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    Writers Dozen of Short Stories
    Writers Dozen of Short Stories
    Writers Dozen of Short Stories
    Ebook118 pages1 hour

    Writers Dozen of Short Stories

    By Mary Rice Patterson

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    About this ebook

    Writers Dozen of Short Stories is a collection of stories written over the lifetime of the author. Most of the stories are based on a twinge of insight into the authors life and reveal the authors creativity. The author also provides the reader with thought provoking stories that suggest the importance of faith and integrity. Lightheartedness and fun are also threads that run throughout this collection. The Writers Dozen was intentionally left one story short to suggest there are more stories and poems to come.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTrafford Publishing
    Release dateJan 26, 2011
    ISBN9781426950773
    Writers Dozen of Short Stories
    Author

    Mary Rice Patterson

    Mary Rice Patterson was born and raised on a farm in Mecklenburg County. Upon graduating from high school she attended Lenoir Rhyne College where she majored in Religious Studies. Her first position was in Wilmington, NC as a professional church worker. After several years, she accepted a teaching position in China Grove, NC. While visiting a college roommate she met her future husband. Mary and her husband raised two children. Mary has spent her life writing. Her creative mind is always thinking of poems, stories and character interactions. She achieved this while living a successful and busy life as a mother, farmer’s wife, church and community volunteer, and friend to those she meets. Although her writing has diminished she continues to expand creatively through the watercolor media.

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      Book preview

      Writers Dozen of Short Stories - Mary Rice Patterson

      © Copyright 2010, 2011 Mary Rice Patterson.

      All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written prior permission of the author.

      Printed in the United States of America.

      isbn: 978-1-4269-5099-5 (sc)

      isbn: 978-1-4269-5100-8 (hc)

      isbn: 978-1-4269-5077-3 (e)

      Library of Congress Control Number: 2010918402

      Trafford rev. 12/28/2010

      missing image file www.trafford.com

      North America & international

      toll-free: 1 888 232 4444 (USA & Canada)

      phone: 250 383 6864 fax: 812 355 4082

      ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

      Special thanks to Jane Von Cannon for her assistance in the publication of these stories.

      Table of Contents

      Journey into Life

      None Are Free

      Poor Polly! Indeed!

      The Christmas Caper

      The Education of Cecily

      The French Chateau

      The Ghost of Rock-Away Manor

      The Guest Speaker

      The New Hired Hand

      The New Neighborhood

      The Red Dress Goes to Dinner

      Journey into Life

      The motor hummed contentedly as Roxanne drove her compact car toward Freeport to meet her husband who was returning from the war zone. She had been floating on clouds ever since his last letter had arrived asking her to meet him there. The car seemed to be crawling along but she knew she was traveling as fast as the law would allow. However, in her mind she was going much faster and she realized she must fight her flight into daydreams in order to remember the things necessary for the safety of the journey for herself and little Robert.

      She wouldn’t think of meeting Bob without little Robert who was now six months old and such a good baby. Yet traveling with even a good baby can be difficult. She had packed enough things to last forever it seemed, including diapers, baby food, port-a-bed and stroller. The details seemed endless and she was still so elated she found it hard to concentrate. Reservations had been made as Bob had directed at the Sunset Motel so they would have a couple of days to themselves before going back and taking up a regular daily routine. So far the trip was going nicely and she was well on her way. Little Robert was securely fastened in his baby seat and playing contentedly with his favorite rattle. If her luck continued to be so good, she would be on down the road before she would have to stop and put him to sleep. She really liked having him along to keep her company; he was so warm and loving with his own built-in delightful personality. Maybe he did look a little like Bob, but to her, he seemed to have an entity entirely his own which unfolded like a miracle before her eyes each day. Bob had missed that miracle and would get his first glimpse of his son when they got to Freeport.

      Robert began to yawn, so she decided to stop and put him to bed before he got too fussy. His welfare was her primary concern for as long as he was happy, she could manage nicely. Routinely she changed him and got a bottle which had been previously prepared from the large diaper bag that contained insulated compartments designed for carrying prepared formulas. In this particular bag, she had carried many things which at one time or another she usually needed. Sometimes rather than carry a separate handbag, she would put her billfold, car keys and a lipstick in one of these separate compartments.

      Suddenly she had a strange feeling of panic! In which bag had she put her billfold today? Quickly she checked the diaper bag, going through all of the separate spaces. It wasn’t there! Well, perhaps she had remembered after all to transfer it to her bag of navy blue which matched the outfit she was wearing. She returned to the front seat of her car and checked. No billfold!

      She had been so anxious to look just right for Bob, who liked her navy mini skirt with the neat white collar. She had even picked a pretty, red camellia to add a touch of spring and along with her blond hair and bright blue eyes had even approved of her reflection herself as she had dressed early that morning. Intentionally she wanted to reflect the feeling of new life as she greeted Bob.

      How like a woman! She thought to herself. You let your heart run away with your head!

      Her billfold was not to be found anywhere, so she had to take stock of her situation. She had passed the point of no return and not enough gas to reach her destination. With still about one/fourth of a tank left, she decided to continue on for a while anyway and perhaps she would come to a station before she had to cross those desolate swamps just before entering Freeport. It really would be fool hardy to run out of gas after she reached the lowlands.

      By this time her mind had cleared of the daydreams and she was faced with a stark reality. So while driving she began rehearsing to herself as to how she could bargain for a tank of gas. What might she have that could serve as collateral? She had bought her watch when she first went to work as a secretary and it was well worth one hundred dollars. Maybe he would hold it and she could redeem it on the way back. When she finally did stop, she was already somewhat filled with anxiety as to how she was going to lick this dilemma.

      Yes lady? The station master awaited her order. I’m Roxanne Dunbar. I’m meeting my husband in Freeport. He’s returning from his tour in Vietnam."

      That‘s very nice. He still waited.

      She took a deep breath and continued hoping the man wouldn’t sense her tension but her words sounded strained.

      In all my packing, I forgot my billfold and I’m due to run out of gas in a mile or two. I figured there’s no use running out of gas in the middle of the swamp, so I stopped here. All I have of any value is my watch. It’s a good one, well worth one hundred dollars. You could hold it and I could redeem it on the way back.

      The man took the watch and looked it over carefully, looking first at the watch, then more closely at Roxanne.

      I ain’t in the jewelry business lady! He said in a slow drawl. Besides, I hear all kinds of stories. Yours is pretty good. Is this watch stolen?

      Of course not!

      Her heart fell as she realized that she was facing a tough guy who had met all kinds of people and to him everyone is suspect. In spite of his slow drawl, he was a shrewd business man and she felt ripped apart under his careful scrutiny. This was going to take more time and thought.

      You got any identification, lady?

      No, all of that is at home in my billfold.

      Yeah, well, I could hold your spare tire. Let me have a look at it.

      I,I don’t know. She said cautiously. It’s brand new and I’d hate to travel without it.

      It’s all up to you lady.

      Again he was waiting for her answer. His eyes were so piercing; she began to feel her flesh creep beneath the intensity of his gaze. What kind of bargain would come next? She realized he understood only too well her full predicament and he had her over a barrel. She felt stripped with only her ingenuity left and that she must use wisely.

      Little Robert was still sleeping peacefully in his bed in the back seat so unaware of their situation. He looked so sweet and she realized that she had too much worth fighting for. But what could she do? He refused to hold her watch and she just didn’t dare to give up her spare tire. How funny! She didn’t trust him a foot further that he trusted her! There just had to be a solution and she would have to figure it out all by herself. She knew that any additional suggestion from this fellow would be without a doubt beneath her dignity and even the thought frightened her.

      What phone area is this?

      We’re on the Freeport line.

      She tried to think… did she know anyone in Freeport?….. It wouldn’t do any good to call back home unless all other efforts failed… Freeport… Freeport… Surely there was somebody… Her friend Julia had moved to Freeport but how would she get in touch with her? Who did she marry? Her mind had never before been so stimulated… Freeport…Julia… Benny Cook. Julia had married Benny Cook.

      She went to the telephone inside the station since she didn’t even have a dime for the pay phone outside. It took only a few seconds to

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