Sleigh Bells and Muckrakers

By Mike Sajovie

Mike Sajovie has been writing short fiction, prose and essays for nearly 20 years, most of which gets tossed in a box inside the closet of his home office. He has built quite a collection of manuscripts – each un-queried, in limbo. A handful of these stories were published as articles in neighborhood weeklies and were received quite favorably by readers. In his first book, Sleigh Bells and Muckrakers, he dusts off 3 of these short stories and makes them available to you.

“The Christmas of 1998” shows how one family uses the power of imagination to have the best Christmas ever. Set in Cleveland, and on some rooftops in Parma, the Slovics spend a Christmas Eve they will never forget. And they discover along the way that it truly is the little things in life that matter.

“Snodgrass” is the story of a muckraker who roamed baseball diamonds and wrote about corruption, years before the term muckraker even existed. Wit, humor and sarcasm load the bases in this story. But can Snodgrass hit a grand slam with the most beloved player in the game? When he decides to meddle in the affairs of Casey (yes, that Casey) he discovers that not everyone can be bought.

“South Newburg” is a heart-warming story about a young man who is facing some tough challenges. Philip lives in South Newburg, a rust belt city with high unemployment and a school levy on the ballot. He has big dreams. But will his emotions and ideologies, both of which are shaped by financial conditions at home, stand in the way of him finding happiness?
If you like short stories, and you want to read something by a writer who has fun taking his work seriously, Sleigh Bells and Muckrakers is the eBook for you.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mike Sajovie
• Release date: Jan 11, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301093533

Mike Sajovie

Mike Sajovie grew up near Cleveland, Ohio and majored in history at Cleveland State University. He became interested in writing shortly after graduation. His favorite authors include Raymond DeCapite, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Charles Bukowski. He is married with 4 daughters.

Book preview

Sleigh Bells and Muckrakers

By

Mike Sajovie

SMASHWORDS EDITION

*****

Sleigh Bells and Muckrakers

Copyright 2013 by Mike Sajovie

All three short stories contained in this eBook are original works of fiction written by Mike Sajovie, and are protected by U.S. Copyright laws. For emphasis, and as a tribute to a wonderful piece of art, the italicized portions of the story Snodgrass were borrowed from the classic American poem, Casey at the Bat, which was written by Ernest Lawrence Thayer in the year 1888.

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 return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the work of this author.

*****

I wish to thank my wife, Joyce, for helping me edit these short stories, and for reading them countless times to evaluate my style and flow, not to mention my use of punctuation and grammar.

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Table of Contents

The Christmas of 1998

Snodgrass

South Newburg

About the Author

The Christmas of 1998

Even though Eunice was not quite two she had already had her share of meaningful conversations with imaginary friends. My wife, a victim of last minute gift wrapping, was fast asleep in our bedroom. Eunice was playing in the living room amid a pile of books, stuffed animals and unopened presents. The Christmas tree, dressed in shimmery white lights and a million strands of tinsel, stood proudly at her side.

Why don’t you play with Big Bird and Cookie Monster? I asked while ducking into the bathroom to shave.

But Eunice didn’t want anything to do with Big Bird and Cookie Monster. As I lathered my face with Barbasol and contorted my cheeks in all sorts of ways (my father swore to me when I was 16 that this approach ensures a clean-shaven mug) I heard Eunice ask someone in our living room, How are you?

I poked my head out but saw no one there but Eunice. I went back to the sink and mirror to work on my chin, a part of the face, that if you’re not careful, you will end up walking around all day with tiny wads of toilet paper plastered to your face to keep from bleeding to death. Suddenly a man’s voice answered Eunice’s question.

I’m doing just fine, thank you, is what I think I heard him say.

I reached for our Baby to Parents Dictionary which happened to be in the bathroom. Translated, here is what went back and forth between Eunice and Santa on Christmas Eve.

"I thought it was you, Santa, but I wasn’t sure. I almost didn’t recognize you