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    3 Bios in a Circle
    3 Bios in a Circle
    3 Bios in a Circle
    Ebook127 pages1 hour

    3 Bios in a Circle

    By Matt Kratz

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    About this ebook

    3 stories are included in this anthology-one about a professor who invokes a spirit to aid his ill daughter;another whose old love arrives back into his life at the wrong time;and another about a man who gets a bike helmet that endows him with remarkable powers.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMatt Kratz
    Release dateJun 27, 2013
    ISBN9781301539925
    3 Bios in a Circle
    Author

    Matt Kratz

    I was born in Cambridge, Massachussetts. After living in Columbus, Ohio, for a few years, I moved to Richardson, TX, in 1978, when my father got a job teaching at UT-Dallas. I switched schools a couple times before settling back into the Plano schools and graduated from Plano Senior HS in 1990, Midwestern State (BA in History) in 1995, and UT Dallas (MA) in 2008. I am an aspiring writer, and my interests include movies (especially those from New Zealand), photography, Australian & New Zealand Wildlife, birds, spectator sports (I love baseball and attend Dallas area ball games), and I love to travel. 3 Worlds Journey is my first novel, and I am currently working on more. I love letting my imagination go wild. Most of my stories and characters are based on what I read and what I thought of when I was younger.

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      Book preview

      3 Bios in a Circle - Matt Kratz

      Chapter I

      Thank you, Ladies and gentlemen. I appreciate you all coming tonight.

      Those were the last words spoken by Carrie Underwood at her concert. Bob Washington had taken his daughter Laura to see her at the American Airlines Center in Dallas that evening as a special treat for her upcoming 13th birthday. She was Bob’s favorite artist and a toss-up between her and Taylor Swift for Laura’s.

      Thanks, Dad, said Laura as they started to get up to leave. That was a terrific concert!

      Anything for my girl! said Bob. I’m glad you enjoyed it.

      The truth be told, this was the first thing he could afford since he had gotten back from a university research trip among the Maoris in New Zealand three months ago. He was glad that she was too young to drive and didn’t ask for a car for her birthday.

      So what was your favorite part of the concert? Bob asked.

      Just about everything, Laura answered.

      Wow, that’s specific, said Bob.

      Are you kidding? said Laura. What wasn’t to love? She was great! I loved every minute of it! If I had to pick a favorite moment, then it would have to be her song, ‘So Small’.

      Well, then, I’m happy, said Bob.

      This was Laura’s first major event since being discharged from the hospital six weeks ago after being diagnosed with a liver disorder, primary slerosing cholangitis. The doctors called it PSC for short. She had spent three weeks in a hospital bed with it. Bob felt like she deserved this as a reward for being such a good sport. They had both wondered if Green Lantern, one of their favorite characters, could have helped. He probably could have. It had been a nice reward to have gotten backstage passes too. Carrie had heard about her plight through her fan club and made sure Laura got them. Bob thought that was wonderful of her.

      As they headed back to their car, they discussed the concert in more detail, such as the song selection, her costumes, and the choreography. Laura had always talked about going into show business when she grew up and wanted to see as many shows as possible. They talked about how it had compared to other shows they had seen, such as Taylor Swift and Brad Paisley.

      Are you kidding? Laura asked with a laugh. It can’t!

      Chapter II

      Welcome back, Bob, Les said at the party the following Monday.

      Dr. Les Geoffrey, the dean of the department where Bob worked, and Dr. Samuel Kell, the President of Eastern Dallas University, the school where they worked, were standing with him along with a mob of other colleagues at a party to welcome him back.

      Thanks! Bob said.

      So what was your favorite part? Samuel asked.

      Either lecturing about American Indians at the university and how they can compare to the Maoris or meeting a Maori Hapu face-to-face, said Bob. That was fascinating. It was like the times I met Indian chiefs while doing research for my doctorate.

      That must have been breathtaking, Les commented.

      You have no idea, said Bob.

      Is Laura feeling better? Samuel asked.

      Yes, considerably, Bob responded. It looks like she will be on meds for quite a while, and the hospital stay was scary, but it looks like everyone’s going to pull through. PSC is pretty serious though.

      Just then a lovely approached them. Bob recognized her as a fellow colleague.

      Kelly! he exclaimed as she approached.

      Welcome back, Bob, she said. Kelly Davis was an associate professor on the staff who frequently helped Bob with his research and writing. Bob considered her attractive, and indeed she was-she was about 5’7", slender with a nice figure, aquiline nose, long, full, dark, hair, deep blue eyes, and pale, fair skin.

      Thanks! He said. How did you hold down the fort while I was gone?

      Fairly well, she said. I still wish you had been here though. I had to take on an additional load of classes. I didn’t mind though-it meant extra pay.

      Good way of looking at it, said Bob. I was just telling everyone about my experiences in New Zealand.

      How did you like it? Kelly asked.

      Immensely, said Bob. I was telling Samuel and Les over there about my meeting a Hapu while living on a pa for a few days.

      I remember your emails about that, said Kelly. Did the New Zealand university assign you there for the research?

      Of course, said Bob. They wanted me to learn as much about the Maoris as possible. They were also very eager to hear my stores and lectures about the Plains Indians. I lectured once a week during a professor’s class about them. The students loved them.

      I think you told me about that too in your emails about the lectures, said Kelly. The professor in New Zealand-oh, what was his name?

      Grage, said Bob. Dave Grage.

      That’s it, said Kelly. Anyway, how’s Laura? Is she doing better?

      Yes, she is. Thanks for asking. Bob said with a smile.

      That’s good to hear, said Kelly. Please give her my best.

      I will, said Bob.

      The party went on for quite a while. They finally cut into the large cake that read WELCOME BACK BOB and spread it out evenly amidst the many guests.

      As Bob ate his cake and drank his punch-which was his personal favorite, cherry-he found himself thinking about his return to teaching American Indian Anthropology and History to American students and how different it was to teaching it to New Zealand students. Learning about a foreign culture and teaching about another at the same time was quite an experience.

      After he got home, Laura and his wife, Janice, were waiting for him.

      Daddy! Laura exclaimed.

      Laura! Bob said. How was your day at school?

      Terrific! Laura said. No tests!

      Is Carrie Underwood still your favorite?

      Of course, said Laura with a puzzled look. Why wouldn’t she be?

      You seemed to change favorites so often, explained Bob. When you were into pop and other forms, you loved Mariah Carey and Chilli of TLC. Ever since you got into country, your favorites have been Taylor Swift, Sugarland, Keith Urban, and for the past few years it’s been Carrie.

      Kids change their minds so often when it comes to stuff like that, Janice reminded him.

      Well, I think my mind is made up now, Laura said. The concert finalized it.

      Good to hear, said Bob.

      How was the party, dear? Janice asked.

      Terrific, said Bob. Everyone seemed to miss me. Tomorrow it’s back to the grindstone.

      Chapter III

      And that, students, is how the Apaches did it.

      Bob was wrapping up his lecture about the Apaches on the first day of class. The students always loved his lectures. This one was an overview about what the class was going to be about. He had handed out syllabi during it as well.

      So, Dr. Underwood, what did you miss most about being away from here from so long? a student asked as she approached him.

      My students and family, Bob replied. That and all my favorite sporting events. I really wish I could have seen Arena Football while I was down there.

      How did you get into that sport? the student asked. That doesn’t sound like your traditional sport to follow.

      I saw a game a bunch of years ago and fell in love with it, Bob replied. Besides, I also loved indoor soccer. Anyone can love sports. I wish they played baseball and hockey down there too! I love those too.

      Now there are some traditional sports! exclaimed the student.

      At least I was able to keep up with them online, said Bob as they headed out into the hallway.

      That was good, said the student.

      Bob was certainly glad that he was back here. As he and the student in separate directions and he entered his office, he wondered how he had made it through the entire time in New Zealand without attending an American sporting event. Or having to explain

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