Finding Stories In The Rain
A Collection of Short Works of Fiction
By: PL Jones
Available for purchase at Barnes & Noble and amazon.com
Maggie, Myra, and Allison are three characters from Finding Stories in The Rain who offer you a glimpse into their lives.
Read the excerpt below, from Myra's story...
Myra-
Myra Reynolds has made it through to her last year of high school!
On the stormy evening of her graduation, she takes a moment to reflect on what the past four years of her life have been like.
Laugh at Myra's adventures and sympathize with her pain as you get to know her in, Finding Stories In The Rain.
Here's a sneak peek from Myra's short story!
Excerpt from Finding Stories In The Rain, Story #2-
“Hey Curls.”
Dad leaned over to give me a kiss.
“Hi.” I grinned at him. He looked pretty bad.
The stubble on his face screamed to be shaved and his shirt was full of wrinkles.
My dad is a good looking guy, but that day he could have passed for a completely different person.
“How are you?” I asked.
Backing out of “mom’s” carport, which used to be “our” carport, he gave me a sheepish grin, “Is it that bad? You’re looking at me like I have two heads.”
“Well…um…you seem tired.” Patting his shoulder, I decided to tell him the truth, “You probably should have ironed your shirt and shaved this morning.”
He sighed, “You sound like your mom.”
I stiffened and could’ve kicked myself for being so insensitive. Of course he hadn’t shaved or ironed, he'd just separated from his wife, duh! Mumbling, “Sorry.” I looked out of the window, and bit my lip, hoping to stop myself from saying anything else dumb.
“No- Myra! Sweetheart, that’s not a bad thing. I didn’t mean that as a putdown. You know, I still love your mom. Really…I do.”
Tearing my eyes away from the window, I glanced at him, “Really?”
“Yes. But most importantly, I love you.”
Pulling into the street, he looked both ways once more and then turned right.
“I love you too.”
He quickly looked my way and smiled, before straightening his tie.
“ I have an iron at work, so I’ll take care of that once I get there. Don’t worry, I’ll clean up before court today.”
My dad was a lawyer and I was glad to hear that he wouldn’t embarrass himself by going to court looking like a bum.
We rode in silence, and I watched drizzles of rain fall from overcast clouds of gray.
Finally, he spoke up, “So…your mom’s out of town today, huh?”
I gave him a look. He had on a poker face. But, as he turned to glance at me and I caught a hint of suspicion in his eyes.
With my dad, it’s always best to just be honest.
“I don’t know.” I replied, “I doubt she’s really out of town, but that’s what she told me.”
“Really…?!” He slowly asked. Clearing his throat, he finally went on, “Did she leave a phone number or a specific destination?”
“No. Just a note that said she was away on business.”
My dad bit his lip, a quirky trait that I’d inherited from him. “I saw your Aunt’s car at hom-there, um, does she know where your mom is?”
I shook my head, “We tried to call her last night, but she didn’t answer. Aunt Sarah said she’s probably OK.”
“I bet she did.” My dad mumbled and I noticed that he was driving sixty miles per hour through a school zone.
Although he was a lawyer, and an excellent one at that, he wasn’t the type to talk his way out of a speeding ticket, so I said, “Hey, there’s an elementary school over here, the speed limit- you know?”
“Thanks.” He sighed and looked even more tired than when I’d first gotten into the car.
Watching the rain, I wondered what would happen to mom if my father and I both suddenly got into an accident on our way to bring me to school that morning.
What if she had no one? What if my dad died thinking that she was liar?
She wasn’t a liar, she was just scared. She couldn’t think clearly.
Turning to him, I decided to get it off my chest, “Hey.”
“Yeah?” He quietly asked, looking straight ahead.
“Did you know Mom’s sick?” I asked.
He glanced at me, “No, I didn’t. What is it, the flu? I mean, do you- does she need anything? She should’ve stayed home if she was sick.” He shook his head and sighed again, “That’s the thing, she just pushes herself and ends up…”
“No, she has cancer.” I stopped him, “Mom has breast cancer.”
Dad slammed on the brakes and we went into a skid. I grabbed the side of the door and pushed my foot into the floor as if there was an extra break on the passenger side of the car.
“We’re OK , we’re OK!” My dad repeated, and when we finally came out of the skid, he looked at me frantically, “Are you OK? What do you mean? Myra, are you serious?! Are you serious?!”
Cars honked and dad pulled over to the side of the road.
I was scared, because I don’t know what sort of reaction I’d expected.
I’d only seen my Dad cry once before and to watch his eyes suddenly fill with tears as his hands started to shake was …heartbreaking.
“Yeah.” I put my hand over his and realized that my eyes were wet too, “She was too afraid to tell anyone. I know she was scared to tell you …and me. I just overheard her talking to Aunt Sarah and that’s how I know. I mean, she’s going to be OK, but I think she needs you.”
“Why was she scared to tell me? She has cancer. Liz…” His voice trailed off and he took a deep breath, trying to pull himself together.
“I don’t know why she was scared. But, it doesn’t really matter. The important thing is she needs you. Please Dad. She really does.”
He nodded.
I nodded.
We looked at each other, with our heads bobbing in unison until he reached over, whispering,
“Come here.”
*End of Excerpt*
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