"Hank's"

On a winter day, I stepped out into the cold. I could see my breath in the air. I shivered and stepped into the snow, it crunched under my boots. I was to meet Sam at the corner near the little old grocery store. It was only several yards from my house. As I walked carefully along the icey side walk, I tucked my hands in my coat pockets. Even through thick wool gloves, the cold was getting to my fingers. I stopped infront of the old store for a moment and wrapped my coat around me tighter. I hadn't been paying attention, but when I looked into the store window, there was light. The window was clean, the store was stocked and there were people inside. This was very strange, as the store had been closed for a few decades. The day before, it was the same as it had been since I could remember. Dark, dirty and barren. Surely this couldn't have been done over night. With an eerie feeling in my stomach, I curiously and cautiously stepped up to the store and slowly opened the door. I felt the warmth of the inside touch my face. There was a man at the counter. He was in his early sixties, balding and had rosey cheeks. He was wearing a white shirt and a red and white striped apron. He waved and said, "Hello! Welcome to "Hank's"!" I stepped in as the door shut behind me. I gulped, "Hello". I remembered my Dad telling me that was the name of the old grocery store when he was a kid. He'd go there to get Hershey bars for fifteen cents, everyday after school. There was a soda fountain in the back of the store where Mom and her girlfriends would get milk shakes and root beer floats. Thats where she met Dad, as a matter of fact, he offered her a Hershey bar and she fell in love with him. "Hank's?" I said, "Wasn't that the name of this place years ago?" "Years ago!?" The man chuckled, "This is a brand new building! We opened shop about a month ago. I'm Hank, this is my store." "Oh." I said, nervous and dismayed. I saw a few people come around the corner of the aisle, they were dressed very strangely. They were dressed in poofy skirts and white gloves, like the fifties! My eyes widened and I felt as if the blood drained from my brain. Behind me, more people entered into the store, I stepped aside out of their way. I saw the back of a lady with a long coat and a funny hairdo, she had a little brown haired boy with her. "Hey, there Johnny! 'Got lots of those chocolate bars you love, today!" Hank said to the boy. And as the boy turned towards Hank, I saw a familiar profile. I blinked again and again, I thought to myself, could this be happening? It was my dad! The lady was my grandma, who'd died ten years earlier! "Great!" Said the little boy,my dad, and he ran down one of the isles. I followed him and watched from a short distance, trying not to look obvious. He was in the aisle where the candy was. I glanced at some of the merchandise, cans of soup for twenty three cents, cans of veggies for twelve cents and more unbelievably low prices. The boy picked up three Hershey bars. Then he walked towards me, I stared at him in disbelief. My dad at nine years old, how is this possible!? He passed me, and headed to the back of the store, I followed him. There was the soda fountain. There were three young girls sitting on little stools at the bar, sipping on thier straws. Dad stopped a few feet behind, and stared for a moment at the little girl furthest to the right. Her hair had little red bows in it. I knew immediatly she was my mom. One of the little girls turned her head, "What are you staring at, boy?" She said in a snotty tone. Mom looked over at him,"Be nice, Shirly!" Mom smiled at dad and dad at mom. "Hi! You can sit by me if you want." Mom said. "Gee, thanks," Said Dad as he sat down, "Would you like to have one of these?" He said, holding up the Hershey bars. My eyes became wider, until I thought my eyeballs would pop right out of my head. I just wittnessed my mom and dad's meeting! I ran to the door and bursted out into the cold. I saw Sam standing at the corner. He was wearing a funny hat. "Sam, oh my gosh, I think I'm loosing my mind! Do you know what I just witnessed, or, at least thought I wittnessed? Oh, Sam, I think I'm literally going crazy..." Then Sam interupted, "Uh, I'm not Sam, I'm Frank." I was about to loose it again, this must have been Sam's grandfather! Then, with a jump, I woke up. It was all a dream, thank goodness! I got up and got dressed. It was cold and snowing. I stepped out into the cold, I could see my breath in the air. I was going to meet Sam at the corner near the old store. I was nervous to see the old store, in fear that my dream was continuing. I walked carefully along the icey side walk. I could see Sam waiting for me at the corner. I slowly neared the litte old store. Soon I was infront of it, I looked into the window. Same old store, dark, dirty and barren. I smiled at Sam, he took my hand, and we walked away.

"The Latte Girl"

Steam rose from his piping hot latte in the chilly autumn air. Sitting in a green wire chair outside the hip coffee shop, he sipped the hot liquid carefully as he read the daily paper through his cool sun glasses.

He was wearing a black leather jacket that attractively accented his white collered shirt. That attractively accented his black slacks and shiney shoes.

A little silver earring dangled from his left ear. His short hair was dark with bleached ends.

Why was he there? Wondered the latte girl, as she peered out the window at the hot looking young man, sipping his coffee so cautiously, and reading the daily paper.

He'd been there every morning for the past week, sipping Lattes, reading the paper. What is his story? Wondered the Latte girl, dreamily staring at his fine features.

He looked up from his paper, ran his fingers through his pretty hair, then sipped his latte, and read some more.

Oh, the way he moves! So cool. Thought the latte girl. Then a customer gets her attention.

Her golden-brown curls wave as she moves in a hurry. Her dark eyes shine as she greets each customer with a friendly smile.

She's wearing a green apron that attractively accents her pure white t-shirt, that attractively accents her blushing cheeks.

Her personality radiates the kindness that glows through her dark eyes.

She moves her delicate fingers across the keys of the register and works with such skill and perfection. How long has she been doing this? Wonders the hot looking young man.

He peers at the latte girl out the side of his cool sunglasses, as he sips his sweet latte that she made for him.

What is her story? The hot looking young man asks himself. He watches her work as he pretends to read the daily paper, as he sips his latte carefully.

Oh, the way she moves! So graceful. He thought. "I've been coming here everymorning for a week, I should just talk to her!" The hot looking young man says, under his breath.

"Rocky Road Mountain Fudge"

It was midnight. Kevin checked the time, his hand shook with anxiety as he looked at his watch. "Where is she?" He asked himself.

Sally was very punctual and it wasn't like her not to call when she was going to be late. And this time she was very late. She was to meet Kevin at his apartment at ten, they had plans to have a late dinner and see a movie.

Kevin called her home for the fifth time that hour. The phone rang once, twice, three times, four , five, six...She always answered before the fifth ring, no matter what she may be doing.

Kevin began to panic. He called Sally's mother. "I'm sorry to be calling so late," Kevin said as his voice slightly tembled,"but, have you heard from Sally today? Did she have any emergency plans or anything?" "Not that I know of. Why, Kevin?" Her mother said with a bit of concern. "Well, we had planned a date for ten, its midnight and she hasn't shown. I called her house several times, she's not there, she hasn't called me. I talked to her around noon and she said we were still on for tonight." "Oh, dear! That is not like Sally at all!" Said Mother in a panic. "Well, its too early to call the police. I'll go talk to Dad, we'll pray for her. You pray for her too, alright? I'll go now Kevin." "Yes, yes. Goodbye Mrs. Kelvin." He answered, troubled.

Kevin hung up the telephone receiver. He was still very anxious but not as panicy. He was getting so tired and frustrated. He decided he'd go for a drive and see if he might find her.

He took the path that she always took to his apartment. He looked frantically along the streets, as he kept repeating; "God, let her be alright!"

He drove to her house. Her car wasn't there. He pulled into the driveway. He got out of the car and as he walked twards the porch and up the stairs, he peered through the dark window. He couldn't see anything. He got out the key Sally gave to him and opened the door. "Sally!" He called and flipped on the lights. No one answered. Her purse was gone from the table on which she kept it, near the door, while she was home. He then thoroughly searched the house and nothing was in any disarray. So he left, still troubled.

He decided he'd drive every street of the city to try and find her, even if it took him all night.

He drove and drove for almost an hour and a half, with his cellular phone by his side, hoping that he'd get a call from his girlfriend. As he drove, he reminisced about all the good and bad times they had together in the past two years. A tear rolled down his cheek.

It was four A.M. and he found himself following a winding back road. There wasn't anything in sight but dark grassy land and tall evergreens. He drove a few more miles, as tired as can be, yet too awake to fall asleep in hopes he'd find Sally.

As he was driving, he saw a reflection. What was it? Kevin slowed down. He couldn't tell what it was until he came upon the object. He stopped. It was Sally's car! Kevin's heart jumped with fear and hope, then he jumped out of his truck.

He knocked on the window and looked in, "Sally!" He called in a strong voice. But, as he looked and looked, he didn't see her. Her car seemed to be empty. But, to be sure, he got a flash light out of his glove box. He shined it inside the vehicle. Nothing. Not a thing was inside, no trace, no evidence of anything.

Frustrated and scared, Kevin began to weep as he got back into his truck. He slumped over the steering wheel as tears poured. He thought for the worst. "She's probably dead! We'll never find her!" He said to himself.

Then he looked to the ceiling of his truck and said, "God, if you really exist, bring Sally back to me!" He wiped the tears from his puffy, tired eyes, and as he did so, he saw a pair of head lights coming in his direction. He watched. "What if that is the guy that took Sally and is coming back for her car!" With caution, he watched closely. He shook with fear as the the big dark pick up truck stopped directly behind Sally's car. Out jumped two people. It appeared that the driver was an older heavy set man and the passenger was a tall woman. The man was carrying a gas can.

Kevin became even more anxious as the two walked pass Sally's car and attempted to approach him. He started his engine and planned to take off, in fear that they would try and harm him, then, he thought, no one could tell the police about Sally's car and the two people trying to steal it. The two people who probably kidnapped Sally!

But, as Kevin was about to take off, as the female got a bit closer he saw that she looked quite familiar...It was Sally!!!

Kevin jumped out of the car and let out a "Yahoooo!" as he came twards her. "Kev! How in the world did you find me!" She said with a grin. He cried for joy and kissed her and wrapped his arms around her. "I thought you were dead!" He said, "Where were you...what happened? Why didn't you call???" "Its a long, long story. It was eight O' clock, my aunt who lives up here phoned me earlier and told me that the Old Town Store is selling their rocky road mountain fudge that they only sell twice a year. I love it, so I just had to come and get some, I figured two hours would be enough time. But, on my hurry there, I ran out of gas. I had to walk all the way to my aunt and uncles. By the way, that's my uncle George, putting gas in my car." Uncle George looked over and waved, "Howdy, Kevin!" "Well", she continued, "by the time I got to their house it was already almost eleven. They let me use their phone and I tried calling you a few times and your line was busy." "Oh, that was probably when I was trying to call you." Kevin said sheepishly. "I decided to visit Aunt and Uncle for a while, we had a snack and then Uncle George drove me all the way to the city to get gas. The gas stations in town close at ten. And here I am!" Sally said, smiling her pretty smile.

Kevin grinned. "I'm just so glad you're okay." "I figured you'd be freaking out, you chicken." Sally teased. "Well, I guess I'll follow you home and make sure you get there okay". Kevin suggested. "That would be nice, thanks sweetie." Kevin sat in his truck, Sally walked to her car. Before Kevin shut the door he murmured, "Thank you God."

Sally looked at him and yelled, "And darn it, after all that, no fudge!"

"The Tale of the Nasty Little Fairy" (April 13th)

There once was a nasty little fairy who'd play nasty little tricks. She likes to trip the leprachauns with her feet and big sticks.

The nasty little fairy has a mind so keene, but she uses all her witts to do things so mean.

Many other fairies and pixies try to ask her why, but as they attempt to speak to her, she keeps on floating by.

It is known she has a bag full of bad fairy dust, all fairies have it, it is a must. But, this fairy dust must have come from a witch! Just a sprinkle can give one a seven year itch.

One time she turned a bear into a frog, a bird into a dragon, a mouse into a dog. She cast a spell of some sort, onto a man one day. He was then so afraid of women, his wife scared him clean away.

Every creature in the forest, even the sweet pixies, hate her. All I can say is this fairy must be stopped, sooner or later.

"The Hunt for the Ice Cream Man"

Based on a true story.

(March)

It was a hot and sunny day, amazingly, since the story takes place in Washington state. Two kids, named Sean and Brandon were roller blading across the smooth black road, just chillin' like young teens do. "Yo, Sean! Check this out!" Brandon said as he dangerously did a back flip. Luckily, this is a story, so he landed on his wheels rather than his skull. "Right on! Tsssssss..." Sean replied, as he began to spin like Todd Eldridge on ice.

"Hey, Brandon, lets like, race, man." Sean said with a grin. "Okay, dude!" So, they took off, full of their youthful energy.

As they sped up, faster and faster, they could feel the heat increase intensly, as the sun scorched their skin. "Dude, lets like, stop. I'm getting totally toasted, man!" Sean said, as he fanned himself. Brandon answered, "Yeah, I'm roasting like a turkey on that holiday we celebrate in November!"

They stopped at the curb infront of Sean's house, as they panted like dogs. All of a sudden, a sweet familiar sound rang from what seemed like the block north of them. "Dude! Its the ice cream man!" Sean said excitedly, jumping onto his skates. "Right on!" Brandon said. They paced frantically as the ringing music tempted them more and more. It seemed to get closer and closer each second. Yet, as they went in the direction of the sound, they found nothing. "Dude, where is he?" Brandon said with disappointment. "I don't know, man."

The music still rang throughout the neighborhood, as the kids searched and searched around the neighborhood for a half hour. Many other hot, ice cream hungry children did the same.

Soon, the sound could no longer be heard. "Dude, we didn't get no ice cream!" Sean said, sadly. They skated twards home, as they saw many young children crying in the streets. No one found the ice cream man that day. The End.