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    The Man Who Forgot How to Laugh
    The Man Who Forgot How to Laugh
    The Man Who Forgot How to Laugh
    Ebook78 pages1 hour

    The Man Who Forgot How to Laugh

    By Linda Raab

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    About this ebook

    Victor is a young man who wanders through the countryside trying to forget the tragedy that devastated his life. He settles in a small village where he and his previous life are unknown to the townspeople. In his day-to-day business as a blacksmith he encounters Ranette, who sees the despair in Victor and tries unceasingly to befriend him. As the story unfolds, a surprise awaits them both when Victor reveals his secret and Ranette must face the consequences of her meddling.

    Set in an imaginary time and place, The Man Who Forgot How to Laugh is a timeless and persuasive tale, mingling mystery and romance with the power of goodness and the strength of being a good example. This book shows how perseverance and forgiveness create hope when one has lost heart.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherLinda Raab
    Release dateNov 11, 2011
    ISBN9781452484020
    The Man Who Forgot How to Laugh
    Author

    Linda Raab

    Linda Raab has a M.S. in education, and her teaching career at the middle school level spans 39 years, from Chicago to her hometown of Bedford in southern Indiana. Her specialties include English, journalism, and history. She also studied art and design in Paris and Rome. Known as Dear Raaby, Linda has been giving teens advice since 1989, first as editor of The Cutter’s Edge, a middle school publication, and more recently as a weekly guest columnist for the Times-Mail in Bedford, Indiana. In 1996 she was awarded Teacher of the Year for distinguished service to the youth of Bedford. Linda lives in Bedford with her husband James, and may be reached at dear_raaby@yahoo.com for book signings or other information.

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      Book preview

      The Man Who Forgot How to Laugh - Linda Raab

      The Man Who Forgot How to Laugh

      Linda Collins Raab

      ~ ~ ~ ~

      The Man Who Forgot How to Laugh

      Published by Linda Raab at Smashwords

      Copyright (C) 2011 by Linda Raab

      Ebook ISBN: 978-1-4524-8402-0

      ~~~~

      Smashwords Edition, License Notes

      This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment ONLY and 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 you share it with. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      ~ ~ ~ ~

      For my former students from Emerson Elementary School, Our Lady of Perpetual Help School, Our Lady of Grace School, St. Catherine-St. Lucy School, Bedford Junior High School, Bedford Middle School, and James.

      ~ ~ ~ ~

      Thanks to Adam Roberts and Justis Breedlove for their honesty and candor, and to Chloe Boening for her help with the editing.

      ~ ~ ~ ~

      A special thanks to my husband, my love, James, who has been a most excellent editor and critic.

      ~ ~ ~ ~

      It’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice.

      --Bert Collins

      ~ ~ ~ ~

      Contents

      The End

      Ranette in the Village of Venier

      Victor’s Tale

      The Indifferent Winter

      A Place to Hide the Crushed Spirit

      A Task for an Angel

      Steadfast in Spirit

      Into the Light

      A New Start

      Victor’s Quest

      Elstner at Last

      About the Author

      The End

      Victor knew that escape was impossible. He could run no longer. The sight of the village in front of him tested his resolve to move on, but he could not take another step. Neither could Gray Dove. Devoted and true though she was, the horse was spent with travel. Victor’s incessant wandering was not fair to her. The once beautiful mane was matted and stiff no matter how hard Victor had tried to groom her, and she had lost weight this wearisome past year.

      He looked down at his dirty fingernails and then ran a hand through his own tangled hair. It was time to stop. He could not flee his past. He had tried, sleeping night after sleepless night in fields or the occasional inn, and riding an endless string of days on unfamiliar roads, but the past haunted him still. Come what may, this town was the last.

      Dear God, he whispered, I am at the end of my reason. I suppose this is a just punishment for me.

      ~ ~ ~ ~

      Ranette in the Village of Venier

      With the glassworks key safe in her pocket, Ranette half-skipped, half-ran down the path that led to the river. She intended to meet up with friends and begin the biggest celebration of the year, Venier’s Spring-time River Time. She had volunteered to close up the glass shop after she swept up the splinters from the morning’s work. At this moment, as her single braid bounced against her back, and her feet flew over the hardened dirt lane, her mind filled not with the dancing and contests of the festival, but with the hope that today she would receive her first kiss.

      It was no secret that Ranette was eighteen and had never been courted while many girls her age were married. She felt that the kiss was long overdue and had begun to worry lately if she would ever be kissed. The desire for this special intimacy consumed her thoughts. Just whom she wanted to kiss was no mystery.

      Ranette wanted to kiss Gavin Shumael, a friend since childhood who now worked with her as a fellow apprentice at the glassworks. While their tutor was demonstrating a cutting technique the day before, she had looked up to see Gavin’s eyes fastened on hers. She thought it might be an indication that he wanted to be more than the fine friend that he was, and Ranette felt that they were making a new connection of sorts. Now, as she hurried along the path to the river, her yearning was stronger than ever for that special kiss. Perhaps today, she thought. Yes, at the festival. Perhaps, perhaps.

      A sobbing sound interrupted her hopeful reverie, and she stopped. The whimpering came from the woods not far from the path she walked. She stepped into the shade and discovered a pathetic sight. A filthy lad of about nine was moaning with his eyes squinted shut and his hands holding a bloody ankle. He leaned against a tree for support and heard Ranette’s sudden approach.

      Hello there, she said as she edged near to him. Don’t be afraid. However, fear did seize the boy, and he bared his teeth, and tried to scramble away from her as he hissed a warning.

      Get away from me. I have no need for you, he snarled.

      Undeterred, Ranette sidled up closer to him. Sh, she whispered. I won’t harm you. I will help you, I promise. Let me see your leg. What happened?

      When at last she could touch him, he fell against her, his bravado gone. He struggled through his tears to belch out a few words, …lost the sheep…hungry…, and Ranette’s heart ached for him.

      She soothed him and held him. You’re going to be fine now. I will see to that. His crying ebbed, her words calming him. Do you think you can talk to me now? Can you tell me your name?

      The boy nodded. I’m Ruben, he sniffed, rubbing his eyes with a grimy hand.

      "Hello, Ruben. I’m Ranette. The town on this lane is Venier.

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