Rated PG
No Pairings
No Spoilers:  Unless you count every episode that Benton Fraser's seems
to think his looks are nothing to speak of. Author:  Lys

Disclaimer:  The characters belong to Alliance.  Just borrowing them
a bit.	

Contact me:  lysTYK@hotmail.com

WINTER AFTERNOON

The bitterly cold wind blew the drifting snow across the village streets.
The village's only store had smoke streaming skyward from its chimney.
The figure bent over in the wind carried a large bundle.  Dressed in
a warm parka and mukluks the lone figure trudged up the steps to the
front door and butting the door open, entered the store.

Inside, the room was warm and dark and lit only by the light from the
warming stove in the middle of the store.  The shopkeeper sat on a chair
close to the stove surrounded by several of the village women who held
their children on their laps.  The stores occupants turned towards the
newcomer in the room.  Their dark eyes reflected the light from the
warming
stoves fire.   Without Exception their faces turned into smiles as the
newcomer put down the bundle and shook off the hood of the parka.  

The woman's dark, curly hair framed her face as she smiled back at her
friends.  She leaned over and began unwrapping the bundle she had carried.
Three layers down inside the wrappings a child's head covered in dark
curls began to emerge as the child was unwrapped.  Large, blue eyes
surveyed
the room as the three old boy held up his arms for his mother.	She picked
up him and held him close to her chest.  Turning around she went to sit
in the only vacant chair left in the room.

Several of the other mothers gave her sad looks and shook their heads.
It was impolite to stare, but one of them, the youngest, could not help
it.  She leaned towards her own mother and whispered.  "What an ugly
child."  

Caroline Fraser pretended not to hear.	Then she brushed her hand along
her son's beautiful curled hair and brushed her lips against the curls.
She looked up proudly and said, "His eyes are like mine, his hair is
like his father's.  He will grow straight and strong.  In our village
he is beautiful."  

The young woman who had called the child ugly, hung her head.  She was
shamed, her words had been heard and she was guilty of offense.  

The curly-haired child watched and his body shook as he heard all the
words.	 His mother thought he was cold and hugged him tightly to her.
But the child never forgot, he had been called 'ugly'.