Cemetery Street - John Zunski (good novels to read in english .txt) š
- Author: John Zunski
Book online Ā«Cemetery Street - John Zunski (good novels to read in english .txt) šĀ». Author John Zunski
to call or write or anything, just drop over.ā
Shaking my head, I heeded Russellās advice and didnāt look back. I slipped inside my fatherās car, drove to the airport and my new beginning.
Chapter 23 Epilogue
The following September I learned of another tragedy. While I was on extended assignment for my new job ā I broke free of the funeral industry in favor of firefighting ā word came that Russell perished in a blaze. A pile of charred rubble was all that remained of Wallyās and the apartments above the variety store and lunch counter. I stared for hours at the newspaper photograph Diane mailed.
āI tried calling when it happened,ā Diane told me over the phone. āBut, I could only reach your voice mail.ā
āDid he go quickly?ā
āAs far as anyone knows.ā
āWhereād they bury him?ā
āFernwood,ā Diane answered. āListen James, I know you. I know how you feel about Russell. Donāt feel like you need to rush back. Iād rather you save your money and come back for the holidays.ā
āYouāre probably right,ā I conceded. Three days later, I landed in Philadelphia. Driving through Beyford under the cover of darkness, I headed towards Indian Point, parking the rental car next to the railroad tracks where Count parked the powder fairy blue pickup.
I crossed the trestle, only this time instead of Shannie and Count at my sides, I carried a gallon of diesel and a shovel. Atop Indian Point I dismantled the bogus monument and set it ablaze.
The view from Indian Point that late summer night couldnāt compare to the view in front of me today. From atop Mount Sentinel, I peer over Missoula and the snow covered Bitterroots. Winter here is beautiful. I wish I could share it with Shannie. In a sense, thatās what I was about to do. In my hand I turn Shannieās envelope round and round. With a sigh I opened the envelope marked: āDo not open prior to my thirtieth birthday!ā
Shannie @ 30
We finally meet. The person I couldnāt wait to be. Are you as nervous looking back at me as I am imaging you? I guess I should tell you what I think youāre like, but I have so many questions for you. Whatās your life like? Have you lived like I promised? Did you marry Just James? Ewwwwww! Okay, whatever, I still think heās cute!
I think youāre a lawyer. I think youāve written your first book. I donāt think you have any kids. You either still live in Beyford or you moved to Florida, you know all that fun in the sun. You didnāt make your first million yet, but youāre close. But most of all, I know youāre happy!
Answer honestly. Have you lived like I promised? Did you make a million dollars yet? Did you give it away? Remember thatās the deal! Whatās it like to be an adult? Do you still think what father was like? Do you really think heās dead? Are you in love? Are you married? Not to Just James? Ewwwwww! Do you give of yourself? Have you made the world a better place? Are you happy?
Shannie @ 15
I refolded the letter, placed it back in the envelope and stuffed the envelope back in my pocket. I marveled at Shannieās self-expectations and couldnāt help drawing comparisons to my own. I glanced over the city in thought. Approaching my own thirtieth birthday, maybe itās a good thing Iām not the man Iād thought Iād be. If I was, I know I wouldnāt be here. Iām happy here. Standing, taking a moment to enjoy the snow-covered beauty about me, I chuckled at the thought that maybe Dianeās pompous colleague was onto something; maybe itās a good thing that in such a presumptuous world irony is alive and well.
The End
About the Author
John lives in Western Montana with his wife Tammy and their dog Shannie-Biscuit. John believes every man is entitled to one good dog and one good woman. He has both. Cemetery Street is his first E-book. His second, Shangri-La Trailer Park will be published in late 2011. Check out www.JohnZunski.com or look him up on Facebook.
Shangri-La Trailer Park
Chapter 1 Comes at Night
Eyes ablaze, a bear came at night. It lumbered into camp, earth shaking under claw. In the light of a crackling campfire its shadow flickered upon the trunks of conifers. Breath swirled about its snout before rising into the night. Fast asleep, Maistoinna (My-stween-a) Standing Bear was oblivious of the ursineās presence - or maybe he wasnāt. Either way, he turned his back on the bear.
Maistoinna wasnāt concerned about a bear invading his camp. He was experienced camping in Bear Country and took precautions. The Blackfoot Indian was fond of saying: āIf a bearās crazy enough to slash his way into my tent, Iām crazy enough to have a nasty surprise waiting for him.ā This night, Maistoinna didnāt pitch his tent, choosing instead to sleep under the stars.
The cinnamon bear nosed closer, firelight betraying a deep gash upon its shoulder. Around the wound dried blood matted its fur. A normal bear might pause to paw at this rock or that, maybe uncovering a tasty treat. This bear seemed different; slowly, deliberately, he moved toward Maistoinna. Hovering over the sleeping Blackfoot, the bear paused, studying his quarry as its steamy breath belched skyward.
When Maistoinna rolled onto his back, the bear pounced. With a primordial grunt, it nudged Maistoinna with a giant paw, startling him from sleep. Maistoinna screamed, the echoes of his bellow rolling over the treetops.
The bear pinned Maistoinna and lowered its snout. āShut up!ā the bear growled, engulfing Maistoinna with putrid breath. āSweeny, Shut up! Itās me,ā the bear shook Maistoinnaās shoulders.
Terror filled Maistoinnaās eyes as he struggled to free his arms, his breath rapid and shallow under the bearās weight.
āCalm down, calm down, itās me.ā
Maistoinna squinted, recognition settling him.
āSorry to scare you, my friend, but itās the only way I can get your attention,ā the bear said.
āItās happening again,ā it warned. āDo something about it. This time, do something. Donāt let another Eagle fall.ā
Maistoinna awoke with a start, his heart pounding. Next to him, embers from the dying fire glowed weakly. āA dream, only a dream,ā Maistoinna mumbled. Confused and weary, he sat motionless, scrutinizing the tree line. Far from his Browning, Montana, home, Maistoinna was camping along the Appalachian Trail in northeastern Pennsylvania, in the midst of a solo quest at conquering the two thousand-mile trail.
Shaken, Maistoinna snuggled into his sleeping bag. For the first time in his adult life, he didnāt feel at home in nature. He suddenly feared the dark and what lurked within; he wished to be in a motel room, in a comfortable bed, under a warm blanket, watching this weekās million-dollar movie.
Somewhere in the night an owl hooted. Maistoinna jumped. He gave up his attempt at sleep and climbed out of his bag. Sitting before the campfire, he watched morning light chase darkness across the sky. His mind grappled with the bear. What was he saying? The Eagle; the bearās woundāwhat did they mean?
These things once would have been intelligible to Maistoinna, but latelyāever since his nephewās accident āmany things seemed incomprehensible. Maistoinna was frustrated that he didnāt understand the bear. He related to bears better than women. He knew bearsāwomen, wellā¦ leave it at that.
As a boy, his grandfather told him that their clan was directly descended from the great bear. Even then Maistoinna admired the bearās arrogant swagger. āTheyāre always smiling,ā a young Maistoinna told his grandfather. Unknown to Maistoinna, his own smile resembled that insolent smirk.
Real-life encounters with bears didnāt shake him the way this dream hadā not even the time a black bear caught Maistoinna with his pants down. The sun shined brilliantly upon the jagged Mission Mountains as Maistoinna answered natureās call. He was squatting behind a stand of brush when he heard the bear lumber nearby. It swaggered across an opening in the trees, busily foraging, snout to the ground. Not until Maistoinna moved for his pepper spray - set upon a stump five feet away - did the bear notice him. With teeth clacking, the bear moved towards Maistoinna.
In his excitement, Maistoinna forgot to pull up his pants and fell over himself. He hit the ground with a thudāpepper spray out of reach. The bear closed, teeth clacking. It caught whiff of Maistoinnaās scat and lowered its snout. After investigating, the bear scampered away.
Maistoinna didnāt find the story funny, his screw ups were never the least bit humorous. Thatās not to say that Maistoinna didnāt possess a blistering wit, he did, as long as others were the target.
As the sun rose above the Appalachian forest, Maistoinna dumped his remaining coffee on the fire and closed camp. He faced the long day ahead of him with a sigh. Hiking was a job in the mid-Atlantic summer time soup.
Imprint
Shaking my head, I heeded Russellās advice and didnāt look back. I slipped inside my fatherās car, drove to the airport and my new beginning.
Chapter 23 Epilogue
The following September I learned of another tragedy. While I was on extended assignment for my new job ā I broke free of the funeral industry in favor of firefighting ā word came that Russell perished in a blaze. A pile of charred rubble was all that remained of Wallyās and the apartments above the variety store and lunch counter. I stared for hours at the newspaper photograph Diane mailed.
āI tried calling when it happened,ā Diane told me over the phone. āBut, I could only reach your voice mail.ā
āDid he go quickly?ā
āAs far as anyone knows.ā
āWhereād they bury him?ā
āFernwood,ā Diane answered. āListen James, I know you. I know how you feel about Russell. Donāt feel like you need to rush back. Iād rather you save your money and come back for the holidays.ā
āYouāre probably right,ā I conceded. Three days later, I landed in Philadelphia. Driving through Beyford under the cover of darkness, I headed towards Indian Point, parking the rental car next to the railroad tracks where Count parked the powder fairy blue pickup.
I crossed the trestle, only this time instead of Shannie and Count at my sides, I carried a gallon of diesel and a shovel. Atop Indian Point I dismantled the bogus monument and set it ablaze.
The view from Indian Point that late summer night couldnāt compare to the view in front of me today. From atop Mount Sentinel, I peer over Missoula and the snow covered Bitterroots. Winter here is beautiful. I wish I could share it with Shannie. In a sense, thatās what I was about to do. In my hand I turn Shannieās envelope round and round. With a sigh I opened the envelope marked: āDo not open prior to my thirtieth birthday!ā
Shannie @ 30
We finally meet. The person I couldnāt wait to be. Are you as nervous looking back at me as I am imaging you? I guess I should tell you what I think youāre like, but I have so many questions for you. Whatās your life like? Have you lived like I promised? Did you marry Just James? Ewwwwww! Okay, whatever, I still think heās cute!
I think youāre a lawyer. I think youāve written your first book. I donāt think you have any kids. You either still live in Beyford or you moved to Florida, you know all that fun in the sun. You didnāt make your first million yet, but youāre close. But most of all, I know youāre happy!
Answer honestly. Have you lived like I promised? Did you make a million dollars yet? Did you give it away? Remember thatās the deal! Whatās it like to be an adult? Do you still think what father was like? Do you really think heās dead? Are you in love? Are you married? Not to Just James? Ewwwwww! Do you give of yourself? Have you made the world a better place? Are you happy?
Shannie @ 15
I refolded the letter, placed it back in the envelope and stuffed the envelope back in my pocket. I marveled at Shannieās self-expectations and couldnāt help drawing comparisons to my own. I glanced over the city in thought. Approaching my own thirtieth birthday, maybe itās a good thing Iām not the man Iād thought Iād be. If I was, I know I wouldnāt be here. Iām happy here. Standing, taking a moment to enjoy the snow-covered beauty about me, I chuckled at the thought that maybe Dianeās pompous colleague was onto something; maybe itās a good thing that in such a presumptuous world irony is alive and well.
The End
About the Author
John lives in Western Montana with his wife Tammy and their dog Shannie-Biscuit. John believes every man is entitled to one good dog and one good woman. He has both. Cemetery Street is his first E-book. His second, Shangri-La Trailer Park will be published in late 2011. Check out www.JohnZunski.com or look him up on Facebook.
Shangri-La Trailer Park
Chapter 1 Comes at Night
Eyes ablaze, a bear came at night. It lumbered into camp, earth shaking under claw. In the light of a crackling campfire its shadow flickered upon the trunks of conifers. Breath swirled about its snout before rising into the night. Fast asleep, Maistoinna (My-stween-a) Standing Bear was oblivious of the ursineās presence - or maybe he wasnāt. Either way, he turned his back on the bear.
Maistoinna wasnāt concerned about a bear invading his camp. He was experienced camping in Bear Country and took precautions. The Blackfoot Indian was fond of saying: āIf a bearās crazy enough to slash his way into my tent, Iām crazy enough to have a nasty surprise waiting for him.ā This night, Maistoinna didnāt pitch his tent, choosing instead to sleep under the stars.
The cinnamon bear nosed closer, firelight betraying a deep gash upon its shoulder. Around the wound dried blood matted its fur. A normal bear might pause to paw at this rock or that, maybe uncovering a tasty treat. This bear seemed different; slowly, deliberately, he moved toward Maistoinna. Hovering over the sleeping Blackfoot, the bear paused, studying his quarry as its steamy breath belched skyward.
When Maistoinna rolled onto his back, the bear pounced. With a primordial grunt, it nudged Maistoinna with a giant paw, startling him from sleep. Maistoinna screamed, the echoes of his bellow rolling over the treetops.
The bear pinned Maistoinna and lowered its snout. āShut up!ā the bear growled, engulfing Maistoinna with putrid breath. āSweeny, Shut up! Itās me,ā the bear shook Maistoinnaās shoulders.
Terror filled Maistoinnaās eyes as he struggled to free his arms, his breath rapid and shallow under the bearās weight.
āCalm down, calm down, itās me.ā
Maistoinna squinted, recognition settling him.
āSorry to scare you, my friend, but itās the only way I can get your attention,ā the bear said.
āItās happening again,ā it warned. āDo something about it. This time, do something. Donāt let another Eagle fall.ā
Maistoinna awoke with a start, his heart pounding. Next to him, embers from the dying fire glowed weakly. āA dream, only a dream,ā Maistoinna mumbled. Confused and weary, he sat motionless, scrutinizing the tree line. Far from his Browning, Montana, home, Maistoinna was camping along the Appalachian Trail in northeastern Pennsylvania, in the midst of a solo quest at conquering the two thousand-mile trail.
Shaken, Maistoinna snuggled into his sleeping bag. For the first time in his adult life, he didnāt feel at home in nature. He suddenly feared the dark and what lurked within; he wished to be in a motel room, in a comfortable bed, under a warm blanket, watching this weekās million-dollar movie.
Somewhere in the night an owl hooted. Maistoinna jumped. He gave up his attempt at sleep and climbed out of his bag. Sitting before the campfire, he watched morning light chase darkness across the sky. His mind grappled with the bear. What was he saying? The Eagle; the bearās woundāwhat did they mean?
These things once would have been intelligible to Maistoinna, but latelyāever since his nephewās accident āmany things seemed incomprehensible. Maistoinna was frustrated that he didnāt understand the bear. He related to bears better than women. He knew bearsāwomen, wellā¦ leave it at that.
As a boy, his grandfather told him that their clan was directly descended from the great bear. Even then Maistoinna admired the bearās arrogant swagger. āTheyāre always smiling,ā a young Maistoinna told his grandfather. Unknown to Maistoinna, his own smile resembled that insolent smirk.
Real-life encounters with bears didnāt shake him the way this dream hadā not even the time a black bear caught Maistoinna with his pants down. The sun shined brilliantly upon the jagged Mission Mountains as Maistoinna answered natureās call. He was squatting behind a stand of brush when he heard the bear lumber nearby. It swaggered across an opening in the trees, busily foraging, snout to the ground. Not until Maistoinna moved for his pepper spray - set upon a stump five feet away - did the bear notice him. With teeth clacking, the bear moved towards Maistoinna.
In his excitement, Maistoinna forgot to pull up his pants and fell over himself. He hit the ground with a thudāpepper spray out of reach. The bear closed, teeth clacking. It caught whiff of Maistoinnaās scat and lowered its snout. After investigating, the bear scampered away.
Maistoinna didnāt find the story funny, his screw ups were never the least bit humorous. Thatās not to say that Maistoinna didnāt possess a blistering wit, he did, as long as others were the target.
As the sun rose above the Appalachian forest, Maistoinna dumped his remaining coffee on the fire and closed camp. He faced the long day ahead of him with a sigh. Hiking was a job in the mid-Atlantic summer time soup.
Imprint
Publication Date: 07-22-2011
All Rights Reserved
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