The Shrill Behind a Haunted Pumpkin

This story is fiction, containing 1,114 words. I wrote this story for the Rockford Writer's Guild Zoom meeting. We were to create and share a scary story online with the group. It's written in the first person. It tells a story of a mother who stays at home to provide candy for trick or treaters while her husband takes the children out trick or treating. During their absence, the pumpkin comes to life.

Right Place, Right Time

A real inspirational  short story, containing only 999 words. The story based on an experience that a close friend of mine hand. After she explained the story to me, I sat down and wrote it. Then I submitted it to her so that she could read it and advise me on any necessary changes that needed to be made. The story is about faith, timing and trust. 

A Glimpse Beyond the Ordinary

A fictional story, containing containing only 1,494 words. It's a short story based on the character in Book One of The Safford Gang, called Mr. Max. It's told in the first person and is ;meant to give background to Mr. Max's relationship with his wife.

The Old Dirt Lane

This is a short story, containing only 1,294 words. It is the memories that I had as a child. The old dirt lane led back to the pasture. As kids, we traveled it by tractor, truck and by foot. Every time I walk the lane, I am blessed with the memories of my past. Both good, bad and funny. It is soon to be published in the upcoming Fall/Winter journal of the Rockford Writer's Guild.

Note by Author: The stories below are based on factual history, but some of the events had been altered largely due to time and my poor memory. But the behavior of cows that are given here are generally accurate. Cows can do the darnest things. All you have to do is ask any farmer who works with Holsteins. They can create a lot of mayhem in the most unusual ways. The day and life of a cow is not as drape as one might believe. Their minds are always processing ways to misbehave. As I remember more experiences from my time working with cows, I'll write more stories. They are just too much fun to write.

Mayhem in the Barnyard: The Upheaval

It is Part 1 of a  six part series. This is a short story, containing only 5,749 words. It is the first part that explains the onslaught of a problem that causes mayhen in the barnyard. Leo, the farmer, is injured the night before. When morning arises, Candy and her female companions realized that Leo is late. The story creates a typical environment of worry and concern as the cows wait to be milk.

Mayhem in the Barnyard: The Morning After

It is Part 2 of a  six part series. This is a short story, containing only 4,833 words. This short story is a continuation of Part 1. After the injury of Leo, the farmer, the cows now had to deal with two new people milking them.  Candy and her herd are nervous. Putting on milkers varies from person to person, all doing it the same but for the cows, it can feel different. Candy, with the help of her friend Kathleen, desperately attempts to calm the cows by showing that Leo's two siblings are more than capable of milking them. But will the cows buy into her words?

Mayhem in the Barnyard: The Doctor's Shoes

It is Part 3 of a  six part series. This is a short story, containing only 6,680 words. This short story is a continuation of Part 1 & 2. Candy and her herd of cows are now confronted with the hoof doctor. It's been a month or so since Leo's injury and now it was time for some hoof trimming. The cows are nervous. This is different. This is change. It is Candy's duty as head of the herd to calm their fears. But how does a leader calm the fears of others when she, herself, is frightened? With the help of friends, Candy becomes the leader the cows need to survive the day. For them, hoof cutting can be compared to humans going to the dentist. A loud drill and some pain.

Mayhem in the Barnyard: A Death in the Family

It is Part 4 of a  six part series. This is a short story, containing only 4,025 words. This short story is a continuation of Part 1, 2 & 3. It is spring on the farm and new life is in abundance. Kittens and calves are being born in large numbers and the starlings have returned to their nests inside the old red barn. But there's trouble brewing. Red, Jr is having twins. The first one is an easy delivery, but when the mother realizes that she is having a breech birth, she is worried. The vet has been called in to assist her. The calf is successfully turned and is born. Red, however, is too weak to get up. Leo and the vet make sure both of her twins are in front of her so she can clean them up. Now, it's a waiting game. But death cannot be denied, and on the farm, bad new is about to occur.

Mayhem in the Barnyard: It Comes in Threes

It is Part 5 of a  six part series. This is a short story, containing only 5,181 words. This short story is a continuation of Part 1, 2, 3 & 4. Events on the farm can be quite exhausting but they can also bring struggles. It is often said the bad news comes in threes. For Candy and her herd, they are about to experience the truthfulness of this colloquialism or idiom. As they watch the events unfold around them, they are left wondering if superstitions are real. They discover that death and sickness of their friends is difficult to understand and accept. There seems to be no rhyme or reason for these things but yet, here they are, facing the evitable.

Mayhem in the Barnyard: The Grass is Greener on the Other Side

It is Part 6 of a  six part series. This is a short story, containing only 10,252 words. This short story is a continuation Part 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5. Candy and Kathleen walk down memory lane as they recall the days when they used to graze in the pasture.  The more they talk, the more they are willing to take on Bess's challenge to explore the wild side of their youth. Once Bess has figured out how to open the gate to the hayfield, the two elderly cows find themselves reliving the days of their youth. But like everything, all good things come to an end. Candy and Kathleen are smart enough to return to the barn, but her daughter is not so clever.  Though the elderly cows were a part of the great escape, their wisdom makes it appear as if they are innocent bystanders.

The Kittens That I Never Wanted

 A short story about three little kittens that were born into a litter of nine. I inherited them through by friend Diana Annis.  Togehter, we were able to find homes for six of them, but the last three were mine to keep. I was not happy, since I already have three felines at home. But God always seems to have a plan. These three little kittens became a blessing in my life. Though all three have departed to kitty cat heaven, the impact that they had on mean is never forgotten. Their names are Princess, LT (Long Tail) and Boxie.