Grant Eagar's Blog, page 5

SHORT STORY - THE INITIATION - GRANT EAGAR

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Jennifer glanced at the three girls following her: Andrea, Susan and Mia. They had mischievous smiles on their faces and were whispering to one another. What are they up to? They were all in the same gym class. The girls were following her in from the track where they had just run the mile. Jennifer didn’t like the feeling of having them behind her, it made her feel naked. They definitely were up to no good and she had the feeling she was their target.  She slowed down so they could pass and they slowed down as well.  She felt a tingle go down her spine. Everyone else had already gone into the locker rooms.  When they passed the boys locker room Mia said, "As you know Jennifer, today is the initiation day for the drill team so we decided to have you run through hot coals per se for your initiation.""What's this thing about the hot coals? Well whatever it is hurry and get it over with." Andrea and Susan grabbed her arms. “What are you doing?” “Like I said, you’re going to run through the hot coals i.e. boys locker room.  We’re just helping you out,” said Mia. “We know your love life has recently gone into the ditch so it will be good for you to spend some time with the boys.”  Jennifer was shoved into the boy’s locker room and the door was closed behind her.She pounded on the door and was going to yell “Let me out you slimy turds!” But she did not want to draw attention to herself. No boys had noticed her yet. She hid behind a bank of lockers. She listened and could recognize Jason and several rowdy boys on one side of the locker room and she peered around the lockers and noticed Jonathan by himself in an aisle close by.  She had asked Jonathan to the homecoming dance and he had turned her down. He had a video gaming party that he couldn’t miss. She did not want him to see her, but she definitely did not want Jason and his minions to see her either.She took a deep breath and walked down the aisle to where Jonathan was and when he opened his mouth to say something she quickly raised her finger to her lips to shush him. She whispered, “Could you help me get out of here. I was shoved in here by Mia and her minions.”He whispered, “I’ll see what I can do for you. Someone is coming, hurry and get in the locker while I go check to see if the aisle is clear.” He opened up a locker and she raised her eyebrows, "just until I check things out." She scowled and stepped into it and he closed it. She considered the light coming in from the vents. This could end up really bad. What if Jonathan betrays me? What if Jason and his pack of degenerates find me? She peered out of the vent and noticed the feet of several boys walking by.  She held her breath when they stopped in front of the locker and began talking with Jonathan, something about the video game party. After a minute they left. Why were boys so infatuated by video games? What does it take to get their attention?A minute later Jonathan got up and left and when he returned he opened up the locker then motioned for her to join him and he led her to a hallway then quickly looked around then led her to the front door and she quickly ran out the door and into the girl’s locker room. She walked up to the cleaning hose and considered it. A bit of revenge was in order. She twisted the spray fitting to off then turned the hose to full blast. She opened the outside door to the girl’s locker room and saw the three girls still holding the boys locker room door shut. They were high fiving and laughing. The corners of her mouth turned up as she twisted on the hose and hit them with the bull blast of the hose and soaked them to the bone. "Just providing you girls with a bit of entertainment." She twisted the end to turn the water off and quickly walked away.  Just then Mrs. Bennet, a gym teacher, entered the room. “Who has been messing with the hose?” “Oh, Andrea, Susan and Mia had a water fight.”Just then the three girls burst into the locker room? "Jennifer! We are going to soak you to the skin then . . ."“What’s this I hear about you girls having a water fight? Our equipment is not to be played with. Now you get out of those wet clothes and dressed and I’ll have you clean the locker room, then we’ll see what Principle Smith has to say about your shenanigans. I'm sure he’ll give you a good talking to.”Jennifer struggled to hold a straight face as she dressed for her next class. When she walked out of the locker room Jonathan was waiting for her. “Thanks for the help, you’re quite the gentleman.”“No problem, I’m glad I could help. Now about the home-coming dance thing, maybe we could go after all . . . if you still want to. The video game party can wait.”She grinned and hugged him. “That would be awesome!” She stepped back then waved at Andrea, Susan and Mia as they were being led to the principal’s office.  
The End
 
For permission and comments contact Grant Eagar  - grantswritingstuff@gmail.com

THE INITIATION - GRANT EAGAR

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Jennifer glanced at the three girls following her: Andrea, Susan and Mia. They had mischievous smiles on their faces and were whispering to one another. What are they up to? They were all in the same gym class. The girls were following her in from the track where they had just run the mile. Jennifer didn’t like the feeling of having them behind her, it made her feel naked. They definitely were up to no good and she had the feeling she was their target.  She slowed down so they could pass and they slowed down as well.  She felt a tingle go down her spine. Everyone else had already gone into the locker rooms.  When they passed the boys locker room Mia said, "As you know Jennifer, today is the initiation day for the drill team so we decided to have you run through hot coals per se for your initiation.""What's this thing about the hot coals? Well whatever it is hurry and get it over with." Andrea and Susan grabbed her arms. “What are you doing?” “Like I said, you’re going to run through the hot coals i.e. boys locker room.  We’re just helping you out,” said Mia. “We know your love life has recently gone into the ditch so it will be good for you to spend some time with the boys.”  Jennifer was shoved into the boy’s locker room and the door was closed behind her.She pounded on the door and was going to yell “Let me out you slimy turds!” But she did not want to draw attention to herself. No boys had noticed her yet. She hid behind a bank of lockers. She listened and could recognize Jason and several rowdy boys on one side of the locker room and she peered around the lockers and noticed Jonathan by himself in an aisle close by.  She had asked Jonathan to the homecoming dance and he had turned her down. He had a video gaming party that he couldn’t miss. She did not want him to see her, but she definitely did not want Jason and his minions to see her either.She took a deep breath and walked down the aisle to where Jonathan was and when he open his mouth to say something she quickly raised her finger to her lips to shush him. She whispered, “Could you help me get out of here. I was shoved in here by Mia and her minions.”He whispered, “I’ll see what I can do for you. Someone is coming, hurry and get in the locker while I go check to see if the aisle is clear.” He opened up a locker and she raised her eyebrows, "just until I check things out." She scowled and stepped into it and he closed it. She considered the light coming in from the vents. This could end up really bad. What if Jonathan betrays me? What if Jason and his pack of degenerates find me? She peered out of the vent and noticed several boys walking by.  She held her breath when they stopped in front of the locker and began talking with Jonathan, something about the video game party. After a minute they left. Why were boys so infatuated by video games? What does it take to get their attention?A minute later Jonathan got up and left and when he returned the opened up her locker then motioned for her to join him and he led her to the front door and she quickly ran out the door and into the girl’s locker room. She walked up to the cleaning hose and considered it. A bit of revenge was in order. She twisted the spray fitting to off then turned the hose to full blast. She opened the outside door to the girl’s locker room and saw the three girls still holding the boys locker room door shut. They were high fiving and laughing. The corners of her mouth turned up as she twisted on the hose and hit them with the bull blast of the hose and soaked them to the bone. "Just providing you girls with a bit of entertainment." She twisted the end to turn the water off and quickly walked away.  Just then Mrs. Bennet, a gym teacher, entered the room. “Who has been messing with the hose?” “Oh, Andrea, Susan and Mia had a water fight.”Just then the three girls burst into the locker room? "Jennifer! We are going to soak you to the skin then . . ."“What’s this I hear about you girls having a water fight? Our equipment is not to be played with. Now you get out of those wet clothes and dressed and I’ll have you clean the locker room, then we’ll see what Principle Smith has to say about your shenanigans. I'm sure he’ll give you a good talking to.”Jennifer struggled to hold a straight face as she dressed for her next class. When she walked out of the locker room Jonathan was waiting for her. “Thanks for the help, you’re quite the gentleman.”“No problem, I’m glad I could help. Now about the home-coming dance thing, maybe we could go after all . . . if you still want to. The video game party can wait.”She grinned and hugged him. “That would be awesome!” She stepped back then waved at Andrea, Susan and Mia as they were being led to the principal’s office.  
The End
 
For permission and comments contact Grant Eagar  - grantswritingstuff@gmail.com
 

CLOTHES MAKE THE WOMAN - GRANT EAGAR

Prompt: Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence in society.                                                                                    Mark Twain


Jenifer glanced at the three girls following her: Andrea, Susan and Mia. They had mischievous smiles on their faces and were whispering to one another. What are they up to? They were all in the same gym class. The girls were following her in from the track where they had just run the mile. Jennifer didn’t like the feeling of having them behind her, it made her feel naked. They definitely were up to no good and she had the feeling she was their target. 
She slowed down so they could pass and they slowed down as well.  She felt a tingle go down her spine. Everyone else had already gone into the locker rooms.  When they passed the boys locker room Mia said, "As you know Jenifer, today is the initiation day for the drill team so we decided to have you run through hot coals per se."
"Okay just get it over with. What is it?"
Andrea and Susan grabbed her arms. “What are you doing?”
“We’re just providing you with some entertainment,” said Mia as she removed Jenifer’s school uniform tee-shirt and purple bra. “We know your love life has gone into the ditch so we’re going to let the boys see your magnificent boobs.”  Jennifer was shoved into the boy’s locker room and the door was slammed behind her.
Jennifer pounded on the door and was going to yell “Let me out you slimy turds!” But she did not want to draw attention to herself. No boys had noticed her yet. She hid behind a bank of lockers. She listened and could recognize Jason and several rowdy boys on one side of the locker room and she peered around the lockers and noticed Johnathan by himself in an aisle close by.  She had asked Johnathan to the homecoming dance and he had turned her down. He had a lame video gaming party that he couldn’t miss. She did not want him to see her like this, but she definitely did not want Jason and his minions to see her either.   
She covered her breasts with her hands and walked down the aisle to where Jonathan was and when he open his mouth to say something she quickly raised her finger to her lips to shush him then quickly covered her breast with her hand. She whispered, “Could you help me get out of here. I was shoved in here by Andrea, Susan and Mia.”
He whispered, “I’ll see what I can do for you.” He took off his tee-shirt and handed it to her and she slid it over her head. He handed her his baseball hat and she tucked her long blond hair inside it. “I’ll go check to see if the aisle is clear.” He went to the next aisle and glanced around then motioned for her to join him and he led her to the front door and she quickly ran out the door and into the girl’s locker room.
She walked up to the cleaning hose and considered it. A bit of revenge was in order.She twisted the spray fitting to off then turned the hose to full blast. She opened the outside door to the girl’s locker room and saw the three girls still holding the boys locker room door shut. They were high fiving and laughing. The corners of her mouth turned up as she twisted on the hose and hit them with the bull blast of the hose and soaked them to the bone. "Just providing you girls with a bit of entertainment." She twisted the end to turn the water off and quickly walked away. 
Just then Mrs. Bennet, a gym teacher, entered the room.“Who has been messing with the hose?”    
“Oh, Andrea, Susan and Mia had a water fight.”
Just then the three girls burst into the locker room? "Jennifer! We are going to soak you to the skin then . . ."
 “What’s this I hear about you having a water fight? Our equipment is not to be played with. Now you get out of those wet clothes and dressed and I’ll have you clean the locker room, then we’ll see what Principle Smith has to say about your shenanigans. I'm sure he will give you a good talking to.”
Jennifer retrieved her things and dressed for her next class. When she walked out of the locker room Jonathan was waiting for her. She handed him his tee-shirt and hat. These he put in his back pack.
“Thanks for the help, you’re quite the gentleman.”
“No problem, I’m glad I could help. Now about the home-coming dance thing, maybe we could go after all . . . if you still want to. The video game party can wait.”
She grinned and hugged him. “That would be awesome!” She stepped back then waved at Andrea, Susan and Mia as they were being led to the principal’s office. 
The End  For permission and comments contact Grant Eagar  - grantswritingstuff@gmail.com 

CLOTHES MAKE THE WOMAN OR NOT - GRANT EAGAR

Prompt: Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence in society.
                                                                                    Mark Twain
 
Jenifer glanced at the three girls following her, Andrea, Susan and Mia. They had mischievous smiles on their faces and were whispering to one another. What are they up to? They were all in the same gym class. The girls were following her in from the track where they had just run the mile. Jennifer didn’t like the feeling of having them behind her, it made her feel naked. They definitely were up to no good and she had the feeling she was their target. 
She slowed down so they could pass and they slowed down as well.  Something was up. She felt a tingle go down her spine. Everyone else had already gone into the locker rooms. When they passed the boys locker room Andrea and Susan grabbed her arms. “What are you freaks doing?”
“We’re just providing you with some entertainment,” said Mia as she removed Jenifer’s school uniform tee-shirt and purple bra. “We know your love life has gone into the ditch so we’re going to let the boys see your magnificent boobs.”  Jennifer was shoved into the boy’s locker room and the door was slammed behind her.
Jennifer pounded on the door and was going to yell “Let me out you slimy turds!” But she did not want to draw attention to herself. No boys had noticed her yet. She hid behind a bank of lockers. She listened and could recognize Jason and several rowdy boys on one side of the locker room and she peered around the lockers and noticed Johnathan by himself in an aisle close by.  She had asked Johnathan to the homecoming dance and he had turned her down. He had a lame video gaming party that he couldn’t miss. She did not want him to see her like this, but she definitely did not want Jason and his minions to see her either.   
She covered her breasts with her hands and walked down the aisle to where Jonathan was and when he open his mouth to say something she quickly raised her finger to her lips to shush him then quickly covered her breast with her hand. She whispered, “Could you help me get out of here. I was shoved in here by Andrea, Susan and Mia.”
He whispered, “I’ll see what I can do for you.” He took off his tee-shirt and handed it to her and she slid it over her head. He handed her his baseball hat and she tucked her long blond hair inside it. “I’ll go check to see if the aisle is clear.” He went to the next aisle and glanced around then motioned for her to join him and he led her to the front door and she quickly ran out the door and into the girl’s locker room.
She walked up to the cleaning hose and considered it. A bit of revenge was in order.She twisted the spray fitting to off then turned the hose to full blast. She opened the outside door to the girl’s locker room and saw the three girls still holding the boys locker room door shut. They were high fiving and laughing. The corners of her mouth turned up as she twisted on the hose and hit them with the bull blast of the hose and soaked them to the bone. She twisted the end to turn the water off and quickly walked away. 
“Who has been messing with the hose?” Miss Bennet, a gym teacher, asked.   
“Oh, Andrea, Susan and Mia had a water fight.”
Just then the three girls burst into the locker room? “What’s this I hear about you having a water fight? Our equipment is not to be played with. Now you get out of those wet clothes and dressed and I’ll have you clean the locker room, then we’ll see what Principle Smith has to say about your shenanigans.”
Jennifer retrieved her things and dressed for her next class. When she walked out of the locker room Jonathan was waiting for her. She handed him his tee-shirt and hat. These he put in his back pack.
“Thanks for the help, you’re quite the gentleman.”
“No problem, I’m glad I could help. Now about the home-coming dance thing, maybe we could go after all . . . if you still want to. The video game party can wait.”
She grinned and hugged him. “That would be awesome!” She stepped back then waved at Andrea, Susan and Mia as they were being led to the principal’s office. 
The End  For permission and comments contact Grant Eagar  - grantswritingstuff@gmail.com 
PS. I'm looking for a stock photo to go with this story
 

Short Story - Sometimes It's Better If You Don't Get Married - Grant Eagar

Sometimes It’s Better If You Don’t Get Married
By Grant Eagar

When considering the happy, contented life of the single adult. There are those who say that it is better if you don’t get married. The nirvana of being single should not be spoiled by the entanglements of married life.  Just stay in your little, comfortable bubble and let life rush by in all its chaos and horror.There is no requirement to intertwine families, or accommodate other’s beliefs, sleep schedules, idiosyncrasies, political views, and tastes in food or lack thereof.  No need to remember anniversaries, birthdays, or the horrid Valentine’s Day massacre. There would be no affairs, no divorces nor heartache. No arguments about where to go for dinner, which movie to attend, or what color to paint the house; unless of course you consult the neighbors or the dog.             No one to steal the covers, or kick you out of bed; no morning breath or demands for a back rub or foot massage.             When you blow the budget, who’s to know or care, when you get failing grades in your college classes, no nagging. When you don’t take a bath for three days; no complaints; except for said dog. Your clothes do not have to match. Your bed does not have to be made. No holding of doors or opening them out of respect.  No one waking you up at 4:00 AM and wanting to talk-talk to you when you are dead, dead, dead tired.If the garbage doesn’t go out, who’s to know- oops shame on me.  If the dishes in the sink resembles a nuclear waste dump, silly me I forgot.  If there is more garbage on the inside of your car than in a McDonalds dumpster: woops. Eating cookies, hamburgers, pizzas in bed; it’s okay. Watching football, basketball or professional wrestling during prime family time - no concerns:  even if you are watching them in your underwear. When you put up calendars of wholesome young women enjoying the sun; no big deal.             Naturally there would be no pitter patter of little feet, or the blood curdling cries of hunger, boredom or poopy diapers. No it’s his turn to do the dishes nor are we there yet or I’m not tired I don’t want to go to bed. No demands for bed time stories. There would also be a lack of dental bills, medical bills or college tuition. No high priced teenager car insurance. No “Who put a dent in the car?” Or “Who forgot to fill the gas tank?” No shoes to buy, nor designer clothes, or expensive football helmets or baseball mitts. No having to coach a soccer team or a softball team when you barely know how to play the game yourself. No having to teach someone to ride a bike or worse yet to drive. No one dragging you off to some game, when you are bone tired. No one asking you to play catch, horse or football.  Never having to wait for a shower or to use the bathroom.No one wanting to call and talk, talk, talk; about school and boys, and boys. No applying band aids to knees or broken hearts. No saving for weddings or anniversaries.                 Finally so much less sorrow,                         So little grief, So fewer heartaches,             Aw to spend a life time on this planet and never have tasted of if fully/ oh how poor a life indeed.
                                                                                                                                                                                   

Short Story - The Toy Store - Grant Eagar

The Toy StoreBy Grant Eagar
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Leon Simon ran a toy store in Eastern Europe.  This was a natural fit, since he had never quite grown up.  He would play with his matchbox car collection while waiting for customers to enter his shop.  Making racing noises as he pushed miniature Formula-One cars around the track he had constructed on the counter.  He kept a Glock in a stuffed bear named General Bearson which sat on the counter.  Whenever he got lonely he would talk to the bear. The plastic eyes had a non-judgmental look that calmed him, encouraging him to open up and express his deepest feelings. Then appear to glaze over when he shared too much.            One morning he set out a Danish roll and a glass of orange juice at precisely 9:00, at 9:05 the door to the shop opened and a young woman walked in. After the door closed little bells jingled, letting him know someone was in the shop. The closing door also activated three lasers that triggered a fifty caliber machine gun hidden behind a poster of Mickey Mouse; the barrel swiveled to follow the customers every move.             Her hair was currently blonde, with thick, darker eye brows. She wore a full pink sports bra, and a black running skirt. She had her hair tied back with a black ponytail holder.  Leon’s eyes widened and he turned slightly red. He waited until she walked up to the counter and he gave her his most sophisticated double agent gaze and snortled, “Good morning Mademoiselle, how may I be of service to you?” This was followed by an explosive sneeze, with snot being sprayed over the Danish. Her friendly expression instantly changed to one of disgust. “I want to purchase a present for my nephew,” she said through gritted teeth. This was code for, ‘I’m here to pick up a special message.’ Turning bright red, Leon reached over and knocked over a stack of puzzles. While picking them up he asked, “H-how about a puzzle of a p-panda bear?”“A puzzle would be nice, but it must be that of an Indian elephant,” she said picking up several stray puzzle boxes.He found the puzzle of the elephant and began wrapping it for her. Women seemed so nice to him at first, then excused themselves as soon as possible.  It had something to do with his constantly running nose and his tendency to blow snot whenever he got nervous. He thought with his French operative background and his James bond sweater, girls would find him irresistible.  There was a dilemma; she was supposed to eat the Danish which contained the capsule with the message in it. She looked down at the Danish with the large green snot on it, and crossed herself and mumbled, “For queen and country.” Took a deep breath and . . . bit into it. She slowly chewed and swallowed, giving him a look of pure hate all the while. She found the small microfilm in the Danish and swallowed it.  She handed him some coin, and drank the orange juice while he made out her change. He handed her the puzzle and her change, and said, “I’m sooo sorry.”She flicked her wrist with a, “Pssst,” ‘conversation over’.  Looking into his eyes she gave him a tragic smile, shook her head in disbelief and walked out of the shop. If only he didn’t blow snot whenever he got nervous, he would have a much better love life.  As he watched her walk down the street, he noticed a taxi following her. Was this her ride or was she in trouble? He picked up Bear-son and walked out the door, “Mademoiselle! You forgot your bear,” she turned around and he motioned to the cab. She looked at the men inside and for a moment had a look of terror; then straightening and putting on a smile she walked back to him. The taxi had stopped and was waiting; two large men in trench coats sat inside giving them the eye. Her eyes widened and she turned pale.  “Let me wrap the bear for you so you can also give this to your nephew. Please come inside, I’ll just be a moment,” he said.   She turned and gave him a torn expression. He handed the bear to her and said, “There is a present inside.” The window of the cab rolled down and a man asked, “Pardon me Mademoiselle, but do you know where the closest hotel is?”Leon quickly stepped forward and motioned for her to leave and said, “Let me help you, first you’ll need to go back the way you’ve come. . .”These men weren’t very subtle; the taxi driver could’ve told them this information. He just needed to keep them occupied until she got away. They were not even looking at him while he talked, just staring at the girl as she walked down the street.  He tried a different tact, pulling two small boxes out of his coat pockets. “Would you like a complimentary gift for your children.” They were getting impatient; “Thank you, thank you, we need to go now,” the largest man said with a thick Russian accent. He then motioned the cab to go forward. The girl was now a half block up the street and walking fast. After the cab pulled away from the curb and began following her Leon pushed a button in his pocket and the gifts he had given the men exploded with sleeping gas and the men slumped over unconscious.  The taxi came to a stop a short distance ahead. Leon quickly ran up and opened the car door, the girl turned around and he gave her the thumbs up sign. She gave him an appreciative smile and quickly walked away. Pushing the taxi driver onto the passenger seat, he climbed in and drove the taxi over to a park and dumped the driver into some bushes, and then he drove the car onto a fiery headed for Algeria. He climbed out of the vehicle and paid the toll.  After walking off the fairy, he found a phone booth, where he made an anonymous call to the Algerian authorities: informing them that a boat with two known criminals was on board. He also told them the time the fairy would be arriving. He gave them the license plate number of the taxi and the men’s descriptions then he hung up when they asked who he was. He felt bad for the taxi driver, but he would wake with a headache and would not be able to remember what had transpired in the last four days.  There were 50 other taxis on board the fiery so no one would remember him.  This is a trick that he played different versions of from time to time.  The men in the overcoats would probably only spend a month is a holding tank and would not remember him because of the gas, but they would know that they had been played and would be more careful about coming into his neck of the woods. A week later he got a call, “Leon you’re fired! We’ve been trying to convince the Algerian authorities that we are not criminals for the past five days,” said agent XXD, Leon’s boss. Leon responded, “No comprehend English,” and hung up. He patted his new general General Bear-son’s furry head and got out his match box cars and started making vroom-vroom sounds as he raced them up and down the counter.  The door opened and the girl entered, she walked up to him and handed him a huge handkerchief. “Blow it!” she demanded. He gave her a curious look. “Blow your freaking nose! “ He took the cloth, emptied his nose and then she grabbed him by his coat lapels and gave him a long kiss.      

Short Story - Alien Abduction - Grant Eagar

Alien Abduction
By Grant Eagar


Location: Military debriefing room, Conway Arkansas.

Alien specialist - Major Jones:
          “Mister Douglas, please tell me what you experienced the night of June twenty-first, 2012.” 

Male witness #1 - Scooter Douglas:             Pushing back his long greasy black hair, “Well sir, this is how the dealio went down. After leaving Harley’s barn, I popped a bud-err I popped a coke and climbed into my truck, ‘Big Red’. I turned on some tunes ‘Merl Hagard’ then found a gear and pulled out onto highway nine, I headed for Marcy’s place. Coming over Possum Creek bridge, I saw it; a hubcap-thingy with brightly colored lights. It was like some great big flying honky-tonk. It landed right dab in the middle of the highway forcing me to lock down Big Red. With tires squealing and rubber burning I barely stopped in time; luckily Big Red has brand new Super Bronco monster-tires.” Scooter leaned over and spat tobacco juice into a garbage can, then continued. “A door opens and a green fellar climbs out and points a lug wrench thingy at me, making me feel all mushy inside. The next thing I remember, I was flying around in this ship with hoses going into places they ought not of.” He then covers his lap with his hat and shudders.
Female witness - Marcy:            Wearing a tied dye tube top two sizes too small, and cutoff jeans three sizes too small. Marcy picks at a chigger bite on her bare leg, “Mister, I was waiting for Scooter to pick me up for our date; standing out front with the chickens and the dogs.  I’d put on some fresh lipstick and even taken a bath, it being a special night and all. When I see a flying thingamabob coming out of the sky and it lands right in front of my trailer. I look at all the bright lights and I wonder if Scooter has gotten a fancy new car; when three green guys climb out. They looked kinda like a rock band; you know Twisted Sister or maybe Mega Death. They pointed some funny guitar looking things at me and I went all fluffy. Then I was aboard this ship and Scooter was there too. He’s so romantic, I would’ve never thought of being abducted by aliens for a date,” said, Marcy with sparkles in her eyes.
Male witness #2 - Stewart:            Stewart sat in a dark corner wearing a black hooded jacket, large black sunglasses and spoke through a voice distorter, “I was listening to the AM station 450, underground radio, and sure enough one of those governments secret warnings came over. You know, three beeps followed by static then more beeps when the house shook. I ran outside and there was a flying saucer sitting in the middle of the damn road. I thought, it’s true they must have received my message. They were herding the neighbor girl and her boyfriend into their ship. I hope they weren’t searching for intelligent life because those two don’t qualify.”      Now with a very disgusted look on his face, he added, “I ran up to the ship and yelled, take me too, but noooo they preferred the degenerates instead. I pounded on the outside of the ship yelling open up and it shocked me. When I woke up they were gone.”
Canine witness - Rufus:            Rufus sat in a leather chair dressed in a tux jacket and shirt with a bowler hat on. He said, “I was in the back of William Scott Douglas’s 1972 Ford light-duty truck, guarding his alcoholic refreshments. I had my tongue extended into the air stream to assist in the transfer of my thermal energy. When without warning William, known to you as Scooter, began a rapid deceleration of said truck. This caused my muzzle to impact the back window.” Rufus took a moment to lick his privates then continued. “William then climbed out of the vehicle and a Zortillian astronaut pointed a 1200 giga watt mind disrupter at him. I then leapt from said truck in defense of my companion and clamped down on the Zortillian’s lower appendage, whereupon I was exposed to the disruptor. When I awoke in a rather large canine home with clothes on, antae protruding from my cranium, and could speak twenty six languages including the Zortillian’s native tongue of French.”        

History of Lovina Nicholson Sylvester Berry

History of Lovina Nicholson Sylvester Berry 
Lovina on her 100th birthday

(As dictated to Jessie Eagar (a granddaughter)I Lovina Nicholson Sylvester Berry was born on the twenty-fourth of June in 1854, at Springville, Utah County, Utah, the eighth child of James and Rebecca Sylvester. Our family lived in Springville nine years. I remember the hard times there. One winter we had to ration our food. My father and two older sisters gleaned twenty bushels of wheat and it was ground into flour which had to last all winter. Mother would make small biscuits and we could each have two a day. Mother said that after times were better we still wanted our two biscuits a day. When I was nine years old I moved with my parents to Gunnison, Sanpete County, Utah. My father was advised to go there by the church authorities because he was a blacksmith and one was needed there. The settlement was first settled down along the Sand Pitch River and it was a very muddy stream. In the spring the water overflowed the banks and went all over the country. We had to move out of our two nice rooms onto higher ground. The settlement was later moved upon the bench where it still stands.I was well acquainted with Chief Black Hawk and his wife. My father and mother were in the choir practice was held at our place. Chief Black Hawk and his wife used to come and listen to them sing and were very interested. Mrs. Black Hawk was very pretty. I well remember when the news came to Gunnison that Mr. Lowery from Manti had whipped an Indian boy and the Indians had gone on the war path. The war lasted for several years.The Black Hawk Indian War was raging during the time we lived in Gunnison and a fort was built for the protection of the settlers. They were all counseled to build their houses in such a way that the back of each house formed a part of the fort. A space was left between the houses which were roofed to form a kitchen for each family. At the back of the wall were port holes which could be used to shoot through if necessity demanded. There were four gates to the fort and these were guarded both night and day. Two picket guards were stationed outside of the fort. On the hill west of Gunnison was placed straw with which torches could be made to flash a signal in case any evidence was given of the approach of Indians. The picket guards could signal the gate guards which would prepare them for fear of an outbreak in the town. The guards could signal this way because they were often too far away for their voices to be heard.The men had to go in crowds to put their crops in. A large number of men together gave protection to themselves from the Indians. In fact, all of their work was done by a large number of men together such as wood hauling for their fires; going to the mill at Manti or traveling in any form. Anyone who disobeyed counsel,” to travel in groups”, was endangering his life and those of his dear ones.All the towns above Gunnison on Sevier River were broken up on account of the Indians taking their teams and cattle; breaking into their towns etc. The men from Gunnison had to help other settlement to move their people to the fort for protection. I well remember seeing the oxen train coming into town with the upriver people. Each of the families in Gunnison had to take in another family for winter. My family took two families. John Angus’s family lived in our blacksmith shop and Brown’s family of five lived in our home with us. We children used to have a playhouse down by the creek at a place called Rocky Point. It was a little cave where we played. We felt terrible to thin we couldn’t go outside the fort. Son one day we ran away to visit our play house. There was a saw mill down there and a mill pond with duck swimming on the pond. It was an ideal place to play, but in the midst of our play my sister Rose called, “Oh it’s Indians.” Little Lucy Brown, a playmate was very frightened and in her excitement she said, “He bobbed up his head and was dressed in buck skin”, as sh ran to town screaming, “Indians”. Our parents were very frightened and came running. Now, it was our turn to be frightened for we thought they were Indians and ran and hid in the cave. We were scared nearly to death. We were glad to find that it was our parents instead. Although they gave us a good scolding and we were told to never go outside the fort again. At the close of the Black Hawk War and the last season we lived in Gunnison, before time to harvestr our beautiful waving grain, the grasshoppers came and literally mowed our fields This was so discouraging that all the young men went to work on the making of the railroad that was just being run into Salt Lake Valley. About this my father went to Nephi to take charge of the grist mill owned by my brother-in-law, Joseph Birch. We stayed at Nephi for about two years and then move back to Gunnison.While living in Gunnison at the age of fourteen my partner and I took the prize for the best waltzing.The town of Gunnison was named in honor of Captain Gunnison, a white man killed by the Indians on the ground where the town was built. In 1869 Joseph birch came to our place and wanted my father to move to Dixie where he had been living for some time. He offered my father some land and was anxious for us to move there as he thought it offered considerable inducement. My father was converted and we were ready to go. We settled in a place called Bellevue, now Pintura, and began construction of a house. We children worked hard as well as our parents. The soil was good for all kinds of fruits, vegetables etc.In time we made a comfortable home and pleasing surroundings.My father was a faithful man, and would administer to us in case of sickness and invariably we would feel better. We always had family prayers and the blessing on the food. My father was presiding Elder there for many years and was careful to keep the commandment of the Lord. He always held Sunday school and such religious meeting as he could with six or seven families for they all belonged to the Toquerville ward. A church was built with big windows and was a wonderful influence to keep the people together in faith and inspiration. Perhaps the worst drawback of all was our meager chance for an education. There were no schools to speak of: our parents tried to teach us all they could. My parents were both good singers and lovers of music. In fathers old age he learned to play the organ, which he furnished for family entertainment. The whole family would sing together while one played the accompaniment. Father had a violin which we danced by and he also played the accordion. There were few young people there in those days and we would meet at each other’s homes and enjoy ourselves, sometimes dancing in our big room while father played the violin.I used to go to St. George and visit my sister Mary. I once worked about a year in Uncle Birch’s shop making men’s clothing. I was well acquainted there we had good times together. (The shop spoken of was likely the Washington Factory mill that hired many people.)In early day we first came to Dixie, we would take walks on the hills and sometimes we would visit the cave that is know as Peter’s leap, a place where the pioneers used to let their wagons down into the deep Peter’s Lepa Creek with ropes in order to cross it, and then the oxen would pull the load up on the other side. There was no road construction at that time. The cave is possibly a hundred feet long up under a black ledge. The creek flows into the North Ash Creek. Its name was given in honor of Peter Shirt we were told.In my girlhood home we learned to work. We pieced quilts. We got the woo, washed, and corded and spun it. The Washington Factory furnished the warp and coloring and wove our filling into cloth which made us quite pretty dresses. We corded and spun enough yarn to make my father and brothers each a suit of clothes. I have never had prettier dresses or any that wore as long as those homemade ones. We knitted our own stockings and knit socks to sell.The hospitality of our family ran high. Everybody from rain soaked strangers to aristocratic people stayed at our free tavern. Some evenings we spent in great pleasure and congeniality and other weren’t so pleasant but we had a wonderful chance to study human nature.After regular calls from William S. Berry for a year or more I finally decided that he was trying to get acquainted with me with intent to marry. Being favorably impressed with him and learning that his wife was willing for our marriage we went to the old Endowment House in Salt Lake City and were sealed for time and eternity on the 22nd day of June 1874. We made our home in Kanarraville. Four children were born to us before he left for his mission to the Southern Sates and one six months after he left. We had 3 sons and 2 daughters. My husband left on the third of April 1884. He had not been gone long when he wrote home. His letter seemed sad. He had had a dream that he did not like and was afraid something was going to happen at home. He said to tell the girls to keep off the horses. He had been gone a little over four months when he was killed by a mob at Condar’s farm, Cane Creek, Louis Count y, Tennessee. We at home felt sad as if something had happened but did not hear of the terrible occurrence until three days later. I was sitting in the doorway mending a dress when three men approached the house. When I first saw them I became so nervous and weak that I could not continue my work. They were Bishop Willis of Kanarraville and Bishop Lunt and brother Palmer of Cedar City. They came in the house and sat down and were talking about Grandmother Berry’s older boys who had been killed by the Indians. (Grandma Berry was with us at the time as an afternoon caller and they talked to her first.) Bishop Lunt who had broken the news about the drowning of Bishop Roundy in the Colorado River a short time before to Mr. Lunt’s family had now to bring sad news and was on and errand to tell of the death of Elder William S. berry who is no more as he had been shot by a mob in the missionary field. Grandmother Berry was a great help to me and my family in this great sorrow. She had borne so much of sorrow that she seemed to have learned how to endure it. My husband and his companion, Elder Gibbs, were killed on the tenth of August. We received the word on the thirteenth and my husband’s body arrived in Kanarrah on the twenty-third and was buried on the twenty-fourth. Brigham H. Roberts and others experienced great difficulty in getting possession of the bodies which had been buried in Lew County, Tennessee for three days. B.H. Roberts disguised himself and let the reigns of the horses loose; in this way the Lord aided him in procuring the remains of the two elders and to ship them to respective homes. Elder Cowley accompanied my husband’s body home from Salt Lake City and preached the funeral sermon. Sometime later twin boys were born to one of the men whose name was Bordersonand. He had helped to get the bodies. He named the twins Gibbs and Berry.No will had been made so the property was probated and fairly divided.My husband’s brother John Berry, my parents, sisters and everyone was kind and good to me. My five children were all under ten years of age. By careful management the property left me by my husband has been the means of rearing our children.I was called to preside over the Kanarrah Ward Relief Society about the year 1889 and continued in that office for about nine years. After the children were married I was persuaded by my sister Rose Jarvis, who was interested in temple work to come to St. George and work in the house of the Lord (Temple). She had a large record of Sylvester and Nicholson names (my father’s and mother’s names) that she wanted me to work on. I used to go down every winter and work in the Temple for our dead kindred. While my mother was living I would go with her to the temple. I have been baptized and endowed for many, among them a number of Indian Princesses. I have also done man Berry names and a great many sealing for our dead.The winter of 1912 while moving to St. George to do Temple work the spring seat of our wagon was thrown off when we were going through a sand wash near a place called Grapevine and I was thrown against a rock and broke both wrists. It took practically all winter to heal.I sold my home in Kanarrah and bought one in St. George to be near the Temple.On February 15th, 1924, I was set apart as an ordinance worker in the St. George Temple by President David H. Cannon. I was a temple Ordinance Worker for ten years. I stayed until December 7, 1934, when through and accident I had one wrist broken again in the same place on the same day of the same month as they were both broken before. I could not go to the temple anymore after that. I was then eighty years old.During the time I was working in the temple a prize was offered to the older women for the one keeping her hair looking the nicest and to my delight I was the one chosen to receive the prize which was a permanent. I can count my blessings, and my faith in the gospel is strong and wavering. Although many trials have come my way, not only the death of my husband in early womanhood but the death of two married sons: one died of pneumonia in 1927 and the other killed in the Castle Gate Coal Mine disaster on the 8th of March 1924: and infant grandson Arthur died also. I have had one son and two grandsons who filled missions for the L. . . church.After being hurt I have made my home in Hurricane with my daughter Emma, who has been very kind to me. I have one other son living in Colorado, now past eighty years old.At 98 years of age Lavina Berry had: 5 children (three have died),27 grandchildren, 53 great grandchildren, 16 great great grandchildren.Edward died on November 17, 1901 in Mexico. A headstone was constructed for him and his family in the Bunkerville Cemetery, Clark County, Nevada. The U.S. Mormon Battalion and family members memorialized his grave on October 10, 1998, by placing a beautiful bronze plaque on his grave

Steam Powered Dream Engines - Grant Eagar - Book Release

I would like to announce the release of my short story Henry and Sophie—Flying in Time as part of the anthology Steam Powered Dream Engines published by Rogue Planet Press. 

http://www.lulu.com/shop/rogue-planet-press/steam-powered-dream-engines/paperback/product-23578323.html



From Sergio “ente per ente” PALUMBO and Michele “bottomdweller” DUTCHER
And the drawings inside (one per story...)  are by Italian comics/RPGs’ designers/illustrators from Raven Distribution Davide "Atog" MARESCOTTIand his wife Sara DELLA CASA.

The GREAT cover and back-cover art is by American author, and designer,John "DavidsonHero" Rose.

I am pleased to be part of Jordan Elizabeth's book releas...

I am pleased to be part of Jordan Elizabeth's book release blog tour. 




You’ll never escape Bennett Hall.You belong to it and to me.



Darkness once twisted Adelaide Dinsmore’s mind, but she thinks she has grown up. Her job as a teacher in Hedlund proves that – until she discovers one of her students dead and the town turns against her. As her mind starts to crumble, she is offered a new job, this time as a governess for Gentleman Bennett’s granddaughter back east. 

Bennett Hall is a sprawling manor of winding tunnels and manicured lawns, and the fence is really just for show. The little girl, Theodora, is a delight, albeit quiet, and the Bennetts are kind enough, especially the dashing young Joseph. So what if one of the servants sends chills down her spine every time he looks at her? Surely that, and the noises in the night, are figments of her imagination. She won’t allow the past in Hedlund to tarnish her future at Bennett Hall.

Then, Theodora begins to speak of a Villain who haunts secret passages in the manor, and Adelaide stumbles upon a sealed off wing where ghosts whisper from the shadows. Twisted inventions fill the basement and the villagers warn of the Bennett family’s evilness. 

The longer Adelaide stays at Bennett Hall, the less likely her chance for escape, but she cannot leave Theodora or Joseph. The darkness in her mind might be the only thing to save them.
SECRETS OF BENNETT HALL is the second installment of the Return to Amstonseries.  This young adult Gothic novel is filled with elements of steampunk and romance, published through Curiosity Quills Press, and is now available for purchase.  Check out SECRETS OF BENNETT HALL on GoodReadsfor fabulous reviews!Jordan Elizabeth, formally Jordan Elizabeth Mierek, can often be found garbed in corsets, long skirts, and boots.  Her novels can be found on Amazon and all feature at least a taste of the fantastical.  You can contact Jordan via her website, JordanElizabethBooks.com.

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Craving more steampunk in the country of Anston?  RUNNERS AND RIDERS, book one of Return to Amston, is on sale for 99 cents.