Thank you for taking time from your summer schedule to drop in and read today's First Page.
Middle Grade – Historical Fiction
CHAPTER ONE
I could’ve
finished raising Gracie and Jack myself – if I’d been given the chance. Mama
always said I was the responsible one of the family, looking out after her and
the babies when Pop up and died on us. It was Pop who said men had no business
raising babies; said it was woman’s work. But Pop didn’t know Mama would die so
soon and leave us orphaned. I might have been only twelve but I was the oldest
son and reckoned it was my duty to take up where Mama left off.
My plans
changed though when old widow woman McGuire, with her thick rimmed glasses and
teeth that bounced when she talked, stuck her nose all up in our business. She
alerted authorities we were three kids alone. Sheriff said he had no choice but
to notify our next of kin after she squealed on us like she did. I tried hard –
and for a mighty long time – not to hate her for that.
Our next of kin was Grandma of
course, or Gam as we’d always called her. Once she knew, I figured she’d be
blowing in on the next stiff wind, leastwise a short time after we laid Mama
down. Sure enough I was right.
She hadn’t been around us younguns
in a heap of moons. Matter of fact, she hadn’t seen Gracie, who was nine, in
six years and never had laid eyes on Jack. So none of us were quite sure what
to expect out of Gam. Most I remembered about her was things I’d heard Mama and
Pop saying late at night after we were in bed. Best I could recall, most of it
wasn’t too good. Gracie I’m sure, remembered less than I did about her.
Please let us know if you would read on. We appreciate your comments :-) Stay Cool and enjoy summer. It seems as fast as the 4th of July goes by it just ZOOMS!
