The Valentine Phantom

by Ingrid Goff-Maidoff
a short story

Long ago and far away,
in a quaint fishing village by the edge of the sea, there lived a young boat builder. His name was Fernando and he was well admired for his sense of humor, strong hands, and devilishly handsome grin. But his heart showed loyalty to none but his own Mother and his black Lab, Fig. And so, frankly, most good and honest women were quite shy of him. Because of this, Fernando felt a loneliness that such a fine young man surely didn't deserve.

One autumn, Fernando and Fig went together to a harvest dance thinking that they would just watch for a little while. And watch is all they did, although by some alignment of the stars they each did fall in love. For Fig it was a sweet loaf of bread, but for Fernando it was a young woman named Nell...
Catching sight of Nell cast a net around Fernando's senses. He watched her laughing eyes, her wide stomping feet, and her pretty skirts swaying. While the gay rhythm of the fiddle's songs filled his ears, thoughts of Nell filled his heart and his mind. Although they never did dance, their eyes met briefly and Nell offered a smile, and, for Fernando, that was enough.
Soon his daydreams and his night dreams became merged, each haunted by his love and fascination for Nell. He could scarcely hit a nail straight come day time, or rest easy on starlit evenings. When the moon was full, he joined Fig in his howling. The moon was full three times before Fernando felt he must act on his love or cease to live.
As it would soon be Valentine's Day, he made up his mind to begin courting Nell then.
It was his mother, (known the village over for her fine embroidery and artful decoupage,) who advised Fernando that he must make a valentine himself.
"Store-bought cards," she insisted, "show nothing of the giver's heart and soul."
And so Fernando set out to make a valentine for Nell.

Now, this is not an easy task for a shy boat builder, and Fig was no help at all. For many evenings, after working all day at the boatyard, Fernando struggled with lace paper doilies, magazine cut-outs, ribbons and
glue. He even labored to create a poem, often thinking, "wouldn't it be easier if I just go up and kiss Nell, next time I see her?" But Fernando's mother insisted that a girl needs to be courted, and most likely she was right.
On Valentine's Eve, Fernando sat, displeased, amid four dozen valentines. Each was for Nell, each falling short in expressing his affection. His mother, knowing that he was sick with love, and forgetting even to eat, came by the house to check in. Surveying the artful mess, she shook her head and said, "I'll help you."
And so, at midnight on the thirteenth, they set out from Fernando's house at one end of Main Street, their destination being Nell's house at the other. On every shop door, tree and telephone pole in between, they pinned one of the four dozen valentines. They saved the most lovely of them all for Nell's front door.
Fernando went to bed that night happy and exhausted, sleeping a solid sleep, and dreaming many beautiful dreams...
In the morning, when the village awoke, romantic rumors and excited gossip rose up like a song and hung, like a current, in the air. Mrs Fadden was delighted with the valentine on the library. Molly Murphy was quite taken by the one on the post office door. In fact, everyone's heart thrilled at least a little to think that the whole village had received a display of love.
"Who is this Valentine Phantom?" the question began to circulate. Nobody knew for sure.
Fernando slept late and only awoke at all because Fig was demanding some exercise. "Hold on Fig," he said, pulling himself out of bed and heading for the door. It was when he arrived at the door, with his hand on the latch, that his heart sunk a little to remember
what he'd done. He was already blushing with embarrassment when he opened the door to step out with Fig.
And there stood Nell, those eyes of hers lit up with a smile. "Thank you," she said, "It's lovely," and she offered him a kiss. It was an awkward kiss.
"Are you going for a walk then?" she asked.
"Yes, yes...the dog..."Fernando stammered.
"Mind if I join you?" Nell asked.
"Not in the least," was all he could say...

And so, they walked. They walked for miles. They walked until even Fig was begging to go home. And then their kisses became less awkward, because they had a shared history. And their romance lasted for the rest of their years.
For many of those years, on Valentine's Eve, they would creep from the house around midnight, and pin love notes all around the village. It was a jolly mischief, and the heart of the village was stronger for it.

If there's a Valentine Phantom in your village, they've probably heard this story. Most likely, the story has spoken to their hearts, and their hearts are stronger for it.

The End
(or, perhaps, the beginning)


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