Angels Among Us

    

     With all the chaos going around in this world, I found my personal angel yesterday.

     Someone had driven by and ripped off my left outside rear mirror a few months ago. My neighbor had fixed it back then, but with the scorching heat we're having now, the tape melted away. The mirror was hanging by a thread. My neighbor was out of town. What to do?

     I headed to Home Depot and purchased some heavy duty glue and extra strength duck tape. My plans were to try and fix it right there in the parking lot. I couldn't open the glue, so back inside I went. A very young employee was standing just inside the door.

     “Could you please open this glue for me?”

     “Be happy to,” he replied. Then he looked at me.”You gonna use it right now?”

      I explained what had happened and he said he'd see if he could help me out. Off to the car we went.

      That young man, Scott, took over completely. He put on the glue, waited until he felt it was dry and then meticulously kept adding duck tape until he was satisfied that the mirror was going to hold. We were out there for over a half hour. Another person might have just given him a few dollars and driven off. I felt Scott deserved more than that.

     “Can you take me to your manager? I want to tell him how helpful you were.”

     Scott grinned. “Yes, mam!”

     As I told the manager about the incident, he started to smile and Scott was turning red.

“If the world were filled with more young people like Scott, it would be a better place to

live” I ended.

     The manager shook my hand and said “Most people just come to me with complaints, never praise. Thank you for taking the time to tell me about Scott.”

     Before I walked away, I reached up and hugged Scott. “Just want you to know you made my day.”

     I've been telling my friends to ask for Scott when they go to Home Depot. One day I want to see him as manager of the store.

The Days Of Wine And Flowers



     Finally Spring has sprung here in St. Augustine after a very cold winter. Trees are filling in with new green leaves - let's not mention all the dead leaves on the ground because I was too lazy to rake them up - Azaleas are blooming, and my heart is filled with the thought of the summer ahead and all the annuals I plan to set out in pots in the back yard.

 

     I hadn't started out to the grocery store with the thought of buying a bottle of wine. I am not a wine drinker. Still, there was this beautiful bottle of rose wine that caught my attention. Not the wine. The bottle - it had such a quaint design on it that I added it to my grocery cart on the spur of the moment.

 

     I got home, looked at the bottle and decided to pour out the wine and use it as a vase on my kitchen window sill. It didn't look that great until I added a few artificial flowers in it and surrounding it. Okay, I cheated. I didn't want to wait until I could get some fresh flowers. So now my window sill pleases me. And if I never get fresh flowers instead of artificial, I still think it looks cute.

Second Time Around Short Story

This is the second story I've had published on A Quick Read, a short stories app for the Android Phone. If you go to their website and scroll down and click on the computer image it will take you to the list of stories. "Second Time Around" is under 'Heart-Warming' Stories. Read about the app and my other story on an earlier post here.

I hope you enjoy Second Time Around, printed below!

The day had been rough, and Joan felt every bone groan. She plopped down on the couch like a bag of cement. Her eyes drooped and she fell into a deep nap. It didn't last long.

The kids came slamming through the door.

"Hi, Mom," they yelled. "What's for snacks?"

"Check the fridge," she called back, pushing herself off the couch. Who needed a nap anyway?

They were already chomping down cold pizza.

"How was your day at school?"

Kelly stopped chewing long enough to give Joan a quick hug. She laughed. "It was okay, but I'm glad it's Friday." Jason just nodded agreement.She looked at their exuberant,happy faces. What plans did they have? Would she be included?

It was inevitable she would soon become a lesser part of their lives.

"Hey, Mom, can you drive me out to the skeet range tomorrow?" Jason's question smacked her back to the present.

"Sure, Hon, what time do you want to go?"

Jason shoved the last piece of pizza in his mouth and mumbled, "Early, 'cause there's a new instructor who's gonna teach me to shoot better. He said I need to learn how to follow through on my swing." Jason shrugged. "Dad never really explained that to me."

Jason had learned to shoot skeet before her husband and she had divorced. Phil wasn't meant to be a parent, or a husband, so it had been by mutual agreement. Sometimes she thought it would be nice to be in love again. Still, a single parent was better than two who were always at each others throats.

Early the next morning they headed out to the skeet range. Joan hung back, but Jason raced straight toward his new instructor. She watched them talking. Jason turned and motioned for her to join them. She walked over to where they were standing.

"This is my mom," Jason said, a grin spreading across his freckled face.

"Hi, I'm Steve Brown." He held out his hand.

"Joan," she answered. His strong grip surprised her and a tingle ran up her arm. He was tall with broad shoulders, a shock of wavy black hair, and electric blue eyes. She liked the feel of his hand almost as much as his infectious smile.

"You've got a great kid here, Joan. You must be proud of him."

She nodded agreement.

"Hey, Mom, Steve is new here in town and hasn't had a chance to make any friends yet. Can he come home with us for lunch after my lesson?"

"We've only got sandwiches."

"That would be just fine with me." Steve's eyes met and held hers until she flushed, and felt an unexpected jolt to her stomach.
"Sure," she said a little too quickly. "It's only lunch, right?"

Jason whooped in glee. "See, Steve, I told you she'd like you."

Steve and Jason spent an hour practicing keeping the shotgun slightly in front of the target,then following through before lowering the barrel.

"Pull," Steve yelled, then watched Jason take aim.


If Jason missed, Steve patiently explained, again and again, how important it was to stay in front of the target and follow through. After a while, Jason started pulverizing the clay targets. After each clay explosion, Jason would jump up and down, waving at Joan.


Joan was impressed. Phil never had that kind of patience.

After the session ended, Steve eased his Rambler behind Joan's beat up Chevy and they headed home. Joan's fingers trembled as she put the key in the lock and the door swung wide. It was a long time since a man had been in their house.

Steve followed Jason into the kitchen. Kelly was already putting together left-over roast beef sandwiches.

Steve smiled. "I already know who you are, Kelly. Jason says you're a pretty cool sister."

Kelly smiled coyly. "I've heard a lot about you, too."

Soon all four were devouring sandwiches and cold lemonade. After lunch, Jason and Kelly cleared the table and started washing dishes. Kelly glanced at Joan. Her look said take him outside.

"Would you like to sit in the back yard?" She felt like a teenager hit over the head. When was the last time she had flirted?

They chatted for hours, oblivious to the oncoming purple twilight. The more they talked, the more Joan realized how she had missed male companionship.

Steve looked at his watch and frowned. "I didn't mean to take up so much of your time," he apologized. "I better get going. Will you come to the range with Jason again?"

"Of course, I have to watch how Jason improves."

"That's great, see you soon." As he headed to his car he turned and waved.

Joan waved back, knowing in her heart this was the beginning of her second time around.

Never Take Your Neighbors For Granted

     I had fallen last week and badly bruised myself – scraped arms and a bad back. I hardly went out all week because of the pain.

     I live on a block where there are only five houses, and we're not a particularly social group, except for a casual hand wave if we happened to be outside. The exception is Doris Oswald, whom I became friendly with through the Writer's Group we both go to.

     After my fall, Doris would check in every day to see if I was okay. I'm not sure why but this morning I didn't hear the phone ring. She evidently called several times and I never picked up. Well, that worried her.

     The next thing I hear is a pounding – I didn't realize it was my door being pounded on. The house around the corner has been having work done on it all week, so I was used to the noise and thought nothing of it.

     Suddenly I heard my voice being called and heavy footsteps coming up the stairs. Talk about being startled. Two paramedics stood there. “Are you alright?”

     Seems when Doris couldn't reach me, she had called 911 to tell them she thought her neighbor might be in trouble.

     When I walked downstairs, my mouth dropped open. Not only was the EMT truck there, along with a police car, but all my neighbors were standing in front of my house. A swirl of confusion and humility swept through. They cared enough about me to be concerned. I didn't know what to say. I felt humbled and grateful. I couldn't hold back the tears that stung my eyes.

     These people cared for me and I just never had realized how much...

     My one neighbor, Ed, had removed my front door before the paramedics could break it down. Then he put it back up. Now that goes beyond friendship. Doris had called a friend, Terri, who had tried to reach me and was becoming frantic because she couldn't. Everyone standing there because they cared for me, each in their own way.

     People who need people are the luckiest people in the world. Today, and forever more, I will consider myself one of those people.

     Thank you, my neighbors, my friends.
                                                                                   Audrey

A Short Stories App For Android Phones Includes My Story "The Phone Call"

For someone who isn't sure about the computer at times, I have a story published on an app for Android phones. I've come a long way, baby. If I only knew what an app is?

More about A Quick Read. This unique project combines an Android phone app and on-line fiction. Both connect to the Internet, where they have an expanding database of short stories for you to enjoy.

My story, The Phone Call, has been included in their data base. To view my story click here, which will take you to their site. When you are on their home page, scroll down to the computor icon and click on it to see the list of stories broken down by categories. My story The Phone Call, is under the mystery section. Be sure to check out all the other stories and have a good read.

This photo is to show you what to look for on their home page, it does not link.

You can also click here to reach the stories index page.

My Pharmacist

There are times I am overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity of certain people in my life. Today was one of those days. I have known this man for over twelve years. He has always been like a friend. I once joked with him.

“You know more than my doctor does. Why didn't you go into the medical field?”

He smiled softly. “Because when I was in college I'd rather play than study.”

Well, I trust his advice more than my physician. He has filled my prescriptions while I was working and was one of the last big spenders. He was there to downplay my fears when I was shocked and dismayed at being laid off after ten years. He always was there to comfort me when I couldn't find a job. Sometimes I'm sure he was too busy to listen, but he did.

He's a young man with a lot of compassion. He knows my financial circumstances now that I'm living only on my Social Security.

I was desperately afraid of getting the shingles, but the prescription was so expensive I hesitated. When I heard from a friend whose shingles attack put her in the hospital for over two weeks, I hesitated no longer. At my age, the last thing I needed was another physical problem. So I decided my health was more important than my checking account. When I pulled out the debit card to pay for my prescription he told me had had already paid for it. His gift to me. I owed nothing.

Tears threatened to flow. WHY?

He explained that I was always cheerful in the face of adversity. That even when I had problems I would smile. I was one of the kindest, friendliest people he knew. He took my hand and squeezed it. I wanted to jump over the counter and hug him.

People like this are so rare. If you come across one, treasure that person. He or she is your earth angel.

May this year bring us all together as Americans, regardless of our political beliefs. God bless this nation.

Audrey

Stories in So & So Magazine

 

The January-February issue of So & So Magazine has just come out. I am pleased to say it contains two of my stories: "Snorkling Mama" and "The Captain Who Went To War". I'm still hanging in there with my writing and hope to have more to share in 2013. Meanwhile, I want to wish you all a Happy New Year!

 

                                                                    Audrey

 

 

 

 

 

About the magazine: THE OXFORD SO & SO is a bi-monthly  SOUTHERN   oriented journal of nostalgia, clean humor/satire, poetry, history, jokes, etc.  "SO & SO" is an acronym for "Southern Owned & Southern Operated."  A non-political, non-racist hard copy only.  Now entering our Fourth year!