Yesterday was long and loud, but happy. Lucas was adorable as per usual, though kinda tired by the end of it all. Poor kid didn't get a nap. But all's well that ends well, and it was a good first birthday party, spaghetti in cake and all. Too bad the kid won't remember it. o.O
And on the way there, we got to stop at Half-Price Books. I did very well for myself. *nods and smiles* Seven books, all clearance, including one A Tolkien Miscellany. Total? $10.09. Boo-yah. Hehe.
I sneezed a couple times on the way home, you know, but didn't really think anything of it. I should've. I have a cold. Again. Honestly, I'm just sick and tired of getting sick. Bleh. Does it never end? I had better get over this quickly. I have places to go and people to see this weekend! And Natasha on Thursday!
Today I'm working on scholarships galore, since I stayed home from church. If I don't hurry up and get to writing the essay part, I think my eyeballs are going to explode from staring at he screen too long. I that would certainly cut my writing career short, now wouldn't it?
Oh, and another contest naturally. *grins*
Well, hope you had a good Fourth! Go out and watch Independence Day everyone!
Shine~Ley
Sunday, July 05, 2009
A Happy 4th and a Happy 1st
Friday, July 03, 2009
The Last Month... In a Nutshell?
Well, since Nathan is begging.... and since I haven't posted anything in over a month, I'll actually write something for y'all! (Plus it is a really slow day at the library. Bleeeehhhh.)
So the graduation and the party are over. I managed to not hyperventilate and pass out on stage, though there were a couple minutes when I wondered. And, gosh darn it, it is hot up on that stage! Talk about headache. But supper afterwards at the Spaghetti Warehouse... amazing! And a lot of fun. Let's see... Spaghetti with Garlic Butter Sauce and Mozzarella Fritte? I believe that's how you spell it. Anyway, it's fried mozzarella cheese. Good stuffs. No room for dessert unfortunately. And of course we got presents. *grins* Crystal, Richard, and I all got plaques for finishing Bible (and boy did we deserve them). Richard got Saving Erasmus, because, you know, no one ever gets him anything off of his list. He was happy.
I was happy too. I got this big, freakin' huge German-English Dictionary. Amazing. I plan to find a free day one of these months and just enjoy browsing through it. Ginormous, seriously. Love it.
Of course, once I got home, I crawled into bed and.... cried. Gotta love post-stress breakdown.
The party was... not as bad as I thought it could have been. (Yeah, ya get that?) I nearly started crying (yet again) before it even started, but ate some food and calmed down. Amazing what a good taco can do for the nerves.
Once the people started coming, I smiled and hugged and talked (or more like nodded and inserted appropriate noises), and Mom stuck close by to handle the talkative people, and I dragged Nathan into it when she left me (that uber-bright flash works wonders), and I slugged back like eight cups of punch. Unfortunately the "sorry-gotta-run-to-go-pee" part of the plot didn't kick in til it was almost over. Worth a shot though. Darn good bladder. Hmph.
The money, the money was good though. Although, when I got home and everyone was insisting that I open it, I was so exhausted that I didn't really care. Plus on the verge of a breakdown that never really came. And wishing that I didn't have to write so many darn thank you notes!
So, I survived, made some money, and am dealing with the aftermath. I even managed to be somewhat cheerful the next day when the schoolkids all went out to East of Chicago. Num. Though Nathan didn't feel good.
So, tomorrow is Lucas's birthday party with lots of people... but a cute baby too. And I get to go to Half-Price Books. *insert evil laugh here* And deliver thank you notes. I'm sure it'll balance out somehow. :P
And next weekend is orientation at BW. Overnight orientation even. *gulps* But I'll survive. And, hey!, maybe one or both of my roommates will be at that orientation too. I can hope, right? Because even if I don't have someone I know there, at least I could have someone I'm going to know. Whatever.
And in other news, naturally there's a contest. But I won't post it til I get home, 'cause I have to get the graphic off my computer. So that'll wait a few hours, but I'll get it here.
God bless,
Shine~Ley
P.S. Gosh, maybe I should write at work more often! This is pretty darn long!
Edit [later]: So here it is!
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Oops
I've been meaning to write a post for day, but I keep forgetting. My head sometimes, okay, most times, I just don't know where it gets off to. *shakes head in pondersome disbelief*
So, the thing is, I've finally brought a baby into the world. No, not a squalling flesh-and-blood newborn (I'm so not ready for that!), but a very quiet, paper one. I printed out my short story "Speed Demon" and passed it on to my family to proofread for me. *gulps*
As if that isn't bad enough, it's only the beginning. Once I get it back, I'm going to send it in to Writers of the Future. (Sounds kinda... onerous, doesn't it?) Anyway, it's a quarterly contest. The top three of every quarter are awarded cash prizes. (Money is... nice, handy.) At the end of the year, the four first-place winners are re-judged, and one is chosen to receive an additional (holy chocolate!) $5,000 more. Yeah. And then, to top it all off (sorta like a cherry, 'cepting I don't like those, soooo... whipped cream?), all twelve stories are published in a yearly anthology. This year is, like, somewhere in the 20s.
Yeah, like, dude. o.O
So winning would be major, obviously. But just the fact that I'm really doing this... That's the miracle. God's hand at work apparently, because there is no way I am this brave on my own! Giving my baby to strangers... to critique! 'Ipes!
I always knew my dear Speed Demon, my Daithi, was special. Close to my heart, he and Axelle and their little Coy. Must have something to do with all those full moons. Madness strikes a body at times like those.
So wish luck and Godspeed to my babies, all grown up. Soon they shall be journeying without me.
Here's hoping I don't get empty nest sydrome... *considers briefly her collection of tales started and waiting patiently...* Okay, so that probably won't be a problem. *grins*
Shine~Ley
Monday, May 18, 2009
Contests...
...Simply 'cause I haven't posted in way too long. So...
I don't believe I have mentioned on here about Bitten By Books Birthday Bash, which is seriously a huge month long event, which is okay, half over, but still. Huge. A contest everyday, plus a few specials thrown in, and a weekly poll contest, and the usual stuff. Oi.
Then there's A Week of Pure Passion over at My Friend Amy's. I loved A Passion Most Pure, the first book in the Daughters of Boston series, and am very excited about A Passion Denied, so of course I had to spread the word on this one. *grins*
Then there's this contest...
If you've ever wanted an e-book reader, or a bunch of free books (*grins*), here's your chance. Just spread the word! Easy enough.
And as for little me update, all I'm saying is... I hate essay writing. Who needs money anyway? (Other than, uh, me.)
To a better life,
Shine~Ley
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Randomness
Whew, I feel like I've been on the internet all day! Oh wait, I have. But the good news is that I've managed to apply for a scholarship today! Now what were those other things I wanted to mention on here....
Well, Shelfari was one of them. I've got an account, and it's a lot of fun! You can check me out here. Speaking of, I need to update some things there... Gosh, where has the time gone today?!
Okay, just completed another application. *pants* I need to get off this thing! Well, first I gotta print a couple things. Then make supper. Then I can read. Yay! Dark-Hunters, here I come!
Shine~Ley
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Saturday, April 11, 2009
AAAHH!! (and another Contest *grins*)
All this college stuff is happening too darn fast, I tell you! I'm getting envelopes, like, every day from BW with more stuff I need to deal with. And I'm trying to hunt down scholarships/grants/free money. Take my advice on this. College junk *coughs*, I mean applications and financial aid, is not something to procrastinate about. No matter how busy your life seems at the time, trust me, it only gets busier!
Other then my brief, daily panic attacks, really, I'm doing well. *insert skulls-head grin* School is, comparatively, winding down. Thank God. Work is, well, work, but it's fairly good money too, so we deal, yes? I found a good scholarship search site, http://www.fastweb.com/. Let me just say, I'm going to be writing essays like mad. I'll survive it though. Good for me, right?
And a contest, naturally. If you like paranormal romance (like me, heh) you have to check out Anya Bast's blog. Holy cow, yeah? And of course, Lori Devoti still has her Full Moon of Werewolves going on for a few more days!
Shine~Ley
Monday, March 30, 2009
Finally!!!
Today it finally finally came. After I opened it I just sat on the couch and let out a big sigh of relief. Finally. This step is over. I have been officially accepted to Baldwin-Wallace college.
Very, very exciting news! Now I just have to wait for the FAFSA info and the financial aid packet... I can do this. College. Crows, that just seems impossible. I'm only 17! (Going on 18... *gulp*) God help me. o.O
So. One thing down. How many left again? Never mind... Don't want to count yet. Let the happy feeling last a while, you know?
Can't think of anything else to say just now, whether of importance or not, so... Shine all!
Thursday, March 26, 2009
MAX
Has anyone 'round here read the Maximum Ride series? I just found out the other day that book 6, Max, was out when I ran across a pretty sweet contest at Marta's. I definitely like the Max Ride books. *grins* Though The Final Warning, book 5, didn't quite live up to my expectations. Still, I have high hopes for Max. I can't help it. She's just so... stubborn. :-)
Anyway, if you like the books or ever wanted to check them out, get over to Marta's Meanderings! She's giving away not one, but four sets of the entire series. The contest ends on March 31. All you have to do is leave a comment, so pop on over!
Speaking of MAX... I just watched Max Payne last night. Very good movie. It managed to be ver graphic without being gory at all, a rather weird combination. Overall, it gave it a very odd feel. Not a bad odd. More of an Odd-Thomas-odd. Good odd. *smiles* That last scene though, the one after the credits? It makes me go all, "Awww, Max and Mona!" You know, in that "Nick-and-Nora" voice. Yeah....
In a final tidbit of Ashley-loves-contests-news, Lori Devoti is hosting like, the supreme werewolf blog party (my term ;-) ) over at her place more officially called The Full Moon of Werewolves (the party that is, not "her place"). There's lots of fun prizes and the posts are just fun. She's got a ton of authors stopping by to chat about their books and weres. I'm starting a list. *grins* And I'm thinking I need to see what this Blood and Chocolate is about.
I'm trying to post a bit more regularly, so (hopefully) see you next week!
Enjoy!
Shine~Ley
Thursday, March 12, 2009
The Visit
It's been a week since my visit to Baldwin-Wallace, and I've really been meaning to post about it, but... It hasn't happened. What can I say, I've been busy. I haven't written Shaela back either, and that was last Tuesday. Shame... I really need to do that.... this weekend. Heh.
Anyway, the Visit. It went very well, for all that I was nervous enough that I felt like I could throw up. We went into the admissions building (Bonds) and everyone was very nice, though Grace Chalker, the councilor we were set up to meet, wasn't in yet. So we sat, and lots of nice people came up to talk to us. One man comes up and says, "You're Ashley? From Crestline? Hi, I'm Dick Fletcher..." He was from Crestline also, and so naturally had to come down to meet us. He talked about some other students from Crestline, including one lady who majored in English and is now the VP of Reader's Digest. Holy cow. Ending when Grace came in, he gave me his card, saying, "If the others don't treat you right, you come to me." On the way home in the van, Mom asks me, "So what's his position, does his card say?" Oh, it did, and Mom was very grateful she didn't know it when we were talking to him. Dick Fletcher is the senior vice-president of BW!
Well, we went in to talk with Ms. Chalker, which went well. Whew! Mom gave her my transcript and the other documents they wanted for application. Grace looked them over and they were fine! Thank God above. Mom just about passed out from relief. That completed my application officially, and Grace said that I should be hearing back in a week or two. And she seemed pretty positive that I would be accepted considering our discussion moved on to the Honors program, which she's says I will very likely be invited to join. So... still waiting impatiently for the letter, but I should hear in the next week. o.O
After all that discussion about financial aid (13,600 in my pocket so far! and I'll get the finaid packet with the hopeful acceptance letter), and what I want to do, etc... We were introduced to Cindy (or Chinkle *grins*), who was student tour guide. She is a sophomore and is majoring in... business? if I remember aright. We toured south campus, hitting the Union last, which has the cafeteria and the restaurant... that I can't remember the name. We all got a free lunch on the college. And a very good lunch at that. Mom got some directions back to Bonds to rest, while Dad and I continued on with Cindy for a breeze-through of north campus.
On the way to north campus, we ducked into the rec center, and then we hit the library after crossing Bagley. North campus is where Cindy's resident's hall is, so after a quick point and label session, we went up two flights of the three to her room, and spotted a friend of Cindy's in the hall, Brandi (I think it was with an i...). (I think Cindy is friends with just about everyone. *smiles*) Cindy: "Is your room cleaner than mine?" Brandi, peering into her room specutively, shrugs: "Probably." Cindy: "Would you mind me showing your room...." etc. And so we got a brief glimpse of Brandi's room. Apparently, all the dorms come with a bed, a desk, a dresser, and some form of closet/wardrobe. A good thing that. And so we headed back to south campus to pick up Mom, and then... home.
Long day... but a good one. I felt very happy at the end of the day. I would really like to go there. Yep. Now, if only I wasn't so nervous all over again.
In other good news, I have finished grammar, and punctuation looks like it should be pretty quick. Thank God.
Shine~Ley
Sunday, March 08, 2009
And the Winners Are....
The anticipation is starting to get to me! :D Thank you all so much for participating and making my first giveaway just that much more fun.
And now, for the moment we've all been waiting for... (Well, I have at least.)
The winner of Cape Refuge is... Deedles!
The winner of Western Weddings is... Allison!
The winner of True Courage is... Rue!
The winner of Death on the Nile is... toohotforturtle!
The winner of The Ultimatum is... Valorie!
I've sent e-mails to all of the winners. If you think you should have gotten an e-mail and didn't, feel free to contact me at ashley.vanburen[at]gmail[dot]com. If I don't hear back from the winners by next Sunday, the 15th, I'll be drawing new winners.
Again, thank you so much for participating! This has been a really fun experience for me.
God bless!
Shine~Ley
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
My First Ever Giveaway!
Be excited... be very excited. Okay, maybe that's just me, but, hey! free books. That's always a reason to be excited.
So I have five books to give away. I'm trying to clean of my shelves a bit here. Working at a library where they constantly get in new books to put on the sale shelf... and getting to look at them first since I work there.... Not a good thing, at least for my poor shelves. I can hear them upstairs rejoicing now. o.O
Anyway, first up is.... Cape Refuge by Terri Blackstock, because weirdly enough, I have two copies of this book.
Two bodies, one spear gun, and a murder suspect. But did Morgan Cleary’s husband really kill her parents?
A brutal double-murder has struck fear into the heart of the peaceful Cape Refuge community. The crime weapon belongs to the victims’ son-in-law, but Police Chief Cade remains unconvinced that his best friend took the lives of Thelma and Wade Owens. The Owens’ ministry, a halfway house, shelters individuals far more questionable than Jonathan Cleary. Now people are concerned that it may house a murderer who could strike again.
Shattered by her parents’ deaths, Morgan Cleary struggles to keep Hanover House running while her husband sits in jail. Her sister, Blair, is no help. Blair wants no part of her dead parents’ ministry or their Christian faith. She wants to sell the house — until her determined search to find the true killer uncovers some startling findings. A lethal race against time ensues for Morgan, Blair, and Cade, with far more than Hanover House at stake.
May I just say, really good book. *smiles*
Next is Western Weddings by Jillian Hart, Kate Bridges, and Charlene Sands.
Rocky Mountain Bride by Jillian HartSavannah Knowles arrives in Montana expecting to marry Nate Brooks, but he has never heard of her! Can this quiet man find room in his heart for lonely Savannah?
Shotgun Vows by Kate Bridges
Milly Thornbottom has a crush on Mountie Weston Williams, and one stolen kiss changes their lives! After they're marched straight to the altar, can her crush possibly develop into more?
Springville Wife by Charlene Sands
Grace Lander returns to Springville to pick up the pieces of her life and become the town's schoolmarm. Single father Caleb Matlock's kiss may be just what Grace needs to mend her heart and make a home!
Warning: This book is secular and may be explicit.
And next... True Courage by Dee Henderson.
Someone snatched his cousin's wife and son. FBI agent Luke Falcon is searching for a kidnapper and sorting out the crime. He's afraid it's the work of a stalker. He's afraid they're already dead, and he'll do anything required to get them back alive--he just didn't plan on falling in love with the only witness.
Uncommon Heroes: Welcome to a world where friendships go deep, loyalties stand strong, and uncommon heroes perform the toughest jobs in the world. Dee Henderson's military romance series provides a detailed passage into the world of the military and homeland heroes, and those they love.
I don't know about you, but I can never resist Hercule Poirot. Even if all my family thinks I'm weird. So, Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie.
A honeymoon with murder. The Scene: An exotic cruise in the land of the ancient Pharoahs. The Victim: She made such a lovely bride. Alas, a tiny round bullet hole just above her right ear had interrupted what seemed to be a perfect honeymoon. The Suspects: The boat was crawling with them, including the ex-girl friend of the groom who said she just came along for the ride - and the groom himself who had at least a couple dozen million motives ($) for murder. The Clues: A dainty pearl-handled revolver, a string of stolen pearls and an initial scrawled in blood. The Solution: Even the great Hercule Poirot couldn't put the pieces together in time to prevent the murderer from striking again!
And last but not least! The Ultimatum by Nancy Moser.
Annie and Cal McFay live a normal life with their eight-year-old daughter Avi in Steadfast, Kansas. Until another man comes into Annie's life - Jesus Christ. She tries to explain to Cal and Avi the difference Jesus has made in everything, but Cal isn't willing to "give in" to God and change his way of life. He gives Annie the ultimatum: Choose Jesus or me. Then the family is taken hostage by thieves. Negotiations get desperate. Annie can't let Cal risk his life for them, not when his salvation is uncertain. The situation comes to a climax, and the whole town of Steadfast is left to make sense of the ultimate sacrifice...
All these books are used, but gently. I don't like worn-out books, so I try to take care of mine!
Okay, the next step is easy enough. Just leave me a comment saying which books you would like to have your name put in the hat for. Any, all, one, two, whichever ones. On sunday I'll draw names and notify a winner. Please, please, leave an e-mail address or some other way for me to contact you!
I will ship anywhere... I hope. *smiles* I don't have any problems with shipping internationally, so everybody dive in and enjoy. A big thanks to Book Room Reviews for hosting the carnival!
Enjoy! Oh, and be sure to check out the other giveaways going on! I know I'm going to.
The Pre-Post
Hey, it sounds cute. :) But before I get started, I feel the need to apologize for my previous post, because it sounds delirious even to me. Unfortunately, that's just the way my mind seems to be running recently, but I'll try to keep everything less... chaotic.
I finally caught up with my yahoo e-mail, which has been sitting semi-dormant for a week. That naturally means I got entered in a few more contests (gosh, I love those things) and it means a couple other things too.
First, if you like sci-fi romance, check out Marta's Meanderings for a giveaway with a really cool sounding book. I've already entered if you haven't guessed. *grins* She also has a couple other giveaways going on.
Second, I found out that there's a Book Giveaway Carnival this week, which is just exciting! It means my giveaway will run a little shorter than I planned, but I think it'll be worth it. Plus, it's just fun.
Well, I'd better go eat supper, and then I'll be back to post the giveaway!
Shine~Ley
Monday, March 02, 2009
Random, hopefully sensical post
Insanely busy. I feel like I'm lost in the middle of my own house. Too much to do! This week I have to shop for Mom's present, and Thursday we're going to tour BW (eep!) and the party's on Saturday, after I get home from an 8 hour day at the library. Bleh... Oh, and I need to cook Dad's Flat Bread on Wednesday, and work Tuesday and Friday. I'm all full up.
I have no idea what all that was about, but I feel better now that it's out. :) Whew! So, I'm thinking of posting the drawing Wednesday *fingers crossed*, so spread the word! I'll have two... three... I don't know, at least three books, maybe more to give away. I just have to remember. That's the key.
I will survive this year, somehow. I'm learning all sorts of neat survival tricks: Do not think about tomorrow, whatever you do! Pick the three most important things, and accomplish those, feel happy. There is always a positive side. Always. Really. Even if you have to squint a bit and kinda tilt your head to the side.... Yeah, I'll make it, hopefully intact.
Next week isn't so bad, in fact. Mom's birthday is tuesday, and there's another meal with more people. (Yeah, somehow she got like uber special.) And saturday is shopping. I hate shopping, and I actually am sorta looking forward to this. Sorta. But that's positive. *need messenger bag, need messenger bag, need....*
Okay, this post makes pretty much zero sense, but it sorta represents how my brain feels just about now, if you really want to know.
Oh, last bits of random news. One, I got my official Jan-Feb '09 verifications for WriYe: 1913. Yeah, not much but it's something. Two, if you like YA fiction, check out here. There's a contest, but you need to go tonight. And the rest of the week, too, but... go tonight. If you don't and you need help, drop me a comment.
Dokey, definitely leaving now. God bless!
Shine~Ley
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Not Completely Braindead
I know, it's a shocker. I actually remembered what else I had planned for this weekend. Good on me.
I desperately need to straighten my room. Gah. I've just been so bleck about the whole situation that I've refused to mess with it. Unfortunately it does not take much unorganization to completely destroy a section of room that small, so.... help it needs. Much help. I also need to organize my history books in a way that make sense and make sure I know what I'm needing from the library next time we go. That means lists! Goodie! (Yes, that's genuine excitement.)
Okay, the only reason for this post was to make sure I didn't forget again, so... yup. Now off to answer my history questions and write my composition for today. Eechh.
Shine~Ley
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Free Stuff!
S. J. Day is having this really sweet "Get Marked Giveaway". I haven't read anything by her yet, but I need to. The covers are just so cool! Library here I come! And if the cover grabs your attention, head on over and sign up!
I'm Still Alive... and Breathing!
Yay me! I actually accomplished a lot this weekend. Well, sunday really. Saturday was work. Downstairs in the children's room. Booooring. I read through.... 17 months worth of Unshelved. Good comic.
Anyway, accomplished things, yes. I finished my application to Baldwin-Wallace, and am working on the other documents that I need to apply. I finally found the disadvantage of being homeschooled. Applying to college is just plain confusing. OSU's homeschooler policy is worse though. I'm still lost on that end of things. I really hope I'm accepted to BW. Heh.
I rather like the essay I wrote for the application. If you really beg, I might post it. Think Lawhead... I was.
So sunday, I mopped, washed my sheets and made my bed, wrote an essay, finished my application, wrote an e-mail to the admissions counselor about being homeschooled (and got a reply this evening!), finished reading my WRP book, and e-mailed Kat (who took over for Jill 'cause she's getting published in April!). Whew!
Next weekend won't be quite so bad. I just have to write my graduation essay (bleh), and clean the bathroom... That's all I can think of. Wow, that's nice.
I still need to do that giveaway, don't I? Huh, maybe... ooh, beginning of next month would be best. Somebody better remind me, or I'll forget. Again. :)
Speaking of giveaways.... look up!
Sunday, February 08, 2009
General Update...
cause I's a naughty 'un and ain't posted in like, for-ev-er. So first a pan-apology that the blog died and I sorta left its rotting corpse lying around. (What can I say, I have a morbid imagination.) I'm writing this for my laptop which is what a month and a half old. I'm still working on a name for the dear thing. Until then it gets called all sorts of weird endearments.
Okay, let's try to mention the big stuffs here. Laptop, check. WriYe 2009? Yes, I did sign up again. Who can resist a challenge right? I didn't hit the goal last year, which was 100,000 words. My official count was 80-some. Good enough for me. It's probably doubled the wordcount of my... life. I'm aiming for 100,000 semi-seriously this year also. Basically, if I get there it's a miracle. I'm not trying real hard, but I'm trying to enjoy the chances I have.
Next up is... college. Why not. I've partially applied to OSU and am planning to apply to BW and possibly (this one is iffy) IC. Who knows maybe something else will come up to. I'm just glad the whole college issue is moving somewhere. I'm going to college!
The last big thing that I can think of, is Crystal. She is moving in. Moved in. Somewhere in between? Anyway, we're working on her becoming legal ward of my parents, and fortunately her guardians aren't protesting. Else, 'twouldn't be pretty.
Beyond that, I'm holding done a job, striving to do school, trying not to have a mental breakdown, and keeping my sanity only through the amazing writing of authors like Briggs, Hamilton, Kenyon (And yes, I am a minion!), and Carey. Along with... way too many others to count. Mine own writing helps too. It's amazing what the feeling of accomplishment can do for a crushed ego.
Anyway, I'm hoping to have a contest sometime.... I found some doubles of books on my shelf. And somehow it doesn't surprise me. But until then, pray for me, yeah? I'll try to post more regularly here. Good for my sanity if nothing else.
Or maybe I'll just go all Zarek on everybody and throw cares to the wind....
Whatever. Shine~Ley
Sunday, December 21, 2008
The Sword and the Flute by Mike Hamel
Unfortunately, I haven't gotten a hold of this book yet. But reading the first chapter, you gotta admit it sounds real interesting. *grins* Maybe I'll ILL it....
It's the 21st, time for the Teen FIRST blog tour! This is the very last Teen FIRST tour as Teen FIRST has merged with FIRST Wild Card Tours. If you wish to learn more about FIRST Wild Card, please go HERE.
Amg Publishers (January 22, 2007)
Mike Hamel is a seasoned storyteller who has honed his skill over theyears by telling tall tales to his four children. He is the author of several non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles.Mike and his wife, Susan, live in Colorado Springs, CO. Their four children are now grown and their two grand children will soon be old enough for stories of their own.
From His Blog's About Me:
I am a professional writer with sixteen books to my credit, including a trilogy of titles dealing with faith and business: The Entrepreneur’s Creed (Broadman, 2001), Executive Influence (NavPress, 2003), and Giving Back (NavPress, 2003). I also edited Serving Two Masters: Reflections on God and Profit, by Bill Pollard (Collins, 2006).
My most enjoyable project to date has been an eight-volume juvenile fiction series called Matterhorn the Brave. It’s based on variegated yarns I used to spin for my four children. They are now grown and my two grandchildren will soon be old enough for stories of their own.
I live in Colorado Springs, Colorado with my bride of 34 years, Susan.
As you read this blog, remember that I’m a professional. Don’t try this level of writing at home. You might suffer a dangling participle or accidentally split an infinitive and the grammarians will be all over you like shoe salesmen on a centipede.
BTW – I have been diagnosed with Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma, an aggressive but treatable form of cancer.
Mike's Blog, Cells Behaving Badly, is an online diary about Wrestling with Lymphoma Cancer.
To order a signed edition of any of the 6 Matterhorn the Brave books, please visit the Matterhorn the Brave Website!
Product Details
List Price: 9.99
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Paperback: 181 pages
Publisher: Amg Publishers (January 22, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0899578330
ISBN-13: 978-0899578330
AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:
Emerald IsleAaron the Baron hit the ground like a paratrooper, bending his knees, keeping his balance.
Matterhorn landed like a 210-pound sack of dirt.
His stomach arrived a few seconds later.
He straightened his six-foot-four frame into a sitting position. In the noonday sun he saw they were near the edge of a sloping meadow. The velvet grass was dotted with purple and yellow flowers. Azaleas bloomed in rainbows around the green expanse. The black-faced sheep mowing the far end of the field paid no attention to the new arrivals.
“Are you okay?” the Baron asked. He looked as if he’d just stepped out of a Marines’ recruiting poster. “We’ll have to work on your landing technique.”
“How about warning me when we’re going somewhere,” Matterhorn grumbled.
The Baron helped him up and checked his pack to make sure nothing was damaged. He scanned the landscape in all directions from beneath the brim of his red corduroy baseball cap. “It makes no difference which way we go,” he said at last. “The horses will find us.”
“What horses?”
“The horses that will take us to the one we came to see,” the Baron answered.
“Are you always this vague or do you just not know what you’re doing?”
“I don’t know much, but I suspect this is somebody’s field. We don’t want to be caught trespassing. Let’s go.”
They left the meadow, walking single file through the tall azaleas up a narrow valley. Thorny bushes with loud yellow blossoms crowded the trail next to a clear brook. Pushing one of the prickly plants away, Matterhorn asked, “Do you know what these are?”
“Gorse, of course,” the Baron said without turning.
“Never heard of it.”
“Then I guess you haven’t been to Ireland before.”
“Ireland,” Matterhorn repeated. “My great-grandfather came from Ireland.”
“Your great-grandfather won’t be born for centuries yet.”
Matterhorn stepped over a tangle of exposed roots and said, “What do you mean?”
“I mean we’re in medieval Ireland, not modern Ireland.”
“How can that be!” Matterhorn cried, stopping in his tracks. “How can I be alive before my great-grandfather?”
The Baron shrugged. “That’s one of the paradoxes of time travel. No one’s been able to figure them all out. You’re welcome to try, but while you’re at it, keep a lookout for the horses.”
Matterhorn soon gave up on paradoxes and became absorbed in the paradise around him. The colors were so alive they hurt his eyes. He wished for a pair of sunglasses. Above the garish gorse he saw broom bushes and pine trees growing to the ridge where spectacular golden oaks crowned the slopes. Birdsongs whistled from their massive branches into the warm air. Small animals whispered in the underbrush while larger game watched the strangers from a distance.
The country flattened out and, at times, they glimpsed stone houses over the tops of hedgerows. They steered clear of these and any other signs of civilization. In a few hours, they reached the spring that fed the brook they had been following. They stopped to rest and wash up.
That’s where the horses found them.
There were five strikingly handsome animals. The leader of the pack was from ancient and noble stock. He stood a proud seventeen hands high—five-foot-eight-inches—at the shoulders. He had a classic Roman face with a white star on his wide forehead that matched the white socks on his forelegs. His straight back, sturdy body, and broad hindquarters suggested both power and speed. A rich coppery mane and tail complemented his sleek, chestnut coat.
The Baron held out an apple to the magnificent animal, but the horse showed no interest in the fruit or the man. Neither did the second horse. The third, a dappled stallion, took the apple and let the Baron pet his nose.
“These horses are free,” the Baron said as he stroked the stallion’s neck. “They choose their riders, which is as it should be. Grab an apple and find your mount.”
While Matterhorn searched for some fruit, the leader sauntered over and tried to stick his big nose into Matterhorn’s pack. When Matterhorn produced an apple, the horse pushed it aside and kept sniffing.
Did he want carrots, Matterhorn wondered? How about the peanut butter sandwich? Not until he produced a pocket-size Snickers bar did the horse whinny and nod his approval.
The Baron chuckled as Matterhorn peeled the bar and watched it disappear in a loud slurp. “That one’s got a sweet tooth,” he said.
The three other horses wandered off while the Baron and Matterhorn figured out how to secure their packs to the two that remained. “I take it we’re riding without saddles or bridles,” Matterhorn said. This made him nervous, as he had been on horseback only once before.
“Bridles aren’t necessary,” Aaron the Baron explained. “Just hold on to his mane and stay centered.” He boosted Matterhorn onto his mount. “The horses have been sent for us. They’ll make sure we get where we need to go.”
As they set off, Matterhorn grabbed two handfuls of long mane from the crest of the horse’s neck. He relaxed when he realized the horse was carrying him as carefully as if a carton of eggs was balanced on his back. Sitting upright, he patted the animal’s neck. “Hey, Baron; check out this birthmark.” He rubbed a dark knot of tufted hair on the chestnut’s right shoulder. “It looks like a piece of broccoli. I’m going to call him Broc.”
“Call him what you want,” the Baron said, “but you can’t name him. The Maker gives the animals their names. A name is like a label; it tells you what’s on the inside. Only the Maker knows that.”
Much later, and miles farther into the gentle hills, they made camp in a lea near a tangle of beech trees. “You get some wood,” Aaron the Baron said, “while I make a fire pit.” He loosened a piece of hollow tubing from the side of his pack and gave it a sharp twirl. Two flanges unrolled outward and clicked into place to form the blade of a short spade. Next, he pulled off the top section and stuck it back on at a ninety-degree angle to make a handle.
Matterhorn whistled. “Cool!”
“Cool is what we’ll be if you don’t get going.”
Matterhorn hurried into the forest. He was thankful to be alone for the first time since becoming an adult, something that happened in an instant earlier that day. Seizing a branch, he did a dozen chin-ups; then dropped and did fifty push-ups and a hundred sit-ups.
Afterward he rested against a tree trunk and encircled his right thigh with both hands. His fingertips didn’t touch. Reaching farther down, he squeezed a rock-hard calf muscle.
All this bulk was new to him, yet it didn’t feel strange. This was his body, grown up and fully developed. Flesh of his flesh; bone of his bone. Even hair of his hair, he thought, as he combed his fingers through the thick red ponytail.
He took the Sword hilt from his hip. The diamond blade extended and caught the late afternoon sun in a dazzling flash. This mysterious weapon was the reason he was looking for firewood in an Irish forest instead of sitting in the library at David R. Sanford Middle School.
Monday, December 01, 2008
Leave It to Chance by Sherri Sand
eep... *runs* back tomorrow...
[12-2-08] Okay, sorry that was a little odd. It was just very... loud in the house just then. Anywho...
It was really nice to read a good, normal contemporary novel. I didn't realize how much I missed them until I got a hold of one again! And this sure was a good one to get back into. Great storyline, with the adorable kids and old grouch. And as oxymoronic as this sounds... You gotta love a good, flawed hero. The heroine too was so real. She had issues, and a mother that scared the heck out of me (*grins*), but she was so lovable, and relatable.
This book just flew by me. It wrenched an emotional response from me, willing or not. And, shh, don't tell, but I totally read when I shoulda been doing schoolwork. And that's not normal for me! Read the chapter below!
It is time for the FIRST Blog Tour! On the FIRST day of every month we feature an author and his/her latest book's FIRST chapter!
and her book:
Leave it to Chance
David C. Cook (May 2008)
Sherri Sand is a wife and mother of four young children who keep her scrambling to stay ahead of the spilled milk. When she needs stress relief from wearing all the hats required to clothe, feed and ferry her rambunctious brood, you may find her sitting in a quiet corner of a bistro reading a book (surrounded by chocolate), or running on one of the many trails near her home. Sherri is a member of The Writer’s View and American Christian Fiction Writers. She finds the most joy in writing when the characters take on a life of their own and she becomes the recorder of their stories. She holds a degree in psychology from the University of Oregon where she graduated cum laude. Sherri and her family live in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.She's also a blogger! So stop by and say hi to Sherri at Creations in the Sand!
Product Details:
List Price: $13.99
Paperback: 353 pages
Publisher: David C. Cook (May 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1434799883
ISBN-13: 978-1434799883
AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:
“A horse? Mom, what am I going to do with a horse?” Just what she and the kids did not need. Sierra Montgomery sagged back against her old kitchen counter, where afternoon sunlight dappled the white metal cabinets across from her. She pressed the phone tight against her ear, hoping she’d heard wrong, as her four-year-old son, Trevor, ate grapes at the kitchen table.“Miss Libby wanted you to have it. I’d think you’d be delighted, what with the kids and all. You remember Sally, Miss Libby’s daughter? Well, she just called and said it was all laid out in the will. None of their family could figure out who Sierra Lassiter Montgomery was until Sally remembered me from her mom’s church. So she called and sure enough, you were my daughter.” Sierra’s mom tsked into the phone. “Well, you know how Sally is.”
Sierra hadn’t the foggiest how Sally was, or even who she was. She barely remembered Miss Libby from her Sunday school class eons ago.
“She acted pleased that her mother gave you the horse, but I could tell she was miffed. Though what Sally Owens would do with a horse, I’d like to know.” Her mom’s voice was tight and controlled as if they were discussing how to deal with black spot on her Old English roses.
“But I don’t want a horse. You, of all people, should know that after what happened when—” How could her mom even suggest she get a horse? Painful pictures of her childhood friend Molly floated through her mind.
“Honey, accidents like that don’t happen more than once in a lifetime. Besides, Miss Libby wouldn’t have owned a crazy horse.”
Sierra stared out the window where the school bus would soon release her most precious treasures. Her mom never had understood the resounding impact that summer day had made in her life.
“You really need to think of the kids and how much fun they’d have. It’s not like you’d ever be able to afford to buy them one.”
Sierra wished she were having this conversation with Elise rather than her mother. Her best friend would understand the danger she feared in horses, and in her humorous way come up with a sensible plan that would include not keeping the animal.
Her mom, on the other hand, lived life as if she were on one of those moving conveyors at the airport that people can step on to rest their feet yet keep moving toward their destination. As long as everyone kept traveling forward, she could ignore the emotional baggage dragging behind.
“I don’t understand why Miss Libby would give the horse to me.”
“You know how my bingo club visited the Somerset rest home every week? Well, Miss Libby’s been there for years and she always did comment on how horse crazy you were when she taught your Sunday school class.”
“Mom, that was a phase I went through when I was ten and found National Velvet and Black Beauty at the library. I haven’t seen Miss Libby since middle school.”
“Obviously you were special to Miss Libby. I’d think you might be a little more grateful.”
Deep breath, Sierra told herself. “I am grateful.” An errant grape rolled next to her toe. Trevor’s blond head was bent, intent on arranging the fruit like green soldiers around the edge of his plate. Sierra tossed the grape into the sink and considered how to respond to her mom. She was a dear, but sometimes the woman was like dry kindling on a hot day, and one little spark…. “I’m just not sure that owning a horse would be a wise move at this point in our lives.”
The front door slammed and Sierra felt the walls shudder with the thud. The 3:00 p.m. stampede through the house meant it was time to get off the phone and determine how to get rid of a horse before the kids found out about it.
Her mom sighed. “It’s too bad Sally won’t keep the horse at her place for you, but she said her husband wants the horse gone. He wants to fill the pasture with sheep.”
Sheep? A kitchen chair scraped over the linoleum as Trevor scooted back from the table and dashed for the living room. “Mommy’s got a horse! Mommy’s got a horse!” Wonderful. Little ears, big mouth.
Braden and Emory shot into the kitchen, bright eyes dancing in tandem. Their words tangled together in fevered excitement despite the fact that she was on the phone.
“Where is it?” Braden’s eleven-year-old grin split his face, and his dark hair was rumpled and sweat streaked, likely from a fevered game of basketball during last recess.
She held a hand up to still the questions as her mom went on about the sheep that Sally’s husband probably did not need.
“We have a horse?” Nine-year-old Emory, her blonde hair still neat in its purple headband, fluttered in front of her mom, delight and hope blooming on her face.
Despite the fear of horses building deep in Sierra’s gut, her children’s excitement was a little contagious. She wished Miss Libby had willed her a cat.
Sierra ran her hand down Emory’s soft cheek and whispered. “I’ll be off the phone in a minute, sweetie.”
“Can we ride it?” Em looked at her with elated eyes.
Braden tossed his backpack on the table. “Where are we going to keep it?”
The kids circled her, jabbering with excited questions. Sierra rubbed her forehead with the tips of her fingers. “I gotta go, Mom. I’ve got to break some cowboy hearts.”
The kids clamored around her, Braden taking the lead with an arm draped across her shoulder. When had he gotten so big? “Do we have a horse, Mom?” He asked the question with a lopsided grin, a foreshadow of the adolescence that had been peeking through lately. The preteen in him didn’t truly believe they had a horse—he was old enough to realize the odds—but little-boy eagerness clung to his smile.
“That would be yes and a no.”
“What? Mom!” he complained.
“I was given a horse, but we’re not going to keep him.” Braden’s arm slid off her shoulder, a scowl replacing his smile. “Why not?”
“Someone gave you a horse?” Emory ignored her brother’s attitude and flashed her most persuasive grin. “Can we keep him? Please!”
Sierra smoothed her hand over the silky hair and leaned close to her daughter’s face as Emory went on. “I think we should get four horses so we each have one. We could go trail riding. Cameron’s mom has horses, and they go riding all the time as a family.”
“We’re not a family anymore,” Braden cut in. “We stopped being a family when mom divorced dad.”
A shard of pain drove into Sierra’s gut. She hadn’t had time to brace for that one. Braden’s anger at the divorce had been building like an old steam engine lately.
“That’s not fair!” Outrage darkened Emory’s features. “It’s not Mom’s fault!”
Sarcasm colored Braden’s voice. “Oh, so it’s all Dad’s fault?”
Sierra saw the confusion that swept over her daughter’s face. She was fiercely loyal to both parents and didn’t know how to defend them against each other.
Sierra spoke in a firm tone. “Braden, that’s enough!”
He scowled at her again. “Whatever.”
Sierra held his gaze until he glanced away.
“Guys, we’re not going to play the blame game. We have plenty to be thankful for, and that’s what is important.”
Braden’s attitude kept pouring it on. “Boy, and we have so much. Spaghetti for dinner every other night.”
“So what, Braden-Maden!” Emory made a face and stuck her tongue out at him.
“No more fighting or you two can go to your rooms.” Her kids were not perfect, but they used to like each other. Something had changed. Her gut said it was her ex-husband, Michael, but what if she was falling into the whole “blame the dad” thing herself? What if she was really the problem? Two weeks without a job had added stress and worry. Had she stopped hugging them as often in between scouring the want ads and trying to manage a home and bills?
“Mom?” There was a quaver in Trevor’s soft voice.
“Yes, honey?” Sierra gave him a gentle smile.
“Can we keep the horse?”
Emory’s blue gaze darted to meet hers, a plea in them. Braden sat with his arms crossed over his chest, but his ears had pricked up.
Sierra looked at them, wanting them to understand and knowing they wouldn’t. “None of us know how to handle or care for a horse, so it wouldn’t be safe to keep him.”
Emory’s face lit up. “Cameron’s mom could teach us.”
“Honey, it’s not that simple. We can’t afford an animal that big. He probably eats as much in groceries as we do, and it would be very expensive to rent a place for him to live.”
“I could mow yards.” Anger at his sister forgotten, Braden turned a hopeful face to her. “We could help out.”
Emory jumped onto the working bandwagon. “Yeah. I could do laundry or something for the neighbors.”
Braden drilled his sister a look that said idiot idea but didn’t say anything.
Trevor bounced in his chair, eager to be a part of keeping the horse. “I could wash cars.”
“Those are great ideas, but they won’t bring in quite enough, especially since it’s getting too cold to mow lawns or wash cars.”
“You just don’t want to keep the horse, Mom,” Braden said. “I get it. End of story.”
“Honey, I’d love for you to have a horse, but when I was young I had a friend—”
Emory spoke in a helpful tone. “We know. Grandma told us about the accident.”
They knew? Wasn’t the story hers to share? “When did Grandma tell you?”
Braden’s voice took on a breezy air. “I don’t know. A while ago. Come on, Mom. We’re not going to do something dumb like your friend did.”
Defensiveness rose inside. “She didn’t do anything dumb. It was the horse that—”
“So because something bad happened to one person, your kids can never do anything fun for the rest of their lives.”
Sierra gave him a look. “Or you learn from your mistakes and help your kids to do the same.”
Braden rolled his eyes at her.
Worry drew lines across her daughter’s forehead. “Are you going to sell him?”
“Yes, Em. So we’re not going to discuss this anymore. You and Braden have homework to do.” At the chorus of groans she held her hands up. “Okay, I guess I’ll have to eat Grandma’s apple pie all by myself.”
Braden grabbed his backpack and slowly dragged it across the floor toward the stairs, annoyance in his voice. “We’re going.” Emory trotted past him up the stairs.
Trevor remained behind, one arm wrapped around her thigh. “I don’t have any homework.”
She squatted and pulled him in for a hug. “Nope, you sure don’t, bud.”
He leaned back. “Do I get a horse?”
Sierra distracted him by inching her fingers up his ribs. “What, Trev?”
He tried to talk around his giggles. “Do I get—Mom!” Her fingers found the tickle spots under his arms and he laughed, his eyes squinted shut and mouth opened wide. She found all his giggle spots, then turned on Sesame Street as the second distraction. Good old Bert and Ernie.
Now what? She had roughly forty-five minutes to figure out how she was going to get rid of a horse and not be a complete zero in her kids’ eyes.
She eyed the phone and made her next move. Five minutes later a white Mazda whipped into her driveway. Sierra hurried out the front door waving her arms to stop Elise before she could start her ritual honking for the kids.
Wide eyed, her platinum blonde friend stared, one long plum-colored nail hovering above the “ooga” horn on the dash. “What?”
“I don’t want the kids to know you’re here.”
Wicked delight spread across her perfectly made-up face. Light plum shadow matched her nails. Tomorrow, both eye shadow and nails could be green. “Let me guess! Mr. Pellum asked you out!”
“Nooooo!” Mr. Pellum was a teacher Sierra and Elise had had a crush on in seventh grade.
“Ummm … you robbed a bank and need me to watch the kids while you fly to Tahiti?”
Sierra gave her a mock-serious look. “Done?”
Elise tilted her head. “Can I get out of the car?”
Sierra glanced toward the house. All was still silent. “Yes, you may.”
Deadpan, Elise nodded and opened the door. “Then I’m done for now.” Her plump body, swathed in a creamy suit with a purple scarf draped across one shoulder, rose gracefully from the small two-seater.
Sierra closed the door for her, then leaned against it. Elise had a way of removing the extraneous and reducing a problem down to the bare essentials. “Elise, I’m in a predicament.”
“Hon, I’ve been trying to tell you that for years.”
Sierra shook her head. “I don’t think you could have seen this one coming even with your crystal ball.”
Elise gave her the spinster teacher look through narrowed eyes. “I don’t think I like the implications of that.”
Sierra held her hands out. “You are the queen of mind-reading, according to my children.”
Elise chuckled. “It’s a good thing I was just headed out for a latte break when you called. Now what’s the big emergency?” She owned a high-end clothing store for plus-sized women in downtown Eugene.
“A horse.”
Elise glanced around as if one or two might be lurking behind a tree.
“A herd of them or just one?”
“One. Full-sized. Living and breathing.”
“I believe I’m missing some pieces here. Is it moving in with you? Holding one of the children hostage? What?”
Sierra breathed out a slight chuckle and tucked a stray hair behind her ear. “You’re not going to believe this, but I inherited it.”
Her friend’s eyes grew wide, emphasizing the lushly mascaraed lashes. “Like someone died and gave you their horse?”
Sierra nodded, raising her brows. “And the kids want to keep him.”
Furrows emerged across Elise’s forehead. “Who is the idiot that told them about the horse?”
Sierra tilted her head with a look that only best friends could give each other.
Elise’s perfectly painted lips smirked. “Moving along, then. Why don’t you keep it? The kids would love it. Heaven knows they deserve it.” She clapped her hands together. “Oh, oh! They could get into 4-H, and Braden could learn to barrel race. That kid would think he’d won the jackpot. Emory and Trevor could get a pig or some of those show roosters.”
Sierra let the idea machine wind down. “I don’t think so.”
“Angora rabbits?”
“No farm animals.”
Elise’s mouth perked into humorous pout. “Sierra, you’re such a spoilsport. Those kids need a pet.”
“A hamster is a pet. A horse is not.”
Diva Elise took the stage, hands on her ample hips. “Don’t tell me you didn’t want a horse growing up. Remember, I was the one who had to sit and watch National Velvet with you time ad nauseam. You’ve said yourself that Braden needs something to take his mind off the problems he’s having at school and with his dad.”
Guilt, a wheelbarrow load of it, dumped on Sierra. “You are supposed to be helping me, Elise, not making it worse. I want to get rid of this horse and …” her eyes dodged away from her friend, “… you know.”
“Mmm-hmm. And still look like Super Mom in your children’s eyes.”
Sierra nodded, but couldn’t find the nerve to say yes.
“Sierra Montgomery, those children have been to heck and back in the last couple years and you’re willing to deny them the pleasure of owning their own free horse because … because of what?”
Sierra stared at the ground for a moment, feeling a tangle of emotions rise within. She let her eyes rest on Elise’s and said quietly, “Fear? Terror? Hysteria?”
A look of puzzlement, then understanding settled on Elise’s face, smoothing away the annoyance. “Molly.”
Sierra nodded. “I won’t put my children in that kind of danger.”
Elise leaned forward and grabbed Sierra’s hands, holding them tight. “Oh, hon. That was a long time ago. Don’t let your life be ruled by the what-ifs. There’s a lot of living left to do. And your kids need to see you taking life by storm, taking chances, not hiding in the shadows.”
“That’s easy for you to say. You were voted most likely to parachute off the Empire State Building.”
Elise gave her a cheeky grin, both dimples winking at her. “We could do it tandem!”
“If you see me jump off the Empire State Building you’ll know my lobotomy was successful, because there is no way in this lifetime you’ll catch this body leaving good sense behind!” Sierra heard the words come from her own mouth and stared at her friend in wonder. “Oh, my gosh. That was so my mom.”
“It was bound to happen, hon.”
Was she serious? “You think I’m turning into her?” Sierra brought a hand to her throat and quickly dropped it. How many times had she seen her mom use the same gesture?
Elise laughed. “You need to stop fretting and just live. We all turn out like our mothers in some respect.”
“All except you. You’re nothing like Vivian.”
“Other than the drinking, smoking, and carousing, I’m exactly like her.”
Sierra lifted a brow. Her mom had rarely let her go to Elise’s house when they were growing up—and for good reason. Elise struck a pose like a fashion model. “Okay, I’m the anti-Vivian.” She gave Sierra a soft smile. “All funnin’ aside, I really think you should keep the horse.”
“I’m not keeping the horse. And even if I wanted to, I couldn’t.” Sierra took a settling breath and stared at the tree over Elise’s shoulder.
“Michael still hasn’t paid?”
Elise knew more about her finances than her mom did. “He paid, but the check bounced again. So now he’s two months behind in child support.”
“Have you heard if Pollan’s is rehiring?”
“They’re not.” Jarrett’s, the local grocery store where she worked for the three years since the divorce had been recently bought out by Pollan’s. They had laid off the majority of the checkers with the possibility of rehiring some.
Elise cringed as if she was bracing herself for a blow. “And the unemployment fiasco?”
Sierra shut her eyes. “Mr. Jarrett did not pay into our unemployment insurance, so there is no benefit for us to draw from. Yes, it was illegal, and yes he will pay, but it may take months, if not years, for various lawyers and judges to beat it out of him.” She gave Elise a tired smile. “That’s the version minus all the legalese.”
“So the layoffs are final, no unemployment bennies, and you’re out of a job.”
“Momentarily. The résumé has been dusted off and polished.” She gave a wry grin.
“I wish I could hire you at Deluxe Couture, but I promised Nora fulltime work. And besides, your cute little buns would drive my clientele away.”
Sierra waved a hand over her jeans and sweatshirt. “Your clientele would outshine me any day.”
“You sell yourself far too short.” Elise glanced at the hefty rhinestone encrusted watch on her wrist. “Anything else I can do for you? Help the kids with their homework? Babysit while you sweep some tall, dark, handsome man off his feet?”
Sierra laughed. “And where is this dream man going to come from?”
Elise gave a breezy wave of her hand and opened the car door. “Oh, he’ll turn up. You’re too cute to stay single. I actually have someone in mind. Pavo Marcello. He’s a new sales rep from one of my favorite lines. I’ll see if he’s free Friday night. You aren’t doing anything, are you?”
“Hold on!” Sierra stepped in front of the car door to keep her friend from leaving. “First, I’m not looking. Second, given my history, I’m not the best judge of character. I’ve already struck out once in the man department.” She pointed to her face with both index fingers. “Not anxious to try again. Third, you just told me I’m turning into my mom, which makes me definitely not dating material.”
A twist of Elise’s lips signaled a thought. “You know, now that I think about it, I believe he has a boyfriend.” She shook her head and lowered herself into the car. “We’ll keep looking. I’m sure Sir Knight will turn up.”
Sierra shut the car door and grinned down at her friend. “And what about finding your knight?”
Elise gave her a bright smile. “Mr. Pellum is already taken. You really need to find a way to keep that horse; it’ll be your first noble sacrifice.”
“First?”
The little car backed up, and Elise spoke over the windshield. “The others don’t count.”
Sierra stared at the retreating car. There was no way she was keeping that horse.
After dinner, Sierra crept into Braden’s room. He sat on the bed intent on the Game Boy in his lap, the tinny sound of hard rock bleeding out of his earphones. She waved a hand and he glanced up. She waited and with a look of preteen exasperation he finally pulled the headphones to his shoulders.
“What, Mom?”
“I just wanted to say good night.”
“Good night.” His hands started to readjust the music back into position.
“I looked at your homework.”
“You got into my backpack? Isn’t that like against the law or something? You’re always telling us not to get into your stuff.”
She crossed her arms. Frustration and worry gnawed at her. “You lied to me about doing your assignment. Why, honey?”
He ignored her and started playing his Game Boy.
She took one step and snatched the game from his hands.
“Hey!”
“I want some respect when I talk to you, Braden.”
His chin sank toward his chest, his gaze fixed on his bed, his voice low. “I didn’t want to do it.”
She sat next to him, her voice soft. “Is it too hard?”
He shrugged. “It gives me a headache when I work on it.”
“Braden, if you need help, I’d be happy to work with you after school.”
He stared at his knees and picked at a loose string of cotton on his pajama bottoms.
“I got a phone call from Mrs. Hamison today.”
His body came alert, though he didn’t look at her.
“She said you’re flunking most of your subjects, and she hasn’t seen any homework from you since school started a month ago.”
He glanced up, his jaw belligerent, but with fear in his eyes.
“What’s going on? I know school isn’t easy, but you’ve never given up before.”
“Middle school’s harder.”
She wanted to touch him, to brush the hair off his forehead and snuggle him close the way she used to when he was small. Back when a hug and a treat shared over the kitchen table was enough to bring the sparkle back to her son. “She thinks we should have your vision tested.”
“Why?”
“She’s noticed some things in class and thinks it might be helpful.”
He shrugged again. “Can I have my game back?”
“You lied to me, son. Again.”
“Sor-ry.”
“You break trust every time you choose to be dishonest. Is that what you want?”
His voice was sullen and he stared at his comforter. “No.”
She touched his leg. “What’s bothering you, honey?”
“I dunno. Can I have my game back?”
She stood up. There was a time for talking and this obviously wasn’t it. “You can have it tomorrow.”
But would tomorrow be any different?
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