Mildred

By Ryan Sean O'Reilly

A diary, noises from the attic, a resident cat, and piles and piles and piles of boxes cast shadows over Josephine as she digs through her new home and discovers the disturbing circumstances surrounding her purchase of the place.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ryan Sean O'Reilly
• Release date: Jan 1, 2015
• ISBN: 9780985426545

Ryan Sean O'Reilly

I took to books at an early age and can still remember my father reading J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit to me at bedtime. When I could read on my own, my mother brought home books from the library for my siblings and me. She tells me, that I would look at the covers and say "not interested", but if she left them on my night stand I couldn't help, but devour them--the genres and titles didn't seem to matter. Growing up the oldest of five children outside the city of Chicago, our house was always teeming with activity--so it may be no wonder that I enjoyed staying up late to read when things were quiet. There was always something transcendent about disappearing into another world while the rest of the house slept. Books taught me so much about myself and the world around.I've crossed through a few different genres trying to find my voice but mostly dwell in fantasy, science fiction, and literary fiction. A few authors who have inspired me are: J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Frank Herbert, Richard Adams, J.K. Rowling, Douglass Adams and William Shakespeare.Official website: www.ryanseanoreilly.comWhen I'm not writing, I cohost the podcast: "No Deodorant In Outer Space" (www.nodeodorant.com).

Book preview

Mildred

a novelette of suspenseful fiction

By: Ryan Sean O’Reilly

Website: http://www.ryanseanoreilly.com

Artwork by: Daniel Gracey

Editing by: Tammy Salyer

© Copyright 2011 Ryan Sean O’Reilly, All Rights Reserved.

Smashwords Edition

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

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

ISBN-13: 978-0-9854265-4-5

ISBN-10: 0985426543

Acknowledgements: The Southland Scribes

Special Thanks: George Andros, Linda Roche O’Reilly, John Doyle, Michael O’Reilly and Craig Knitt

MILDRED

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Cover Art

Website Info

Start

Middle

End

Other Titles

Hestia smolders while the gods play…

"I mean, this is my house, right?" Josephine said, louder then intended.

Well, technically, yes, Denise responded, blinking in a rare faltering moment. She recovered. Honey, I’m the one who’s been making the mortgage payments.

It was night. Dim streetlights radiated small balls of light on the gray asphalt. Denise stood between Josephine and the door, her impressive frame physically blocking the thinner woman. They argued at the foot of cracked concrete steps, which led into a raised ranch-style house. Josephine was tired. So much of her wanted to acquiesce to the older woman. Yet, she couldn’t.

Apparently not, Josephine blurted, holding out her bony arms. Look, I didn’t want to get into this tonight, but I know you haven’t made payments in like six months.

Denise opened her mouth to protest, but nothing came out.

Yeah, see, I found out the reason I got turned down for that lease in the city was because my credit is totally shot.

They can’t do that! Denise interrupted. That’s discrimination. Believe me, Jo. I’ll make some calls in the morning to the realtor association and the state’s Department of Financial Regulation; heck, I’ll call the alderman over there. Which neighborhood was it, again?

I don’t care. Jo, folded her arms. I really don’t. I’m not here to start suing people. I want to work, make friends, and have a place to sleep.

Of course, Jo. I was just saying.

Josephine looked at her aunt’s short, spiky hair. She guessed that Den was coloring it now, and it looked like she was dyeing it herself—the shade was too dark. There were faint smile lines at the edges of her lips, which contrasted the worry lines on her forehead. Jo had so many memories of her aunt’s smile, all the little vacations they had taken together.

Why don’t you just stay with me? You’ll be more comfortable. I’ll put you up in the guest room, Denise stated, as if it were already a done deal, her little eyes expectant and unavoidably cheery. Just like old times, Jo. C’mon, let Aunt Den take care of you for the night. We can talk about all this tomorrow.

No, Den, I’m gonna stay here. I didn’t drive all the way up from Lincoln to live with you. Josephine turned away. It’s not anything against you. I just want to be on my own. Absently she smoothed the blonde hair spilling over her right shoulder, glad she was still young and didn’t have to dye her own hair.