Captivating - Omr (One Minute Reads) stories

By Pat Ritter

I am a member of Pomona Writers Group which meet weekly. Our facilitator selects a topic for homework each week to write no more than 500 words. These topics are the stories I wrote during 2013. Hope you enjoy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pat Ritter
• Release date: Dec 27, 2013
• ISBN: 9781311147417

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

CAPTIVATING STORIES

OMR

(One Minute Reads)

By

Pat Ritter

© Copyright Pat Ritter - 2013

Published by Pat Ritter.

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 2013 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.

A Grave Matter

The telephone call startled me the moment my partner said, ‘hurry home – I’ve got to go to the doctor.’ My mind confused. I hurried home to find her face white as a ghost.

Before I uttered a word she told me to take her to the doctor because she felt a steel band tightening around her chest and she couldn’t breathe. Her face pale, her arms wrapped around her chest.

Soon we arrived at the doctor’s surgery and taken into a room. Laying down on a bed the doctor took her blood pressure which read 225/199. ‘Phone an ambulance.’ The doctor shouted to her assistant.

The doctor never left my partner’s side until the arrival of the ambulance. She explained my partner’s medical condition and ordered the ambulance to drive her to the nearest hospital.

The ambulance officer told me to leave before they did and give the correct information to the hospital emergency department before the arrival of the ambulance.

Many thoughts passed through my mind after leaving the doctor’s surgery until I arrived at the hospital. My partner had never been ill in the time we had been together. I thought of this as a grave matter and I needed to be calm.

After I arrived at the hospital I explained my position to the administrative clerk who asked questions and I answered them to the best of my knowledge. The ambulance hadn’t arrived by this time.

Soon afterwards my partner arrived lying on an ambulance stretcher in the hallway of the Emergency Department, ‘she’s here,’ I told the Administration Officer, ‘can I be with her?’

‘In a moment, does she have private heath cover,’ the Administration Officer asked.

‘Yes’, I muttered searching through my partners purse to find the correct information. I handed the card to the Administration Officer.

‘Thank you,’ she noted particulars on the card and returned it, ‘you can go through this door and be with your partner.’ I thanked her, walked to where my partner lay on the ambulance stretcher. Worry printed on her face.

After examined by a doctor, tests and blood samples taken, still no information as to the reason why my partner suffered. She was admitted overnight.

A Cardiologist examined her the following morning. In his opinion he didn’t think anything to do with her heart to cause her illness, a grave matter indeed.

Word count:400

A Long Long Time Ago In A Far Off Place

A baby boy born to Irish parents on 26th July 1860, this child’s life began a journey which channelled into Australian history.

Joe Ryan grew to twelve years old when he decided to become a shearer. His parents disagreed with this occupation and needed him to help them on their farm growing potatoes.

On a still night he decided to leave his family to seek his dream to be a shearer. He left a note for his family stating his claims to become a shearer after informing them he loved them both.

Before daybreak arose across the horizon Joe’s plan to become a shearer developed in his mind when he met a Shearing Contractor who promised him a job as ‘tar boy’.

Over the next decade he worked in various shearing sheds taking him to Cunnamulla in outback Queensland. Instantly he fell in love with the town and fellow shearers. His common place of residence whilst staying in Cunnamulla he rented a room at Ma’s Guest House. She treated him like a son she never had.

Joe travelled to shearing shed after shearing shed displaying his skills with blade shears. At one shearing shed he met a beautiful lady and fell in love at first sight; unfortunately his love, the daughter of the property owner where he sheared.

This beautiful lady felt the same about Joe. She told her father who denied her from ever seeing Joe again. ‘No daughter of mine is ever going to marry a shearer.’