By Sarah Beauregard and Johannie Dufour / Translated by Katya Teague
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Once upon a time, in the town of Mount Christmas, two young strangers were waiting for relatives to arrive at the train station. They sat on separate benches, each absorbed in their own book. Naoko was reading the autobiography of Ja毛lle, a famous pop singer, and Eduardo was studying the French play Cyrano de Bergerac.
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Suddenly, a voice rang out from the speakers overhead. 鈥淵our attention, please. Due to a snowstorm, the number 9 train from Holly-on-the-Lake will be delayed.鈥�
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Both Naoko and Eduardo sighed and glanced at the station clock. Their eyes met for a brief moment, but they quickly looked back at their books.
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If I weren鈥檛 so shy, I鈥檇 go talk to her, Eduardo thought. It鈥檇 be nice to wait together.
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I鈥檓 starting to get tired of reading, and this young man seems interesting, Naoko thought.
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After a few minutes, Eduardo worked up the courage to approach the young woman.
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鈥淗ello,鈥� he said, fumbling for words. 鈥淯h鈥� are you waiting for someone?鈥�
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鈥淥f course,鈥� Naoko replied with a half-smile. 鈥淭here鈥檚 nothing else to do here.鈥�
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鈥淵ou鈥檙e right,鈥� Eduardo said with a weak chuckle. The young man turned on his heels and headed straight to the bathroom.
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His cheeks were hot and flushed, and his heart was pounding. He needed to splash some water on his face. Eduardo turned on the faucet, but in his haste, he opened the tap too far. Water came gushing out and splashed all over his shirt and pants.
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鈥淚鈥檓 such a klutz,鈥� he exclaimed. 鈥淣ow she鈥檒l laugh at me for sure.鈥�
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Suddenly, Octave the cardinal appeared. This magical creature was known for keeping a watchful eye on the people of Mount Christmas. He looked at Eduardo and offered his advice.
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鈥淭he key to speaking with a pretty lady is chivalry,鈥� the bird said.
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听鈥淐hivalry?鈥� Eduardo looked skeptical. 鈥淚sn鈥檛 that a little medieval?鈥�
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鈥淧erhaps,鈥� Octave replied, 鈥渂ut courtesy is always appreciated, even today. It shows that you鈥檙e polite and respectful.鈥�
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Eduardo considered the idea while he held the edge of his soaked shirt under the hand dryer. When he returned to the platform where Naoko sat, he decided to take the bird鈥檚 advice.
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鈥淧lease excuse my graceless introduction earlier,鈥� he said. 鈥淵our radiant smile caused my heart to race, and I behaved foolishly. Would you allow me to buy you a coffee or hot chocolate to make amends?鈥�
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Amused by this old-fashioned tone, Naoko chuckled and accepted his offer with a smile. When he returned with their beverages, Eduardo noticed that Naoko was shivering so he promptly draped his jacket over her shoulders.
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As they sipped their warm drinks, Naoko and Eduardo talked about books, their families and their plans for the holidays. Three hours later, the voice from the overhead speakers announced the arrival of the number 9 train.
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鈥淲hat, already?鈥� the pair exclaimed. Neither of them had noticed the time pass.
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鈥淓duardo,鈥� Naoko said coyly. 鈥淚t was kind of you to buy me a drink and keep me company, but can I please ask for one more thing?鈥�
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鈥淵es, of course,鈥� he replied. 鈥淲hat?鈥�
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鈥淵our phone number,鈥� she said with a smile.
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Perched atop the station clock, Octave looked down at the happy couple. 鈥淣o, chivalry certainly isn鈥檛 dead,鈥� he said. The magical bird fluttered his wings and flew off into the distance.
