In Small Doses 2 (A Short Story Collection)

By Hallett German

This is the second edition collection of new and not so new short stories appearing in this order:

Illuminations of a Lighthouse Keeper -- A sociological/spiritual encounter.

Never Go Down With an Issue -- The personal costs of doing the right thing for one business analyst.

A Deer's Time -- An elder deer tells the story of her life.

Jane's Story from (Tales from Croton Woods) -- A short tale of aging from unpublished book of inter-related short stories.

My Favorite Burnout Story -- A gathering of editors over poker to tell their best story on a given topic. All this to win the overflowing pot.

The Beginning of the End from (Rise & Fall of the Wasteland Empire) -- Introduction to unpublished science fiction book.

Sunken Costs -- A new space business venture gets started. Inspired by the experiences of the Jamestown Colony

The Floating Bed -- A Bedtime Story - a little girl can't sleep and requires a bedtime story. In response, her mother takes her on a magical journey.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hallett German
• Release date: Sep 4, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301110483

Hallett German

Hallett German is a fiction and technical subject author on various aspects of IT. His works of fiction cross multiple genres including children, young adult, dysfunctional corporate mysteries/fantasies, historical fiction, and steampunk. His books offer a unique and original ride into other worlds and lives.

Book preview

In Small Doses 2

A short story collection

By Hallett German

Smashwords Edition

Second Edition

.04f January 2nd 2014

Copyright 2014 Hallett German

Written by Hallett German

Illustrated by Alessandra R. German

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 are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Works by Author:

Amazi Chronicles:

Story #1: How I Overcame My Inventor’s Block

Book #1: Automatons for Peace

Book #2: Translators for Peace (Future)

Corporate Intent

Story #1: Missing Profits?

Book #1: Missing Employees?

Book #2: Missing Owner?

Book #3: Missing Company?

Book #4: Missing Syndicate? (Future)

Olivia Plymouth, International Traveler and Fashion Consultant:

Story #1: Joyous Travel with the Wrong Suitcase

Book #1: Brazilian Quest

Book #2: Boston Wedding

Book #3 The Year Fashion Changed (Future)

Non-Series Books

Combustible Networks

Ghosts vs. Robots!

In Small Doses (A Collection of Short Stories)

In Small Doses 2 (A Collection of Short Stories)

In Small Doses 3 (A Collection of Short Stories) (Future)

Killing Thoreau

Why I Document (2 Short Stories)

More details at https://sites.google. com/site/hallettgermanfiction/

Image Credit: Adam Ciesielski

Chapter 1: Introduction

It was so much fun doing the writing explorations of In Small Doses that I decided to return for more! This short story collection includes stories about animals (A Deer’s Time), business analysts (Never Go Down with an Issue), a spiritual/sociological encounter (Illuminations of a Lighthouse Keeper), work burnout (My Favorite Burnout Story), starting a space colony (Sunken Costs) and excerpts from two older unpublished books (Jane’s Story, Beginning of the End). Enjoy!

HG

Sometimes a second edit of a work can improve its presentation. I hope that this new edition has done that.

Chapter 2: Illuminations of a Lighthouse Keeper

Return to Table of Contents

[This was not originally planned for this book. However, while vacationing in Eastern Virginia, this story came into being. It is another variation of the spiritual encounter theme that I often explore in short stories. However, this work also deals with the sociological ideas of sense of place and the anomie (feeling of alienation) that often arise when there is no grounding to a community. (http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Sense_of_place). The poem at the end is one of a series that I created while staring at the waves in Portland Maine. ]

It doesn’t seem that long ago that I was so very lost and adrift in this world. I was unable to hold onto anything. There was no sense of fulfillment while endlessly bouncing from one situation to another. I always felt rushed, anxious, and stranded from the mainstream of life. One day, I untethered myself from life’s hustle and bustle, I quit my steady but well-paying job, and started to walk almost nonstop without any purpose. I began leading the life of a pilgrim, a seeker. But what I was seeking, I did not know. Transparently, I slid in and out of numerous cities. Everything was in a state of always passing through. No thing or no body ever registered.

Then after countless days of traversing the country, I suddenly awoke out of my daze and found myself on some unknown beach at land’s end. The only witnesses to my arrival were the sand and waves, the clouds and the sky, and a lone seagull. It was otherwise desolate and unwelcoming. Everywhere that I looked, I saw no trees, no houses, and no boats. The whole area was enveloped in an eerie silence.

And then I saw it -- a solitary lighthouse that was just a mile or two away. Like a child about to open up a birthday present, I ran onward with lightheadedness and eager anticipation of what I would find. With my last burst of energy, I stumbled my way to the entrance. I knocked at the doorway at the bottom of this structure.

The door groaned open and an elderly weather-beaten female face emerged. Ah, a seeker! It has been some time since I have seen one of your kind. Usually, I get all the other types:

The Lovers coming in all age ranges. They walk here hoping to culminate their romance or love by taking one or five photos of them so happily together.

"The Burned-out poet/artist/writer that is so desperate to renew that spark of