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    Five Limbs to Climb (A Book of Short Stories)
    Five Limbs to Climb (A Book of Short Stories)
    Five Limbs to Climb (A Book of Short Stories)
    Ebook43 pages42 minutes

    Five Limbs to Climb (A Book of Short Stories)

    By Ryan West

    ()

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    About this ebook

    This book contains five diverse short stories from horror to romance, fantasy to comedy. It has a little of everything and something for every taste.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRyan West
    Release dateJan 20, 2013
    ISBN9781301470501
    Five Limbs to Climb (A Book of Short Stories)

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      Book preview

      Five Limbs to Climb (A Book of Short Stories) - Ryan West

      Five Limbs to Climb

      (A Book of Short Stories)

      Published by Ryan West

      Copyright 2013 Ryan West

      Smashwords Edition

      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 recipient. 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.

      Table of Contents

      Story 1 - The Old Man Speaks

      Story 2 - Ordinarily Extraordinary

      Story 3 - Welcome to the Darkness

      Story 4 - Classic Love

      Story 5 - Charley and Nickel

      Five Limbs to Climb

      *****

      The Old Man Speaks

      When I was 15, I walked to school every day. It wasn’t a long walk; I simple had to go from one side of the park to the other. But on the way I began to notice an Old man sitting on a bench every morning. He arrived at eight as I made my way to school, and left some time during my classes. Being 15 and completely self absorbed, I really didn’t care why the old man was there, or pay any attention to him, other than of course to notice he was there every day.

      When I was 16, and did not have enough money for a car, I still walked to school every day. Being 16, and thinking myself much more intuitive, I began to notice more about the old man. I noticed he arrived every morning at eight and stayed for no more than fifteen minutes. I noticed he was always alone and never brought anything to read or pass the time with. I noticed he came no matter what. In the heat he wore short sleeves, in the cold he wore a jacket and in the rain he brought an umbrella.

      When I was 17, I bought a lemon for a car and still walked to school most days. Being 17 and thinking myself very inquisitive, one day I stopped in front of the old man and asked him, What do you do here every day? The old man looked me dead in the eyes and without hesitation, as if he had declared it a thousand times before said, I’m waiting for my wife. Expecting a more profound answer I simple mumbled a response and walked away.

      When I was 18, I sold the lemon for tuition and still walked to school every day (for the few remaining days I had left that is). Being 18, ready to graduate and about to leave for college, I thought myself very wise. Being very wise I decided to interrogate the old man. This is what was said.

      Why do you wait here for your wife every day?

      Once again the old man looked me dead in the eyes. However this time he had a faint smile on his aged face and beckoned me to sit down and I complied.

      I wait here every day because my wife asked me to wait here for fifteen minutes.

      Not satisfied I asked, Well, where does your wife go every day?

      Nowhere, he replied quite plainly.

      I don’t understand, I said as I began to feel uncomfortable.

      "My wife died, almost

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