It was time for me to get ready for the New Years party.

Actually I had started getting ready about an hour earlier and I would have long been ready, but ...

It was a come as you are type of party. I knew I wanted to wear jeans, but I was having one hell of a time trying to figure out what else to wear.

I was a t-shirt kind of guy, but I did not think it was appropriate, even if it was a come as you are party. And most of my favourite t-shirts were tattered and torn and well worn.

.

I looked in the mirror and laughed.

"I don't think they would like this come as you are look," I chuckled, aloud.

I was wearing just jeans and socks.

.

I needed help.

"WHISPER?"

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It was but a second later, that I heard a knock on my door.

.

"Who is it?" I joked.

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"Its me, Daddy. Whisper."

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I laughed.

"Come on in hun."

I watched the door, expecting it to open, but it didn't.

"Whisper?"

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"Right here, Daddy."

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I jumped and turned around. Whisper was sitting on the bed.

"Shit. You scared me."

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She giggled.

"Don't say shit, Daddy."

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I pointed at her.

"You don't say shit, young lady."

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She put her hands over her mouth.

"Oops."

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I sat on the bed by her, waving at her, to let her know I saw her.

"I need your help. I don't know what shirt to wear to the party."

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Whisper looked at pile of shirts on the bed.

"That is obvious."

She jumped off the bed and went to the closet.

"Are there any left in here?"

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"Some, I think."

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She pulled a red shirt from a hanger and walked to me, passing me the shirt.

"Try this."

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I put it on and stood tall, awaiting her professional decision.

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She shook her head.

"Nope."

She disappeared back in the closet, returning with a green shirt.

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I tried it on.

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"Nope."

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It went in the pile on the bed.

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Black long sleeve shirt.

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"Nope."

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Salmon colored golf shirt.

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Whisper shuddered.

"Yuk. Its pink."

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"Its salmon," I reminded her.

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"You better learn your colors, Daddy. Its pink."

She disappeared into the closet.

"Men don't wear pink," she chuckled.

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Another shirt for the pile.

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White. Red. Orange. Yellow. Another white.

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"Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope.

Annnnnnddddddd .... Nope."

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I slumped on the bed.

"I give up."

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Whisper appeared again. This time with a simple green sweater.

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I tried it on.

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"I like it, Daddy. You look handsome."

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I liked it to.

I took a deep breath.

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"You nervous, Daddy?"

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I turned to her.

"I don't know. Just had a strange feeling come over me."

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Whisper floated up to the bed.

"What kind of feeling?"

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I shook my head.

"Can't explain it. Like something is just not right."

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She motioned for me to bend down.

She kissed my cheek.

"Well, don't worry about it, Daddy. You are probably just a little nervous."

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I laughed.

"When did you become the adult, in this family."

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She giggled, as she jumped off the bed.

She took my hand.

"Come on, your ride will be here soon."

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We walked out the hallway, the cats scurrying past us.

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I bent down one more time and kissed her on the cheek.

"You be a good girl and don't stay up too late."

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She laughed.

"I will be sure to get to sleep early, Daddy," she joked.

She looked to the window, as we heard the sound of a car horn honking.

"That must be your ride."

She started skipping off down the hall.

"Have fun Daddy."

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Spirit and Ghost raced each other down the hall following her.

I heard her laugh and then she disappeared.

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There was a knock at my front door.

"Come in. The door is open."

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Peter Maynard stepped into the foyer. He had agreed to pick me up and take me to the dance so I would not have to drive.

When he saw all the things at the front door he laughed.

"You planning to feed everyone?"

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I looked at all the food. I had travelled to Corner Brook the day before and I may have gone a little overboard with the food. I had meat trays, veggie trays, cheese and cracker trays, fruit trays, shrimp rings, salads, buns, along with a case of champagne for the toast at 12 and a 24 pack of beer for me.

Maybe just a little excessive, but I was excited.

.

I had a date with a beautiful woman.

One that actually wanted to be with me and was not interested in my money. One who honestly seemed to just like me for me.

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Peter picked up the case of champagne.

"Well, Will me son. Lets us see if we can fits all this in me car, boy."

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We did manage to get everything in and a few minutes later, I locked the front door and we were off.

In just a couple minutes, we were at the town hall. Peter and a couple women, who introduced themselves as Mabel and Elsie, helped bring everything inside.

They all shook my hand or gave me a hug, welcoming me. For many of them, it was the first time I had met them.

.

Even the kids of the village were there. I was told that there was a room behind the small stage where the kids would go later and several of the older kids would look after them.

It was a true village New Years.

Everyone attended.

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I opened a beer and walked around, politely saying hello, to as many as I could.

A few minutes later, I saw Sheila and Henry enter the hall.

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Henry ran right to me and gave me a hug.

"Hello Will. I missed you."

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I picked him up and hugged him.

"I missed you too, little man."

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As soon as I put him down, he turned to his Mom.

"I am going with Keith and the others."

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She grabbed him and kissed his cheek.

"Go," she said, smacking him playfully on the butt.

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He ran off.

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Sheila was absolutely gorgeous. She was wearing a flowered dress, her hair back on the right side and a single red rose in it.

She was wearing the necklace, bracelet and earrings I had bought her.

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She hugged me tight.

"I have missed you, so much."

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I gave her a long kiss.

"I missed you too. You look absolutely stunning."

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She spun around.

"I feel stunning."

She kissed me and grabbed my hand.

"Come on. I want to show off my gorgeous man."

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Cue the blushing.

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I was on cloud nine, but all of a sudden a chill swept over me.

.

Sheila noticed me shake.

"You okay?"

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I nodded, lying.

"Just a cold shiver, sweetie."