Self Less

By James Ninness

After Nicole's mother passes away she must help her grandmother take care for her little sister, Nancy. While her father is still around, he spends most of his time looking for the bottom of a bottle. When things begin to overwhelm her, a small creature introducing himself as a Brownie befriends Nicole and assists around the house. Unfortunately, things begin to unravel and Nicole must make a decision between protecting her sister her newfound friendship.

As her father unravels, drowning in pity, Nicole finds courage at the end of fear - courage to face her father's descent into apathy, courage to protect her sister and grandmother no matter what the cost, and courage to put those she loves before herself.

• Language: English
• Publisher: James Ninness
• Release date: Sep 24, 2012
• ISBN: 9781301966158

James Ninness

James Ninness is a writer of fiction. Though he primarily writes comic books and short stories, he does dabble in film and television as well. Most recently James released the Macabre Rising series, featuring six horror stories: Cosplay, Know Jack, Like It Or Not, Self Less, Snipe Hunt and Stages. James created and developed six properties through Keyleaf Comics, including MYTHOI, Sim-I, DUST, The Heaven's, Drace Grey and The Undergrounds. James has also written a few short films, including AMIRA which took home the Gold Medal for Musical Excellence in a Short Performance Film from the Park City Film Music Festival in 2011. After getting his degree in English: Creative Writing from Cal State University Long Beach in 2007, James moved to San Diego where he currently resides with his wife, daughters and dogs.

Book preview

SELF LESS

by

James Ninness

Edited by

Marcel Losada

Cover Art by

Brett Simmons

Book Design by

Shannon Forrey

Special Thanks to Mat Nastos

Published by James Ninness at Smashwords.

jamesninness.com

Copyright © 2012 James Ninness

ISBN: 9781301966158

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase another copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Nicole felt funny being at home when she should have been at school.

Her house was full of people that loved her mother. Most of the family members and friends were familiar to her; however, some lurked through the halls offering her smiles that were meant to be comforting. Unfortunately, the leers of strangers made her more queasy than calm.

Nicole shouldered her way through the crowd towards the backyard. More than once she was stopped, grabbed on the shoulder and offered condolences and asked how she was doing. She did her part, smiling and mumbling, fine, before finally reaching the sliding glass door at the rear of her house.

What a stupid question.

I’m passing most of my classes. I recently made the soccer team. Sometimes Tim looks my way and smiles. I’m really enjoying comic books these days. Oh, and my mother was torn to pieces by a drunk driver. How in the hell do you think I’m doing?

Grandma Barbara was outside with a few other old people Nicole did not recognize. Nicole tried unsuccessfully to slide around to the side of the house without being noticed but her father’s mother was much too observant. Nicole, honey, come here.

Grandma Barbara pulled Nicole in close, hugging her too tightly. Nicole did not mind. It felt warm and reassuring. Grandma Barbara gave the best hugs.

After a long pause, Grandma Barbara relented, letting Nicole suck down some air before turning to face the strangers before her.

Nicole, these are your great aunts, my sisters, Paula and JoAnn, and their husbands Jim and John.

Nicole nodded, smiling thinly. Hello.

One of the women, Nicole was not sure which was which, knelt over and smiled, revealing a row of crooked, yellow teeth to thin for her mouth. Nicole, your mother was a good woman. We’re so sorry for your loss.

Thank you.

How are you holding up?

Fine, Nicole wanted to scream.

That’s good. Be strong but know that it’s okay to cry.

When Nicole only nodded the old woman continued, And your father? How is he doing?

Grandma Barbara peered through the window into the house, Yes, where is my son?

The last time Nicole had seen her father was this morning, just before people began to arrive at the house. He had been drinking, a lot.

He’s inside somewhere, Nicole said politely, I’ll tell him to come say hi if I see him.

Nicole was able to slip away as Grandma Barbara turned back to her sisters and their husbands and poured into a speech about her son’s ability to cope. Bullshit, thought Nicole as