blue, as Rose noticed – his feet bare, his jeans ripped and his sweater no more than rags. “Oh dear!†she yelled. “Come in!†She pulled him in, led him to the living room, placed him into her armchair and went to fetch some towels and blankets. When she returned, he had stretched his feet to the fireside. Rose shook her head. “Don’t do that. They will ache immediatelyâ€, she told him and turned the chair around, handing him a towel and a blanket. “Dry your hair and put this around youâ€, she demanded. Then she groaned again silently as she kneeled down. “Give me your foot!†She took his right foot and began to massage it slowly, gently. “It’s better to warm it up like this. Don’t ask me why; im only a silly old woman. But it’s better this way.†She looked up and her hair melted. He was a handsome young man with large, warm brown eyes and a hair that glimmered in a wonderful chestnut tone. Under the blankets was a slender body, she had seen it well as he came in. “You don’t have to do that!†he called. “I could myself...†“Blah!†she interrupted. “You sit still. On the table next to you are some cookies; I baked them yesterday. If you don’t mind drinking out of my cup, there is also hot tea. And I have a nice, gutsy chicken soup in the kitchen; it will do you good. But first your feet.†She kneaded his feet until they had some colour other than blue. “Do you know how close you were to loosing you toes? What the hell did you think walking through the snow like that?!†“I made a trip to the mountains. A few days ago the weather was still nice in that valley. But yesterday, the blizzard blew away my tent, my warm blazer, my blankets and everything. I had to walk through the mountains without everything. My shoes gave up a few miles ago, and the bushes and trees were that close they ripped my shirt and jeansâ€, he tried to explain. “Well then.†Rose tried to rise, but her leg crackled again. He heard it, and his face showed remorse. She washed her agony from her face. “I will now reheat the soup. You stay here and warm your bones.†It didn’t take long to reheat the soup, thanks to the fire-stove. She filled a large bowl, put bread and butter on a plate and walked back to the living room. He looked to her thankfully. “You are so nice... I don’t know how to thank you properly.†“Blah!†She washed it away. “You needed help. And, besides – it’s Christmas. When is the time to do good to others if not now?†He smiled, and suddelny it seemed as if his face glowed with an inner fire. “Well, but I thank you anyway.†“Well, erm... eat. I will look if there are some clothes that will fit you. My husband was as tall as you.†Rose scurried away, bewildered by her own feelings. She had not felt this way for... oh, an eternity. Fifty, sixty years? She made herself busy. When she returned to the living room, her guest had finished the soup and fallen asleep in the armchair. Silently Rose sneaked over to put a blanket over him, but as the soft cloth touched him, he woke. “Oh, I’m sorry.†“Doesn’t matter. I know it is easy to fall asleep in this thing. But it will be better if you sleep in a bed. Come.†She led him back to her bedroom. “I’m sorry there is only one bed, but if you take that side, it’ll be fine.†He took her hand and kissed it gently. “You sure are a wonderful womanâ€, he said in a trembling voice. Rose knew this tremor, but she hadn’t heard it for years. She looked up into his face, and that glow was back. Suddenly her heart beat wildely and something had happened to her breath. She felt young again, like she was twenty again and bride of the first night. She sank to the bed, and he sat beside her and gently touched her cheek. “I.. I’m oldâ€, she tried, but her heart didn’t believe it. “And since when does age matter?†As he kissed her, her defenses fell. “And besides, I’m much older than you.†Rose lay next to her visitor, embraced by his wonderful arms. She startled. “But...†her voice asked, but in the same second she understood. “I’m not Santa, but I wanted you to have a nice christmas.†The next day, Joey hurried to his mother’s house. He normally was too busy to drop in, but it was christmas. He opened the door with his key, and in the next moment he noticed that there weren’t any lights on. Only a glance of light came from the living room. But there was no one, only the electric candles on the christmas tree sparkled. He looked around the corner. Perhaps Ma was still sleeping. He sneaked to the bedroom. Yes, there she was. But... her chest didn’t move! Only a wonderfully happy smile lay on her face. Inspired by old person lonly for christmas. Word count: Exactly 1000 words with title, but without inspiration.