Merrry Christmas Mr. Saunders

By Diane Strong

Megan Sweeny is a strong woman raising a teenage daughter alone. When she decides to try out a new road for her run on Christmas Eve, she loses her car keys and is unable to return home to her daughter. In an attempt to find a phone, Megan knocks on the door of a sad little trailer house. An elderly man greets her and welcomes her inside to use the phone. It doesn't take long for Megan to realize she made a mistake and that in order to use the phone, there will be a price to pay: she will have to listen.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Diane Strong
• Release date: Jul 22, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301408917

Diane Strong

Diane Strong lives in Kentucky with her husband and their two children. She received a liberal arts degree at Itasca Community College, a Bachelors of Science in Psychology and Equine Studies from Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Montana and a Master’s degree in Veterinary Science from the University of Kentucky. She writes a small column for the Georgetown News Graphic and homeschools her children. In her spare time she competes in road races, triathlons and adventure races. She is the founder of the Georgetown Run Club and Intellectual Society. She loves what she does.

Book preview

Merry Christmas Mr. Saunders: (This is a 10,000 word short story/ approx. 34 pages) (This is a stand-alone story)

Megan Sweeny is a strong woman raising a teenage daughter alone. When she decides to try out a new road for her run on Christmas Eve, she loses her car keys and is unable to return home to her daughter. In an attempt to find a phone, Megan knocks on the door of a sad little trailer house. An elderly man greets her and welcomes her inside to use the phone. It doesn’t take long for Megan to realize she made a mistake and that in order to use the phone, there will be a price to pay: she will have to listen.

Merry Christmas Mr. Saunders

Shoe

Megan Sweeny, a petite cocktail waitress in her mid-thirties stood in the hallway of her home wearing black running tights that accentuated her strong, lean legs. Her mind on thoughts of the scheduled day ahead, Megan fumbled as she gathered her keys and cell phone from the oak desk near the front door. Are you sure I can’t talk you into coming along, Lyndsy?

I love running with you, mom, but it’s Christmas Eve. I just want to stay here and read my book. I only have four chapters and I need to finish it so I can start my new book tomorrow. Lyndsy used her thumb and middle finger to pull a ringlet of her auburn hair away from her porcelain face, then tucked it behind her ear.

What new book? Megan cocked her pony-tailed head and squinted her hazel eyes in the direction of her sixteen year-old daughter who lay sprawled out on the couch in the living room. Despite being the mother of a young woman who could pass as a cover model, Megan saw a ten year old child when she looked at her daughter.

The one you have wrapped for me under the tree, Mom. Lyndsy gave her mother a loving smile and batted her eyes innocently while twirling a piece of her messy but stylish hair between her fingers.

Whatever. Look, I’m heading to Aunt Jenny’s house to drop off this bunting pan so she can start on the Turkey for tonight. On the way back I’m going to park and go for a run down that cute little road…Pincherry, or Pokeberry, you know…the one on the left when you leave Jenny’s house. I’ve wanted to run it for years and just never seem to have time to drive out there. I bet it’ll be gorgeous with this fresh snow. I should be back in about two hours. Don’t forget, we have to be at Uncle Doug’s by six tonight, so don’t take-off anywhere.

I’m not going anywhere. Have fun, and don’t forget to take your mace.

I Love you, honey. A light gust of cool air invaded the room as Megan exited the house.

Love you, too. Lyndsy’s voice hung in the air. Her mother had already left. She rolled onto her back, picked up her cell phone, and started composing a text message.

Section Break

After dropping off the bunting pan at her sister’s house, Megan drove cautiously down the winding county road. She exercised caution not out of fear, not in the least. She was a confident driver and a confident woman. But most tasks in her