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    Open House 2
    Open House 2
    Open House 2
    Ebook76 pages55 minutes

    Open House 2

    By Storm Cloud Publishing

    ()

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    About this ebook

    It's Open House at the Guitar Bar. Come in, sit down and relax. Have a drink, enjoy a meal or listen to some music. You might just find your new partner.
    A collection of short stories from a variety of writers.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherStorm Cloud Publishing
    Release dateAug 23, 2018
    ISBN9781925285406
    Open House 2

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      Book preview

      Open House 2 - Storm Cloud Publishing

      Open House 2

      Short Story Collection

      Open House 2

      Copyright remains with the individual authors

      Published by Storm Cloud Publishing (2018)

      ISBN: 978-1-925285-40-6 Smashwords Edition

      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, please go to Smashwords.com or any online bookstore and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of the authors.

      Fiction: Short Story collection

      Contents

      Gone Missing

      Carole Lander

      The Old Man on the Beach

      Oliver Anders

      Through a Child’s Eyes

      Jo Mularczyk

      The Critic

      Kristoff Verdun

      Spaceman

      Lizbeth Klein

      Speed Dating

      Pete Galea

      Relive

      Olivia Arnold

      Rochester and the Gates of Hell

      Charlie Parkes

      The Seeker Chronicles

      Erinire

      About the Authors

      Storm Cloud ebooks

      Gone Missing

      Carole Lander

      Patsy stared out of the kitchen window. Last week’s storm had left big streaks on the panes.

      I should get out there and clean them.

      Her eyes wandered across the fading green wall paint to the calendar and the picture of snowmen on the December page.

      Stupid for an Australian calendar. I’ll choose a better one for 1972.

      Her tea had gone cold so she stood up to throw it in the sink.

      She peeped into the lounge where her daughter Sally and friend Hannah were doing a jigsaw. Patsy wondered where her son Tim had got to and realised she should look for him but the girls’ voices caught her attention. Hannah was saying, Maybe your dad doesn’t love your mum any more.

      Don’t be stupid. Of course he does, Sally answered. They were always kissing and cuddling before he left.

      Patsy knew she should tell the kids where Gary was but it was too hard to find the words. She would wait a little longer.

      Tim rushed into the kitchen yelling, I’m thirsty.

      Get a drink of water from the tap, then, Patsy told him.

      Tim took his water into the lounge and plonked himself down with the girls. They ignored him so he found a book and curled up on the sofa. His mouth moved with his finger across the page.

      What’s the story? Hannah asked.

      "It’s called Gone Missing. About a dog that disappears. Hey, Sal, is Dad lost like the dog? Will they find him?" he asked.

      How would I know? I’ve asked Mum but she won’t tell me anything.

      Patsy cringed. Her grief was still too raw for the kind of discussion she knew she’d have with her daughter. Feeling cowardly yet again, Patsy climbed the stairs to her bedroom to hide.

      Later, she heard Hannah leaving and her kids chattering in the garden.

      Hey, look, there’s lemons on the tree. Let’s make lemonade, Tim called.

      Okay, Sally agreed.

      Patsy wished she wanted to go and help. Last summer she would have. Now, she let the kids muck around on their own in the kitchen. After a while, she heard them push open her door.

      Are you there, Mum? We’ve brought you some homemade lemonade, Sally said, pulling back the curtains.

      Patsy propped herself up against the pillows and watched Tim carefully carrying her favourite glass. A tiny drop of yellow liquid swished around as he put it in her cupped hands.

      The children stood quietly. She sipped.

      Oh my goodness, it’s bitter. But it tickles my tummy. Thanks, kids, she said.

      Tim took this as a cue and jumped on the bed to tickle her. Patsy squealed and then Sally joined in. Patsy relaxed. It felt good having a laugh with her kids again.

      Let’s make a toast to Dad, Sally said. Cheers!

      Patsy blinked back tears.

      Don’t worry about your dad. We’ll see him soon, she told them.

      Great. I’m gonna make him a special card with all my colouring pencils, Sally said, and Tim ran downstairs to beat her to the art materials.

      Patsy pulled herself together and decided to take the kids to see their father the next day. She got up early, put on her favourite paisley dress and made an effort with breakfast.

      Sally smelt the bacon and ran into the kitchen, relieved to see her mother back in action.

      Tim wandered in, sleepy-eyed, and was told to get dressed quick smart.

      Patsy put breakfast on the table and went out to warm the car engine. It took a while. It hadn’t been used

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