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Nick & Carter Holiday #6
St. David's Day, 1848
Wednesday, March 1, 1848
It's the dark and early morning hours of St. David's Day and Griffith Williams, nestled and cozy next to his dear friend, Gwyn, is abruptly awakened by a man who calls out in a strange voice.
"Great-grandfather?"
Griffy is startled to see the shimmering form of a handsome man with bright and shining eyes. And they're a color of brown he's not seen before.
The face, however, is more than a little familiar. With a dimple in the chin, it brings to mind memories of his late father, his tad, David.
Is it evil or is it good which has brought forth this ghostly vision?
Beyond the veil and away from the rivers of time, Paul Williams is organizing a small party.
A luncheon, if you will.
He has summoned Nicholas, his great-nephew, and Janet, his great-niece, and has asked their beloveds to join in the festivities.
The main course of their other-worldly meal will be a plain but sumptuous cawl cennin, a leek and potato soup, the perfect dish for a Welsh holiday.
And the guest of honor?
His very own father, Griffith Williams.
Paul has a message and the time, as it were, has come for him to deliver it.
On St. David's Day, no less.
24 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2020
2 people are currently reading
5 people want to read
About the author
Frank W. Butterfield
123 books106 followersFrank W. Butterfield, not an assumed name, loves old movies, wise-cracking smart guys with hearts of gold, and writing for fun.
Although he worships San Francisco, he lives at the beach on another coast.
Born on a windy day in November of 1966, he was elected President of his high school Spanish Club in the spring of 1983.
After moving across these United States like a rapid-fire pinball, he currently makes his home in a hurricane-proof apartment with superior water pressure that was built in 1926.
While he hasn't met any dolphins personally, that invitation is always open.
Although he worships San Francisco, he lives at the beach on another coast.
Born on a windy day in November of 1966, he was elected President of his high school Spanish Club in the spring of 1983.
After moving across these United States like a rapid-fire pinball, he currently makes his home in a hurricane-proof apartment with superior water pressure that was built in 1926.
While he hasn't met any dolphins personally, that invitation is always open.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 9, 2020
Sweet little story that made me want a bowl of potato leak soup.
March 3, 2020
The short story format allows diversions from Nick and Carter's lifetimes. Here the date is well in the past and gives us an explanation as to why Nick's great-grandfather Griffith sailed for California to make his fortune - and allow us to read Nick's story. It's essentially a dream sequence (and fittingly - 'We are such stuff as dreams are made on... ' - Shakespeare is mentioned several times. Carter is featured, of course - as is Uncle Paul and (in a longer story this would be a spoiler but as this review is growing to be almost as long as the story itself there seems no point in not mentioning it) and Janet. That obviously puts the narrative outside 'real life' but since we already know that Paul communicated with Nick while the latter was alive - and Nick seems to be able to do the same to his heirs in the more recent books the final line will come as no real shock.
It's possibly invidious to single out such a story but I'd really like to give this one more than 5 stars!
It's possibly invidious to single out such a story but I'd really like to give this one more than 5 stars!
April 1, 2020
St. David’s Day 1848 (Nick and Carter Holiday 6)
By Frank W. Butterfield
Published by the author, 2020
Four stars
This series is like an ongoing tray of little hors d’oeuvres, popping out of the author’s remarkably fertile mind. What they do is offer us a bright flash of insight into the big picture of all that came before in the Nick Williams universe. For those of us who have read all these books since the very first one, they both comfort and surprise.
This is an especially peculiar little snack, in that it doesn’t conform with any timeline we know. In fact, Nick and Carter and everyone we know is already dead. They are all spirits, and we immediately understand that we’re on the other side of the veil through which Nick (and eventually Carter) would visit with Great Uncle Paul Williams during their dreams.
What we understand is that Nick’s ability to learn from his nocturnal visits from his notorious great uncle is neither unique to him nor the first time such things have happened in his family. The result is eerie, more than a little uncanny, and – for some reason – oddly touching.
By Frank W. Butterfield
Published by the author, 2020
Four stars
This series is like an ongoing tray of little hors d’oeuvres, popping out of the author’s remarkably fertile mind. What they do is offer us a bright flash of insight into the big picture of all that came before in the Nick Williams universe. For those of us who have read all these books since the very first one, they both comfort and surprise.
This is an especially peculiar little snack, in that it doesn’t conform with any timeline we know. In fact, Nick and Carter and everyone we know is already dead. They are all spirits, and we immediately understand that we’re on the other side of the veil through which Nick (and eventually Carter) would visit with Great Uncle Paul Williams during their dreams.
What we understand is that Nick’s ability to learn from his nocturnal visits from his notorious great uncle is neither unique to him nor the first time such things have happened in his family. The result is eerie, more than a little uncanny, and – for some reason – oddly touching.
March 6, 2022
Again, having not read any of Nick and Carter's journey previously, I felt like there might be a question or two that went unanswered for me but they were "holes" that didn't effect this short story. I was never lost. Truth is, St. David's Day, 1848 is outside the era parameters in the series descriptions done in a way that is both dream and fantasy.
I won't say too much for those who like me have yet to discover Frank W Butterfield's Nick and Carter saga but I will say, I loved the uniqueness of St. David's Day, 1848. The blending of dream, fantasy, historical, and family really worked here and has furthered my hunger to one day read Nick and Carter from the beginning. Short, sweet, and highly entertaining.
I won't say too much for those who like me have yet to discover Frank W Butterfield's Nick and Carter saga but I will say, I loved the uniqueness of St. David's Day, 1848. The blending of dream, fantasy, historical, and family really worked here and has furthered my hunger to one day read Nick and Carter from the beginning. Short, sweet, and highly entertaining.
June 26, 2020
A historical dream
In this historical tidbit we learn what brought Nick Williams great-grandfather to America. Nick’s dreams are a staple to Nick and Carter’s stories and this was a real eye opener. This author has a great mind for capturing time in a bottle and this short was no exception, loved it.
In this historical tidbit we learn what brought Nick Williams great-grandfather to America. Nick’s dreams are a staple to Nick and Carter’s stories and this was a real eye opener. This author has a great mind for capturing time in a bottle and this short was no exception, loved it.
September 8, 2025
Definitely Different
Throughout the Nick & Carter series we are treated to short visits with the spirit of Uncle Paul. This short tale adds a bit of background to the combined history of the Williams family.
Throughout the Nick & Carter series we are treated to short visits with the spirit of Uncle Paul. This short tale adds a bit of background to the combined history of the Williams family.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews