Signs ~ A Collection of Short Stories

By Lynn Ricci

This collection of short stories focuses on small snapshots of life. They are a hodgepodge of stories - sad, joyous, surprising, uplifting, and about acceptance. The tie across the collection is the signs.

Signs can be physical or emotional; they can be seen through body language or printed in black and white. Sometimes they are not what they appear to be or are completely missed. Hopefully a few of these stories will make the reader think twice, for we should always be aware of signs.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lynn Ricci
• Release date: Nov 8, 2013
• ISBN: 9781310758041

Lynn Ricci

Lynn Plunkett Ricci was born and raised in the Boston area. Her professional background is in financial communications and she pursues her artistic endeavors of painting and writing while enjoying an active family life with her two children and dog Fenway.A writer of contemporary and paranormal romances, The Dating Intervention was her first novel, released in 2012, followed by Cursed in 2012 and Signs~A Collection of Short Stories in 2013. More information on novels available and underway can be found at www.lynnricci.com.

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~ Signs ~

A Collection of Short Stories

By Lynn Ricci

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to a person, either living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental unless in the public domain or with express consent.

Signs ‒ A Collection of Short Stories

All Rights Reserved

Copyright ©2013 by Lynn Ricci

This book may not be reproduced in whole or in part, by any means, without permission. Making or distributing electronic copies of this book constitute copyright infringement and could subject to the infringer to criminal and civil liability.

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

Dedication

In memory of Tricia ~ a beautiful soul.

Acknowledgements

I’d like to thank my family for their constant support and Debbie Catalano for her editing services and encouragement.

~ Table of Contents ~

Black and White

Signing

Illuminated

Green Street Sign

Slow, Children Playing

Stop

The Warning

Promise

Featured Short: Daydreams

Black and White

The man stood on the street, looking at the help wanted sign in the shop window. Carefully he removed his hat before entering the store, holding it to his chest, and pushing his free hand through his hair. This would be his fourth, and he had already decided it would be his last, attempt this day.

He opened the door and stepped in, eyes adjusting to the light, looking nervously for the owner. It was not hard to see who the owner’s wife was in the small shop, but besides her, there were only a few others in the store. All eyes were on him and he already knew he would not be successful here.

Walking between the neatly lined shelves toward the back of the store, keeping his head high, he approached the woman in the high-necked dress who stood bagging the purchases made by the gray-haired man. Remaining at a respectful distance, he stepped forward when she became free. Both hands now squeezed his hat before him as he announced his name and that he was there about the job posting.

Can you read? Did you see the sign in the front window? It’s right there in black and white.

I can read ma’am. He nervously shifted his weight to the other foot and back again, wanting to run but needing the job more. I was hoping if I came in I could talk to you about the job. I have four little ones at home and I need to work. I am an honest, hard worker . . .

She stopped him in his tracks by raising her hand, righteously. Always having kids that you can’t feed, aren’t you? There is no work for your kind here. Please move along. She wouldn’t meet his eye.

Back on the sidewalk a few moments later, feeling desolate and a failure, he replaced his hat and cursed his heritage under his breath.

It would be suppertime soon and his wife, Mary, would expect him at home. He walked through these new streets of Boston to the shared tenement and his waiting family. As he entered, smelling the overpowering odor of dankness, sweat and onions, he swore he would get his family out of this miserable place soon. Climbing the stairs to the apartment he shared with another family, he pushed back the hanging blanket that separated the shared room and found five pair of eyes expectantly on him; he slowly shook his head in response. Without speaking, his wife indicated a place at the table and he sat to his dinner of soup and day old bread. He dreaded to think if this were to become a luxury.

Once the little ones were down for the night, they talked at the table. They had made their way further north to Boston from New York City, hearing there were more opportunities for work, tolerance, and a growing community in the city. The journey didn’t take long, but there were some lean days where he went hungry so that the children and his wife could eat. When they arrived in Boston, they first found shelter in a low-ranking neighborhood by the water and set off for work. Mary found paid work quickly as a chambermaid but that would be short-lived. She was with child again and told John that night that they only had a few months to save. They had lost one child due to sickness before leaving New York and he had not imagined Mary carrying again so quickly. Time would be running out and he was scared about the other children. He had heard of high death rates for the little ones due to the poor living conditions and he desperately wanted to find a room of their own.

A soft knock came on the wall and John took the candle to the wool blanket divide. Pulling it back, he saw the older son of the family in the next room who had news that one of the bridge crew fell and died. There would be a job opening in the morning. John thanked him and gave a quiet look to his wife. Although