From Windows, City Streets
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El Nino Where were you and your parents going?” “We’re you going to Mexico City, was is a vacation trip?” “Yes, yes!” All the answers tumbled out. And then, I simply said, “You know, don’t you that your dad and your mom were killed in the crash? You’ve known that for a while, before any of us knew. Why didn’t you tell us?” “I couldn’t.” The sobbing started again. Human Sacrifice If it had really happened—there would be the blood, the splotches would still be on the steps outside. Those bright splotches in the night, on the hallway steps—those bright, wet splotches, that had covered the front of her blouse and her pants. They would still be there on the steps. Even in the light of the one bulb, they would still be there. If they weren’t there—it didn’t happen. Sub Rosa Em looked up and forward as she reached the front entrance, barely avoiding bumping into a woman all in black—black dotted veil nearly covering her face. Who was she? Her face was so familiar, yet there was a difference. What was it? Something unusual about the face—the hair wasn’t right. Oh my God! Em put her hand up to her mouth. She wouldn’t be that tasteless, would she? Yes, she would. Her hair was done-up! Lilly would want to see Grange. She’d have to see how Calli looked. Well, as long as she stayed in the back of the Church and didn’t go to the reception….she’d hardly do that, would she? I’ll say a prayer.
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About the Book
There are those of us like myself who are impatient, who cannot wait to find out what happens. We skim, we skip with the long three hundred plus novel pages. We can't stay up all night! For us the Short Story is ideal. It tells us all immediately--the novel in capsule! We can read it anywhere, anytime in just a few minutes. From Windows, City Streets contains ten short stories right from the heart of life. Much is packed into a few pages. These are intense, emotional stories. Each: man, woman, child looms distinct, separate, catastrophe struck in their prevailing situations. Caught in the jaws of life: a lost boy from a plane wreck, a bride who believes her husband-to-be love another, a suffering mother at the murder of her toddler, a man providentially saved from a fatal motor-cycle accident, a teenager who cannot win a fight.
About the Author
Joan M. Steel, born 1932, residing in her home state of Washington, received her BA degree in Education in 1959, holds MA equivalent credits in English-Literature (1984). She taught grade school for sixteen years and has been employed as a Secondary Substitute Teacher for the last ten years. She has been writing Poetry and Short Stories since childhood and is a dedicated bookworm. She published poetry in Palamas Anthologies (1970’s) and Sparrow Grass Poetry Form volumes (1993-1999). In 1995 under the pen name, “Meredith”, she self published: Calling (a novelette), Grama-Tell Me A Story (folklore) and a Short Story volume. From Windows, City Streets If you expect, require the finer artistic literary effort, you will revel in these 'shorts'. Your author likes to get the heart of the story. The essence is what she seeks: the story-line, the problem, the happening that prompted her to make it tick. She plays it out for you with a quickness as it ran around in her head. In the evolving of events, she is especially discerning. The author differentiates little between the action packed and the slice-of-life story. She feels her job is to bring the story to life and she does.