Is This the Fun Part?

Wayne Berry

Description

    Is This The Fun Part?, is an anthology of seven short stories dealing with life and the many unexpected and often life altering events that seem to happen all too frequently.  The title is tongue-in-cheek, in that life can frequently be less than fun.  These stories portray many of these unfunny scenarios; adultery, betrayal, murder, isolation and obsession, with a few supernatural and science fiction twists just for fun.

     How will the discovery of an often life changing secret affect an unsuspecting young man?  How will it change his life going forward?

     What will it take for a model son to come to grips with his own identity?  Can he withstand the rigors of military service while repressing who he really is? 

     How far can a stepmother push her stepson before he strikes back?

 Will a lifetime of being odd man out be the impetus for tragedy?  

     Can an antique mirror hold the secret to happiness for a wealthy, reclusive, compulsive “junk” collector?  How will advice from total strangers, and his departed mother, from within the mirror send love his way?

     Can an aging, heartbroken, ailing polio victim find healing from a very unlikely source?  Can a lifetime of self imposed isolation after physical impairment, tragic loss and personal disappointment end on a high note?

     Could an unseen alien presence use one of the most warped of human minds to wreak havoc on an unsuspecting world? 

     Could superstition be the cause of one’s demise?  Can belief make it so?

Sujets

• Short Stories
• Fiction

Informations

• Publié par: AuthorHouse
• Date de parution: 15 janvier 2009
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781468506563
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

IS THIS THE FUN PART?
 
AN ANTHOLOGY
 
by Wayne Berry


AuthorHouse™
1663 Liberty Drive
Bloomington, IN 47403
www.authorhouse.com
Phone: [phone]
 
 
 
 
© 2009 Wayne Berry. All rights reserved.
 
No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.
 
Published by AuthorHouse 02/21/2023
 
ISBN: 978-1-4343-9926-7 (sc)
ISBN: 978-1-4343-9927-4 (hc)
ISBN: 978-1-4685-0656-3 (e)
 
 
 
Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.
Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.
 
 
 
Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.
IS THIS THE FUN PART?
HERE’S TO YOU, MR. ROBINSON
A FEW GOOD MEN?
CINDER EDDIE AND THE WICKED STEPMOTHER: NOT A FAIRY TALE FOR CHILDREN
THE MIRROR
THE LAST ROSE OF AUTUMN
THE ENTITY
FEAR IS A BIRD

ALSO BY WAYNE BERRY
The Beatification of Shirley
A Play in Two Acts

For my sister, Jean Smith, who thought my ramblings were interesting enough to encourage me to continue rambling.
HERE’S TO YOU, MR. ROBINSON
 
 
DWIGHT LOWERY GREW UP in the most loving environment any child could ever hope to have. He wasn’t aware it was anything special. It was just the way things were to him. True, he noticed some of his friends had problems with their parents, siblings, extended families, but he never really examined just what the mechanics of their troubles might be, or why he didn’t seem to suffer from anything similar. He simply grew up enjoying his life, his mother and father, whom he respected and adored.
His childhood was unremarkable other than it was not marked or marred by over-protective parents, overly strict and disciplinarian parents, overly permissive parents, or overly religious parents. His parents were none of those things, rather a uniquely tempered and pleasing blend of all those things. Dwight benefited by their temperance and moderation. He never had free rein, but always had a say in matters involving his affairs. His parents would listen to his ideas and suggestions, as if they held some weight, and would make decisions accordingly. Dwight never felt ignored, abused, or belittled. He never questioned final decisions regarding his welfare because he always had adequate input and felt the ultimate verdict was fair and balanced, if not always exactly what he would have preferred.
Such an idyllic upbringing had molded him into a success story any parents would have given just about anything to achieve. Dwight hadn’t an inkling that anything of a deceitful nature, a little capricious nature perhaps, but definitely of a devastating nature, were it ever to have been found out, had occurred long ago. Something that could possibly have had a hugely negative impact on his life, could certainly have altered its course entirely, thus, making him someone quite different from who he had become.
 
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CAROLYN LOWERY WAS COMPLETELY in love with Grant, her new husband. Each had been aware from the moment they met that there was something extraordinary about the other. It was a feeling of completion like few couples ever truly experience. They fit together physically as well, when they merged on the dance floor. Their heights, weights, and proportions seemed to indicate they’d been purposely fashioned as a set, a pair. Even total strangers commented on the uncanny effect they created as they took the floor and began their expert moves to whatever piece of music the band happened to be playing.
It was the 40’s and the sound was big and bold. Swing was in and each band boasted its own chanteuse. Melody was everything. Lyrics followed, but with heartfelt messages always expertly rendered by an attractive female singer decked out in something soft and appealing. Carolyn and Grant loved the dance floor and the dance floor loved them back.
No one was the least bit surprised when they announced their engagement. Many were surprised they’d dated for so long before making their final commitment. Everyone was pleased with the decision, his parents, her parents, and all of their friends. Since they’d dated for some time before the big announcement, they chose not to make it a long engagement. Both were sure of their relationship and saw no reason to wait for months or years for a wedding.
They wanted a traditional ceremony with all that went with it, but nothing huge or lavish. There would be no gross expenditure of money. Carolyn made her folks promise to keep things simple, tasteful, and small. Her parents baulked at first. They certainly had the funds to throw a wedding that could have been the social event of the season, but Carolyn forbade them to do so. She also begged them not to get overly creative with the invitations, just immediate family and friends; no reaching out to extended family or friends all over the country, including distant aunts and uncles, great or otherwise, cousins many times removed, best friends from long past college days, no matter how important or influential they might be. Her parents reluctantly complied.
The wedding took place on the most brilliantly magnificent day September could have provided. There was not a cloud in the sky. Just a hint of a cool 70’s breeze stirred the now brightly coloring leaves as they donned their fall raiment, a promise of things more spectacular to come. The Groom was beaming, the Bride radiant. It was as perfect a wedding as anyone could have wished. No one could have predicted that within months this new adventure would face a challenge and a detour, unseen just over the horizon.
Carolyn’s parents, since they had been denied the pleasure of lavishing gobs of money and gaggles of people upon the couple’s nuptials, opted instead to spend as much as they could by sending the pair on a dream honeymoon to Hawaii. The two week getaway was to be five star across the board. Nothing but the finest hotels, the best restaurants, and the most extensive of sightseeing excursions, would be good enough for their little girl and her new husband. Neither Carolyn nor Grant voiced a single complaint on that score, happy to accept graciously this more than generous beginning to their life together.
The honeymoon proved to be more than they could have imagined. The islands were, without a doubt, jewels, boasting a diversity of culture, landscape and beauty, neither had been quite prepared for. This trip would forever remain seared on their memories, especially in light of what was about to transpire there.
Grant and Carolyn had hardly had time to settle themselves into the routine of their new life together before all hell broke loose. The Hawaiian Islands they had barely left were under attack by The Empire of Japan. Pearl Harbor had been devastated and the country was suddenly at war. Grant had been well aware of the conflict in Europe; Hitler and his minions marching across the continent in all directions, gobbling up neighboring countries like hors d’oeuvres on some continental buffet. He found it disturbing but certainly far from a major sphere of concern for him personally. Europe was apparently dealing with the threat, as well they should.
Now the conflict had suddenly been interjected into his personal sphere of concern, The President declaring war and thousands of his fellow citizens were flocking to enlist and defend all that they cherished and held dear. Grant felt he owed his country nothing less than all those others already being trained and sent off to show The Japs and Krauts just who they had messed with.
Grant was loath to leave his new bride so soon in their marriage, well aware of the danger in which he was voluntarily placing himself, as well as their future together, but compelled to act none the less. Carolyn was beside herself with fear and trepidation. She had never faced a day in her life without a hefty support system backing up her every waking moment. She wasn’t at all sure she was going to be able to cope with this sudden void opening up before her. Her parents assured her they would be right there, whatever a now murky and nebulous future might bring. Grant’s father-in-law was absolutely behind Grant’s decision and would have even gone himself had he been young enough to do so. Carolyn had no alternative but to accept the inevitable and try somehow to get through it all, praying fervently for a swift and positive conclusion to the global insanity she perceived all around her.
 
 
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THERE FOLLOWED A LENGTHY period of darks days, lonely nights, and overwhelming uncertainty for Carolyn. There was one bright spot, at least she strove valiantly to make it a bright spot, when she learned she was pregnant. She wrote to Grant the moment she’d learned the news. She was most adamant that he know as soon as possible. He must be aware of this new development and make it a reason for him to take care of himself at all cost, not do anything foolhardy just to prove a point or exact revenge on an enemy who would like nothing more than to deprive Carolyn of her husband. At least she looked at things in that light. She saw the country’s enemy as personally after her and out to put an end to her happiness in particular. She wasn’t thinking as clearly or as rationally as s