A Lesson in Contentment - Part 4

Dear me! I forgot all about it being Friday. Is it really Friday?
It's been a rather crazy week and next week will be even more crazy. :P It's called "Life." Yeah, I know, it would be nice if things weren't so crazy and I could get a lot written, but it hasn't happened. Yet. Perhaps I can write more today. I sure hope so. Here's a quick look at my week.
Saturday: I actually got a good amount written for the first day of April.
Sunday: I worked in the nursery Sunday School for my mom, and then after church we had choir practice. The rest of the day was relaxing and I got to read. :)
Monday: Preparing and teaching my final writing classes. Then I had to grade papers and get everything ready for the next day. I did get 800+ words written.
Tuesday: Only 368 words written while I sat at the polls. We had a record breaking number of 19 people show up to vote! But we talked a LOT and I learned a lot about the history of the area. (There might even be an idea for a story.)
Wednesday: I was tired. And I was catching up. I did some writing sprints with some of my cabin mates which was fun and I was able to get a little over 1,500 words written.
Thursday: I got more things done and the day was more relaxed, but there wasn't much writing done. One of the girls from church who is getting married next week, came over to try her dress on (my sister was doing some altering for her) and we talked for quite a while. And after supper I had to edit what I had written the day before and then only got 280 words written. Not much. We'll see if I'm able to reach my 5k goal this week. I have a wedding to attend tomorrow afternoon. I feel that I'm so close to the ending of "Dylan's Story" but I could use prayer as I write it.

Here's the next part of this story. It gets more exciting in this part. :) Enjoy!

A Lesson in Contentment

Part 4

    Before she could decide, the old woman started to cross the street. She didn’t look to see if any cars were coming, only stepped down off the curb.
    A horn blared. Kelsey found her heart in her throat as the old woman, startled and evidently bewildered, stumbled, almost lost her balance, and then moved forward right into the path of the oncoming car.
    Without stopping to think, Kelsey flew across the sidewalk, darted into the street and hurled herself at Mrs. Stuebanks.
    She was never quite sure just what happened then, for the next thing she knew she was sitting on the side of the road with the little old lady fairly in her lap.
    “Mercy me!” ejaculated Mrs. Stuebanks. “Whatever are you doing, Child?”
    Kelsey gave a nervous laugh. “I’m not quite sure, Mrs. Stuebanks. Are you all right?”
    A crowd was beginning to gather, though Kelsey couldn’t figure out where they all came from. The driver, white faced and shaking, pushed through to ask, “Is she all right? I didn’t see her until she was almost in front of me! Why didn’t she look? Has someone called for an ambulance?”
    Kelsey didn’t try to answer. She simply sat, bewildered, and thankful that Mrs. Stuebanks was alive.
    “I called for an ambulance,” once person said.
    “Where did the girl come from?”
    “Why, that’s Kelsey. Kelsey, what are you doing here?” It was the owner of the drugstore, and he crouched next to the odd couple sitting in the street.
    “I was at the skating party and saw her. Is she going to be all right, Mr. Parson?”
    The old woman, after her first exclamation, had fallen silent and sat quite still clutching her lavender purse.
    “I hope so.”
    The wail of sirens cut through the muffled chatter of the bystanders, and the crowd parted as a police officer and two medics came forward. Mrs. Stuebanks was soon inside the ambulance while Kelsey informed the officer that the old woman lived at the home.
    “I don’t know what she is doing this far away,” she said, not making any move to rise. “I didn’t see anyone with her. Is she going to be all right?”
    The officer nodded. “I’m sure she will be. Now suppose we move out of the street. It would–” He got no farther, for a new crowd, this time of young people, arrived on the scene and pushed forward.
    “Oh, Kelsey!” It was Lottie, and she flung her arms around her sister’s neck and burst into tears.
    Kelsey hugged her and then laughed somewhat shakily, “Come on, Lot, help me up and let’s get out of the street. How did you all know about the accident?”
    Pulling herself together, Lottie drew back and swiped at her tears with the back of her hand. “We didn’t. What happened?”
    Zoe’s face appeared beside Lottie’s. “Someone heard a siren, but by the time the word got around and we realized that it wasn’t just passing by, the ambulance was leaving. What happened?”
    “Zoe, let’s wait until she is out of the street first,” Wally suggested, offering Kelsey his hand.
    Taking it, Kelsey was pulled to her feet, but when she tried to stand, an involuntary cry of pain escaped her lips, and she would have fallen had not a strong arm gone around her and held her up. Her eyes closed with pain and her head dropped forward to rest on a sturdy shoulder as she fought back the waves of dizziness.
    “My leg,” she gasped, in answer to the questions that besieged her from every side. She rested her weight on her right leg, her breathing ragged gasps. It hadn’t hurt before. Nothing had. The medics had asked her if she was all right and she had assured them she was. Nothing had changed since then, had it?
    “Kels,” Lottie was saying when Kelsey could focus on something besides the pain for a moment, “it’s going to be all right.”
    Lifting her head, though she still felt lightheaded, she tried to smile. “Of course I’ll be all right, Lottie,” she whispered. “I probably just twisted my ankle–or something.”
    The policeman was standing beside her giving orders. “Two of you fellows make a chair with your hands and we’ll get her moved.”
    “Bring her into my shop,” Mr. Parson offered quickly.
    Kelsey felt herself being lifted gently by Wally and one of the other boys at the party. The crowd parted and Mr. Parson opened wide his doors. Gritting her teeth against the stabbing pain as she was lowered to a chair and the officer carefully settled her leg on another chair, Kelsey closed her eyes once more.
    Voices swam around her, but she didn’t know what they were saying Her one thought was, “Mrs. Stuebanks is all right. It doesn’t matter about me.” Something cold was settled on her leg and eased the pain.
    “Kelsey.”
    Drawing a deep breath, Kelsey opened her eyes to find Wally and Zoe crouched down before her. It dawned on her suddenly that the accident had interrupted their skating party. “Where’s Lottie?” she asked, not giving either one a chance to speak.
    Her sister’s voice answered. “I’m right here.”
    Forcing her lips to smile, Kelsey glanced over at her. “You should call the house and ask Mike if he’ll come pick us up. You’ll have to get our skates.” She turned back to the brother and sister before her. “Sorry for interrupting the party. We’ll be fine here–until Mike comes. You can all go back. There’s no use waiting–with us.”

Have you ever gotten hurt at a party?

If you were Lottie, what would you do?

Are you eager to read the full book of "Dylan's Story"?

A Lesson in Contentment - Part 3

Hello Friday Fiction Fans,

It's cloudy this morning and damp. It rained off and on all day yesterday. I think the sun is supposed to appear later today which would be very nice. We've had a lot of cool cloudy days. I think our weather has the hiccups. First it's sunny and warm, then it gets cold and rains, then it's really warm, then it's cold. It just can't decide if it should be spring or summer or winter. The Tulips have bloomed, the Irises are blooming in some yards, and it looks like it should be later in the year. We even get the joys of elm seeds early. :P

Anyway, enough about weather. Since I ended up working in the nursery again (third time in a row), I didn't write anything that day. But I have been working on "Dylan's Story." It's coming along. Though I've about reached a part that I really don't know what happens. Prayers would be appreciated.

Speaking of writing, this year marks a first. I decided to join Camp NaNo for April. My goal right now is to write 20,000 words. It could be interesting since I also have two weddings, a wedding reception, a wedding rehearsal, an election, my birthday, a party on here (stay tuned for more details), and the AWANA closing program at church. Not to mention other things that just come up. Hopefully I'll be able to reach my goal.

Here's the next part of this story. Enjoy!

A Lesson in Contentment

Part 3

    “Wow, you two are good,” Sharon’s praise was genuine.
    “Only because of practice,” Lottie laughed. “If you’d skated as much as we have, you’d be good too.”
    “I think I’ll go outside for a little while, Lottie,” Kelsey said as Lottie dropped down onto the bench beside her. “I’m getting a headache.”
    A worried frown crossed Lottie’s face. “Do you want to go home?”
    Though she really did, Kelsey shook her head and began unlacing her skates. “I’ll just get some quiet and fresh air. Have fun and don’t worry about me.”
    Lottie nodded. “But Kels, if you do want to go home, I don’t mind. I’ve been skating a lot and have had fun already. I won’t mind leaving.”
    Kelsey smiled. “Thanks, Lot, but I think I’ll be fine after some quiet.” She stood up and slipped her feet into her shoes leaving her skates next to Lottie’s shoes. Walking to the door, she skirted several kids she didn’t know, thankful that no one had said anything to her. Her feet felt strange, almost as though they no longer belonged to her. “They always do after I’ve skated,” she murmured, pushing open the door and blinking in the bright sunshine.
    Quiet. Blessed quietness settled over her as the door shut behind her. Only the noise of an occasional car driving past disturbed the lazy summer afternoon. Sitting down in the green grass, Kelsey leaned her head against the brick of the skating rink and shut her eyes. The pounding in her head dulled to a low but persistent ache. At least that was more manageable than the throbbing had been.
    Childish laughter made her open her eyes, and a smile brightened her face. Across the street a family was entering the drugstore, the children excited and eager, the parents laughing at some remark made no doubt by one of their children.
    “I wonder who they are,” she thought, her eyes resting on the door that had shut after the family. “I think I would like them.”
    From her shady spot she let her eyes roam around, and for some time she watched a busy little bird across the street.
    “Kels!”
    So busy had her thoughts been, that she started. “Zoe? What are you doing out here?”
    “I came to find you. I saw you leave, but you didn’t come back in. Are you all right?”
    “Yes, I’m fine. It was just too crowded and noisy inside.” She shrugged. “I’m all right, really. You can go back to your party. I’m not running away.” She smiled.
    Instead of leaving, Zoe sat down beside her. “It does get rather noisy with everyone talking at once and music playing. You probably wish you had gone to visit your elderly friends at the home instead of coming here.”
    “No, I’m glad I came. I know Lottie is having a wonderful time, and we’ll have stories to tell the other girls at home when we get back.”
    “But what about you?”
    Kelsey looked surprised. “What about me?”
    “You aren’t having fun.”
    Pushing back a red curl from her face, Kelsey laughed. “How do you know?” Then without waiting for a reply, she went on, “I just watched a family go into the drugstore laughing together over something. I think they are getting ice cream, and I was imagining what flavor they would each choose. And do you see that bird up there on the flag pole?” She pointed. “Well, he’s been snatching bugs and things from the sidewalk and going to a little hole in the awning over the barber shop and coming back with an empty beak. I think he has a family in there. Who says I’m not having fun?”
    Zoe didn’t look convinced. “It doesn’t sound like a very fun way to spend your afternoon.”
    “I haven’t been sitting here all afternoon.”
    “Don’t you want something to eat? Or drink?”
    Kelsey shook her head. “I already had a coke and I’m not hungry. If I get tired of sitting out here, I’ll come in. Don’t worry about me, Zoe.”
    Reluctantly Zoe stood back up. “I don’t feel right about just leaving you,” she admitted, “but–”
    A light laugh interrupted her. “If you lived in a house with seven other girls, you might enjoy some quiet time alone too. Now go on before they all come looking for you.” It hadn’t escaped Kelsey’s notice that Zoe was the life of the party.
    “All right.”

    The afternoon shadows were lengthening and still Kelsey sat outside. No one else had come to bother her, and she found herself growing sleepy just sitting there. The family had left the drugstore and only a few other people had been seen on the sidewalks. It seemed that most folks had either left for summer vacation, or were too busy getting ready to leave, to come get ice cream or a haircut.
    “I wonder what time it is,” Kelsey wondered at last, squinting toward the western sky. “I would have thought the party would be over by now.” She gave a little sigh. In spite of the things she had told Zoe, she did feel a little left out, but the thought of returning only made her head ache again. It was so crowded and noisy!
    At that moment her attention was drawn to a slightly stooped figure trotting down the sidewalk in a green dress. Her hair was white and she carried a lavender purse in one hand.
    Kelsey stood up. “Why, that looks like Mrs. Stuebanks from the home. I wonder what she is doing so far? I thought most of the residents weren’t allowed out alone. Oh, I wonder if she wandered off! Should I go to her, or call the home first?”

What would you do? Call the home or talk to Mrs. S. first?

Have you ever felt the need to just get outside at a party?

Have you ever done Camp NaNo?

A Lesson in Contentment - Part 2

Hello FFFs!

Here I sit with 4 of my nieces and nephews on the floor behind me. They just got up (at 7). We had a very busy day yesterday exploring the "forest" and the "river." (Translated: some trees and a creek.) It's been a crazy week.

Sunday evening my youngest nephew had to get 5 stitches in the middle of his forehead from running into the corner of the wall. (Dad and I went to stay with the other kids and didn't get home and to bed until after mid-night.

Monday a girl from church came over for sewing lessons.

Tuesday I taught writing classes. Wednesday my dad and I had election training and then I worked in the nursery again.

Yesterday I already mentioned. Last night my grandparents, oldest niece and nephew, Sis and I all went to a concert to listen to "The Academy of St Martin in the Fields." It was wonderful!

Today we'll have the kids all day and then take them home for bed. And then Saturday. Saturday we have nothing planned! :) Lovely.

And that's all I have to say right now. I hope you enjoy this next part of the story.

A Lesson in Contentment

Part 2

    Half a dozen voices from her younger sisters who were peering out the windows, shouted, “They’re here!” “Hurry, Kels, they’re waiting!”
    With skates over their arms, smiles on their faces, and many waves to the excited girls watching, Kelsey and Lottie left the house, crossed the yard and climbed into the waiting car.
    Kelsey was silent on the ride. Zoe introduced herself and her brother and chatted with Lottie all the way there, for Lottie wasn’t the least bit shy.

    There wasn’t a large crowd when they arrived, only a few schoolmates who welcomed the sisters with smiles and hellos. Once she was out on the floor with skates on, Kelsey was able, for a time, to push aside the thought that she didn’t belong. She skated with Lottie for a little while, getting the feel of the floor and warming up. Music played over the speakers, and the noise level rose as more and more kids arrived. Feeling warm and uncomfortably out of place, Kelsey skated to the side and stepped off the rink to sit on a bench and watch.
    “Get tired?” a voice asked loudly.
    Glancing up, she saw Wally standing beside her bench. “A little.”
    He sat down beside her. “I’ve never seen a kid skate like your sister can. Does she practice every day?”
    Kelsey’s eyes followed her sister’s path across the skate floor. She never wobbled, or bumped into anyone. Her turns were graceful, she could skate just as well backwards as forward, and she never seemed to tire. “Just about. She comes here every chance she can get and helps clean up after parties, so the owner lets her skate any time it’s not booked.”
    “Do you ever go with her?”
    Kelsey merely nodded.
    “Want a coke or some popcorn?”
    “A coke would be nice. Thank you.”
    When Wally had disappeared, Kelsey scooted to the end of the bench. It was a strange feeling, but she wanted to be able to slip away should many others come to join them on the bench, as she guessed they would if Wally stuck around. He was popular in school.
    “Here you are.” Wally appeared beside her once again and handed her a cold glass before taking the seat beside her.
    “Thanks.” Kelsey took a sip. It tasted good and the cold was refreshing. She looked out over the skaters and soon found her light haired sister among the crowd. Lottie had slowed her pace and was skating beside a girl Kelsey didn’t know, but who looked like she was having trouble getting used to the skates. “That’s just like her,” she remarked.
    “What is?” Wally turned questioning eyes on her.
    “Lottie. She’s found someone to help. Just watch, she’ll skate with her until she’s sure she can do it alone a few minutes.”
    “Then what?”
    “Then she’ll zip around the rink once just because she loves it, and then will come back to the girl’s side and help her some more.” Kelsey had had to speak loudly, for the music and chatter of the crowd made normal conversation impossible.
    Her predictions were right, and she smiled as her younger sister once more reached the hesitant skater, linked her arm with hers and pulled her on, somehow keeping both of them balanced even when one of the wilder skaters nearly crashed into them.
    Wally was soon called away from the bench by some of the guys, and Kelsey was left alone. She didn’t mind.
    Just then Lottie and her partner skated up. “There’s a bench you can sit on if you want, Sharon,” Lottie said to her new friend. “After a rest you can try it again. You’re really getting the hang of it, you know.”
    The other girl sank onto the bench gratefully. “Thank you for helping me,” she said. “I don’t know what possessed me to come to this party. I’ve never skated more than a handful of times in my life, and those times always ended up making me black and blue.”
    With a laugh Lottie reached for Kelsey’s drink and took a long swallow. “Now you have to come skate with me,” she ordered her sister.
    Kelsey shook her head. Just the thought of getting back into that crowd set her heart to racing and made her hands clammy.
    “Please,” Lottie begged. “They’re going to do the couples skating in just a few minutes, and,” she leaned down and said in lower tones, “I won’t skate with some boy!”
    Feeling torn, but not wanting to make her sister become a spectator for something they had always enjoyed doing together, she reluctantly agreed. Besides, she realized, spying Wally heading in their direction, if she didn’t accept Lottie, Wally would ask, and she had no intention of skating with him.
    “All right.”
    “Just forget about all the others,” advised Lottie as the girls crossed arms and began skating in step.
    Kelsey tried, but there was no shutting out the loud music, the constant babble of voices, or the rumble made by dozens of skates on the smooth floor. To Lottie the noise might have been intoxicating, but to Kelsey it was torture. “One, two, three. One two, side,” she began counting in her head as she tried to concentrate on the routine she and her sister had worked out over a year ago. Hanging on to Lottie’s hands, she guided her sister who was skating backwards. Around, down, backwards, forwards. Arms crossed, hands linked, one-handed–it all came together somehow, leaving Kelsey rather breathless when the music ended and she found herself once more on the sidelines.

Does the skating party sound fun?

Do you like to skate with someone else?

Have you ever been "exploring"?

A Lesson in Contentment - Part 1

Fond felicitations to my few faithful Friday Fiction Fans,

I hope your weekend is looking promising. Mine is. The weather has cast aside the cold frosts and cloudy days of winter (again!) and has welcomed the warmer days of spring with a mixture of sunshine and lovely rain. Well, I think the rain will be lovely. It's suppose to rain today, but be sunny the next few days and almost 80º. After it snowed most of the morning and into the afternoon on Tuesday (nothing stuck), we are glad to be back to warmer temperatures and balmy sunshine.

I was going to tell you about my week, but it was mostly a blur. Except Wednesday. Wednesday was one of those days. Things that you thought would hardly take any time took two or three times as long to do. I ran into some major problems with my big "Bike Trip book" project, and then I got called and asked if I could please work nursery at church and help out in "Puggles" since our pastor's wife wasn't going to be there. So, no writing that day. But I did get a little research done for "Dylan's Story." Do you want to know what I had to look up? Let me know in a comment or by email if you do.

Yesterday was my best writing day so far this week. 1,500+ words written. If you haven't checked the Progress bar on the Home Page of Read Another Page, you might want to go check it. :) 

Anyway, that's that and this is this. I wrote this story mostly last week after someone suggested that these characters might have some more interesting stories. She was right. And I hope you enjoy the first part of it today.

A Lesson in Contentment

Part 1

    “Come on, Kels,” Zoe begged. “Say you’ll come.”
    It was a warm, sunny afternoon. School had ended for the summer, and a group of friends were getting together at the skating rink for a party to celebrate their release from the confines of the classroom.
    Shifting the bag of groceries from one arm to the other, Kelsey hesitated. She liked roller skating well enough but didn’t feel like she fit in with the rest of her classmates. “I don’t know,” she began slowly. “I’d feel kind of mean going off to a party and leaving all my sisters at home.”
    “Bring them along,” Zoe invited impulsively.
    Kelsey laughed and tossed her red hair back from her face. “Your group wouldn’t want all eight of us there! Imagine how shocked everyone would be to find the rink full of girls from the other side of the tracks.” She shook her head. “That wouldn’t work, Zoe. Besides, Mama wouldn’t want the younger ones out late.”
    “Then couldn’t you and, who’s the girl right under you?”
    “Lottie.”
    “That’s it–Couldn’t you and Lottie come?”
    Before Kelsey could think of another excuse, a car pulled up before the supermarket where the girls were standing and a horn honked. “Oh, there’s Lauren and Mike. They said they’d pick me up. I’ll have to go now, Zoe. See you later!”
    But Zoe wasn’t to be dissuaded from her purpose and followed her friend out to the car. She had met Lauren before, and even Lauren’s boyfriend, Mike, so she folded her arms on the front window and leaned in to plead her cause. “Lauren, I’m having a party at the skating rink on Friday afternoon, and I want Kelsey to come. Don’t you think she can?”
    Lauren glanced into the back seat where the younger girl had climbed. “Did she say she didn’t want to?”
    Zoe shook her head. “No, she just said she didn’t think it would be fair to go off and have fun without the rest of the girls. I told her Lottie could come too.”
    Kelsey leaned forward and laughed. “After she had invited the whole bunch of us.”
    At that Lauren, and even Zoe, laughed while Mike chuckled.
    “I don’t see why she couldn’t go. Lottie too, if you want her,” Lauren said at last, “if we can get them there.”
    “Oh, don’t worry about that. Wally and I can pick them up,” Zoe said hastily. “And we can bring them home again too. Thanks, Lauren, I knew you’d help me.” Then, not giving Kelsey any chance to back out or come up with another excuse, she called as she stepped away from the car with a wave, “Remember, Kels, three-thirty on Friday. You and Lottie both.”
    Kelsey waved one hand and smiled. The next minute she was leaning forward again as the car pulled away from the curb. “Why on earth did you tell her we could go, Lauren?” she demanded. “We don’t even know if Lottie wants to go!”
    Without turning in her seat, Lauren answered, “Of course Lottie will want to go. You know how much she loves roller skating. Why the two of you can probably skate better than anyone else who will be there.”
    “That’s not the point,” Kelsey sighed.
    “Then what is? Zoe wanted you, and there really isn’t any reason for you not to go. Mother and Dad won’t mind, and you can tell us all about it when you get home. I thought you said you liked Zoe.”
    “I do.” There was a long pause. “It’s just–”
    “Just what?” Lauren prodded, half turning in her seat to look at her younger sister.
    A long sigh preceded the answer. “It’s just that I don’t really know most of the gang she does things with. Yeah, I know some of them, and most of us are in the same class at school, but–” Again she paused.
    “But we live on the other side of the tracks?” Lauren finished for her.
    “Yeah,” Kelsey mumbled. “And,” she added in lower tones, “I don’t like noisy crowds.”
    “Look, Kels,” Mike spoke up for the first time, “I’ll tell you what. You and Lottie go to that party, and I’ll stick around your house. If you can’t stand it after a little while, give the house a ring and I’ll come pick you up.”
    Kelsey’s face brightened. “Really?”
    “Sure thing.”
    “Thanks. I guess we’ll go then, if Lottie wants to. I don’t really want to, but Zoe seems set on us being there for some reason.”

    There was no need to ask Lottie a second time. As soon as she heard about the party, she was wild with excitement. Skating was her passion, and last summer she had talked the owner of the rink into letting her help clean up after parties in exchange for time to skate. Now she could do just about anything on a pair of roller skates.
    “Is Zoe the one who walked in the rain with you the day you went to Miss Olive’s?” she questioned Kelsey.
    Kelsey nodded. She had told the entire story of that visit a dozen times to her sisters.
    “Oh, good, then I know I’ll like her.”

    Friday arrived, and Kelsey began to wish Lauren hadn’t said they could go. Her mother and dad had given their consent right away, especially with Mike’s promise to stick around and pick them up should the party grow too much for them. As Kelsey watched Lottie’s excitement, however, she began to be glad of the invitation, if only to give Lottie a treat. She seldom got to skate with a crowd, and it would be fun to watch her. But when a car horn honked outside, she wished Lottie could go alone.

Have you ever gone to a skating party?

Do you like to roller skate?

Would you be more like Kelsey or Lottie when it comes to crowds?

(Oh, do you want to know what I had to research?) 

Dylan's Story - Part 8

Hello Friday Fiction Fans,
I had to scramble this morning because I had completely forgotten that I didn't have anything ready to post. I had finished writing a short story last night, but it wasn't ready to be shared yet. And I hadn't picked another already published story either, so . . . I decided that I'd give you another part of Dylan's Story. I hope you won't mind. (Jesseca, you asked for it, so I hope you can read it.)

Last weekend was one of those crazy, busy things. On Sunday night I told my sister I had no idea what I needed to work on this week because we'd been so busy that I hadn't had time to even think about the coming week. :P We had a birthday party (okay, we celebrated 3 birthdays), a wedding shower, babysat the kiddos twice, had church, had choir practice, saw some friends I hadn't seen in a year, and somehow managed to get my last 500 words written so I could reach my 5k goal.

This week I need about 500 more words as well, though I'm hoping I can get 1,500 words written and reach 6k. I just don't know what I'll write this evening. Dylan's Story got stuck, Finding Joy needs some major work, Hymns in the Hills might work, I haven't tried it, or I might be able to start a new short story. Maybe one for Project 12. What do you wish I would work on?

Now I'll let you read. You probably didn't even bother reading this part, did you? Don't worry, I won't hold it against you.

Dylan's Story

Part 8

    “I will. And don’t let either of them go out in this rain! We don’t want them ending up in the hospital with pneumonia!”
    Autumn nodded, kissed her husband quickly, and then stood and watched until he disappeared into the rain. Turning back to the children, she saw Fern pressed against her brother. “Perhaps she is a little frightened at times after all,” she murmured to herself. Before, Fern had given the impression that nothing could bother her.
    “Aunt Autumn,” Fern whimpered when Autumn returned to their side, “I don’t like it in here anymore. Can’t we go back to the house?”
    “Uncle Scott went to get the truck. The wind and rain are too cold for us to go all the way back to the house on foot.”
    Clutching Autumn’s hand, Fern lifted dark eyes wide with fear. “Then won’t Uncle Scott get sick?”
    “Fern, he’s an Army man. Army men don’t get sick from rain and wind,” Dylan scoffed. “They’re tough.”
    “I don’t think he’ll get sick, Fern,” Autumn reassured the little girl whose eyes had remained fixed on her, completely ignoring her brother’s words. “He is more used to the elements than we are. Now, while we wait, let’s make sure the horses are ready for a long day in the stable.”
    As they worked, Autumn kept one ear open for the sound of the truck. In spite of her assurance to Fern, she couldn’t quite rid herself of the worry that nudged her mind. What if Scott slipped and fell on the way? Would he be able to make it all the way to the truck if he was injured? What if the truck became stuck in the muddy lane? It had happened before. What if–
    “Aunt Autumn.” Dylan’s voice brought her mind back into focus.
    “Yes?”
    “Is there anything else we need to do?”
    She looked around. There wasn’t anything else to do except to wait. Shaking her head, she smiled. “No, it looks like everything is ready in here. Let’s go watch near the door.”
    The time passed slowly to the three who were waiting and watching the falling rain. Fern pressed close to Autumn and even Dylan shivered. At her suggestion, they moved farther back and shut the door almost all the way. Conversation was almost non existent for the rain on the metal roof was loud. Suddenly a new sound was heard. Thudding like golf balls being dumped on a hard floor caused Autumn to catch her breath and look anxiously out the door.
    “What is that noise?” Fern’s voice was almost lost.
    “Hail.” Though she tried to hide her concern, Autumn wasn’t sure she had succeeded for Dylan moved up beside her and looked out at the small balls of ice bouncing around. Where was Scott? Had he even made it back to the house before the hail came? Autumn had no way of knowing.
    Finally the hail stopped and only the rain fell, though not as heavily as it had.
    “I’m glad we aren’t in the cabin,” Dylan remarked, sitting down on an overturned bucket.
    “I’m thankful you aren’t too!”
    Soon the truck was seen coming down the road. Pulling up as close as he could to the barn before stopping, Scott reached over and opened the passenger door. “Hurry in, kids!”
    Fern needed no urging but dashed for the truck and scrambled in. Dylan was right at her heels. Shutting the stable door securely, Autumn followed. There was barely enough room in the cab for the four of them to fit, but after Fern had wiggled her way across her brother and onto Autumn’s lap, it was less crowded.
    “Home, James,” Autumn ordered, her voice prim and proper.
    “Very good, ma’am,” Scott replied in some funny accent, pretending to touch a cap he wasn’t wearing.
    Fern giggled, and even Dylan smiled. They were all safe in the truck and headed for a warm house and dry clothes.

*

    Arriving at the house, Autumn said, “When we get inside, Fern and Dylan, I want you to both run up to your rooms and change into dry clothes. And make sure you put on dry socks, Fern.” Autumn patted the little girl’s knee. “You stepped right in that puddle.”
    “But my shoe is wet, so my dry sock will just get wet too.”
    “Do you have slippers?”
    Fern shook her dark head.
    “Well, I think I have something you can wear around the house.”
    “Bring any wet shoes down and we’ll dry them by the fire,” Scott promised before he opened his door.
    Quickly rushing inside, everyone scattered to their rooms to get into something dry and warm.
    Dylan shivered as he pulled on his last clean shirt. “I wonder if they have to go to town to wash their clothes?” he mused, pulling off his damp socks. “I should have looked for puddles before I followed Fern. Now where are my socks? Surely I have another pair.” Carefully he dug through his suitcase one more time. Nope. All of his socks had been worn and needed washed. Sitting cross-legged on the floor, Dylan gave a sigh that was almost like a sob. He was tired of trying to be responsible for everything. “I’m only ten. I want to be a boy, not a grownup.” Sniffing, he let his shoulders sag and rested his chin in his hands. Why was life so hard?
    “Dylan! Lunch is ready!”
    The call from his sister brought Dylan to his feet. Picking up his shoes, he made his way downstairs where he left his shoes on the hearth with the other pairs. The warmth of the fire felt good to his bare feet and for a minute he stood warming his toes.
    “Dylan!” Fern’s voice was impatient. “I’m hungry, so come on!”
    “Fern, talk politely, please.”
    Dylan heard Uncle Scott’s low voice and turned away. He knew he’d better go before Fern got really upset. Besides, his breakfast had disappeared some time before and his stomach was begging to be filled again. The smell of grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup quickened his steps.
    “There he is,” Aunt Autumn smiled as he entered the dining room. “We can–Why, Dylan, where are your socks? It’s too cold to be going around barefoot.”

Have you ever run out of clean socks?

Have you ever been stuck in a building other than a house during hail?

Do you like grilled cheese and tomato soup?

Smiling in the Rain - Part 5

Hello Faithful Fiction Fans,

Have you come back for your Fiction Fix this Friday? :)

How has your week been? Mine's been good, but busy. I felt for a while that I was never going to get to the end of my "to-do" list. I still don't at times, but I've made good progress. My writing has been a bit on the slower side this week. On Monday I wrote 1,200+ words in just under an hour, but on Wednesday I only wrote a few hundred. In order to reach my 5k goal for this week, I need to write 1,500 today. (I would say between today and tomorrow, but tomorrow we're going to have all six nieces and nephews over from about 4:30 until 9 or so at night. No writing then.) Yes, I'm still working on "Dylan's Story" though I am thinking of trying to write another short story or two soon.

I'm wanting to finish up my "Project 12" stories and get them published. But I need some more Bible verses to use in my stories. If you have a verse that you think would be good to put in a short story, let me know.

Help me out!!!!! What should I post next week? Is there a short story that you started on here a long time ago and never got to finish? Is there one you'd just like to read again? Please let me know!!!!! Because I don't know what to post next week!

And now my faithful few who have been reading this story each week and are waiting for the conclusion, here it is. You need wait no longer.

Smiling in the Rain

Part 5

    A half sob came from Zoe, and Kelsey gave her hand a gentle squeeze.
    “It’s all right to cry. I did. I still do some times, but when I see one of these lovely little flowers,” and Aunt Olive leaned forward and with gentle finger touched a golden petal, “I am reminded of something my old friend told me the day before he died. ‘Olive,’ he said, holding my hand in his, ‘life isn’t easy. It’s hard, and we may want to hide our faces, but don’t do it. Be like those bright yellow flowers out there. They bloom in the rain because when the sun is shining they kept their faces turned toward it. They may not live long, but they brighten the world wherever they grow. Keep your face toward Jesus Christ, and you’ll be able to smile in the rain as well as in the sunshine. Don’t stop brightening the world just because Ernest has gone. Promise me you won’t turn bitter, Olive Child.’ With his tired, worn hand in mine, and a vase of lovely coreopsis blooming beside the bed, I promised. And, God helping me, I’ve kept that promise. It hasn’t always been easy, but the sight of these flowers always helps.”
    Giving a long sigh, Miss Olive smiled. “I haven’t told that story before, but Kelsey’s gift was such a sweet reminder that I thought you all might like to hear it. You all have the same choice I have, you can frown and wilt under the rain of trials, or you can keep your face bright with the light of Jesus Christ.”

    It was a more subdued group who gathered their things together and prepared to leave Miss Olive’s hospitable home.
    “How are you getting home, Kels?” Zoe asked, noticing the other girls dashing through the light rain to cars where a parent or friend was waiting. Several of them left together, but Kelsey didn’t seem in any hurry.
    “Oh, I’ll just walk home,” was the easy reply. “That’s how I came.” She started up the steps to change her clothes.
    “But it wasn’t raining then,” protested Zoe.
    Kelsey shrugged with a smile. “It won’t hurt me. I’ll just put on my wet clothes, and I’ll–”
    “Kels!” Zoe exclaimed. “You can’t go out there again and get wet! You’d end up sick.”
    At that Kelsey burst into a merry laugh. “Me? Sick? Zoe, I don’t think a little more rain will hurt me. I’m not going to melt and it isn’t cold.”
    “Aunt Olive.” Zoe called for reinforcements. “Tell Kelsey she shouldn’t think of walking home in the rain after she’s already been out walking in the rain once today.”
    Coming out of the kitchen with Aunt Olive, Wally said, “Why don’t we take her home, Zoe. I have my car and nothing else to do the rest of the day except drop Candace off at her house.”
    “Oh, say you’ll let us, Kels, please!” Zoe begged. “Aunt Olive, tell her it’s all right to accept.”
    Aunt Olive shook her head. “Zoe, Zoe, why don’t you ask her and then give her a chance to answer?”
    “Because I’m afraid she’ll say no.”
    Kelsey looked from one face to another. “I don’t want to inconvenience you if you have to take Candace home–” she began.
    Just then Candace burst into the hall where the others were standing. “Wally, you’re a dear to offer to take me home,” she began not seeming to notice she was interrupting someone, “but I’m going to go with Violet. Her father came to pick her up and said he’d take me too. He’s driving his new car, Zoe! I’m sure you’d be welcome too unless you want to ride in Wally’s old car.” She smiled at her cousins.
    “I thought you liked my car,” Wally said.
    “I do, when I can’t get a ride in a newer model.” She flashed a dazzling smile at him before turning to her other cousin. “Zoe, do you want to go with us?”
    But Zoe shook her head. “No, Wally and I are going to take Kelsey home. Have fun.”
    It was only then that Candace acknowledged Kelsey. With a nod, she said, “Bye, Kelsey.” Then not giving anyone time to say another word, she whirled around and disappeared.

    In a little while Kelsey found herself riding with Zoe and her brother, giving directions for how to get to her house but not saying any other words. She was still thinking about Miss Olive’s story.
    “That’s our house,” she said at last, pointing to a narrow brick structure two stories high. “You can let me off here. Zoe, I’ll bring your dress back to you.”
    “Oh, keep it. It looks better on you than it does on me. Besides, I never looked good in it, did I Wally?”
    Kelsey didn’t hear his answer, if he gave one, for she was already out of the car, her wet garments clutched in her arms. “Thanks for the lift,” she turned to say, her smile bright.
    “You’re welcome. See you on Monday, Kels!”
    As Kelsey ran across the yard to the porch, Zoe watched as the front door opened and girls of all sizes poured onto the covered porch and the sound of their laughter and chatter reached the car.
    “She reminds me of Aunt Olive.”
    Zoe turned to her brother. “I was thinking the same thing. And she’s just like those flowers she picked this afternoon. She brightens things up considerably. I want to take her home.”

Well, what did you think?

Do you know anyone who always seems to brighten a room?

Do you smile in the rain when life is hard?

Smiling in the Rain - Part 4

Good morning Friday Fiction Fans,

It's cloudy this morning, but I don't think it's supposed to rain today. The last few days have been sunny and warm. Upper 70s to 80º warm. Yep, spring. Flowers blooming, trees budding, birds singing madly, squirrels acting crazy. (I actually saw one push another one off the tree the other morning!)

I was writing this week. Only got 20 words written yesterday though. I seemed stopped. Not as though I had taken a wrong turn in the story, but as though there was a pause. I'm hoping and praying I can write tonight. You can be praying too. :) I'm about 2/3 of the way done with "Dylan's Story" and I'm still wondering how it is all going to end.

I hope you enjoy this next part of your Friday Fiction. It ends next week. And then I really don't know what to post. Again. :P I keep having that problem. If I could get a short story written I could post that, but . . . I don't seem to have time to write a short story. But maybe if I got a few started I could work on them if I get stuck in my book. Sound good?

Smiling in the Rain

Part 4

    “Nonsense! You look fine!” remonstrated Zoe. “I love your curls. They fit you. Now let’s go down before Wally eats all the cake. What do you suppose the other girls have done in our absence?”
    Kelsey had completely forgotten about the other girls. Perhaps it had been rude to run off and leave them even if they had offered the others a chance to go with them. Candace would be sure to make some remark about her hair or her borrowed dress. For the first time since she had arrived, Kelsey wished it was time to leave and she could set off for home. But Zoe didn’t give her time to think any longer, for she linked arms with her in the friendly fashion she had, and together they descended the stairs.
    Aunt Olive called them into the living room and when they made their appearance, they were motioned to an empty section of the sofa. Plates of the moist lemon cake were handed to them and glasses of root beer. On a low table stood the vase of coreopsis.
    Glancing about half shyly, Kelsey found the other girls, except Candace, looking at Wally who was seated on the love-seat beside his cousin. With a slight shake of her head, she dropped her eyes back to her plate. Why did girls have to be so crazy about boys?
    For some time the room was full of small talk, Kelsey keeping silent and listening as she did every day in school. Finally Aunt Olive set her empty plate down and said, “I think I would like to tell you a little story, if you don’t mind. It is the reason I love these bright flowers so much.” And she nodded to the full vase.
    At her words silence fell on the room; only the soft patter of rain could be heard through the open windows.
    “I was young, just out of high school in fact,” Aunt Olive began, settling herself in her chair and folding her hands. “I had a job in the soda shop and loved every minute of it. But my favorite time was when a certain old friend of mine would walk through the doors. No,” she said, shaking her head at the significant smiles several of the girls exchanged, “he was much too old to be my boyfriend. In fact, he was more like a grandfather. But when I was young, I had found him an interested listener when I needed someone to pour out my troubles to, for my parents were both quite busy. Mr. Williamson would often bring me a posy when he came. It might be a rose, or a wildflower he had picked along the side of the road.
    “One day he came in with a single coreopsis in his hand. ‘For you,’ he said, handing it to me. ‘Because you make every day like sunshine.’ It was so sweet of him, and I didn’t notice the young man who was standing beside him. The young man was his grandson and we were introduced. For several days Mr. Williamson brought me a coreopsis or two each evening. They brightened up my room at home.
    “Over the next few weeks I began to notice his grandson, Ernest. We would talk, and before long he would show up at the soda shop when Mr. Williamson couldn’t. Yes, girls, we fell in love over the course of the following months. We got engaged and planned on being married the following early summer when the coreopsis were in full bloom. But the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor that December. Ernest wasn’t in the army, but he joined before Christmas.”
    A long pause followed, and the room was so quiet that Kelsey distinctly heard the purring of Miss Olive’s cat from across the room where it lay curled up on the back of the love-seat.
    “He was given a short furlough before being shipped out,” Aunt Olive began again, one hand holding something which hung from a chain about her neck. “It wasn’t very long, but it was time I have always been grateful for. We could have gotten married then, but neither of us wanted to. Ernest said he wanted me to be free should anything happen to him, and I–well, I didn’t want a rushed wedding. We wrote to each other often. I wrote every day, and when the coreopsis were in bloom, I pressed one and sent it to him. He carried it tucked inside his small Bible the rest of his life.” Closing her eyes, Aunt Olive drew a deep breath. “He was killed on the beaches at the invasion of Normandy.”
    A gasp came from the girls in the room, and Kelsey felt her eyes fill with tears.
    “The fields here at home were full of coreopsis.” Tenderly she took off her necklace and held it in her open hand: a pair of dog-tags and a ring. For a long minute she sat looking at them. “Mr. Williamson died shortly after the news of Ernest’s death reached us. He hadn’t been well for months.”
    A half sob came from Zoe, and Kelsey gave her hand a gentle squeeze.

What did you think of this part?

Do you like listening to stories about others?

Will you return next week for the final part of this story?