New Horizons

By Joanne Van Leerdam

A change of scenery. A new direction. A break in the weather.

Who hasn’t hoped for something different at some point in their life?

These sixteen short stories offer insights into how people respond when they encounter experiences and events they have not foreseen, or when they discover new horizons in their lives.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Joanne Van Leerdam
• Release date: Nov 19, 2016
• ISBN: 9781366881892

Joanne Van Leerdam

Joanne Van Leerdam is a poet, blogger, writer, thinker, puzzler, teacher, traveller, photographer and generally nice person. Despite having lived all her life in Australia, she has, thus, far, avoided being killed or consumed by any of the deadly wildlife, which is probably a good thing.  Other than Australia, Canada is her favourite place in the world.  In addition to writing powerful, thought-provoking poetry and short-but-incredibly meaningful stories,  she teaches senior high school English, History and Drama/Production. She is an active member and performer in her local theatre company.   Her poetry is contemporary, sensual, moody and easy to read - and it will get you in the feelings.

Book preview

Published by WordyNerdBird for

Joanne Van Leerdam

www.jvlpoet.com

[e-mail]

CONTENTS

New Horizons ...............................................................  4

Montpelier ....................................................................  8

Wednesday's Child .......................................................   9

Dead Lucky ................................................................... 10

Tamsin ..........................................................................  13

Mystery Man ................................................................. 14

Time Will Tell ..............................................................  17

Rube .............................................................................. 18

The Waiting Room ....................................................... 20

Jack ...............................................................................  22

The Karma Train ..........................................................  24

The Coward ..................................................................  27

A Most Educational Quiz .............................................  29

Lucy ..............................................................................  32

Revelation  ....................................................................  33

Late Fall  .......................................................................  35

NEW HORIZONS

As she sipped her coffee, Meghan studied the map she had spread across the picnic table.  She hadn't decided where she was going, but she knew that she was never going back to Nashville. She had slammed the door on her father and his life of chasing dreams and hoping in false promises when she packed her car and left early that morning.  The closest he had ever come to country music stardom was dressing up to work as an usher at the Opry and helping with sales in the souvenir and memorabilia store at interval.  That was not the life she wanted.

For someone who had just left everything and everyone she knew, she was surprisingly calm.

I wonder if having no fixed address and being homeless are the same thing? She thought wryly.  

The sunlight on her shoulders and the mischievous breeze in her hair were, in her mind, affirmation of her choice to move on and create a new life for herself.  Right now, though, she was spoiled for choices.

Not Chicago.

Not Detroit.

Too big. Too industrial.

I want to live in a place that I can feel at home in, somewhere that embraces me... 

Meghan laughed at herself.

Oh come on, Meghan, what's it going to do, reach out and hug you? 

She looked at the map again.

Philadelphia? Still big. 

Cleveland? On the lake. Nice. 

Oh. Niagara! I'd love to go to Niagara and see the falls.

Meghan stopped.  She'd never really been anywhere except Nashville and a couple of pilgrimages with her father to Graceland. Niagara, though... That definitely appealed to her. If there were ever a town for embracing, that was probably it.

Meghan looked up as a grey sedan drove in and parked at the other end of the roadside rest area. The driver got out and stretched, then leaned against his car, obviously enjoying the sunshine.

It is nice, she thought to herself in silent agreement with the stranger as she returned her attention to the map.

Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland, Buffalo.  Niagara.  Sounds like a plan. 

Are you lost? A pleasant male voice broke through her thoughts.

Oh... no. But thank you, she replied.

He smiled. No problem. I just thought I should ask, just in case.

That's really nice of you.

Don't smile too much. He could be an axe-murderer.

So, where are you headed? he asked casually.

Oh... Cleveland. Meghan didn't want to give too much information, but she didn't want to be rude, either.

Cleveland is nice. I find it quite an... attractive city.

He smiled as he spoke, and Meghan found herself smiling back, despite warning herself about that just a few moments ago.

I've never been there, she