By Bus - Part 7 and Help Wanted

Hello FFFs,
Yes, you are still getting the next part of Vicki's travels, but I also needed your help, your input, your advise, your two cents worth.

Here's the situation:
After this story, I don't have any other short stories written. I can post a little more of "Dylan's Story" and another section of "Hymns in the Hills" but that's all the new things I have that can be posted. You see, with trying to write two books (okay 4, but two aren't top priority right now), finish my website, write blog posts for Read Another Page, work on the big project of the Bike Trips, plus adding teaching writing this fall again, I just don't have time to keep trying to fit in short stories just for this blog. I was trying to figure out how I did it before. :P I guess I wasn't so focused on my books. And I didn't have a website, or 33 bike trips to turn into a book. 
So, the question is, what should I do about this blog after this story is finished?

• A.) Keep posting until I run out of new things and then shut the blog down.

• B.) Post until I run out of new things and then leave the blog up but don't do anything with it.

• C.) Finish the new things and then start re-posting the old stories from when I first started. 

• D.) Leave the blog up and post whenever I get a short story written.

• E.) Post any short stories on Read Another Page instead of this blog.

• F.) Forget writing books and only write short stories.

• G.) Open the blog for other writers to "guest post" their short stories.

• H.) Something else.

Please help! Give me your opinion. I don't want to lose my loyal fiction fans because I'm too busy to write short stories all the time. I don't want to completely shut this blog down as I've been posting every Friday for about 7 1/2 years! But I just can't keep it up. My books are calling louder than the short stories. ;) I have too many other things going on right now. Maybe later I could come back with more short stories, but I don't know. So please, tell me what you think!

I have been enjoying both "Finding Joy" and "TCR-6" as they've been moving along. Not racing this week, but moving steadily. Hopefully tonight and tomorrow night will be productive days too because next week we'll have 4 of my nieces and nephews from Tuesday–Sunday. No time for writing then.

Okay, I'm going to be looking forward to your answers. Thanks. And enjoy the next part of this story.

By Bus with Vicki

Part 7

When she reached the very back, she stopped. Now where could they have gone? “Maybe the driver put them in the overhead,” she thought, catching a glimpse of the doors above the seats. “I’ll go ask him.”
    Staggering back up the aisle and trying not to fall on any of the sleeping passengers, Vicki at last made it to the very front. “Excuse me,” she said clearly, yet quietly.
    The driver glanced at her in the mirror. “Yes?”
    “I can’t find my bags. Did you put them in the overhead place above the seats?”
    “No, I don’t touch the things the passengers bring on the bus, just their luggage that goes underneath.” He turned and looked at her momentarily.
    Vicki gave a gasp. “Oh, what happened to the new driver?” She was suddenly wide awake.
    “Huh?”
    “The driver that drove us from where I got on introduced me to the new driver when we got to the station, but it wasn’t you.”
    Again the driver looked at her. “Miss, where are you going?”
    “San Jose, California.”
    The driver drew a long breath almost like a whistle before he spoke. “Well, you’re headed for Montana right now.”
    “Montana? But I don’t want to go to Montana. How can that be?”
    “You got off your other bus, right?”
    “Yes, but only for a few minutes. I was going to call my parents, but–”
    The driver interrupted. “Then you probably got on the wrong one.”
    “But I saw Mr. Newspaperman get on this one, and he was on the bus when I got on this morning.”
    “He probably had to take a different bus at the last station.”
    Vicki sat down in a seat behind the driver. It was strange to have a conversation with a man in a mirror, but she couldn’t see the driver’s face any other way. “Well, can’t you just turn around and take me back to the station? The other bus might not have left yet.”
    “That’s about two hours behind us.”
    “Two hours,” echoed Vicki, disbelief written all over her face. “But I didn’t go to sleep. I’m sure I didn’t. At least . . . I don’t think I did.” For a long time she sat in total silence trying to make herself realize that she, Vicki Rogers, had gotten on the wrong bus and was now going, not to her sister’s in California, but north to Montana. At last she spoke. “Do I have to go all the way to Montana?” She was thinking about the money it was going to cost to get a new ticket to California.
    “No, I’ll see what I can figure out when we get to the next station. You’ll be late getting to your destination, but we’ll make sure you get there.”
    The driver’s words were a welcome relief. “Thank you. But when will the next station be?”
    “Not for a while. You might as well go back to sleep again.” The driver looked at her in the mirror and smiled.
    Vicki smiled back. This was certainly an interesting trip she was taking. After tucking her purse between herself and the back of the seat, she curled up right where she was and closed her eyes. “And Mom and Dad think I’m on the right bus. At least they won’t be worried about me. Well, I wanted adventure. Now I have it. A lot of it. They’ll probably never let me ride another bus again as long as I live.” She yawned widely, and shifted a little. “Then I may as well enjoy this trip.” With those thoughts, she fell asleep.

    When she next awoke, the bus was coming to a stop. All was still dark, but Vicki thought she could detect a faint glow in the east. “But it might be a city,” she decided. Stretching, she remembered that she was on the wrong bus.
    Turning around after parking the bus, the driver looked at Vicki. Her headband was about to slide off the back of her head, she had an impression of her purse handle on her cheek, and she didn’t appear very awake. “Good morning, young lady,” he greeted her. “I want you to promise me you won’t step foot off this bus until I tell you to. I’m going to go see what I can do about getting you to where you are supposed to go.”
    Vicki promised solemnly that she wouldn’t stir from her seat without his permission. While she waited, she adjusted her headband and pulled her sweater closer. The warmer jacket her mother had insisted she take was in the other bus. “And here I am going farther north than Mom had planned. I wonder how I’m to get back to the right bus.”
    At last the driver came back with another man. Quietly he called Vicki off the bus. “This is Mr. Lynwood, the station master. You are to stay with him until transportation can be arranged to get you back on the right route. Please don’t get lost!”
    “I won’t. I’ll stay right with him.”
    Moments later the bus had pulled away and Vicki was sitting in a seat inside the quiet and almost deserted station. Though she had many questions, she didn’t ask any because Mr. Lynwood was busy talking on the telephone. Clutching the handle of her purse, the girl swung her feet and  yawned, letting her eyes wander around the empty room. They rested on a large clock. “I didn’t know it was quarter after three in the morning,” she thought. “No wonder I’m still tired.”
    Mr. Lynwood came over. “All right, young lady, we are going to attempt to catch the bus that left here fifteen minutes ago. A friend of mine who works for the sheriff’s department is going to take you in his car. That bus will take you to the station where you should have been had you not gotten on the wrong bus"

Have you ever gotten in the wrong car, bus, train, or something?

What would you do if you discovered you were heading in the wrong direction?

And what should I do about this blog?

By Bus with Vicki - Part 6

Hello FFFs,
Have you had a busy week? Hot weather? Noisy nights? Lots to do? I did. Still have lots to do and hot weather. Last night was noisy because, around midnight, a fierce wind came up and began lashing the tree branches against our skylight and making the entire house quiver. It was pretty noisy because the leaves were wet and they squeaked on the glass while the branches thudded on the roof. Then the thunder came and the rain. This morning I noticed some good sized branches were down from our maple tree.

I've been writing this week. If you haven't visited Read Another Page this week, you might want to check it out as I have progress bars for all four of my books on my home page. (Just know that there are other things that I haven't gotten fixed yet. :) ) It's been rather fun playing around and learning new things. I designed my social media buttons to match my site, and am hoping to work on everything more today.

Yesterday I didn't write. Instead I spent time listening to the audio of "Through the Tunnel." I can't wait to share it with you all when it is finished! The reader has done such a great job!

There are other things I have been contemplating about this blog, about my Read Another Page blog, my book writing, and other things. I haven't reached any decision yet, but I'm thinking. :)

By Bus with Vicki

Part 6

    Startled by something, Vicki blinked in bewilderment. Where was she and what was going on. A low murmur of voices was around her and dim lights were growing brighter.
    “Vicki?”
    Vicki sat up, her headband sliding down on her forehead. It all came back to her when she saw Kayla’s face. “Where are we? What’s happening now?” Reaching up, she shoved back her headband, not caring what it looked like.
    “We’re at the next station. This is where Clyde and I get off. The driver said there would be a short break before you leave again with a new driver.”
    “Oh, then I can get off and tell you good bye?”
    “Sure can,” Clyde said from behind his sister. “But you might want your sweater as it’s chilly outside.”
    Grabbing her sweater, Vicki slipped it on as she followed Clyde and Kayla towards the front of the bus. There the driver stopped her a minute.
    “Wait a minute, young lady.”
    “Yes, sir?” Vicki turned.
    “I just wanted you to meet your new driver. He’ll make sure you get on to the new bus in the morning when you have to change.”
    “All right.” She gave a sleepy smile and shook hands with the new driver.”
    “You aren’t going far are you?” asked the new driver.
    “No. I just promised I would call my parents when I got here, and I have to say good bye to some of my friends.”
    The new driver nodded and turned to another passenger who was waiting to speak to him.
    Vicki hurried to catch up with Clyde and Kayla who were waiting for her near the station doors. “I have to call my parents,” she told them.
    “There’s a pay phone right there,” Kayla said, pointing.
    Fishing out her coins from her purse, Vicki put in the money and tried to dial, but the phone remained dead. “Oh, dear. It’s out of order.” Her dismayed voice full of sleep, sounded close to tears.
    “What?” Clyde moved over. “Out of order? Hmm, it sure is. Let’s check inside.”
    There were no other phones available. The only one inside had a long line of folks waiting to use it.
    For the first time since her trip had started, Vicki felt discouraged. “Mom and Dad won’t go to bed until they hear from me,” she wailed. “They said they wouldn’t. And now I can’t call them. The bus is going to leave before all these people get a chance to use it. Oh, what am I going to do?”
    Kayla hugged the girl. “Don’t fret. Why don’t you let Clyde call your parents, either when we get home or sooner if we can find a pay phone? He can tell them what happened here and assure them that you will call them tomorrow.”
    The despair vanished. “That would be fine. But make sure you tell them I’m okay. But don’t tell them what delayed us because I want to tell them.”
    “Of course not,” promised Clyde with a laugh. “I wouldn’t dream of it. I’ll just let them know you are fine, that the phones were either in use or out of order and that you’ll call them tomorrow. But,” he added, “you’ll have to give me your phone number.”
    Quickly Vicki dug into her purse and pulled out a piece of paper with a number on it. After reading it, she handed it to her friends. “Susie and I wrote our home number on several pieces of paper for my purse, just in case I couldn’t remember the number and lost one paper, then I’d have others.”
    After promising again to call her parents as soon as they could reach a phone, Kayla gave Vicki a hug. “It’s been fun to travel with you, Vicki,” she said.
    “I enjoyed being with you too.” And Vicki beamed at her friends. “We had such an adventurous day, didn’t we?”
    Clyde chuckled. “We sure did. But we have to leave and you need to get back on the bus.”
    “Oh, I’m going to. Don’t worry. I don’t want to be left behind.” Vicki gave Clyde and Kayla one last hug. “Good bye, don’t forget to call my parents.”
    “We won’t.”
    With a wave, Vicki hurried out of the station and into the dimness of the parking lot. The bus was still there and Vicki saw Mr. Newspaperman climbing on. “Maybe I’ll be able to talk to him later,” she thought happily, glad he wasn’t getting off like Kayla and Clyde were. The driver was busy putting some suitcases in the bottom of the bus, so Vicki just called, “I’m getting on now,” and hurried up the steps.
    Dropping into an empty seat, she leaned her head against the window. She had heard one person in the station say it was almost eleven. It gave her a strange feeling to be awake and on a bus so late at night. She yawned and closed her eyes. Since there wasn’t anything to look at, she could just go to sleep again.
    The movement of the bus moments later made her open her eyes. The lights were dim, and she looked out at the station. “I wish it were light so I could see the mountains,” she thought drowsily. “But I can see them tomorrow.” Reaching down for her bag, she groped around. It wasn’t there. With a yawn, she murmured, “I must have the wrong seat.” Though she had every intention of getting right up and moving to the seat with her bags, she couldn’t make up her mind to do it quite yet.
    Finally, rubbing her eyes, she stretched and sat up. “I’ll go find my seat now,” she told herself. The bus was quiet as she slipped from her seat and, swaying and stumbling, made her way towards the back, stopping at each row to look for her bags. They were not to be found. All she could see were sleeping passengers. Even Mr. Newspaperman was sound asleep and snoring softly.

Have you ever had to use a pay phone? 

Where were her bags?

Will you be back next week to find out what happens next?

By Bus with Vicki - Part 5

Happy Canada Day Canadian readers!
And Happy Independence Day a little early US readers!

Can you believe it's already the middle of the year? And here I thought I was going to have a lot written by now. I guess I have. If I were to put all 4 stories that I'm working on together, I'd have another novel that was longer than the TCR books or Gift from the Storm. It just doesn't seem like as much when it's in four different parts.

I was writing this week, but not as much as I had planned. My brain was on shut down mode last evening. I have an idea for a blog post on Read Another Page once summer's over. Speaking of Read Another Page, I wanted to know if you like it the way it is, if you would like some things changed, have you listened to the audio samples that are now on the Audio page, if you've tried to leave a comment since it all got moved to a new hosting site. You see, I'm trying to figure out if it is harder to leave a comment now or if you just haven't been interested in the posts. I would like to get a few things fixed and changed on the site, but I've been busy.

Oh, I'm expecting to be able to proof listen to Through the Tunnel next week. Or at least start listening to it. :) And the first 15 minutes of TCR-2 and Gift from the Storm should be ready for me in a few weeks. Do you enjoy audio?

Now, I told you from the beginning that this was a long story. I hope you are enjoying traveling with Vicki.

By Bus with Vicki

Part 5

    “Oh, it’s another State Trooper! And he’s coming to the bus!” This last was added in a squeal as Vicki hugged herself, her eyes glowing with eager anticipation. “Maybe there’s been an accident or they’re searching for a robber. Or maybe the road is blocked for construction up ahead.”

    After stopping the bus, the driver opened the doors for the officer. Vicki’s eyes opened wide as the State Trooper mounted the steps to stand inside the bus. Everything about him was to her, impressive, from the hat on his head, to his radio on his shoulder, and the bulge of his gun at his side. She couldn’t hear him as he talked a few moments to the driver, but when he turned and looked at the passengers, she leaned forward to catch every word.

    “I’m sorry for the delay, folks,” the State Trooper began, his voice reaching to the very back of the bus. “There’s a large grass fire up ahead that’s gotten out of hand and jumped the road. We’re not letting anyone through until we know it’s under control.”

    “How long is that going to take?” questioned one of the passengers.

    The State Trooper shook his head. “I don’t know. I’ll hear on my radio as soon as it’s clear, and you’ll be the first to go through. But until that time, I’m afraid you’ll have to wait here. Unless of course your driver wants to turn around and go back.” He turned and glanced at the driver who shook his head.

    The radio crackled, and the State Trooper listened a moment before he spoke again. “So, just wait here, and we’ll let you know as soon as it’s safe to go on.”

    “Can we get off the bus?” another passenger asked.

    The officer shrugged. “It’s okay with me, if you don’t go past my car. The wind is blowing most of the smoke in a different direction, so that shouldn’t be a problem. If the wind does shift, it could cause the smoke to move this direction, as well as the fire. It’s not likely, but to be on the cautious side, if there is a change, I’ll be asking you to all stay on the bus.” His eyes scanned the rest of the passengers as though checking for more questions. When none came, he nodded, turned around and left the bus.

    For a moment silence pervaded. Not surprisingly, Vicki was the first to break it. “A grass fire! That’s what that haze is. And to think it’s all happening right now! And we’re stuck! Oh, this is more exciting than even a flat tire!”

    “Do you want to get off and see what you can see from the ground?” Clyde asked, smiling at her.

    Vicki clasped her hands together. “Oh, can we?” she breathed.

    It was the driver who answered. “Anyone who wants to get off may do so. But please remain near the bus so that there will be no delay when we are allowed to continue.”

    To most of the passengers, the wait was long and vexing, but to Vicki, it was another adventure to store away to retell to her family. Eagerly she had peered ahead towards the setting sun trying to see the fire, but she was never sure she had seen it, for there were many hills. Behind the bus, the traffic was stopped, and several times Vicki saw cars or trucks give up, turn around, and drive back the way they had come. For nearly a quarter of an hour, she had gotten to talk with the State Trooper, who allowed her to sit in his car and had even signed her autograph book. Finally Clyde had said, “I think we’d better get back on the bus now, Vicki. It’s getting late.”

    With a long sigh Vicki climbed the steps back into the bus. “I’m so glad we had to stop,” she told the driver, pausing beside his seat. “I never dreamed my trip was going to be so exciting. Thank you!”

    “Well, we aim to please when we can, Miss,” the driver said, passing his hand over his mouth and giving a slight cough as he exchanged glances with Clyde.

    Back in her seat, Vicki discovered she was hungry and pulled out her pie. “Aren’t you glad we were too hungry to finish our pie,” she laughed to Kayla who was opening her own box.

    “Yes. I’m afraid supper is going to be rather late today.”

    “I don’t mind at all.” And Vicki leaned back in her seat savoring each bite of her pie.

    Finally the State Trooper gave the okay to go ahead and the bus started forward. Vicki kept her eyes to the windows, hoping she would get to see at least some of the fire. The sun had sunk behind the mountains and, with the fading light, she was finally able to see the flicker of flames in the distance. “There it is,” she called gleefully, pointing out her window. “That must be the fire that held us up.”

    As soon as the next town was reached, the driver pulled into a gas station and said, “We’re already behind time, so please get something to eat quickly and we’ll be on our way again. If you’d like, you may all eat on the bus. There are several places right here that offer quick meals.”

    No one had to be told twice, for everyone, except Vicki, was impatient by another delay. Within twenty minutes all the passengers were back on the bus and the driver was pulling back onto the road.

    Sitting in her seat, Vicki enjoyed her hotdog and fries from Dairy Queen. “I just love eating at Dairy Queen,” she remarked to no one in particular as she reached for another hot, salty fry. Traveling by bus was more exciting than she had thought possible.

    At last, with her stomach full, and nothing to see out the windows, Vicki realized she was tired. It had been a long time since she had gotten up that morning. Using her sweater as a pillow, she lay down on the seat and stared up at the stars until her eyes closed.

Have you ever seen a grass fire?

Do you like sleeping while you travel?

What's your favorite kind of pie?

By Bus with Vicki - Part 4

Hi Friday Fiction Fans,
I'm sort of on vacation. Being at my grandparents house is considered vacation, right? Even if I do work on one of my projects. But I don't write. Guess you'll have to wait until I get back home for further exciting updates. :) Oh, and yes, I did write 11,100+ words last week. :) It was such fun to make progress on so many of my stories!

Thanks for signing up to be test readers, those of you who did. It's going to be fun using my list of test readers instead of trying to find some on my own. If you haven't signed up, and want to be a test/beta reader, go sign up on the Opportunities page on Read Another Page. I don't have anything ready to be read yet, but do it now so you won't forget.

Well, I really don't have much to say right now. I hope you enjoy this next part of the story.

By Bus with Vicki

Part 4

    Eagerly her eyes darted here and there, trying to take in every detail, from the birds on a distant fence post to the car of the State Trooper which was driving slowly along with its lights on and his window rolled down. “I’m going to have such a story to tell Amber when I arrive,” she whispered, looking up to Kayla’s face.
    Kayla couldn’t help smiling back.


    Vicki leaned back in her chair and looked around the crowded cafe. The food had been as good as the driver had promised, and Vicki eyed the last half of her piece of pie still on her plate.
    “Think you can finish off that pie?” Clyde teased.
    “I don’t know.” Vicki reached for her fork but didn’t straighten up in her chair.
    “Don’t make yourself sick,” cautioned Kayla. “A few bites left of the meal you’ve eaten isn’t anything to feel bad about. I don’t think I can finish mine. Clyde, you want the rest?” And Kayla pushed over her plate with half her apple pie still intact.
    Clyde shook his head. “No, thanks. I’m having trouble finishing my own.”
    Drawing patterns on her peanut butter pie with her fork, Vicki remarked, “If I don’t have to walk back to the bus, I think I could eat this . . .” She eyed it with longing. Her tongue wanted it, but her stomach protested.
    “We do have carry-out boxes if you want to take the rest of your pie with you.” It was one of the waitresses.
    Instantly requests for them were made around the room. Vicki looked at her pie. It was such a small piece, it seemed a shame to take an entire box for it, yet she wasn’t sure she could eat it now, and it would be a waste if it was thrown away.
    Kayla helped her out by placing the piece in a box for her. “There. I don’t want you getting sick because you ate that when you were already too full. I still don’t see how you could eat all you did eat!”
    “I didn’t eat much breakfast this morning. You see, I was so excited about going on the bus that there just wasn’t room in my stomach for food.” The girl giggled and adjusted her headband. “Mom kept trying to get me to eat something, but I just couldn’t.”
    “Well, I think you probably made up for that now,” Clyde remarked. “And there’s our bus.”
    Carefully holding her box with her pie, Vicki climbed back into the bus. “Well, now I’ll have something to eat later if we should be late for supper.”

    The afternoon proved a drowsy time for all the passengers. Even Vicki’s exuberance seemed dulled by the bright sunshine, the steady hum of wheels, and a stomach stuffed with good food. Leaning against the window, Vicki watched hill after hill slip past her until her eyes closed and her whole body relaxed.

    When she awoke an hour later, all weariness had vanished, and the delight of traveling across the country by bus returned. Quickly looking around, she discovered Kayla reading a book while Clyde slept with folded arms in the seat beside her. To Vicki, he didn’t look very comfortable, but she had seen her own brothers sleep in strange positions before and thought it just must be what boys did. Behind the brother and sister, Mr. Newspaperman was dozing, his paper over his face. Vicki had discovered that he wasn’t as bald as she had first thought. All the other passengers were either sleeping, reading, or talking in such low tones that Vicki couldn’t hear them.
    Scooting to the aisle seat, she looked out the front window. It was strange to be so high up. Suddenly she noticed a strange haze way up ahead. “What is that?” she asked.
    “What?” Kayla asked, looked up from her book.
    Vicki pointed.
    “I’m not sure if that’s mountains, or smoke, or dust.”
    “Smoke? You mean like something might be on fire?” In her excitement, Vicki forgot that others were still sleeping.
    “Eh, huh? What was that?” And Clyde straightened up in his seat, blinking in the bright light of the sun.
    “That hazy stuff in the distance,” Vicki repeated. “Do you think the driver would know?”
    “Why don’t you go ask him?” Clyde yawned.
    Standing up quickly, Vicki started forward, grabbing the backs of seats as she staggered along. It was much harder to walk on the swaying bus than she had expected.
    A few minutes later she came back with a beaming face to drop into her seat. “He said he isn’t sure, but that’s the way we’re going so we should find out! Oh, I do love to have adventures! If Susie were here instead of me, she wouldn’t like it. Susie doesn’t like adventures. At least not like Chrissy, Candy and I do. Greg likes them too. If he had come, he would be trying to get the driver to let him drive the bus.” She giggled.
    “How old is Greg?”
    “Um . . .” Vicki pursed her lips and wrinkled her nose in thought before she replied. “He’s almost eleven. I think. Yes, I’m pretty sure he is because Candy is older than him and she is the same age as Chrissy. They could be twins, except their birthdays aren’t on the same day and they’re cousins instead. Candy and Chrissy are, you understand. But wouldn’t it be so much fun to share a birthday? Oh, look! There are flashing lights up ahead! I wonder what happened? Maybe a fence is broken and the cows are on the road. Dad said that happened to him one time when he was going west.”
    The bus slowed down, and the rest of the passengers who had not been awakened by Vicki earlier, roused themselves and began to look around.
    “Oh, it’s another State Trooper! And he’s coming to the bus!” This last was added in a squeal as Vicki hugged herself, her eyes glowing with eager anticipation.

What do you think is going on?

Have you ever had to stop on a trip because of flashing lights ahead?

Are you going anywhere this summer?

By Bus with Vicki - Part 3

Hello Friday Fiction Fans,
(If you aren't all on vacation.)

What a week this has been! A good week, but still. On Sunday morning I played my violin at church, worked in the nursery and read a story at home that a dear older widow wrote about her own little boy. Wow! I want to fictionalize it into a story. She might let me as she loves my books. That night my Read Another Page blog was transferred from Blogger to a WordPress website. So, if things were rather strange when you went to it, or something, sorry. I'm still working on making everything right now. I have to get used to WP and figure out the hows and where. :) But, now that it's on WP, I actually have a place where you can sign up to be a test reader! So head over and sign up. And, if you have an experience with WP and want to offer your help, I'll take it. :)

On the writing front I've been busy. And I don't just mean writing my thousand words a day busy. Nope. I've been writing at least 2 thousand words except on Wednesday when I had to work nursery and so didn't have as much time. Okay, so I'm writing more, but does that mean the story you want is being worked on? Perhaps. ;) I spent Monday on my new story, Tuesday was split between the new story and TCR-6. Wednesday was the new story. Yesterday was "Hymns in the Hills" and TCR-6. Here's an overview of where each of the stories stands right now.

Dylan's Story: 16 parts
Hymns in the Hills: 12 parts
TCR-6: 12 parts
Finding Joy: 12 parts

As you can tell, they aren't very far along yet, but think of it this way, TCR-6 is about 5 chapters written. Does that sound a little better? And I still have tonight and tomorrow night to write. 

And if that wasn't enough, the first TCR book is almost out in AUDIO! Through the Tunnel should be coming out the in a few weeks and  . . . the audio for Gift from the Storm is going to start production next week and should be done around the end of August! I'm telling you, this has been a week!

Of course I don't know if anyone is taking the time to read this now. After all, it is summer. (That's why Read Another Page doesn't have lots of helpful writing posts right now.)

But, if you are reading this, I hope you enjoy the next part of

By Bus with Vicki

Part 3

    “Did it have electricity?” Vicki had left her seat and now perched on the edge of the seat next to Kayla.
    Clyde shook his head. “Nope. It was pretty rustic. There was a fireplace and we had to cook all our food over that when it was raining outside.”
    The rest of the morning slipped by as Vicki sat, an entranced listener, to the stories her new friends told about ‘their’ mountains.
    Suddenly, into the steady swaying of the bus and humming of the engine, came a bumping and thumping.
    “What is that?” Vicki asked, looking around as the bus began to slow down.
    “Sounds like we may have a flat,” Clyde remarked.
    “A flat tire?” Vicki stood up in her eagerness to see out the windows, lost her balance and almost toppled into Kayla’s lap.
    “Careful there,” Kayla cautioned, steadying Vicki. “We don’t want any injuries on this trip.”
    Others besides Vicki were peering out the windows. There were no houses to be seen on either side, only fields and rolling hills. “Oh, how exciting,” was Vicki’s assessment.
    The noise grew louder and the bus seemed to tip a bit as it came to a stop. The driver stood up and looked back at his passengers. “We seem to have blown a back tire, folks. I’d like everyone to remain in their seats while I take a look at the situation.”
    As the driver stepped from the bus, a low murmur of complaints began, but above them all came Vicki’s excited exclamation. “This is the most exciting thing that has ever happened to me in my whole life! I’m going to have a real story to tell my sister when I get there. Oh, do you suppose we’ll be stuck here for a long, long time?”
    “I hope not,” Kayla said, smiling, though she looked slightly concerned. “I was looking forward to my lunch.”
    “Lunch?” This seemed to put a new idea into Vicki’s head, for she drew in her breath quickly and her voice was clearly heard throughout the bus. “Oh, I do hope we are stuck here. Wouldn’t it be such fun to walk to that little town up there,” and she pointed ahead to a small cluster of buildings, “and find a place to eat? I’m a real good walker and it would be so exciting!” The girl gave a bounce in her seat and then stopped. Putting her hand over her mouth she giggled. “I didn’t mean to shake the whole bus.”
    It was a few minutes before the driver came back. “Folks, I’m sorry for the inconvenience, but I’m going to need all of you to get off the bus while the tire is being repaired. Your luggage will be perfectly safe where it is, as I shall lock the door.”
    “What about lunch?”
    “How long is this going to take?”
    “Is there another bus coming along?”
    The driver held up his hands and the passengers grew quiet. “There is a small town just up the road a bit with a small cafe that serves really good pie. The meals are good too,” he added hastily, “but the pies are among the best I’ve ever had. As far as how long it’ll take to change the tire, I’m not sure. And there is no other bus scheduled for–” He glanced down at his watch. “Almost five hours. Now, anyone who would like to–Hold on a minute. Help might be arriving.”
    Every head on the bus turned to look out the windows. Nothing could be seen on the road side, but Vicki had scrambled across to her own seat and was peering out the window there. “It’s a policeman!” she squealed. “Or maybe he’s a State Trooper,” she amended, shivering with half suppressed excitement.
    The driver was outside talking to the State Trooper. Minutes later he came back. “I’m told that it’s about a fifteen minute walk to the town. Is anyone interested in walking there for lunch?”
    Hands went up all over the bus.
    “All right. The State Trooper said that if anyone couldn’t walk that far, he’d take them in his car. He’s also radioed for some help in getting the tire fixed, so by the time you’ve eaten we should be ready to get back on the road and make up for lost time. Now if everyone would quietly make their way up to the front of the bus, the Trooper will escort you all to town while I wait for assistance.”
    Vicki could hardly contain herself. Clasping her purse with both hands, she waited with what patience she could until Clyde and Kayla rose and motioned to her. “I can’t believe we are going to walk to town!” Her stage whisper to Kayla brought amused smiles to many faces, and even some who had grumbled began to relax.
    When she reached the door, the driver frowned slightly. “I forgot about you, Miss. Maybe I should ask the State Trooper to take you with him.”
    Vicki’s heart sank just a little. She had wanted to walk to town with the others, but riding in a State Troopers car–
    “Would it be all right if she stays with my sister and me?” Clyde asked behind her.
    For a moment the driver hesitated. “Are you sure you can walk that far?”
    Eagerly Vicki nodded. “I have really strong legs and I love to walk. I promise to stay with Clyde and Kayla just like they were my brother and sister.”
    After getting a promise from Clyde to keep his eye on her and to stay with the rest of the group, the driver gave in.
    Vicki couldn’t refrain from skipping a little as the group of about a dozen people started off towards the small town. The sky was a soft blue, and here and there piles of white fluffy clouds floated lazily. Whispering softly, a breeze stirred the grasses along the side of the road and caressed Vicki’s flushed face.

Have you ever had a flat tire and have to walk?

Would you be as excited about this "adventure" as Vicki?

Have you signed up to be a test reader on Read Another Page?

By Bus with Vicki - Part 2

Hello FFFs,
I hope your June has started out well. Mine has. I'm getting a lot done on things which is always nice. Our cooler weather seems to have abated leaving us with heat. The humidity isn't nearly as bad as it sometimes is, but that's okay. :)

Quick question for you,
What happens when you mix 2 seconds of an add, a picture from pinterest, and my brain?
Answer: A new story.

Yep, I've started writing another book. I know, I know, I'm supposed to be working on TCR-6. And I was. I've made good progress on it and I think I can pick it up and write it soon. And Dylan's Story is waiting for me to correct parts 16-21, so there has been progress with that book. And Hymns in the Hills, well, I'm a little over half way done with the next hymn. So, you can see there is still hope for the other stories. :)

This new story was an accident. I was NOT going to write it. I just got a vague idea from seeing 2 seconds of an add (didn't even know what the add was for), saw this picture and the idea grew. But I still wasn't going to write it. I jotted the idea down on a file card for some later date. Little did I know that the "later date" would be the very next day. As much as I tried to forget the story idea, it continued to grow. By that night I had a working title for it. (That Never happens!) And the next morning my characters were having conversations in my head! Yikes! I had to do something. So . . . I decided I'd just start writing and maybe it would help. It did. Only it didn't help make the story pause. Nope. I wrote 2,000 words that first night, 1,000 the next night and 2,100 last night. And I can't wait to get back to it tonight. It's really moving and I'm loving it! :) So, if you want to see the three pictures I've found for this story, visit my pinterest board.

That's what's I've been doing. What about you? Have you been reading any new books this summer? Or are you going to travel? If so, will it be by bus like Vicki? :)

By Bus with Vicki

Part 2

    The two ladies exchanged glances again which Vicki didn’t see, for she was gazing out the window.
    “Was that your family who came to the bus station to see you off, Child?” asked the lady with the knitting.
    Pulling her eyes from the field of cows outside the window, Vicki nodded. “Yes, that was my family. Only not all of it.”
    “Not all? How many are there?”
    “Well . . .” Vicki scooted back in her seat and prepared to talk. “There are ten of us all together, if you don’t count Candy and Greg and Lizzy, who are just cousins but live with us, Grandma Mary, who is really Daddy’s grandma, or Mom and Dad. My oldest sister, Amber, is married and lives in San Jose, that’s in California, and I’m on my way to visit her! And then my oldest brother, Thomas, is away at collage. That leaves Mom and Dad, and me, and seven other brothers and sisters at home,” she finished, counting on her fingers. “It’s rather crowded at home sometimes, so it will be nice for everyone while I’m away.”
    Upon reaching a stopping point, Vicki drew a breath, swung her legs, and twisted her head to look at the other passengers until a voice beside her asked, “Are you the third born, Dear?”
    Whirling her head around so quickly that her hair flipped in her face and her headband slid back, Vicki laughed. “Me? No, I’m almost in the middle and am only twelve, though being twelve is practically grown up, you know. First is Amber, then Thomas, Henry, David, Susie, and then me. After me are Chrissy, Roxie, Hannah and Johnny. And you have to fit in Candy, Greg and Lizzy too.” A momentary pause followed as Vicki waited to see if another question would be asked. When it wasn’t she went on of her own accord.
    “I have a pet canary. His name is Suzuki and he loves to sing. We also have some fish. Greg wants a dog, but we don’t have room for one until Henry goes to college. Boys take up an awful lot of room, don’t you think?
    “But Mom said I wasn’t supposed to talk non-stop to anyone. And I don’t suppose it is very polite to tell everyone everything about yourself if they don’t ask, is it? I don’t mean to be a bother. Where are you going?”
    Mrs. Bookreader smiled. “We are going to visit a dear friend of ours who is ill. And you aren’t a bother, Child.”
    Vicki’s face, ever changing with her emotions, sobered, and she placed her warm, young hand over the wrinkled one beside her. “I will pray for your friend,” she promised.
    “Thank you.”
    “Do you have families?” Vickie looked from one to the other of the ladies. And so, for the next hour, Vicki talked with her new friends, asking questions and answering others with the same bubbly manner as had characterized her actions since she got on the bus.

    When the bus pulled up before another station, the two older ladies gathered their things and said good-bye to Vicki, wishing her a pleasant journey. Vicki was sad to see them go, but waved to them with a smile from the bus window until they disappeared inside the station.
    No new passengers got on and Vicki returned to her own seat. Picking up her bag, which had remained where she had dumped it in her first excitement of being on the bus, she settled it on the seat beside her and gazed out the windows thinking about her ‘old ladies’. After a full five minutes of silence, Vicki, who never was content with silence unless she was asleep, began to look around for someone else to talk to.
    A warm smile from across the aisle reminded her of her earlier thought of the couple being newly married. Giving a sigh of delight, Vicki scooted to the extreme edge of her seat and leaned across the armrest to ask in a stage whisper, for Mr. Newspaper was still buried behind the large paper, “Hello, what’s your name? Are you just married?”
    A silvery laugh escaped the young woman and she shook her head. “No, this is my brother, Clyde, and I’m Kayla.”
    The young man looked around and gave Vicki a friendly greeting.
    “Where are you going?” Vicki couldn’t help asking.
    “Home now. Clyde and I were visiting some relatives and are on our way home again.”
    “Oh, do you live in California? Because that’s where I’m going, and it would be such fun if I could have you traveling with me the whole time! I could pretend you were my older siblings. Except, of course, that Susie is only a little older than me and Amber is married. She’s the one I’m going to visit. But I could pretend you were my brother and sister. I do have three older brothers. Are you going to California?”
    Kayla shook her head. “No, I’m afraid we aren’t. We’ll be getting off in Colorado.”
    “In the mountains?” The dreamy tones brought another smile to Kayla’s face, and Clyde turned to the window clearing his throat.
    “Yes, we live in the mountains.”
    “That must be so exciting with all the blizzards and grizzly bears. Do trappers or Indians ever come to your house?”
    There seemed to be something wrong with Kayla’s voice, for she coughed and cleared her throat before she replied. “No, we live in Denver. We do get a lot of snow though.”
    “I told Henry, he’s my next-to-oldest brother, that some day I was going to go to the mountains and stay in an old cabin. Don’t you think that would be fun? Have you ever done that?”
    “No, I can’t say that I have.” Kayla turned to her brother and nudged him. “Clyde, when you and your friends went hiking in the mountains, did you stay in an old cabin?”
    “Well, we stayed in a cabin, but it really wasn’t that old.”

When you think of mountains, do you think bears and blizzards?

Have you ever stayed in a rustic cabin?

Where is your favorite place to travel to?

By Bus with Vicki - Part 1

Hello Friday Fiction Fans,

It's another rainy morning. Or course some days this week started out sunny and the rain came after lunch, but yesterday is was rainy in the morning and then sunny after lunch. At least it hasn't been really hot and muggy this week. It feels more like the month of April. So much for summer. Not that I'm complaining as the heat and humidity of summer make it my least favorite month. :)

I feel like I've been rushing this week trying to get things done. Hmm, maybe I have. :) I've been trying to get blog posts ready for Read Another Page, and the story corrected for this blog. Not to mention listening to chapters from TCR-1 (The audio is almost finished!!!), practicing music, writing, and working on my big project.

The project I'm working on deserves some explanation. You see, my grandpa rides his bicycle. And he has since he was a boy working for Western Union delivering telegrams during WWII. Yep, he was one of those boys. :) Anyway, he shared his love of bike riding with his wife, their five children thirteen grandchildren and even the six great-grandchildren. Over the years he has ridden his bike to every county seat in Kansas, ridden to WV several times, rode with my three uncles from Seattle, WA, to Kansas City, MO, and taken dozens of other trips. My project is to compile all the diaries kept during the bike trips, and the photos into a book that will also include maps of most of the trips.

Right now I counted 39-40 bikes trips I have to record in this book! It's fun and daunting at the same time. My goal is to get this book finished by the end of the year, so I'm really trying to work on it as much as I can. I have to design each page in photoshop since I'm adding pictures and maps to the diaries. I can't wait to see it completed!

You will be happy to know (at least if you are TCR fans) that I've been writing TCR-6 and have the first few chapters written. I'm still struggling some on this, so keep praying. :)

My quote for today is:

God's best gifts are not in things

but in opportunities.

And now let me tell you just a bit about this new story. It's totally different from what you've been reading the last few weeks (or should I say months), but I hope you enjoy it. I started it last year after I had thought of an idea for one of my writing students, but dropped it for other writing projects. But now it's finished. There are several fun moments in the story that I hope you'll enjoy.

By Bus With Vicki

Part 1

    “Good-bye! Don’t forget to feed the fish, and and make sure Suzuki has fresh water every day!” Twelve-year-old Vicki Rogers waved to her family from the steps of the bus as she started up them. “Oh,” she whirled around once more before the driver could shut the door. “Don’t forget to cover Suzuki’s cage at night or he’ll be cranky in the morning, and–”
    “Honey,” her father interrupted, stepping close to the bus, “we’ll take care of everything. You already wrote a list of things. Now go find your seat. You don’t want to make the bus late.”
    “Goodness, no! Good-bye, Daddy!” With a farewell kiss, Vicki scrambled up the steps and hurried down the aisle. Finding an empty seat by a window, she quickly claimed it, dropping her travel bag and staring down at her family. “Good-bye,” she mouthed, alternating between waving with both hands and blowing kisses until the station had disappeared from her sight.
    With a long sigh, Vicki turned around and settled herself quite properly in her seat with her purse in her lap and her hands resting primly on the purse. She was going on a real trip. A smile tugged at her pretty mouth and would not be hid, though she bit her lower lip and tried to look calm, cool and collected, as she knew Susie would do had she been the one traveling. “But she’s not!” she thought, giving a little bounce in her seat, for she really could not sit still. “Susie’s not going, I am!” The smile came out in full and flooded her face with joy.
    Reveling in that one delicious thought, Vicki gave another satisfied sigh and looked out the window. Several of the other passengers on the bus couldn’t help but look at the child who had made such a commotion when she got on. It was almost impossible not to help smiling, and a few amused glances were exchanged. Vicki’s light brown hair, cut just below her shoulders, hung loose and free, only held back from her face by a wide ribbon headband whose bow, tied carefully that morning, no doubt, by her mother’s loving hand, was askew. A sprinkling of freckles crossed the child’s nose and danced about her flushed and rosy cheeks. Those who were closest noticed the sparkle and flash of her light brown eyes, the eager look in them as she turned from the window to cast a quick, excited glance about the bus before turning back to view the passing scenery.
    It was hard work, but somehow Vicki managed to remain outwardly calm and still as the bus drove through town. But, once the highway was reached, she gave up the effort, tucked one foot up and turned to study her fellow passengers. Those in front of her offered little to look at except the back of their heads, so Vicki, after a quick look, shrugged and settled more comfortably in her seat. Across the aisle sat a young couple, and Vicki was sure they hadn’t been married long. How she longed to slip over and ask, but, upon reflection, she decided she would wait. “They might not want a girl who has only just gotten on asking them questions,” she thought. “I’ll wait until later. I just hope they don’t get off before I can make their acquaintance.”
    Just behind the young couple, a man sat reading the newspaper. At least Vicki felt sure it was a man. “Who else but a man would hold the paper in such a fashion? I’m sure no lady would open it all the way up and then bury themselves behind it.” She gave a soft giggle. “Perhaps he is taking a nap. I wonder what he looks like.” For a full minute, Vicki sat perfectly still trying to imagine what the reader of the paper looked like. At last, having decided that he was older, mostly bald and had a mustache, she resumed her scrutiny of her fellow travelers.
    The back of the seats in the bus were so high that Vicki at last climbed onto her knees to get a better look over them. As she scanned the heads and faces behind her, her smile broke full across her face. Oh, such delight! Directly behind her sat two older ladies, one with a book which she wasn’t reading, and the other with some knitting. Both gave Vicki smiles and the young girl forgot about seeing who else might be on the same bus.
    Quickly she slipped from her seat, clutching her purse with one hand and the seat with the other, for the motion of the bus made her legs unsteady. She reached the aisle safely but then, as the bus gave an unexpected bump, she nearly lost her balance and half fell, half dropped into the empty seat beside Mrs. Bookreader. “Oh, may I sit here?” she gasped with a little laugh. “I was getting rather lonely all by myself.”
    “Of course you may, Child,” the lady with the book replied, patting Vicki’s arm in a friendly manner.
    “Thank you so much. My name is Victoria Anne Rogers, but everyone calls me Vicki. My brother says it is because I am never still long enough for anyone to say Victoria, but I don’t think that is true, for I am often quite still. Are you two sisters?”
    Both silver heads were shaken, and Mrs. Knitting said, “No, only very dear friends.”
    “Oh, have you been friends for long?” Vicki delighted in learning about other people as much as she enjoyed talking about herself.
    “Since we were babies,” Mrs. Bookreader replied. “We often slept in the same crib while our mothers worked or visited together.”
    Clasping her hands together, Vicki gave a long drawn out, “Oh!” She beamed on the two old ladies. “I’ve always dreamed of having a life-long friend, but I never knew anyone who really did. I thought that only happened in story books.”

Have you ever traveled alone?

Would you make friends with older ladies?

Do you get excited when you are going on a trip?

P.S. Have you checked out Homeschooled Authors to see what they have going this summer? If you haven't, you might want to.  And yes, I'm participating this year, so go check it out!