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Title: Scarlet Ribbons Summary: A poignant childhood memory for Mulder. Comments welcome at the above address. Bring for me some scarlet ribbons, He peeked around her door to say goodnight, like he did every night. Usually she was asleep - being that much younger than him, she went to bed earlier. But tonight she was lying in bed, her eyes closed, hands positioned in supplication. She was saying her prayers. He heard the usual requests to look after the members of her family, and then, "Please may I have some scarlet ribbons for my birthday. Thank you." He vowed there and then that he would get her the scarlet ribbons that she wanted so much. He saved a few cents at a time from the money he earned doing chores - it wasn't much, but every little bit helped - until he had enough. The money comfortably weighing down his pocket, he set off for the little store in town. He'd seen just the thing on an earlier visit with his mother. She'd been too busy choosing curtain fabric to notice her son looking at the ribbons. They came in so many bright, jewel like colours. Then one particular reel had caught his eye - the ribbon a rich, deep red. He ran his finger over the ribbon's soft velvet pile, and his mind was made up. This was the one. It would look so pretty in her long, dark hair. On the day of her birthday, he handed her the little package, lovingly wrapped in pretty floral paper. She tore it off excitedly, her eyes lighting up at the sight of the ribbons. He had been thrilled that she had preferred his simple gift over the Barbie doll and bicycle that she had received from their parents, and to her big brother's embarrassment, the little girl had thrown her arms around his neck and hugged and kissed him. Twenty five years later, to the day, Fox Mulder held those same scarlet ribbons in his fingers. They were the only thing of hers that he had left now - the only thing that he had taken for himself when their mother cleared out Samantha's room. He ran his thumb over the lush pile and allowed himself a sad smile, before placing the ribbons back in their little box for safe keeping. Fox reached out and touched the framed picture of the little girl that stood on his desk, her hair in pigtails and the brief hint of a smile on her face. "Happy birthday, Samantha," he said softly. The End
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