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Cardboard Heart

This is a lighthearted and amusing, story with "Trudy" as a young, never married, heroine who has a romantic encounter with "London Black".  London is a strikingly handsome and intelligent man who is a Director of Dinner Theater Plays, besides being his usual dashing and gallant self.

 

Trudy is quite involved in her profession as an Apprentice studying the Business of Antiques. While doing so, she inadvertently stumbles into a mysterious connection between an old portrait of a captivating man, and her ongoing romance with London Black. The man in the portrait becomes her fantasy obsession and threatens to compete with London's attention.

 

But what Trudy didn't plan on, was the man in the portrait also becoming her reality!

 

The story begins as a Trudy is mesmerized by a portrait she comes across in the Antique Shop where she is studying her apprenticeship under a remiss mentor.  She becomes very attached to the painting and takes it home with her.  One night, as she is watching a movie with her good friend 'Al' in a local movie house, she looks across the theater aisle and sees HIM.  The man in the portrait!

 

She can't believe her blinking eyes.  But before she can get over to speak to the mystery man, he is gone.

 

Only fate has them meet once again.  His name is London.  Along the way she becomes involved with a bit of witchcraft and magic.  But for Trudy, the spells always come out quite differently than intended.  London is a superb Director.  And he is very popular with everyone, including another woman competing with Trudy for his attention.  At times, Trudy finds herself telling the man in the portrait all her hopes and dreams.

 

London and Trudy have been going out together for only a shortwhile when he inquires if she would like to go up to his private cabin for the weekend.  It’s in the middle of winter.  Trudy gets mad and asks, "What kind of a girl do you think I am?"  He tells her, "Someone I hope, who likes to go for long boat rides at sunset.  And drink hot rum in front of a crackling fire at midnight."  "How can I say no," she tells him.  "Trudy," he replies, "it will be an experience you won’t ever forget.  I can assure you of that."

 

When they arrive at the mountaintop cabin, London carries in their things and starts a fire.  He makes them both a drink.  The fire has toasted up the cabin in no time.  London speaks up and tells Trudy that she should remove her first layer of clothes-

 

  "Trudy, you can take off your first layer of clothes now. Otherwise, you won't enjoy it as much when we get started."

 

  "What?  I will do no such thing!" Trudy says indignantly.

 

  "Trudy, do you want to get sick?" he asks. "Because if you insist on leaving them on, you’ll want to stop before we even get to the peak of our endeavor.  And then you'll want to come back to the cabin before we can experience one of the most climactic and refreshing moments you'll ever have in a human lifetime," he adds.

 

  Trudy couldn't believe his audacity as she replies, "You’ve got some nerve, London Black!  Do you think all you have to do is take a deep breath and just inhale me?  Is that it?" 

 

  "No, actually you have to take short breaths.  But the best part is the heavy breathing we'll do when we reach the highest point and it's absolutely breathtaking for the both of us," London continues.

 

  Our heroine's face is getting redder and redder.

 

  "Trudy, you better move back from the fire. You're getting overheated. I can tell by your face," London says. Then he stood up and started to remove his boots, then his socks.

 

  Trudy becomes frozen!

 

  She yells out, "London! One hand on that zipper and you're a dead man!"

 

  "Trudy, what's wrong with you anyway?  Just because you want to get sick, doesn't mean I want to," he tells her.

 

  "What are you talking about?" Trudy questions.  She is now totally confused.

 

  "Our first layer of clothes, we have to take them off. Otherwise we'll sweat now, and later, when we go hiking up the mountain. We'll get cold from the dampness underneath," he explains, “that’s what I was trying to tell you.”

 

  Then London peeled off his shirt to reveal another one under it.

 

  "That's what you were talking about when you told me to take off my clothes?" Trudy asks.

 

  "Of course, what did you think I meant?"  He stopped and looked at our young, embarassed Lady.

 

  "Trudy, what kind of a man do you think I am? I just assumed you were dressed like I was ..."

 

Trudy is always getting herself into the most embarrassing situations with London. 

 

This story is filled with a romantic wit that only Trudy can muster, and the mischievous magic miscues to go with it.  Click on the Audio Player below for a Part I Preview of this magical story-

Cardboard Heart - Audio Preview Part I


Carboard Heart - Audio Preview Part II


Cardboard Heart - Audio Preview Part III