The True Tales Of Shorty Stevens
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“Shorty! I know what yer a thinkin, and we ain’t takin’ all these bottles! We jus’ need a few each to get us by for sodies and bologna. No more than that.” Easter was apparently the voice of reason in the group. Shorty, apparently, caught dead in his tracks by his old pal reluctantly agrees. “Yessir, you’re probably right on that there subject, East. “Shorty said sheepishly. Having his mind just read by his closet friend on God’s green earth. They opened it slowly, and started to lift the heavy wooden lid, as it took all three of the boys and all the strength they could muster up between them. It was old, and made of thick wood. Finally, they got it high enough to reach in and snatch a few bottles. They were in for a big surprise when they saw what was inside. “Push it up, push it way up, boys… wer’ almost there!” Said Shorty as he grunted and pushed his side of the lid. All of a sudden, the saw a sight that they wouldn’t soon forget! “Aaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwww!! The boys yelled as they saw a most horrifying sight. “Snaaaake!” yelled Easter. They dropped the heavy lid, and ran to safety out of the snakes way, yelling and carrying on something awful! Once they caught their breath enough to speak, they all had an opinion that was just waiting to get out. “Yeah Pals, that ‘ol boy wuz as long as long as The Arkansas River itself! Long, and mean lookin too!” Scooter added in out of breath. “Why, I’ll bet he’s a guardin’ them empties too! He’d continue. That ol’ boy was the biggest snake what I ever saw, that’s fer sure.” Easter would say. “Why he was a biggin’. On the farm, we get ‘em now and again, but not that that’n!” he’d continue to say. Shorty on the other hand was as white as a ghost. He never liked snakes, and he was now going to tell the others why in his own, long-winded way. “I hate snakes fellas. Once, I was a sittin’ in tha outhouse, takin’ care of nature’s bidness, and then, all of a sudden, I had me some company. Why, he slid right under that ‘ol door, and was jus’ sittin’ there lookin’ right up at me!” I looked that there snake, and said, “Brother, one of us gots to go, and I think it’s a gonna be me!” I grabbed up my overhalls, and pulled them up as I ran through that ‘ol door as fast as I could! And pals, I never did look back! Why, that ‘ol snake and me, well, we ain’t never said so much as hello since!” Shorty said with an uneasy smile on his face.
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About the Book
"The True Tales of Shorty Stevens" tells the adventures of three best friends during the great depression . The story is situated in the Ico Community of southwest Arkansas.Some 25 miles south of Little Rock, just outside of Sheridan, the town is full of hard working railroad and timber industry families. Shorty Stevens, nine years old and full of life is the leader of the group. Blessed with the gift of gab, he tells stories almost too big to be true. His best pal since the time they could walk is Easter Rhodes, also nine. He loves to read, and someday wants to be a writer. He's usually stuck smack dab in the middle of one of Shorty's schemes, but he doesn't seem to mind too much! The last in the group is Scooter McElroy. He's eight and sometimes a little shy. He and his folks moved down to Ico from Little Rock a few years before, so he hasn't known the others as long as they've known each other, but they're all as close as peas and carrots just the same. The year is 1933. No television. No video games. No magic Wizards, with magical powers. These boys have to find their own adventures in and around town. It doesn't take long before an adventure jumps up and finds them! Shorty's Pa, Johnny was over at the Ico Grocery when it all started. He told the folks there about a ghost story he'd heard when he was a boy. The others just looked in amazement as Johnny Stevens went on and on about a "Ghost Gal" that was killed on bad roads going to her honeymoon. Why, she'd be seen for years and years, just standing by the side of the road with a suitcase in her hand waiting for a ride to meet her Mister. Of course, once they got there, she'd disappear from the car leaving the driver surprised and confused. Shorty overhears his Daddy telling this story with great enthusiasm, and it definitely piques his interest in Ghost Hunting! He tells the others about what he's heard that fateful day. After lots of convincing, they decide to go on a ghost hunt some 12 miles away through the backroads and over the highway to find the mysterious curve, and a Ghost Gal! The boys not only go looking for a ghost story, they find out about themselves as well. They have a lot of other adventures along that road. They have some laughs as they tell stories, and have fun doing something exciting and different with their best friends. They also learn some things about themselves that they never knew before. Like how strong they were when they needed to be. Or how close the three really were. Life was different in 1933 Arkansas, but the adventurous spirit of boys was not. These boys want to see everything, and do things the grown-ups either can’t or wont. Read all about their adventures in “The True Tales of Shorty Stevens” due out in bookstores in the Spring of 2006, by Authorhouse books.
About the Author
Steve Buchanan was raised in the same area that his parents and relatives had been since before the Civil War. Very proud of his deep Southern roots, he has written “The True Tales of Shorty Stevens” as a way to honor his maternal Grandfather’s name and legacy of a great story teller, and loyal friend, but also to honor the hard working, farm and logging communities of Ico, and Sheridan Arkansas. These people are the backbone of our country... hardworking, fun loving Moms, Dads, Grandma and Grandpa’s that do their best every day to give their kids a good, and healthy life. A life of love, and security. Mr. Buchanan has been writing professionally since 1990. He was written free-lance articles for magazines and newspapers both local and national, as well as press kits, and has done extensive writing for web sites. He was a Contributing Editor for an autograph trade magazine for over five years, having worked with numerous celebrities. William Shatner, James Doohan, and Nichelle Nichols from the original Star Trek series, to TV's the incredible Hulk, Lou Ferrigno, Gunsmokes longtime Marshall Matt Dillon, James Arness, to Daredevil Evel Knievel, Leatherface from the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Gunnar Hansen, to many, many others from the world of television, film , sports and aviation. “One of my favorite pieces to work on for Autograph Times was one on the crew of The Another article that changed his direction in Journalism was when he worked with television’s Mr. Rogers. “Mr. Rogers was very nice to me. Encouraging, supportive and helped in a lot of ways to get me where I knew I wanted to be...writing for kids.” Mr. Buchanan would continue. 16 years writing about the famous, and not so famous. Mr. Buchanan is very proud of all of his professional works, but not more than the last two books that have been produced. “A Moose is Loose !” and of course, “The True Tales of Shorty Stevens”. Mr. Buchanan is also a proud University of Michigan Graduate, having majored in Journalism and Theology. A former Marine, he is also active in his new home of