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    A Collection of Short Stories
    A Collection of Short Stories
    A Collection of Short Stories
    Ebook55 pages49 minutes

    A Collection of Short Stories

    By Les "Buzz" Harcus

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    WAITING FOR AL
    You’re standing on the corner waiting for Al, then decide to step inside Jerry’s bar and hoist a brew while keeping an eye out for Al. You watch this kid trying to come inside, but always, at the last minute, he hesitates, then walks away. You wonder, what’s his problem?

    A JOB FOR FRANKIE

    Helen Walker is apprehensive about carrying the locked bag containing a rattlesnake. Usually she carried money to the bank in the bag. But today was different. Her husband, Frankie, was on her mind. Their marriage was shaky. If only he’d get a job things would be different. He said he was making a big score today. A job? Maybe?

    RESCUED

    Badly injured in a fall, George Carlson painfully struggled through snowdrifts using dead reckoning in trying to get back to his ranch. An airplane circled above him. Quickly he stamped out a huge SOS in a large patch of snow. He had to be rescued. Turning, he saw people emerging from the edge of the forest; a rescue team? And then he saw the crashed transport airplane.

    A SPECIAL PROM DATE

    In her new gown, Amy Martin preened in front of the mirror. Sixteen and going to the senior prom with Jim Roberts, the most handsome boy in the class. She was on cloud nine. The phone call shattered her: Jim broke out with chicken pox! Go to the dance with her dad? Never! Then grandpa called; he has a date for her, nice young fellow. He’ll be right over. Amy groaned.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherLes "Buzz" Harcus
    Release dateDec 5, 2011
    ISBN9781465884558
    A Collection of Short Stories
    Author

    Les "Buzz" Harcus

    Author, Leslie F. "Buzz" Harcus takes the reader on a trip through time to the days US Marines were stationed in China. In his latest book (Mission: Shanghai), Buzz returns to his roots, resurrecting the stories of China Marines who are dear to his heart. In this adventure the quest is not a treasure of gold and silver but the treasure of the heart. Buzz is retired from a career in media relations and public health. His novels include: Surrender in St. Thomas, Thou Shall Not, Web of Greed, A Breath of Spring, China Marine: Tsingtao Treasure, and Tainted Treasure. All books are available on e-Readers.

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      Book preview

      A Collection of Short Stories - Les "Buzz" Harcus

      BUZZ HARCUS

      A COLLECTION OF

      SHORT STORIES

      Copyright 2011 by Leslie F. Buzz Harcus

      All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in

      any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording,

      or by any information storage or retrieval system without permission from the author,

      except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review.

      ISBN 978-1-4658-8455-8

      Smashwords eBook edition

      Sandhill Publishing

      Harcus, Leslie F.

      10385 Twin Lake Road, N.E.

      Mancelona, MI 49659

      This work of fiction is a collection of short stories. Names, characters, places and incidents

      are either the product of the author’s imagination, or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to

      actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

      Cover and layout design by Allen/Harcus

      Printed in the USA

      SHORT STORIES

      BY BUZZ HARCUS

      Waiting for Al

      A Job For Frankie

      Rescued

      A Special Prom Date

      Waiting for Al

      by Buzz Harcus

      I was standing on the corner of Fourth and Lyons waiting for Al to show so's we could grab dinner at Emil's, a small French joint over on Sixth. I don't know what there is about it but Al's always late, no matter where you want to go.

      I guess I'd been waiting about ten minutes watching the skirts go by, winking occasionally at what I considered outstanding female virtues, when I noticed this guy walking back and forth in front of Jerry's place. At first, I hadn't paid any notice to him but now he was getting on my nerves. He'd start for the door, just about go in, stop like he was real confused about something, then walk on down the street. Pretty soon back he'd come and with a somewhat determined look on his face, head for the doorway again. Then he'd get that confused look again, a real queer, uh-well, confused is the only way I can describe the look on his face, like should he go in or shouldn't he? Maybe his old lady'd kill him if he does, ya' know?

      I figured him to be about twenty-three or four, somewhere around in there, about five-ten, skinny, probably about a hundred and forty pounds, crew cut, pimply face; real milquetoast type, even down to his horn rimmed glasses. Gals might figure him as the intellectual type, ya'know, but not me. He looked like a nothing standing there in an old pair of khaki pants, faded blue T-shirt under a faded tan tank jacket; a big nothing by my book.

      So, anyways, I'm soon standing there on the corner for half an hour now and Al still ain't showed, and this poor slob is still trying to get up enough nerve to go in the bar.

      By now, I need a drink so I figures t' go into Jerry's and hoist a quick one. Heading toward his joint I notice the kid is attractin' an audience. He stopped, stepped aside, and watched me as I started to go in, so I turned to him and says, Hey, ya' wanna go in with me?

      N-no...no thanks... he stammered, his pimply face breaking out in a flustered look.

      I could see the sweat standing on his forehead. He wanted in so bad he could taste it.

      C'mon, I coaxed. I'll buy ya' one.

      N-no...I-I'll b-be in l-l-later, he stammered.

      Suit yerself, I said turning and walking inside the dimness of Jerry's bar and grill. I hiked my butt up on a stool by the entrance so's I could see the street in case Al went by.

      Fan blades wafted a cooling air down across the bar, a welcome contrast to the shimmering heat out on the sidewalk. I ordered a cold Blatz from Jerry, wiped the top off, which is a habit I got into overseas after my first taste of dysentery, and took a welcome sip.

      The Tigers were playing Boston on television and most of the customers along the bar were watching it. They were out of the pennant race so

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