Missing

By Natasha Post

Ona was the type of place where everyone knew everyone’s business, the best sweet tea was made daily at the Mobile station down the way, and every old biddy over fifty thought they were the moral judgment of the town.  Dan’s aunt, May Cartwright, was among them.  She valued herself a Godly woman who came from a good family.  They were good Christian people who attended church, had prayer groups, bake sales, and charity events.  May directed each and every one of them with an iron fist of fire, brimstone, and judgment.  She believed she was ten feet above the rest of the town with a clean soul, God on her side, and shit that smelled like the aroma of gardenias on a warm summer day.  May didn’t think herself a sinner, but thought that just about everyone else was.  She enjoyed letting folk know it too.

It was just after Sunday church that news broke of her brother in laws unfaithfulness. May felt her family had been shamed.  A few months later the harlot announced she was pregnant, and May was certain the embarrassment would drive her to an early grave. Her sister forgave the cheating bastard and thought it the right thing to do to raise the child, since the harlot wanted nothing to do with him. 

Dan’s father and step mother had been loving parents, but Aunt May had no problem opinionating just how worthless the bastard boy was.  She’d often throw slights his way, punish him for things he didn’t do, and promise that God’s wrath was coming for him. Dan’s parents passed away in a car accident not long after he turned nineteen – which May imagined was God’s justice slamming down upon them for harboring the boy. She took in their younger child, Gidget, but since Dan was of legal age, she figured he could make it on his own.  

Dan got a job at the local tourist attraction, Swamp Lands Airboat Gator Tours, and found a small place in town.  It wasn’t much, just a one bedroom studio over the old bar that’d been around since before he was born.  To supplement the rent he did a bit of handy work around the building.  Most folk had no problem with Dan. It was only May and her gaggle of judgment bringers that felt the need to remind Dan he would never be worth the breath they were wasting on him.  It made him wonder why May had been so insistent on doing so. Dan did his best to avoid May, but since she was watching over his little sister, and anyone could just about spit from one end of town to the other, it was inevitable to cross paths with her.  He’d lived with May’s view of him for long enough and learned, for the most part, to ignore it, despite the anger it stirred in him. Turning his resentment outward, only ever made things worse.  His daddy had whipped him once when he was a child for voicing his opinion of May.  Afterwards he explained that while May was wrong, Dan was too, and he needed to learn that people would think what they thought, but ultimately, who Dan would be was up to him.  After that, no matter how cruel May acted, Dan never raised his voice and politely greeted her in turn. 

Gidget disappeared from her bed in the middle of the night, and May called him. Dan was too worried about his sister to think about how much it must have prickled May’s pear to have to ask him for help. Dan found Gidget at the cemetery next to their parent’s graves, curled up, and sleeping in the dirt.  She had started sleep walking.  He’d brought her home safe, but May didn’t thank him. She believed God was now punishing Gidget because of the tarnish Dan brought upon them. Pushing away the anger, Dan sighed and left. May took precautions to keep Gidget from getting out of the house, but every so often the girl would manage to sneak out, and May would call Dan.  She’d tell him to check the usual spots.  He’d be surprised she knew the usual spots since May never went out to look for her. Each time Dan would find Gidget, bring her home, and May would find a new way to place the blame on him.

When Gidget wandered off she was usually in one of three places: the cemetery, the park, or the drive-in.  This time, Dan found her on the highway five miles outside of town beneath the Swamp Lands Airboat Gator Tours billboard.  It was worrisome that she was going out of the town, and when Dan brought her home with bloody feet, May decided it was the last straw, and explained to Dan that she was going to put the girl in the local mental institution.  Dan started to protest, but May reminded him he had no say in this.  She was only telling him because it was the Godly thing to do.  Dan didn’t think the Godly thing was to lock away a teenage girl.

The quaint country themed living room with wood floors and tanned couches set the scene for the verbal boxing match.  Dan and May started yelling, slinging slander, and saying things that Dan knew he’d regret later, but May probably wouldn’t.  It was the first time since Dan had been a child that he’d vocalized his anger and hatred.  It escalated into fury, dredging up every memory of May trying to verbally beat him down, each punishment he hadn’t deserved, and compounding everything with the fact she now wanted to lock Gidget away.  He knocked a lamp from the side table. It shattered, the pieces scattering across the floor.  The resentment Dan had been concealing, that he had so carefully controlled for well over a decade dissolved, and so did his world.  

Dan didn’t know how much time had passed, but when the world came back it was vivid.  The sun streamed brighter through the sheer curtains over the window making the broken lamp shards glitter on the ground. A wood pecker grated its beak against a tree and a metallic, sharp scent grounded Dan back in reality.  May’s body lay on the floor lifeless and covered in blood.  Fear slammed into him, his chest tightened, and Dan looked down at his hands.  They were drenched in the crimson, his pocket knife glistening in his grip. Stumbling back, Dan fell on the couch. Gidget stood at the base of the stairs, trembling in shock with a look of horror on her face.

There was a triumphant smile on May’s wrinkle lined lips, as if in death she was justified with everything she’d said about him. Dan’s memories were missing, but there was no doubt it had been his hand that ended her life.  May have been a cruel old bitty, but she hadn’t deserved this. He could have taken Gidget and run. Dan had lost time, killed May in a rage, but if he ran now, everything she had claimed about him would be absolute truth.  He’d spent his life defying May’s beliefs of him.  There was no way in hell he was going to let her words hold meaning, especially not now.  His voice trembled as he reassured Gidget it would be all right. Taking out his cell phone, Dan called the sheriff.

***

Just a side note this was written for my fiction writing class.  I got a 96%, worked on it more based on the critiques and thought I'd post it here.  Dialogue was not allowed. I hope you enjoyed.  

Wednesday I had the privilege of listening to Rye Barcott – author of It Happened on The Way To War – speak for my college.  I also got to speak to him individually. Of course, me being the person I am, blundered my questions.  That’s not to say I stuttered, but once I was in front of him the actual questions I had fleeted far away from the sensible part of my mind, and instead I asked him other – not nearly as awesome things.  At least I had the chance to meet the guy.  Phenomenal book, though in my opinion a bit dry in places – but still worth reading.   I don’t even like memoirs, but I think one of Rye’s greatest attributes – one of his best traits as an author – is his capability to make the readers care about what happens to the characters in his novel.  Even if the story itself isn’t something you’re interested in – which to be honest, it’s not my kind of read – there’s no doubt of being utterly sucked in from the first chapter.  You want to know what happened to these remarkable people.

It Happened On The Way To War is considered in the memoir genre, but in reality it’s Rye’s perspective of what happened over the six years of his life.  It’s how he dealt with two very different worlds – one of war, one of peace.  Dual culture shock.  It’s how he spent twenty six dollars that wound up changing the lives of so many, and how being a Marine, he still wanted to taste the action of war – even if it wasn’t something he necessarily agreed with.  It’s fascinating to delve into the culture and see how such small things can change the world for the better.  Twenty six dollars, that’s how it started, but it grew into so much more. 

Carolina for Kibera (CFK) is a non profit organization Rye started when he was still in college.  It’s to help empower youths in Kibera, hopefully giving them a better future. They work with sports, healthcare, education, community clean up and more. In the words of CFK as stated on their website:  

“Carolina for Kibera (CFK) exists to develop local leaders, catalyze positive change and alleviate poverty in the Kibera slum of Nairobi.” 

You can visit CFK’s official website to learn more about this empowering and inspiring organization that is working to change the world here. http://cfk.unc.edu/ 

Rye himself is an inspirational person.  He was down to earth, taking the time to encourage and promote students dreams, hand out some personalized cards to a few, and speak with every single person in line who was waiting to have their book signed. I haven’t met many authors in person.  I’ve never had the luxury of being able to afford to go to writing conferences or lucky enough to have authors that I enjoy come to my area for a book signing.  It’s amazing because, as much as I liked the book – even though I don’t like memoirs – listening to Rye speak, and having a few brief moments to speak with him one on one, made me like it so much more because I actually got to meet one of the characters in the book.  There are a few things that Rye spoke about that stuck with me, and I’d like to share them.  I wish I had been recording the session so I could quote him verbatim, but hopefully I’ll keep it true to the man himself. 

“Talent is universal, opportunity is not.” 

“The story is not about me.  It’s my perception of the events that took place.  The story is meant to be presented to and inspire others.” 

“Make it personal so that the readers will feel the emotion. 

- Rye Barcott 

Rye is truly a great guy, a mentor for many, and an inspiration for more.  I give It Happened On The Way To War four stars.  I’m nixing one because there were a few areas I feel dragged out a bit and would have had more impact were they shortened. Even if you don’t like memoir’s (which Rye hates them and doesn’t like calling the book that) picking up this book will give you a glimpse into a world you may not have known existed and inspire you to make changes in your own way.

 

I am an avid Steampunk fan.  It’s unique, it’s fresh, it adds elements of science, history, and supernatural all rolled into one.  Gail Carriger opened my eyes to this world with her Parasol Protectorate series.   After that I started scouring for books that were in the same genre, but not the same story.  When I got my new Kindle I started downloading freebies by the dozen.  The Lady of Devices by Shelley Adina was one of them and among the first that I read. 

Lady of Devices

Magnificent Devices Book One

London, 1889. Victoria is Queen. Charles Darwin's son is Prime Minister. And steam is the power that runs the world.

At 17, Claire Trevelyan, daughter of Viscount St. Ives, was expected to do nothing more than pour an elegant cup of tea, sew a fine seam, and catch a rich husband. Unfortunately, Claire's talents lie not in the ballroom, but in the chemistry lab, where things have a regrettable habit of blowing up. When her father gambles the estate on the combustion engine and loses, Claire finds herself down and out on the mean streets of London. But being a young woman of resources and intellect, she turns fortune on its head. It's not long before a new leader rises in the underworld, known only as the Lady of Devices.

When she meets Andrew Malvern, a member of the Royal Society of Engineers, she realizes her talents may encompass more than the invention of explosive devices. They may help her realize her dreams and his . . . if they can both stay alive long enough to see that sometimes the closest friendships can trigger the greatest betrayals . . . (Shelley Adina)

Like most Victorian based Steampunk novels, people had certain expectations of women in society. They were to be married to a well off family, and of course run the household, provide heirs for their husband, make sure they saved face in public so as not to ruin their social reputation, and more.  Lady Claire, however, likes to be heard, use her brain, and delve into the science aspect of the world. 

Though she was born to privilege, her word is torn asunder after her father loses all of their money and then proceeds to kill himself – in the middle of what is basically Claire’s coming out party.

Family in ruin her mother moves to their home in the country, and Claire is left behind to wrap up a few things before following.  However, her life is quickly put in danger by a mob that believes her family owes them for the money they lost.  Out on the street and turned away from those she once thought of as friends, Claire’s misadventures don’t end there.  After being robbed, she sets out after those who took her last precious items, and finds a new family in them.

Over all, the story was good, it was a fun read, but I think the character development could have gone a little deeper.  The Mopsies were perhaps my favorite, and I’m hoping in the next installment Claire’s personality expands a bit.  She’s a well thought out character, but there’s still room for development, and I think perhaps she fell back into the lap of luxury a bit too easily, but we’ll see how it goes, as I fully intend to pick up the next installment.

Would I recommend this book for any Steampunk enthusiast?  Absolutely.  Though I think the audience is more geared towards women.  

The Lady of Devices gets three stars for me.  It was cut two stars because after Lady Claire went to such lengths to keep her identity a secret, it was very easily given away, and because I would have liked to see a bit more of the other characters as well.

Greeting and salutations nerds and nerdettes!  I’m scarce, I know, sporadic even, a once in a while blogger!  It’s insanity the way life eats up all our time so we can’t do the little things that we enjoy – like blog to an audience of invisible readers – who probably only exist in my mind.   Life has taken its toll with full time work and school.  We’re understaffed in my department which means I’m fiercely working to keep up with consumer demand, while also getting my school work done.  Not to mention that Brian has started his clinicals – which are so far away he has to be up at 3am just so he can catch the train and make it there on time and does not return home until 5:30-ish pm.  The dogs are not a fan of these schedules.  They let us know by pooping all over the house.  Spite – dogs have it.

In the book world, I have a long list to get through.  The first one that I’m almost done with – and will probably review for the hell of it, even though it’s not my favorite genre – is It Happened on the Way To War by Rye Barcott.  The writing itself is beautiful, eloquent, and definitely gives you a full picture of what’s going on.  It’s a narrative memoir, and to be honest, I’m just not all gung-ho about memoirs.  However, I have to read this for my Fiction Writing Class – which our Professor is having us write a non-fiction piece.  Backwards, but hey, it’s only one and it’s good practice to be a well-rounded writer.  I can’t really complain.  After that I have two others books to review, and honestly I can’t wait till summer when I get a reprieve from school and can read to my wicked hearts content.

There are rare occasions when I do get a reprieve to actually enjoy a bit of life.  Last weekend Brian, my brother, my friend Reyna and I met up with some others at the South Florida Renaissance Festival located at Quiet Waters Park.  Brian and I go every year.  There are a few staples – such as Brian always needs his chocolate covered bacon drizzled in caramel (or a heart attack waiting to happen) and I usually get some sort of hair piece because I love fun things for my hair.  We also like to check out new vendors, watch shows, and try different foods that we can find.  This year, I wandered in a human – and walked out a Fox Demon – horns, tails, and gypsy sarong included.  I looked absolutely adorable – if I do say so myself.  I also found a wicked leather journal for only $25 bucks.  It’s gorgeous and I have no idea what I want to write in it!  It’s so pretty that I don’t want to ruin it with my lackluster, chicken scratch hand writing – yet it calls to me!  Write in me! I really, really want to, but I want it to be something worth writing.  I’ve got time – I’ll think on it.

I’m actually on spring break this week – at least from school.  Work still calls and one of my psych professor has decided she does not care that it’s spring break and given us an assignment anyways.  Thank you for that.  I also need to meet my parents midway between us to transport my grandfather down here to his condo.  No rest for the wicked.  See, I told you I’m busy!  I will, however, continue to post!  I will blog, and read, and write, and review – though I’m considering moving to wordpress – if I can figure out how to use it.  One step at a time.

posted from Bloggeroid

My husband, Brian, is currently attending Keiser University to be a Nuclear Med Tech.  He finishes up in June.  I’d like to explain that from his starting class, only he and one other person have made it to the end.  It’s not an easy field.  Most of the people in the video are upper classman, but they opted to let Brian and his classmate in on the video.  Kudos to Keiser and Mr. Neill for not only helping these guys to succeed in a great career, but to also let them have some fun in between. 

Without Further Ado – The Harlem Shake – Nuclear Med Tech Edition!!!

 

Brian is the one in the yellow vest in the back, the guy in the cowboy hat is their teacher Mr. Neill.  The girl in the tutu in the front is the only one who’s made it to the end from Brian’s starting class with him. 

HAZZUH!  You know you wanna laugh.