WRITE A STORY

[Melissa]

This challenge is a little different but using the TITLES of the books you read, you are going to write a short story.

example: Martha sat down WHERE THE RED FERN GROWS thinking about all of the LITTLE WOMEN that were STILL MISSING .....

Have fun with this one.

[Lea Ann]

Oh my gosh! How fun!

[Melissa]

MY STORY

Jason thought he lived in a Fairy Tale until he met Sophia, Princess Among Beasts and he learned that the world was a much bigger place with so much more to offer.
She gave him a chance to make The Choice he thought he had lost with Aunt Dimity's Death. Instead of continuing the Encore in Death he had been living through as his family had died from the mysterious illnes, He could read The Book of Secrets an become a Flying Angels and learn how to save people.

[Melissa]

These stories can have a lot of twists and turns depending on the type of books you read.

[Lea Ann]

Starting my story.

The Historian sat alone in her truck tuning the radio. After a few seconds, Lena heard the melodic strains of Aunt Dimity Goes West as her favorite country station came into range. She was lost in thought, thinking about her high school sweetheart. She thought their story was a Romance of a Lifetime. "I wonder what ever happened to him?" she mused to herself.

She had spent the last six months researching the Murder on the Highway: The Viola Liuzzo Story. Aunt Dimity's Death had made her put her research on the back burner and return to her hometown in Arkansas for her funeral. Her mind wandered as she thought about The Woman in the Library she had met just two weeks ago.

Lena had been trying to focus on some newspaper clippings for her research when she overheard the woman ask the librarian for an old book entitled Gandhi: Fighter without a Sword. The unusual request caught Lena's attention. She didn't recognize the woman and Lena was the only female in the history department of the small college campus where she taught. "Maybe I should ask The River King," she mused to herself. The "River King" was the nickname the head of the history department had earned because of his long-winded fish tales. Of course, he didn't know the rest of the department had settled on this moniker.

She finally started the engine and turned onto the familiar road to her parents' house. Lilac Lane stirred some deep memories. It felt like only yesterday she remembered her mom teaching her to drive on the long, dusty road. Thinking of her mom, she also remembered her reading to her each night from her favorite book, Tales Worth Retelling: 23 Classic Stories from Around the World. How she wished she could hear her voice again. "I miss The Way I Used to Be," she thought, "so...happy."

As she pulled into the drive of her parents' farm she wondered, "What was it The Prophet said? You can't visit the future. Not even in your dreams.'" As she puled to a stop she muttered aloud, "Well, you can definitely visit your past."

Lena slowly ambled out of her truck and up to the door, a door she bounded through countless times in her past. Now she felt compelled to knock. She could hear her father's voice, "Come on in. It's open!" As she opened the door, she was hit with the familiar smell of home, a mix of vanilla and old books. Her parents were Book Lovers, and every available corner of their home was filled with piles of dusty tomes, some beloved, dog-eared favorites, and others waiting patiently for their chance to be read. She could hear her dad puttering in the kitchen, so she wandered in.

"Well, hello!" he bellowed as she walked through the doorway. He moved in for a hug. She always loved his bear hugs, and would never feel too old for one.

"How's it going, Dad?" she asked as she was pulling from his arms.

"You know, living the dream." Her dad had given the same corny response all her life. She loved it.

"Nothing new?" She queried, "No new gossip?"

"Oh!" her dad perked up, "Have you heard about The Christie Affair?" She shook her head laughing. "Apparently, old lady Christie had a fling with that new pharmacist they hired last year at the drugstore. Mr. Christie found the two of them together in his barn. The man said he was 'lost' and looking for directions. Well, The Lost Apothecary miraculously found his way when old Christie leveled his shotgun at him."

"Mrs Christie?!!" Lena exclaimed. "Who knew she had it in her?" They both shared a look and doubled over laughing.

As her dad busied himself with putting away clean dishes she watched him closely. He was starting to show his age. I Was Their American Dream she thought, or at least part of it. They had achieved so much - the farm, two kids through college - and she wondered if they had ever had other dreams.

His voice brought her back to reality, "I guess the whole town is turning out for Aunt Dimity's funeral. You'll probably see some folks you've long since forgotten. Are you ready for this?"

Lena sighed, "Ready as I'll ever be. I just can't imagine not going. I loved Aunt Dimity."

"And she loved you too," he said with a smile.

The next morning she and her father got to the church early hoping to help out but everything was in hand. As they walked to the front of the church they were greeted in turn by distant family members and old friends. A low buzz of polite conversation and an array of awkward hugs filled the space. People slowly began to find their seats and silence hung in the air as they waited for the service to begin. Lena heard some commotion from the back and turned just in time to see her dear great aunt Viv walk in. At her elbow was a man half her age. He whispered something in Viv's ear, handed her a handkerchief and, much to Lena'a surprise, Viv let out a tremendous wail!

The entire crowd spun in their seats just in time to see Viv stumble dramatically in her grief and she simultaneously waved at onlookers and continued to cry. Lena realized Viv was making her way to the reserved seats directly ahead of where she and her father sat. He dad rolled his eyes and mumbled, "Look out! She's Come Undone." Lena playfully punched his leg while stifling a giggle.

Viv gained her composure and she and her guest took their seats just as the preacher started the service. Lena's quickly lost interest in the eulogy mainly because it seemed pretty standard. Instead, memories of her Aunt Dimity filled her thoughts. Her aunt always spoiled her when she visited and, of course, she stepped in to help when Lena's mother passed away. Lena felt her loss immensely even if it had been years since she had visited in person. Lena was pulled back to reality when the preacher offered to let others speak. An awkward silence filled the room, but suddenly great aunt Viv stood up.

"Here we go," her dad mumbled under his breath. Lena shushed him quietly.

Viv cleared her throat, dabbed at her eyes with a hankie, and began, "Dear Dimity. Where do I even begin? I have so many fond memories of our Dimity. She was quite the girl. I remember when she wandered off the farm at the age of seven and didn't return. The whole town turned out looking for her. We were sure she was dead. We found her the two days later at old lady Denham's house. Denham was a widow who lived two miles out on Windmere Road. She became a recluse after her husband passed, and we all thought she was crazy. Dimity had Stolen Beauty , our old mare, and ridden her out to the Denham place to deliver some cookies to the old lady. When she got there that day, she found the old gal on the floor. She'd fallen a couple days before and had broken her hip. Denhams never had a phone, so Dimity couldn't call for help, and she forgot to tie up Beauty, so that old horse turned around and trotted home. Dimity revived Denham - poor old girl was so dehydrated, Turns out she had been secretly visiting Denham for several months, bringing her some food, helping around that old, dusty farm of theirs. Said she knew someone would come looking for her. Saved Denham's life, she did. That's our Dimity..." With these last words she choked back a sob and let the preacher move her back to her seat.

Lena didn't know whether to laugh or cry at Viv's speech. Soon someone else in the church stood and made their way to the front to speak about Dimity. Then another, and another. Time After Time they told stories of Dimity's wit, charm, and selfless compassion.

Mike Jenkins, Dimity's schoolmate, told of a fundraiser Dimity had started during their Junior year, "She had seen Elena Morelo, The Cuban Heiress, on TV talking about the growing poverty in Cuba and the needs of the children there. Dimity rallied the students at our high school and organized a community-wide, Cuban-themed, dance marathon to raise money to help the kids. We had people from all over the region show up. The local news even covered it! She raised a couple thousand dollars that night and then somehow word got back to Ms. Morelo about what she'd done. I guess our local news story went national. Next thing you know, Ms. Morelo, that Cuban heiress, was stopping by our little town to meet Dimity! So many news stations showed up for that! It was a huge media event. Dimity made quite the name for herself that day, but she always stayed humble. I'm proud to have known her and called her my friend."

Lena made a mental note about the story. She'd be sure to do a little research later on that event. She'd love to read more about her beloved Aunt Dimity.

Eventually the memorial wound down with everyone stopping by to hug Lena and her father before making their exit. If she had a nickel for every time someone told her how much her Aunt Dimity cared for her she'd be rich, but, of course, no one needed to tell her that. She already knew.

Finally great aunt Viv and her not-so-great companion approached. She hugged Lena a little longer than she would have liked, and when she pulled back, dabbing tears from her eyes, she opened her pocketbook and pushed a small object into Lena's hands. "She wanted you to have this."

Lena looked down to find a little book in her hands. It was The Red Address Book that Aunt Dimity always had in her possession. Lena was pondering why Dimity would want her to have it when Viv's voice interrupted her thoughts, "There is more, of course, that she left you, but she demanded I give that to you straight away. She said you always loved a mystery." Viv gave Lena's arm a final pat, and she was on her way towards the door.

Lena's father moved his head close to her ear and murmured, "The mystery is that schoolboy with your Aunt Viv."

His comment made her giggle, "He's hardly a schoolboy, Dad. He's at least in his 40's,"

"Compared to her, he looks like one," he countered, "There must be Something in the Water around here making everyone crazy."

The next morning Lena was strolling around reacquainting herself with the historic downtown area. Technically, she was on an errand for her father, but his nuts and bolts could wait. She wanted to see how her hometown had changed. One of the first things she noticed was that the old Mighty Meal Cafe now offered cappuccinos and iced lattes. As she approached the door, a gaggle of high school girls in too much makeup emerged with cups in their hands. The Painted Girls looked Lena up and down as they passed without a break in their conversation before letting the door close in her face.

As she entered the cafe Lena heard a voice from her past. Joyce, the owner, had her back to the counter and was busy giving advice to what looked like a fresh-faced new hire. "Not like that," she prompted.,"You have to do The First Part Last." When she turned and spotted Lena a broad smile broke across her face and her arms shot out wide.

Joyce rushed over to embrace Lena in a bear hug that lasted a few seconds longer than necessary. "How the heck have you been?" she asked when she released Lena.

"I'm good," Lena laughed, "Looks like you're good too." Lena glanced around the busy cafe.

"Oh, well, we've tried a few new things that have stuck, Gotta change with the times, right? Sit down! Sit down! What can I get for you...on the house, of course." Joyce offered Lena a seat at the counter and handed her a menu.

"You still have those coconut cream pies?" Lena asked. Almost before she finished the sentence Joyce was reaching for a slice. "And maybe a coffee - just a black one, nothing fancy."

More in part 2

[Lea Ann]

Melissa wrote: "MY STORY

Jason thought he lived in a Fairy Tale until he met Sophia, Princess Among Beasts and he learned that the world was a much bigger place with so much more t..."

You read Aunt Dimity's Death??? Me too!

[Lea Ann]

Part 2 (because I used up all my characters).

"Those fancy ones pay the bills." Joyce shook her head, "Who knew milk and coffee would be so popular?" The two shared a laugh and settled into a comfortable conversation in which Joyce brought Lena up to speed with the people in town Lena still knew.

"Have you heard about Jason?" Joyce finally asked. Lena knew this was coming. She raised her eyebrows to appear nonchalant. "You know, Jason," Joyce continued, "The One That Got Away."

"Oh, please," Lena scoffed, "Jason and I parted amicably. We just weren't meant to be."

"Whatever you say," Joyce dismissed her. "Do you want to hear about him or not?" Lena rolled her eyes. "Well, after you left he joined up with Venetia Kelly's Traveling Show. Had to get out of the area for a bit. Forget about you."

"Oh, please!" I interjected. "He didn't seem to have any trouble forgetting about me when he was sniffing around Pilate's Wife."

"Weren't nothing to that and you know it. She would have jumped at him if she'd had the chance, but he wasn't interested in her and you know it."

Lena grew Quietly Hostile: Essays listening to Joyce prattle on. She still missed Jason and knew she had lost her chance with him. She thrusted her hands in the pockets of her old denim jacket as she turned to leave. This jacket had been a staple of hers in high school and when she found it in the hall closet, she couldn't resist throwing it on for old time's sake. Her right hand landed on a paper folded up deep in the pocket. She pulled it out and scanned it quickly. The XOXOs at the bottom immediately caught her eye and she instantly knew it was an old love letter from Jason. Sighing, she shoved it back deep into her pocket and strolled down the sidewalk. On the next block she passed by the Fancy Flea. The flea market was known for it's colorful window displays and this day it did not disappoint. As she took in all the treasures in the window, Lena was struck by an old paperback on display, The Complete Short Stories: Volume 1 by D.H. Lawrence. She remembered that Lawrence was one of Jason's favorite authors. "Is the universe trying to tell me something?" she muttered aloud then thinking to herself, "Ugh...maybe I should call him."