"Standring's Christmas Wish", by Gratiana Lovelace, 2018 (Completed)

Ch. 1: Keeping to Himself

"Standring's Christmas Wish", Ch. 1:  Keeping to Himself, December 25, 2018 Gratiana Lovelace (Post #1200a)

(An original fan fiction story copyrighted by Gratiana Lovelace 2018; All rights reserved); [(1) story cover, left]

[As is my custom, I will illustrate my story with my ideal cast consisting of (and in order of appearance/mention in these chapters) of: as Ralph John Standring, Hayley Atwell as Clara Saunders, and others as noted.

Authors story content and serializing scheduling note: My fan fiction short story here is based on the character of Ralph John Standring from the 2002 British mini-series "Sparkhouse"-with a new story arc. The tone of the chapters will be primarily PG to PG-13-for dramatic moments and/or romantic feelings. If you cannot or will not attend a movie with those ratings, then please do not read that chapter. This is my disclaimer.

And I will serialize this short story starting Christmas Day, December 25, 2018 with several initial chapter posts, and for a few days following after the Christmas Holiday this year. Please note that Chs. 2 - End will appear solely on my Wattpad site for ease of posting. I will strive to write and serialize my story with daily chapters posts-a little challenge that I set for myself for fun-such as with my 2014 story, "A Magnificent Love", "A Christmas Carol Reimagined" in 2016, and others. And I hope that you enjoy Ralph Standring's holiday story this year.

"Standring's Christmas Wish", Ch. 1:  Keeping to Himself

Dog tired and chilled through to his bones at the end of his long work day at Camden Farms where he works as a farm laborer tending to the animals, Ralph Standring stares at the cold bologna sandwich, crisps (potato chips), and cold soda that are to be his evening meal this early December Friday night. But he just can't take not getting something warm into his belly today. So Ralph dons his serviceable overcoat [(2) below] and he walks out of his spare barn loft lodgings and he heads into the village.

Ralph has tidied himself up from his work day labors--showering and putting on clean thermal underwear and outer clothes. But the clothes Ralph has are warm and worn--by no means stylish, and they tend to cover his large frame in layers of shirt and jumper (sweater) and overcoat and hat, making him seem bulkier than he really is. Tall and imposing anyway--towering over most men at 6 ft 3 inches tall--Ralph's hard farm work has toned the muscles of his chest, arms, and shoulders, and legs into a powerful and imposing torso and overall physique. Yet the shy and unassuming Ralph hides his body from prying eyes under many layers of clothing--just as he hides his heart and emotions from further betrayal.

It is the start of December and everyone in town is beginning to decorate for Christmas. The shops are very festive, such as they always are at this time of year in their quaint small village of Chipping, England in the middle of Lancashire [(3a)]--quaint with its garden stone edging retaining walls [(3b) below right]and its hundred year old stone cottages. The village of Chipping is the embodiment of a small village from another era--with the copious amount of stone lending a sense of permanence, or at least, of hardiness. So the hardy Ralph Standring feels akin to his surroundings.

Though Chipping Village does not have a pub--for warmth via spirits or food--it does have a very nice small cafe.  For Chipping's small village of under 1100 souls.  Clara's Cafe is the only restaurant dining establishment for miles around.  And Clara Saunders purchases many of her restaurant's food stuffs from the local farmers--thus maintaining a local economy focus--and keeping her costs down.  So her meal prices are quite reasonable.

Ralph has been to Clara's Café a time or two each month over the seven months since he came to Chipping--him always quietly slipping in so no one would notice him. That is if anyone can fail to notice Ralph's 6 foot 3 inch tall hulking presence--in his farm overalls or even in his nicer church clothes.