IF ONLY THEY KNEW

This is a collection of seven short stories whose characters will face obstacles and challenges. How they deal with them and the decisions they make may help them to learn valuable life lessons. Or not.

Loreli is the longest of the stories and takes place in an established Polish neighborhood where an aging population live in houses just as old. Some of their children, reluctant to leave, stay to raise their families.The small back yards have grass which ends at the alley. Where younger families live, the yard is dirt so youngsters can dig and play. Busha, Loreli's grandmother, owns the grocery store and she is respected by all for her kindness and generous nature. Life changes when Dan, a down-on-his-luck city policeman, goes to Busha, whose reputation has spread beyond her district. He asks for her help; she loans him money and invites him for dinner. Dan becomes a permanent resident and he and Loreli become friends. The story pivots when the local bad boy, Larry, disrupts the peaceful community with lies, kidnapping and theft. Loreli and Dan decide they will find him. They want justice and revenge!

Madeline Trionfo has published her first book, IF ONLY THEY NEW, and is looking forward to completing her next novel. She is a retired school teach of the Harford County Public School System where she taught third and fifth grade at Darlington Elementary School. Later, she was asked to become an art teacher at William S. James Elementary for grades K-5. She retired in 2001 and devoted her time to writing. At this time, she also initiated JEWELISTICS, her word for the art of disassembling jewelry to use along with clay and fabric to create a framed work of art. Currently, her passion is pottery where she uses porcelain clay to make coils in creating her pots, vases and pitchers. She counts herself fortunate to be surrounded by a loving husband and wonderful family.