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Tales For A Sleepless Night
Tales For A Sleepless Night
Tales For A Sleepless Night
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Tales For A Sleepless Night

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A collection of seventeen short stories by novelist Sean Patrick O'Mordha to give you reason to cry, shout, laugh, and make you look under the bed.

LanguageEnglish
Release dateJan 28, 2013
ISBN9781301459056
Tales For A Sleepless Night
Author

Sean Patrick O'Mordha

Sean O'Mordha grew up riding horses through the mountains of SE Wyoming. Fresh out of high school and attending the University of Nebraska - Lincoln, he landed the job of cub reporter for a major newspaper there. During the next two years, he studied journalism and archaeology and came under the tutelage of writer, Rod Serling. That career path was interrupted upon receiving an all-expense, paid trip to Vietnam courtesy of Uncle Sam. Returning home, life took a decidedly different direction as he a Law Enforcement Officer, completing a career as a Federal officer and special prosecutor in his native Wyoming twenty-two years later. During this time he actively wrote for National and International police journals. Upon retirement, he continued writing non-fiction and short fiction until encouraged to write a novel. He has published a number of novels and many short stories. The father of three, he retired to southern Arizona to be near grandchildren when not traveling to the locations of the next novel under construction. He also is involved with operations at Celtic Publications of Arizona.

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    Book preview

    Tales For A Sleepless Night - Sean Patrick O'Mordha

    Tales for a Sleepless Night

    A collection of short stories

    by

    Sean O’Mordha

    Smashwords Edition

    * * * * *

    Cover by: Bill H. Moore

    Published on Smashwords by:

    Celtic Publications

    2515 4th St.

    Sparks, Nevada 89431

    U.S.A.

    celtic.publications.of.nevada@gmail.com

    Tales for a Sleepless Night

    Copyright 2013 by Sean Patrick O’Mordha

    ISBN:

    Discover other titles by this author at:

    Smashwords.com

    All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner or the above publisher of this book.

    Smashwords Edition License Notes

    This eBook is licensed for your personal use only. Please do not resell or give this book 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 are 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 author’s work.

    ____________________

    Chapter 1 – A Boy and his Dog

    Chapter 2 – A Twisted Road

    Chapter 3 – Cave Lake

    Chapter 4 – Chamber of Smoke

    Chapter 5 – Mariann: Sweet Dreams

    Chapter 6 – Pharaoh's Secret

    Chapter 7 – Re-born

    Chapter 8 – The Book

    Chapter 9 – The Day My Father Discovered He Was Dead

    Chapter 10 – The Heart of Cuchamantan

    Chapter 11 – The Innkeeper

    Chapter 12 – The Jericho Detour

    Chapter 13 – The Lava Beds

    Chapter 14 – The Pitcher Plants

    Chapter 15 – The Scoutmaster

    Chapter 16 – True Character

    Chapter 17 – Wish Upon a Brigantine

    More Stories

    ____________________

    Chapter 1

    A Boy and A Dog *

    Martha looked out the second story bedroom window and said to her husband I don’t know if we should leave him alone, Andrew.

    Placing a hand on each of her shoulders Andrew looks down at their son seated cross-legged in the middle of the backyard lawn. It’s only been four days since Kelsey died. They were close, maybe too close. He’s going to hurt for a while, but he’ll be okay. It happened to me when I was that age. It just takes time. Andrew kisses his wife’s cheek. Let’s go.

    Downstairs, he walks out to his son and squats next to him. Your mom and I are leaving. If you need anything you’ve got my cell number and Mrs. Elam would like you to come over later. I think she’s been baking again by the smells. We won’t be too late. Tomorrow’s another school day. Lights out at nine, okay?

    Charlie replies by nodding his head after which Andrew ruffs the boy’s hair and leaves.

    * * *

    Charles Graham, age twelve, recently lost Kelsey, his best friend, a Golden Retriever and constant companion since he was born. Unfortunately, dogs, even good ones, can’t live as long as their boy and the loss is difficult to deal with especially at that age. It is inevitable that after a time his parents will find a puppy to fill the void in their own hearts as well as the one in their son, however, sometimes fate – someone or something – intervenes a bit sooner than anyone plans.

    * * *

    Charlie’s eyes reclose as he listens to his father’s footsteps returning to the house, and then hears the car start, followed by the crunch of gravel beneath the tires as it moves down the long drive to the road. Once again enveloped by the solitude’s silence, he begins to envision Kelsey and he romping about the spacious yard surrounding their home – throwing the Frisbee and the Setter making miraculous catches mid-air, the barking, the laughter, the wrestling. A pain shoots through Charlie’s breast as a knot forms in his throat and tears escape once again to trickle down tanned cheeks; he’s alone with the grief so that no one will know how he cried.

    After a time the tears cease, the pain fades, leaving a hollow, empty feeling as his mind drifts aimlessly from one fuzzy memory to another until suddenly sensing he is no longer alone. But he hadn’t heard anyone approach. Slowly he wipes a remaining tear from red eyes with the back of his hand and slowly opens them to find himself staring at his crossed feet, and a few feet out two, reddish blond paws. Slowly his eyes move up the legs to a chest, and then into the grinning face of a Golden Retriever.

    Kelsey! he cries out, throwing his arms around the dog sitting in front of him. It takes a swipe at his ear with a big, sloppy tongue, pulls back, and licks the boy’s face before letting him resume the hug. Kelsey, you’ve come back.

    Charlie stops hugging the dog, pulls back very slowly, staring at it warily. You died in my arms. It can’t be you.

    He looks the dog over carefully. It’s hard to tell this is not his life-long friend, very hard. The dog lowers his head to the ground as the rump pushes up and the feathered tail wags. He barks and leaps forward knocking the boy backwards to wrestle.

    Martin, did you know the Graham’s have a new dog, Mrs. Elam says to her husband while looking out the kitchen window and past the oak towering between their homes at boy and dog romping about the back yard.

    Andrew didn’t say anything when I talked to him a while ago. Another big dog.

    If I didn’t know better, I’d think it was Kelsey.

    Does look a lot like him and acts like him, too. Hope it’s as well behaved and doesn’t dig up my garden, or leave a landmine to step on.

    Well, give him a whistle. It’s getting close to Charlie’s bedtime and I didn’t bake this pie just to put another inch around your belt line.

    Martin and Gloria Elam are like grandparents to Charlie who is a frequent visitor, so it is natural for him to bound into the kitchen and automatically wash his hands in the sink before scooting up to the round table. Kelsey always followed, stopping just inside the door to sit patiently waiting for his personal invitation to join them. Martin looks at the new dog with a big, panting smile sitting on the rug, waiting.

    When did your parents get the new dog? Gloria asked as she sets a slice of warm pie with ice cream in front of the boy.

    Oh, they didn’t get him. God sent him, Charlie said while shoveling in a big bite.

    What do you call him? Martin said.

    KJ, for Kelsey Jr.

    Hesitating a moment, Martin looks at the dog and then says as he always did, You can join us too, KJ. The dog slowly walks to the table and sits pressed against Charlie’s chair.

    Later than night Martha Graham gently opens the door to her son’s bedroom and stops before stepping in to check on her son, quickly backing out.

    Andrew!

    What’s wrong?

    It’s Charlie, she says. He can’t tell if she is shocked or panicked.

    Opening the door, he stares. Illuminated by the dim night light he sees his son pressed against the back of a large dog, one arm draped over its shoulder, exactly as he’d seen every night when Kelsey was alive.

    Are you going to ask him where that dog came from? Martha asks.

    It can wait until morning. Charlie hasn’t slept much these past couple days. He needs the rest.

    Charlie may sleep that night, but Andrew doesn’t as he tosses and turns, bothered by specter of what he saw. He tries to appear casual as boy and dog come into the kitchen that next morning for breakfast.

    So, where’d he come from?

    God. Charlie is known for to-the-point responses.

    God?

    After you left last night I was thinking about all the good times with Kelsey and thanked God for sending him to us, and to take good care of him. When I opened my eyes, there was KJ.

    KJ? Martha says.

    Kelsey, Jr.

    But, Charlie, he must belong to someone. He’s obviously not a stray. Just look at how well trained and cared for he is, Andrew says, and offers the last bite of toast as he always did to Kelsey. The Retriever takes it very carefully. There is no collar. I’ll come home from work early and then we need to canvas the neighborhood to see where he came from.

    Charlie looks panicked.

    It’s only right, Charlie. A beautiful animal like this must have someone who is worried about him as you would have if Kelsey ever wandered away, his mother says.

    Suddenly Charlie smiles. Okay, but can he stay if we don’t find them?

    Well . . .

    Please?

    If we don’t find the owner, I guess so.

    No problem. You’ll live with us, KJ.

    But . . ., his mother begins.

    You said nobody’s found God to speak to Him face-to-face since Moses. Come on KJ. Let’s get dressed, boy.

    While Charlie is in school Martha checks with Animal Rescue and the newspaper for a lost dog report. KJ willingly jumps into their SUV and sits in the back seat next to the open window as she takes him to their vet. There’s no chip. Charlie and his father arrive home about the same time and begin walking the neighborhood, knocking on doors to inquire about an owner for KJ. This goes on every evening for an entire week. No one knows the dog except it looks like the one that has been at Charlie’s side for twelve years.

    From all appearances, the Kelsey clone has adopted the Graham’s. When his boy is in school, the dog wanders over to the Elam house, lounging on the patio if they sit there reading, or on the lawn near where they tend the flower garden. In time the two families forget this is not the dog that died, and only occasionally wonder that it has all the same quirks and habits of his predecessor.

    The elderly couple are sipping coffee early one Sunday morning on the patio when they hear KJ barking furiously, and then see him leading a groggy-eyed Charlie from the house by the wrist and into the backyard, his parents behind. Then KJ releases Charlie’s wrist and bolts for them, taking Gloria’s sleeve and pulling her away from the house.

    Martin! she cries out.

    KJ’s gone crazy. Don’t fight him, Gloria, he says, running for a shovel next to a wheelbarrow where he’d been working that previous afternoon.

    They were clear of the house when KJ loosed his grip and ran back to Charlie.

    What’s wrong with that crazy . . .? Martin began, but is interrupted when the ground begins shaking.

    Earthquake! Andrew shouts to his wife and son. Lie down!

    It is a mute command as standing is impossible. He and Martin help Gloria down and then watch as their homes groan and sway, but the most frightening sight is the great oak swaying violently between the homes. Leaning to the right its branches touch a dormer on the Elam house breaking the window, and then snaps back. The lights go out. A muted tearing sound joins groans and booms as its roots rip loose and the tree smashes down on the Graham house like a giant flyswatter. In less than a minute, the quake is done. The two families stare in disbelief.

    KJ runs to his boy’s house and begins barking wildly again, returning to take Andrew by the wrist, he pulls him toward the house. Stunned, he follows until reaching the back porch. Breaking free, he races to the tool shed, returning in seconds to hover over the gas meter before running to the Elam residence to do the same. Turning off utilities is something discussed earlier that year at a community disaster conference.

    My God! Gloria broke the silence. That’s Charlie’s room the tree destroyed.

    * * *

    As two very grateful families hug a happy dog, a light gray van slowly negotiates the broken street out front. Inside, a man wearing a white jumpsuit is on a cell phone.

    Do you want me to pick Kelsey up and bring him back?

    No, a voice replies. He has been a good dog, and they deserve him for a while longer.

    * * *

    Seventy-five per cent of pet owners report their pet have warned them up to forty-five minutes before a severe storm strikes. Fifty per cent say they have predicted bad news. Animals are known to run in circles, sit close to their human companions, look off into distance, and whine, whimper, or bark, and then go to a safe spot fifteen minutes before an earthquake. We have learned that some animals can anticipate seizures, low blood sugar, or other medical problems, and certainly announce the arrival of strangers.

    Given the opportunity, dogs in particular have saved countless lives and made homes and communities safer places to live. Whether there is a special place reserved for them when they die, we don’t really know . . . except in the Twilight Zone.

    * A Boy and A Dog was under consideration for inclusion in the Twilight Zone TV series when the program was cancelled.

    #

    Chapter 2

    A Twisted Road

    Chudleigh sat in one corner of a windowless cell watching two rats quarrel over his last meal. They were welcome to it. The sound of footsteps and clang of the cell door didn't interrupt their squabble.

    Yer in luck, Baron. A man of God to see you, as if that will do any good, the jailer said, causing Chudleigh to look up as a hooded figure entered.

    Leave us speak with God alone, my son, the uninvited visitor said, sending the jailer away.

    I don’t expect God’s intervention, Chudleigh said.

    You may have it . . . for a price. The voice was muffled within the hood.

    I beg your pardon?

    If the rope fails that would be taken as a sign from Heaven of your innocence.

    What? Chudleigh said, believing he was hearing wrong.

    For a price.

    God has need of money? Chudleigh replied, sarcastic but smelling freedom.

    To further the work.

    How much?

    A thousand old sovereigns, not the phony, new Unites. That would be adequate for intervention.

    * * *

    Apprenticed at fourteen, only Herbert and the king knew that Roland was the royal executioner. His master received sufficient for the grizzly work, but lately seemed to have more funds than usual. This coincided with an increase in heavenly intervention, but he dare not broach the subject or suffer Roland's unpredictable anger.

    When the communiqué arrived from London requesting Roland’s services, Herbert went ahead of the appointed execution date to assure all was ready. No one had a good word for the man who consummated their verdicts. The people were very pious about a death sentence, but hated and feared the man who allowed them to maintain clean hands. By arriving as a simple traveler, no one suspected Roland’s true profession, thus he could enjoy life. For Herbert it was different.

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