Brilliant Stories - One Minute Reads (Omr)

By Pat Ritter

This is a selection of OMR - One Minute Reads. Each week when I attended Pomona Writers Group 2012 the facilitator gave us homework to write no more than five hundred words on the title he chose.

Hope you indeed enjoy reading these OMR - One Minute Reads as I have had in writing and publishing them.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pat Ritter
• Release date: Jan 1, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301494385

Pat Ritter

Hi Everyone,Let me introduce myself. My name is Pat Ritter. Since 1988 I have been writing and publishing books. In 2009 I decided to publish my books as e-books on this and other websites.Writing and self-publishing became expensive especially the marketing end of the business. I experienced little problems with my first book 'Closing The Gap' however after writing and self-publishing six other books the printing costs out-weighed the cost of production.At this stage of my writing I am converting from writing true life stories to fictional or better known - storytelling and it's difficult I can tell you. I'm giving it my best.Reading is a passion. When I read I try and place myself in the writer's seat and endeavour to work out how they wrote the story. I enjoy reading interesting stories filled with passion, desire with a happy ending.If you have a look at my website www.patritter.com.au all of my books are exhibited plus stories I have written and published.I'm happy to meet you.I'm also proud to be involved in Operation eBook Drop.Pat RitterAuthor/Self Publisher

Book preview

BRILLIANT STORIES

OMR

(One Minute Reads)

By

Pat Ritter

© Copyright Pat Ritter - 2013

Published by Pat Ritter.

Smashwords Edition

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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 an additional 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 purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Each week in 2012 I attended the Pomona Writers Group. The facilitator asked us to write a story about a topic he chose. These stories less than 500 words are OMR (One Minute Read). I hope you enjoy reading each one.

I want to express my gratitude to Melissa Smith. Thank you for doing a great job of the cover. If you want Melissa to create your next cover, I highly recommend you do: she can be contacted on [e-mail].

If you have enjoyed reading this book, or if you haven’t enjoyed it, still let me know. I would love to receive your feedback. You can contact me on my e-mail: [e-mail]. I’d love to receive your feedback.

Pat Ritter - Author/Self Publisher

www.patritter.com.au

TO READ MORE ABOUT PAT RITTER – AUTHOR: CLICK ONTO THE FOLLOWING LINKS:

http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/pat48.

http://www.amazon.com/Pat-Ritter/e/B008MQASQA.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pat-Tex-Ritter-Author/107256392723750.

http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=113209660&trk=tab_pro.

A Dog’s Life

Two small porcelain dogs, sat on top of the mantle piece faced one another with their noses pointed in the air.

‘Do you know the story behind those dogs, grandpa,’ asked the child.

‘I do – would you like to hear their tale?’

‘Yes, please, yes,’ the child said flashed a smile to make his grandfather’s heart swell with pride.

‘I can only tell you what I’ve been told. Grandma’s uncle, great uncle Eddie, told me after your great grandmother’s funeral, the two dogs passed down to your grandma, because she is the eldest in the family.’

‘Why was that?’ The child queried.

‘Great uncle Eddie told me the dogs originally belonged to your great grandmother’s - great grandmother who lived in England in the early 1800’s. How she obtained the two dogs is a mystery.’

‘Go on grandpa, I’m interested.’ The small boy said.

‘From what I can make from great uncle Eddie, these two dogs were packed in a packing case for their voyage from Mother England to Australia. On the way, the ship sank when going through rough weather.’

‘Was great grandma’s – great grandmother on the ship with the dogs?’

‘Yes, she and the other passengers were rescued but the two dogs were lost at sea and went down with the cargo on the ship.’

‘How did they find them?’

‘After a hundred years they were found in the hull of the ship and sent to Australia. Uncle Eddie says they’re cursed. I don’t know. Your grandma had them handed to her after her mother died and now they’re here because we have been given them to take care of.’

‘What do you think will happen with them?’

‘I suppose after I join your grandma, they will be handed down to your mother, and then onto you. I hope you take good care of them because they have been in the family a very long time.’

‘I will grandpa, hope I don’t have to look after them for many years to come. You look after them as long as you can, please.’

‘I will, I promise you.’

Word count: 355

The Gold Coin

In his day he didn’t have gold coins. The only gold he knew was dug from the ground or panned from a river. In his hand he held a two dollar coin and pondered.

His memory returned to his younger days as a boy growing up in the bush. Pounds, shillings and pence were the currency of the day. For a penny he’d buy twenty hard boiled lollies. When eaten, not all at once, had a tendency to break a tooth, these lollies lasted a month?

Work was scarce. When he could find work he was paid ten shillings a week. From ten shillings he gave his mother five shillings for board and lodgings. He kept the remainder. Life was simple – go to work, when he could found it and always paid his mother half of his earnings.

Over time many things changed in his life; he grew into a man and earned five pound a week. He thought by earning this amount per week he was a millionaire. His job hard; tough working repairing railway lines, hot days with cold nights camping under the stars.

One day he met the love of his life and married. Within a couple of years his family grew to five. His wage never rose beyond five pound per week. This amount gave him sufficient to support his wife and family. Instead of giving his wife half of his wage, he gave her the total amount and kept a small sum for his own needs.

On the 14th February 1966 everything changed. Instead of receiving five pounds per week, his wages suddenly increased to ten dollars. He actually thought he was a millionaire because he received twice as much after decimal currency began.

Unfortunately his thoughts of becoming a millionaire soon diminished because with the change in decimal currency, items he purchased doubled instead of staying the same value. A ten shilling note was now a dollar note. He knew the value of ten shillings however with a dollar the value dropped instead of rising.

Over the future years