Because sometimes you need an excerpt, especially when it's about peace, love, and understanding
Maybe how the moon appeared to Sooz. Photo from 2024.Thank goodness that despite an achy shoulder, I can still manage revisions, lol. Was just reading Chapter 21 from Home and Far Away, and I had to put a paragraph here.
P.S.... If you want Sooz's backstory, get a copy of Far Away from Home: The Enran Chronicles Book Three. Don't worry about Books One and Two; Book Three concerns Noth in another galaxy, and as he doesn't recall his past, those earlier segments won't be missed (Though if you want the whole ball of wax, go for it!). One of the joys about writing this particular series is while the books connect, certain ones can be read as standalones. Far Away from Home and Home and Far Away are like that, just saying, hehehe.
Anyways, shameless plugs aside, more to matter is what Home and Far Away is truly about, that of love mattering more than anything, that people are worthy of said love regardless of their origins. Sooz is discovering that imminently, but will she be brave enough to act on her discoveries?
Twohours later, Sooz stood on Richard’s front porch, squinting into the darkness.Yet the Hernandezes’ home was well-lit and from where she stood, Sooz observeda crowd gathered at the back of the house, dogs barking and children shoutingalongside the live band. Max snoozed in his spot and Sooz trembled, the tunenot recognized but somehow so familiar. It was nothing like what The Other hadcrooned, nor was it akin to what Sooz listened to on the radio. It was festiveand bright, and she tapped one foot, then stopped herself. “I am not going overthere,” she said aloud, then inwardly, but Chella didn’t respond.
Theporch light shone, as did the moon’s glow, but that light came and went as thinclouds fluttered in the sky, obscuring the satellite. Faint shadows fell acrossthe yard from the workshop as Sooz stepped from the porch, merely to admire thenight sky, she told herself and Chella, if Chella was listening. But Chella hadstopped pestering Sooz shortly after mentioning the music, which now rang inSooz’s ears.
Shewalked to the middle of the yard, then gazed at the party; laughter nearlybested the music, then lively horns made her wince, the merry nature impossibleto ignore. Was Richard drinking a margarita, Sooz then wondered. Her mouthwatered slightly and she frowned, then sighed as a stiff wind made her shiver.She returned to the porch, but didn’t go inside, wishing for enough courage towalk away.
Yetnot permanently, as she had wanted to last week, or even yesterday. Againyesterday she had considered leaving this property with the firm intent neverto return. That was a foolish, mean-spirited notion, futile as well; shecouldn’t leave Chella or Gilly or…. Her heart ached profusely, but not overSquee or the dead steers. She didn’t care if she never got her driver’slicense; today had proved that patients would indeed visit Kevin’s office, forif Matty Shomberg could walk through those doors, anyone in need would learnthe young physician’s practice was a safe place. Nobody would be turned in forbeing illegal, no one would be refused treatment. Or Sooz hoped that Matty’svisit would relay that essential statement. She felt badly that he had walkedpart of the way there, not enough gas in his truck for him to have made thejourney on his own. Richard had put gas in the truck while Sooz had stayed withMatty, learning more of his history. He had fallen asleep by the time Richardreturned, Sooz covering the old man with a tattered blanket on the sofa wherehe had slumbered during Home and Far Away.
Shewould check on him next week, maybe driving illegally if necessary, but Richardwould probably insist on taking her. She frowned, then sighed, again her heartpounding. His affection for Matty was probably aligned to having lost hisgrandfather, but Richard wasn’t like most men. He was tender due to his latewife and raising their only daughter. He was thoughtful in part from thoseelderly beloveds who had instilled within him their vanishing values. Oftenduring the nightly news, Richard complained about war protestors, not that hethought the Vietnam conflict was worthy, but previous generations had lefttheir families, fighting valiantly or dying on foreign soil. It was a necessarysacrifice, he would say, no more, no less.
Sooztrembled, considering those she had known on Enran, then she blinked awaytears. Would Noth have fled to Canada or burned his draft card, probably not, shewanted to think. He had sacrificed as much as any American past or present, andagain she grasped his great desire to return. Not to this time, but his own,and what could that America be like if so much of the current youth was surly.Then Sooz clucked; Chella had called her surly in not wanting to join them. Howhad Chella managed to pass herself off as a human, Sooz then wondered. Maybe byunderstanding Spanish, but hopefully not by drinking alcohol. Sooz wondered ifmargaritas were being served, and again her mouth watered. She went in thehouse, shut the door, then stomped upstairs. But even in her room, with thedoor closed, the horns were sirens, pleading for her to….
Sheshook her head, then stepped to her dresser. Her curls had returned, the weathermore humid than in summer. She shook out her tresses, then swept them atop herhead, securing the bun with bobby pins. A few strands fell and she scowleddespite liking how those curls adorned her face. She gazed at her clothes, longtrousers and one of Richard’s shirts tailored to fit her. Then she peered atthe closet, where some of Celia’s outfits remained. Approaching the closet,Sooz closed her eyes, muttering a Parcathn prayer. Opening the door, she pulledthe string for the light. She rummaged through what hung on the rod, thensmiled, finding a dress not previously noticed. It was blue, with yellowstripes running diagonally, meeting in the middle. Would it fit, she wondered,and if so, would wearing tennis shoes with it look ridiculous?
She wished for her previous wardroom, one of herbright tunics would be more appropriate. But that life was her past and if shewas going to remain here, best that she integrated with Richard’s neighbors.She frowned briefly, then smirked, taking the dress from the hanger, thenfirmly closing the closet door.
