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Book details
  • Genre:FICTION
  • SubGenre:Short Stories
  • Language:English
  • Pages:66
  • eBook ISBN:9781617929236

No Aliens or Swear Words - Just a Dozen Good Stories

by Patricia Longthorp

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Overview
As the title implies, you will not find any aliens or swear words lurking in my stories. (The only alien I like is ET) My stories are about ordinary folk (if there is such a race) who live reasonably normal lives. We all have incidents, problems and events in our lives which leave us different people after the event.
Description
As the title implies, you will not find any aliens or swear words lurking in my stories. (The only alien I like is ET) My stories are about ordinary folk (if there is such a race) who live reasonably normal lives. We all have incidents, problems and events in our lives which leave us different people after the event. There are little twists and turns, ups and downs and humour in my stories which I hope will keep you entertained and touch your hearts. For example How will Kim, PA extraordinaire, deal with her latest challenge? “Kim dragged on her designer jeans and a white linen top, which were lying where she had stepped out of them last night. She grabbed her Louis Vuitton, threw in her mobile, wiggled her feet into her baby stiletto mules, snatched her keys off the kitchen counter and made her way to her car slightly bemused. She could not decide whether she was flattered or angry that she had been summoned on this mission of mercy.” See how Rita copes with her own disasters and helps Mr. Patel with his. “One day, when she arrived for work at 9 0’clock prompt, she was surprised to find the shop was still closed. Mr. Patel always opened at 7.0’clock to catch the early morning workers who wanted their papers, sandwiches, sweets etc. Her stomach lurched. She knew something must be wrong. She pressed the bell to the upstairs flat and waited. Ricky Patel opened the shop door and his face was ashen and frightened. “What’s wrong, Ricky? Why is the shop still closed? Is your Dad alright?” Rita’s first thoughts were that Mr. Patel must be ill. “Come up to the flat, Rita. My father is not ill, but we have a big problem.” “ Will a bitter old woman ever come to terms with the biggest tragedy in her life? “They had to pass her son's beautiful home to get into the village and out to the housing estate that sprawled on the other side. The doctor winced as he heard her choke on a stifled sob. "I don't think I will ever be able to enter his house again." "Yes you will. There will come a time when you will want to, just don't force things." He squeezed her shaking, gnarled hand. “ Follow the events that shock Annabelle to the core. “And so Annabelle continued to speculate about the lives and habits of her four unsuspecting travelling companions, that is, until one particular Monday morning put paid to all further flights of fancy.” Would Dan be able to accept his latest stepfather? “He watched cynically as his mother gazed adoringly into the eyes of the tall Texan she had just married in Elvis´s chapel. Elvis had rambled on about the blissful union of two people in love before singing about it. This was all well and good in theory but just how many blissful unions were you supposed to have in one lifetime?” Will a young widow be able to emerge from her self imposed isolation? “Sally knew she was just about ready to face the world again. As she stacked the plates, she glanced at the undated, unstamped letter of enquiry she had written to the local hospital. She flung her rubber gloves onto the draining board and slammed the cutlery drawer shut. Isolation! Well, she had wanted it and now she had just about had her fill.” How would an old tramp resolve a difficult situation? “As he watched the display of mutual admiration, Edward's brain was working overtime. He might be a drop out, but he knew what was going on in the world and he was not in the best of circumstances at the moment; a tramp, alone on the moors late at night with a vulnerable little girl. Edward would not hurt a fly, let alone a child, but he had the sense to recognize his precarious situation.” These stories are simple, touching and human. There are still lots of folk around who want to read such writing.
About the author
My name is Patricia Longthorp and I have been writing as a hobby most of my life, mostly short stories, poetry, songs and essays. I wrote a play with someone a long time ago and also helped my sister-in-law write a book about the disappearance of her son. I am from England but my husband and I have lived in Tenerife since 2002 as the climate is better for our grand-daughter who has Cystic Fibrosis.