P.B. Cannon's Blog, page 14

And God Said… (a short story)

 

And God said, ���Let there be light!���

And Mrs. God said, ���Wait!�� Not yet!���

But it was too late.�� The whole thing started glowing, shooting out beams in every direction.�� It began bulging, and suddenly, the infinitesimal point ruptured, exploding with a big bang.

Mrs. God looked over at Her impulsive Husband with disgust.�� ���Now��why��did you do that?�� I was��trying��to tell you to wait!��It���s too soon, it wasn���t quite ready.��� ��She gazed at the nascent little universe expanding in front of Them.�� She shook her head and sighed heavily.�� ���It���s going to have a tough time after such a premature start.���

God stared down at what He had wrought, thinking.�� He drummed his fingers against His leg. ��He was thinking��very��hard.�� His Wife was right – as usual.

Finally, He said, ���Well, I guess I have two choices here: I can either wipe it out and start over, or let it ride, see what happens.����� He glanced at His Wife sideways, trying to judge from Her expression which way��She��might want Him to go with this.

Admittedly, He��had��jumped the gun on this one.�� He hadn���t��meant��to, it���s just that He���d been a bit distracted, and hadn���t been paying attention to the time.

He wasn���t getting anything from His Wife���s noncommittal face, so He turned back to look at the little growing universe, which by now had spread even further and had coalesced��all sorts of galaxies with stars and planets, and was in the process of trying to fill itself up. ��Which wasn’t happening because it kept spreading out in all directions, leaving more space in its wake.

Mrs. God was looking at the thing closely, when She noticed something.

���Isn���t something moving on one of those planets it’s formed in the middle?���

���Where?���

���There.�� See the big star in the middle?�� It���s got four planets, three big ones, and that one little one.�� There���s something moving on the little one.����� She pointed it out to him.�� ���See?���

He peered at the planet and saw that She was right.�� There��was��something moving there.

���Well, darned if You aren���t right again!�� That���s definitely a living creature!��� He sighed with frustration. ��That��shouldn’t have happened, yet.

The tiny universe was taking on a life of its own.�� He looked out over His creation, taking in the stars and worlds that had formed and were still forming, noting how many had developed life.

After a few minutes, He noticed that one little yellow star that had arisen out near the edge of its galaxy, had accumulated eight or nine planets.�� God looked closely at the third one out from the star, and saw it had spawned some familiar looking creatures.

With exasperation, He saw all manner of dinosaurs, some small, some large.

Tsk.�� Dinosaurs��never��made anything of themselves.�� He watched them for a while but soon began to lose interest.�� As He���d thought they would, they just went around eating, sleeping, and procreating.�� It��was the only thing these types were��ever��interested in doing.

���What���s going on with that world, Dear?��� asked Mrs. God, curious as to why Her Husband was staring so.

���Nothing much,��� He sighed, with a shrug.�� ���Doesn���t look as if anything of interest will ever happen there.����It���s one of those worlds that will just spin until its star burns out in a few billion years.���

���Hmm,��� said Mrs. God.

She knew He���d originally had great plans for this universe, and was disappointed that it had been birthed too soon.�� She hated to see him so out of sorts, so She thought about it for a moment, and then got an idea.

She carefully scrutinized the miniscule planet, and saw something else there: some��very��small creatures that stole the eggs of the larger ones whenever they got the chance.�� These little guys were different but they were never going to get anywhere with all those lumbering titans around.�� At least not the way things were going for them now.

When God wasn���t looking, She stretched forth Her hand and flicked some space debris toward the planet where it hit with a crunch.�� She smiled to Herself and sat back to see what Her Husband would do.

���What happened?��� asked God when he turned back to look and saw the puffs of smoke on the little planet. ��He studied it for a moment then realized something had rammed into it.

���Oh, looks like some meteors have taken out the dinosaurs.�� Well, no loss.�� They weren���t doing much of anything anyway.����� He shrugged, and turned to leave.

���Wait!��� exclaimed Mrs. God, annoyed He was merely going to turn away. ���Look. ��Another creature has risen up, something different. ��Aren’t You Interested in seeing what��they���ll��do?�� They seem to be at least a��little��swifter in the mind than the dinosaurs; interested in a��bit��more than just the basics.���

He stared at the new creatures for a few seconds, debating with Himself on whether to just get it over with, finish the whole thing off right now and start over.

Mrs. God could see Him trying to make up His mind.�� ���Well, what are you going to do?���

He thought for another second, contemplating these new beings.�� He looked around the little universe, shrugged and reached out to begin wiping the slate clean, but then, He saw one look up.����That��was new, and it made Him smile, so He��made his decision: �����I’ll just let it ride���.

End

Reflections

Well, a new year is here, and as I do every year at this time, I tend to get a little introspective.  I suppose everyone looks back over the past year remembering the good, the not-so-good, the neutral, making excuses for reneging on those resolutions made the year before, and goals met or unmet.  And I suppose that’s normal.

Among other things, I’ve been reflecting on my health.  One thing that has made me do this is the fact that on December eighteenth, my two-years-older-than-me brother died.  Yeah.  He was sixty-nine years old, and he died suddenly of a massive heart attack.  He’s already terribly missed.  This worked to put a real damper on the holidays.

Still, while it was a shock, I guess it shouldn’t have been totally unexpected since he was on blood thinners, which I understand he sometimes missed taking.  But, that’s life.  We are here for a while, then one day something comes along and takes us out.  It’s the natural order of things.

Makes me think, though.  My mother lived to be eighty-six before she died of liver cancer.  I had another brother to die in two thousand and two at the age of fifty-nine, of colon cancer, and after thinking about it, I realized a lot of my relatives die of either some sort of cancer, or of heart disease.  Another thing that’s making me think about health is that I managed to get the flu in spite of having gotten the shot back in October, so have been feeling pretty rotten.  Just points out that, sometimes, even when you do the right thing, it doesn’t work out.

So.  I had my first colonoscopy at the age of fifty, and because they always find polyps, and because my brother died of colon cancer, I have to get one every five years.  I am also a diabetic, which so far I’ve been able to control with diet and exercise, and I have high cholesterol, my blood pressure is creeping up, and lately I’ve been plagued with a “frozen shoulder” – which may not be fatal but is surely painful, especially the exercises my therapist has me doing, and let us not forget my shingles that keep recurring.  My eye doctor tells me I have cataracts – nothing has to be done about it, yet – and dry eye, for which I have drops.

I guess I have a lot of the creaks and complaints that come with aging, including the fact that my knees and fingers sometimes don’t work that well due to arthritis.  All things that indicate that I’m into the slide everyone does when going downhill.

Now, mostly, I can’t complain.  I have a lot to be thankful for.  Other than the aforementioned troubles, I’m otherwise healthy,  I have health insurance, a house in which to live, a car to drive (yeah, it’s ten years old but it runs!), clothes to wear, food to eat, and best of all, I have a family who loves me.  I just take whatever pill I need to take, or do the assigned exercises and try to eat as right as I can.

After all, nobody lives forever and this is a thought that doesn’t bother me.  It’s the way things are, and anyway, what would happen if the old didn’t move out the way for new people?  Think about the mess that would make.

But what all this says to me is that I need to type faster.  I have Word 2010 and a whole lot of stories still in my head. I want to get as many of them written down as I can before I go.

 

The Door – A short Christmas story told in four parts

The Door Part 1: Down the Alley

Summer was good.  Late spring, okay.  So was early fall.  But winter was dying time for the homeless.

Sammy followed the two boys through the snow and stopped on the sidewalk peeking around the corner and down the alley they’d entered.  He watched as they stopped at an oddly shaped door, opened it and disappeared into the lighted interior.

He ran down the alley wanting to see.  The door was closing but what he glimpsed caused his mouth to drop open.

He raced back to the shallow doorway where his little sister, Maddie, huddled.

Perhaps they wouldn’t die after all.

 

The Door Part 2: Leaving

“Where we goin’?”

“It’s a su’prise.”

“We goin’ to th’ mall to git warm?”

“Uh-uh.  Told ya, it’s a su’prise.  Wait ‘n see.”

“’Kay, Sammy.”

He hurried his little sister into the alley halting in front of the strange, wooden door.  He twisted the knob and pushed.  A brilliant light swept into the alley.

“C’mon,” he said, smiling.

They stepped into a warm, sunlit landscape filled with wondrous things.  Maddie squealed with delight, eyes wide, as the door slowly swung shut on the frozen world behind.

Outside, only small footprints in the deep snow ending at a blank wall remained.

 

The Door Part 3: Otherland

A small, smiling elf greeted them as the door closed.  “Welcome, Sammy and Maddie!” it exclaimed.  “I’m Tony.”

“Where we at?” asked Sammy.

“A great place!  Always warm, plenty of food, lots of toys.  It’s called Otherland.  Look around, check it out!”

“How long kin we stay?”

“Forever, Maddie.”

It was wonderful.  All manners of delicious food grew on trees, incredible toys waited for them.

They were hungry so they ate first then played happily.  Until the fiery monster came.

Maddie screamed, Sammy grabbed her hand and raced back the way they’d come.

The door was gone.  Flames licked out.

 

The Door Part 4: The Monster

Fire washed over them.  Sammy held Maddie close, sorry he’d brought them here.

“Well, what are you waiting for?” came a voice from above them.

“Huh?” Amazed, Sammy realized they weren’t burned.

He looked at Maddie and saw she was clean and sparkling.  So was he.  He looked up at the white haired, red monster.

“Whut’d you do?” he asked, puzzled.

“Gave you a bath, what else? You were dirty. Didn’t Tony tell you?”

“No.”

“Darn that elf!  Well, come on, it’s time for bed.”

Taking them both by the hand, Santa lead the children off into their new life.

 

*Note: This was written as a drabble series.  Each part is exactly one hundred words long (not counting the titles).

Book Review for “Bloodgifted” by Tima Maria Lacoba

First, let me say that it has been a while since I read a vampire story, but of course I’ve heard of, and read the synopses and samples of several popular such books, including the ones that were made into a series of movies.

To my pleasant surprise, this one is not like those.  It has a much different (and, in my opinion, much better) plot, and while I generally don’t care for prologs, the one for this book was really good.  It gives the prehistory that explains the circumstances in the story without over-telling, or getting too long and convoluted.

This is not your usual vampire story and I’d like to thank the author, and ebook Miner at Goodreads, for giving it to me for free in return for an honest review.

I’m not much for reading romance and this book does have that element, which is great for those who love romance with their paranormal.  This story, in fact, has a fair amount of elements common to paranormal/fantasy, but the author has managed to present them in such a manner that makes for quite a different and interesting read.

My only criticism is I felt the book would have benefited from at least one more edit as I noticed a few inconsistencies and errors, and some repetitions, that I think would have been caught with another one.

However, for the most part, it is pretty well written and the author seems to have a touch for this kind of tale.  This was an enjoyable read and a great beginning to the series.

I would recommend this book to anyone who has a liking for paranormal/vampire/fantasy.

Book Review for “Second Coming: It’s all just a game” by Andrew Smith

Second Coming: It’s all just a game by Andrew Smith

 

This is a very well written mystery/ thriller/supernatural/horror story which also dips into metaphysics.  I know that’s a mouthful, but that’s how I see it.  Not to mention the very interesting historical component involving the Crusades.  This story has a lot of twists, and I’m going to be as general as possible as I don’t want to introduce any spoilers, but it’s definitely not for children or the faint of heart.   There is no fluff involved here.   This is deep and dark with lots of violent action, and a lot of the horror is not of the supernatural variety.

The book starts a little slow, in Jerusalem, with the very pregnant wife of the protagonist, Charles, stopping on a lark to see a fortune teller, or oracle, and immediately getting into a situation that went terribly wrong.  The plot builds up from there, and  I must admit that at first I thought it wasn’t going to be my kind of story or to my tastes at all because of the violence, or the political/religious aspects, and I’m not much into either of those.  If you feel that way, I would advise you to keep reading.  I did, and am extremely glad I did.

The author is so descriptive with his characters that in short order, the reader gets to know them well and they become real people with personalities that are likeable (or not, such as the priest Estevez).  One can get pissed at them for doing something thoughtless, such as Charles’ seeming obliviousness in certain areas of his life which, among other things, strains his relationship with his son, Marcus.

There are plots and subplots, and things are not all black or white; the reader gets a sense of people doing the things they do because they believe it’s their duty or is the right thing to do (even if they’re wrong).  These are not cardboard characters; even the bad guys have layers (though some are what I, or anybody else, would consider to be just plain bad).    We learn a great deal about the revenant, Izz al-Din, and to my shock, there came a point where I found myself actually sympathizing with him, and believe me, I can’t remember a time when I’ve done that before!  And, he’s a truly bad, bad guy.  Trust me: this bad guy’s story has a real twist, in more ways than one.   The author sure knows how to surprise you and how to use words to paint images so you actually see a particular scene, some of which get pretty graphic.

This is a full-length, standalone novel but did leave what can only be construed as some “loose ends”, so I’m sincerely hoping there’s a sequel in the works.  In the meantime, this book is a highly intriguing, thrilling and enjoyable read.

A Little Help for a Friend – a short Christmas story

“You look great, Max.  Thanks, I owe you one.” Leaning on a crutch, he favored his broken leg.

I felt ridiculous.

“What if I am seen?”

“Don’t worry about it.  Just be careful and you’ll be fine.  I’ve been doing this for years and I’ve always gotten clean away.”  He explained how I was to get in and out.

“Why that way?” I asked.  “Why can I not just –”

“It’s traditional,” he replied.  He patted me on my back and sent me on my way.

I was dubious but I climbed into the vehicle and took off.  I was somewhat worried, I mean, a lot of people kept firearms.  What if I was seen and someone was to fire upon me?  Or called 911? After all, it was breaking and entering.

I did not care for the outfit he had given me to wear, either, even though he insisted it was what he always wore for this particular activity.  He said it was wonderful at helping keep him concealed in the dark.  And it was traditional.

As I worked through the night, things were going well, so I began to relax.  I arrived at my last assignment, finished up and stooped to get my bag and leave.  Then, I heard soft footsteps.  I did not have time to go back out the way in which I had come, and there was nowhere to hide.  I was discovered.  I hoped they did not have a firearm.

Two small pairs of eyes peered up at me.

“It’s him!” squealed a small voice.

“No it’s not!” cried the other.

A man entering the door behind the children, stopped and stared at me wide-eyed, his mouth agape.  The cup in his hand clattered to the floor.  He shoved the small ones behind him and out the door, backed slowly away from me, then turned and ran.

A woman’s voice sang out.  “What is it, Honey?”

I heard him shout,  “Get the door, I got the kids!  Let’s go!”

“What?”

“Get the door!  And call 911!”

She glanced in as he hustled them away, saw me and emitted a piercing shriek.

It appeared the clothing I was wearing were not such good camouflage after all.  Of course, the bright, unblinking tree lights were somewhat revealing.

They rushed off and I felt it was time I also left.  As I passed the window, I saw them dashing frantically down the driveway dragging the children with them.  I could hear a siren in the distance.  I did not have time to hold to tradition.  I needed a quicker way out.  The chimney was not going to be fast enough.  I teleported to the roof, leaped into the sleigh, grabbed the  reins and gave a whistle to the deer.  We took off expeditiously.

I suppose seeing a big blue, horned demon dressed in a red velvet suit putting gifts under their Christmas tree was a bit surprising, but, gracious, I was merely aiding a friend.

 

End

Get FREE ebooks at Smashwords (with coupons )!

Get four ebooks FREE at Smashwords ’til 12/8! (see coupons  and synopses below)

 

Turner: Bitter Change

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Synopsis:  Change happens. It’s a fact of life. But what do you do when the change is so big it changes the world and everything in it?

The world has changed but so has Juri Turner and the change is bitter. Follow along as she struggles to learn what she is and to understand what she is becoming.

A story of change, and of hate, love, and betrayal; of a coming of age, and of spaceships and magic…

 

 

A Short Trilogy of Quiet

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Synopsis:  All three Cady and Sam stories now in one book…

“Interruptions” – An unwanted visitor makes for some equally as unwanted excitement.

“Living in the Moment” – An unexpected visit from the in-laws can cause problems…

“A Blankie for Baby” – Making a baby blanket for an unusual friend could be more than bargained for!

 

 

Hard Changes

Coupon: NB94P

Synopsis:  What will Randa do when her vow-mate goes fishing and doesn’t return? She lives in a remote area with her children. With their provider gone, she is the only one left to keep them alive. Will her mate return? What will happen when they meet the beings they believe are demons? Change is very hard, and it takes courage to be able to meet all the challenges. A story of birth, death, and other changes.

 

 

Bridge

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Synopsis:  Randa faced hard changes after misfortune befell her vow-mate. Two years later, she had to flee marauders who would kill her children for being different. They were rescued by the beings she’d thought were demons and taken to a village set up for the safety of the new Humans where she has to fight culture shock and loneliness. Will she be able to bridge the gap between the old ways and the new?

 

 

Battle for a Kingdom – a drabble of war

The red and blue armies faced off across the field of battle, awaiting the command to begin.

“Ready your weapons!” shouted the commanders, preparing to lead their men into the fray.

The soldiers raised their armaments, waiting.

“Prepare to engage!”

They braced themselves.

“Engage!”

Screaming battle cries, they ran at each other, hearts thudding with adrenaline.  They clashed in the middle, pounding and thrusting at each other.

They fought until the air was hazy, then both armies retreated.

“Okay!” yelled the triumphant red commander, plucking feathers from his hair.  “We have the most intact pillows left!  We win the kingdom!”

End

A Thanksgiving (sort of) Drabble

A Thanksgiving Drabble

“Food’s wonderful!” exclaimed Elizabeth.

“For sure,” agreed William.  “They definitely know how to put on a spread!”

They were seated at a beautifully laid table full of every traditional Thanksgiving dish, with some new ones thrown in for variety.  Around the table, the other six guests were busily helping themselves.  Everybody remarked on how good, and how much there was.  They ate with no thought of tomorrow and all too soon, the food was gone.

The host smiled and waved at them from his secure booth, and threw the switch that sucked the life from the band of condemned murderers.

End

The Light Who Shines by Lilo Abernathy – Kindle Daily Deal

 

Amazon Kindle: amzn.to/11sqD5Y

Title: The Light Who Shines

Author: Lilo Abernathy

Genre: Urban Fantasy / Paranormal Romance / Mystery

Amazon Rating: 4.7 Stars

Amazon Reviews: 153

Regular Price: $4.99

SALE PRICE: $1.99

Kindle Daily Deal Date: Thursday, November 20th, 2014 (One day only)

 

Synopsis

When Supernatural Investigation Bureau agent Bluebell Kildare (a.k.a. Blue) arrives at the scene of the crime, it’s obvious the grotesquely damaged body of the deceased teenage boy was caused by far more than a simple hit and run; and she vows to catch the killer. Using her innate sixth sense, Blue uncovers a powerful magical artifact nearby. She soon discovers it acts as a key to an ancient Grimoire that was instrumental in the creation of the Vampire breed and still holds the power to unravel the boundaries between Earth and the Plane of Fire.

Blue and her clever wolf Varg follow a trail that starts at the Cock and Bull Tap and leads all through the town of Crimson Hollow. Between being sidelined by a stalker who sticks to the shadows and chasing a suspect who vanishes in thin air, the case is getting complicated. If that isn’t enough, Dark Vampire activity hits a record high, and hate crimes are increasing. However, it’s Blue’s growing feelings for Jack Tanner, her sexy Daylight Vampire boss, that just might undo her.

While Blue searches for clues to nail the perpetrator, it seems someone else is conducting a search of their own. Who will find whom first?

Danger lurks in every corner, and Blue needs all her focus in this increasingly dangerous game or she risks ending up the next victim.