Short Story Blurb

Here is a little taste of a short story for the upcoming collection:

Of course it was raining.  A decorated arbor stood drenched with wilting roses, their petals falling by the handful to the wet grass. Meteorologists predicted severe thunderstorms with up to four inches of rain. Of course New Englanders never trusted weathermen; there were far too many cases where they called for snowstorms and hurricanes and all that turned up was a light dusting in time for Christmas or a passing raincloud.

But Katherine new her bad luck all too well. She sat in her pajamas every night for two weeks in front of her flat screen television and watched the news at ten o’clock for the weather reports.

“There was nothing we could do at the last minute,” Katherine’s Mom, Nora announced. “It was inevitable.”

Red wine poured generously into two glasses. Katherine took one and imbibed a lavish amount, careful not to spill on her ivory gown. Rhinestones jeered at her as she took another sip.

“I don’t understand. Though there is a lot not to understand here. Hopefully our guests forgive this dramatic turn of events.”

Katherine stared out of the kitchen window at her old backyard. The rain pushed down on a rental tent where a swing set used to rest. Long, lazy afternoons used to consist of a little girl laughing, swinging, and sliding. Those days disconnected and broke into unrecognizable particles of memories. Yesteryear was now replaced by a tent under torment as it protected empty chairs and unlit candles.

Nora placed her glass of wine on the counter. She said, “Not all is lost. Sure the flowers are destroyed, but everything can be fixed. Everything.”

“I know.” Katherine said. She looked at her disappearing drink. “I need more wine.”