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    Grist
    Grist
    Grist
    Ebook68 pages1 hour

    Grist

    By Eddie Avery

    ()

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    About this ebook

    "Grist is an old-fashioned mystery skillfully crafted with new-fashioned flair! The intrigue includes unexplained deaths, puzzles from beyond the grave -- and maybe even vampires -- but the heart of this story is centered around seven friends and their care for one another. Dynamics, confrontations, and even Western NY's winter chill can't squelch the compelling camaraderie in this tale."
    -- Gregory Gerard, author of In Jupiter's Shadow

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherEddie Avery
    Release dateAug 17, 2010
    ISBN9781452415642
    Grist
    Author

    Eddie Avery

    Eddie Avery is an author and poet who grew up in Western New York.

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      Book preview

      Grist - Eddie Avery

      An early review for Grist:

      Grist is an old-fashioned mystery skillfully crafted with new-fashioned flair! The intrigue includes unexplained deaths, puzzles from beyond the grave -- and maybe even vampires -- but the heart of this story is centered around seven friends and their care for one another. Dynamics, confrontations, and even Western NY's winter chill can't squelch the compelling camaraderie in this tale.

      -- Gregory Gerard, author of In Jupiter's Shadow

      Grist

      by Eddie Avery

      Smashwords Edition II

      Cover Art by Scott Tang

      Copyright 2010 Eddie Avery

      Smashwords Edition, License Notes

      This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      Grist

      Prologue

      She was up late, talking on the phone to her older sister who had called from San Antonio.

      I saw the national weather report tonight, and it looks pretty cold up there again, Mel. I don't know how you stand it, said her sister. The wildflowers are already out here.

      I like it here in Snowfall City, Kim, just like you used to, Mel replied, smiling.

      Her sister snorted at the old family description of the region. I never liked the snow except at Christmas, and I never liked that husband of yours. You could have a new start far away from him, down here where it's warm.

      Frank is out of my life, now. I haven't seen him in quite a while. Besides, I have my work.

      Please. You can teach lessons here, and there's a great music scene in the area. South by Southwest was just a week ago. You'd love it.

      All my friends are up here, Kim. You know how close we are. I couldn't just leave even if I wanted to.

      Friendship isn't always what it's cracked up to be, Mel. Sure, you think your friends are great when everything is going well, but they can turn on you or drop you if the shadows lengthen. Believe me, I know. Sometimes, you're just grist to people, even so-called friends.

      Mel bit her lip in thought for a moment. No, not me. My friends are my family, she replied.

      I'M your family. Me and Rich and the kids, and Mom and Dad.

      After retiring, their parents had moved to Texas to be near the grandchildren, making it easier to spoil them year round.

      You know what I mean.

      I hope so. Anyway, think about it, Mel. Really, we'd love to have you closer.

      You guys could always move back?

      Yeah, that's going to happen. Kim laughed. Take care.

      Bye.

      Good night.

      Mel put down the phone and looked outside. Fluffy, lake snowflakes had just started falling.

      ~~~~

      April – Song Sparrows

      It was a little past ten on a frosty, Friday night in the Flower City. April that year had started out bright and warm in Western NY with daffodils sprouting everywhere. As the days wore on though, April resembled a dinner guest who brings an excellent wine but turns out to have bad B.O. Now at mid-month, an ice storm had encrusted trees, covered flowers and confounded humans all along the southern shore of Lake Ontario. Smack in the middle of the tempest, Rochester glistened under a growing coat of ice, and most people stayed home dreaming of spring warmth. One particular group of citizens, however, ventured out and met this as they had met other storms (atmospheric or otherwise) with a drink all around.

      This evening found them at one of their favorite hangouts: Extras. The small watering hole and restaurant in the South Wedge neighborhood was the opposite of lavish. Seven small tables dotted the main room. Above the modest bar hung a TV older than most of the patrons, and the menus had nearly as many years on them. Still, Extras had a shabby charm that made all feel at home. Working around two tables shoved together, Mel, Shane, Barry and Tom each had a beer, Fran was drinking a glass of chardonnay, and Nicole was on her second vodka martini. Eddie was late, as usual. These seven ranged in age from mid-twenties to late-forties, and none were related by direct genetics, but they did share much of their lives together.

      You guys have got to hear the song Mel wrote this week! Shane announced. It’s amazing. He looked over at her with a smile that suggested more than friendship. Shane Hughes worked with numbers and figures during the day at Chase Tower, but he longed for live music at night and followed several local bands. Shane had seen Mel perform one night at Milestones a year ago and made it his business to get to know her better. It had taken patience, but slowly the two became friends, and Shane then met and came to know the whole group. Only very recently had he and Mel started to date. Given the obvious attraction between the two, it came as no surprise to the others; they couldn't imagine what had taken so long.

      Every group

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