Chapter 1
“It's
no
use
you
know.
It'll
never
happen.
I
mean
I've
tried
everything,
but
alas
she'll
never
have
me.
She's
the
most
beautiful
thing
in
the
world.
Her
smile
as
bright
as
the
sun
itself,
her
voice
as
melodious
as
the
greatest
of
songbirds,
the
smoothness
of
her
skin,
her
luscious
lips,
her
upturned
nose.
Ah
love
you
are
such
a
cruel
master.”
Charlie Franklin
rolled a cigar around in his palm as he mused on about his unrequited
love. His two companions, Mark DeRosa and Arnold Maxwell, sat on
their bales of hay, prepping their cigars listened in rapt attention
to find out who Charlie was talking about.
He continued on:
“The
way
her
dresses
just
flow
in
the
breeze
and
move
as
she
hangs
out
the
morning
laundry,
the
way
the
curlers
in
her
hair
every
morning
reflect
the
sunrise.
Ah
my
Kathy
,
my
Kathy
why
do
you
spurn
me
so?”
“Maybe
it's
because
you're
such
a
useless
git,”
piped
in
Arnold
now
realizing
that
Charlie
was
just
going
on
about
his
neighbor.
It
was
a
weekly
thing
with
Charlie,
so
Arnold
didn't
feel
the
need
to
be
tactful
anymore.
“Who
you
calling
useless?”
asked
Charlie.
“I
believe
he
means
you.
Certainly
not
me,”
said
Mark
cutting
the
end
of
his
cigar.
“That's
right
who
else
is
there?”
said
Arnold
lighting
his
cigar
and
handing
the
match
off
to
Mark.
Mark lit his cigar
and was about to blow out the match when Charlie grabbed it from him.
“Hey
don't
forget
about
me,”
said
Charlie
puffing
away
as
the
cigar
end
glowed
orange.
Then
he
quickly
blew
out
the
match
and
sat
back
on
his
little
bale
of
hay.
“But
Charlie,”
said
Mark.
“Aren't
you
afraid
what
will
happen?
You
know
what
they
say,
the
third
man
on
a
match
is
bad
luck.”
“Ah
that's
an
old
wife's
tale.
What
could
happen
to
me?”
said
Charlie
trying
unsuccessfully
to
blow
smoke
rings,
and
getting
ticked
off
they
weren't
working
as
planned,
so
he
waved
his
hand
in
order
to
dissipate
the
smoke.
“All
sorts
of
bad
things
that's
what,”
replied
Mark
with
a
mock
worry
on
his
face.
“Like
that
doings
with
the
druids.”
“Nonsense,
that
wasn't
bad
luck.
In
fact
it
was
sort
of
fun.
I
mean
look
at
me
I'm
the
luckiest
man
alive,
except
for
the
...”
Charlie
tailed
off
in
deep
reflection.
“Maybe
that
is
part
of
it.
You
see
you're
lack
of
success
in
getting
Kathy
to
return
your
love
might
just
be
part
of
the
curse.”
“Hmm
never
thought
of
that.
No
that's
not
it.
It's
just
that
she
is
missing
her
Husband
George.”
The three men
bowed their head in memory of their Friend of 10 years George woods.
“To
George,”
said
Arnold
lifting
a
can
of
beer
he
pulled
from
the
knapsack
they
carried
with
them.
“To
George,”
replied
Mark
and
Charlie.
And
all
three
of
the
old
friends
had
a
drink
and
a
moment
of
silence.
Smoke filled the
silent unused barn where Mark, Charlie and Arnold sat. It was like
their unofficial clubhouse. The three retirees, well two retirees and
one never gainfully employed 50 year olds like to rest at midday
during their travels around Holmton Minnesota and the surrounding
countryside.
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I hope you enjoyed this sample chapter.
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Thank you
Michael J Rener
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