About Life, A Collection of Short Stories

By Carly Compass

From the author of, The Electric Series, Carly Compass, has compiled a collection of short stories and poems about life. The Fortune Cookie is a modern day nod to the murder/mystery writer, Agatha Christie. Seven willing participants win an all expense paid trip for a cruise off of the coast of California, but who is paying for this trip and why? The second story, Mind Over Matter, is an account of the birth experience and how the mind can heal the body. The third installment, The Unexpected Guest, is a tale about religion, neighbors and misunderstandings. The fourth story, Pharmacy, takes the reader into a world of thieves, drugs and money. The fifth story, The Dress Shop, is a tale of suspense and intrigue with dirty cops and wily characters. The sixth story, A loaf of Bread, tells an Iranian immigrant's story of, coming to America. The seventh story, 25 years of marriage, is a stunning tale of the love and sacrifice of a 25-year marriage. And the final story, Suitcases of Apollonia, is a Bosnian refugee story. This collection of prose and poetry has something for everyone, with a central theme of resiliency.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Carly Compass
• Release date: Jan 4, 2018
• ISBN: 9781370308019

Carly Compass

Carly Compass has a Bachelors Degree in Writing and English from Elmhurst College. She is an avid reader, reviewer as well as a member in good standing of both Phi Theta Kappa and Sigma Tau Delta International Honors Societies. She has a number of short stories under her belt published in: the Prairie Light Review, Black Widows, Web of Poetry, and the Middle Western Voice. Her first series, Electric was published in the fall of 2014 with critical acclaim and five star reviews across the board for all four books. She became a best selling author on Amazon when Book 4 came out to the waiting arms of her readers in April of 2015. Electric, The Beginning Book 1 is available for a free download. Books 1, 2, 3 are also available in a discounted combination set. All books read well as stand alone, but you'll want to read every word and leave no page unturned. Pick up your copy today and let the world know what you think by leaving a review! Carly loves hearing from her readers, feel free to connect across the board on all social media.

Book preview

ABOUT LIFE

A Collection of Short Stories

Poetry and Prose

By Carly Compass

© Carly Compass, 2017, all right reserved

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author, with the exception of the use of brief quotations in a book review.

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

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

Fortune Cookie

The Angel's Fingerprint

Mind Over Matter

A Woman is Typical

The Unexpected Guest

Earth Day

Pharmacy

Fabyan

The Dress Shop

Classmates.com

Babel

A Loaf of Bread

Modern Day Medusa

25 Years of Marriage

Suitcases of Apolonia

Change

One Dimension

About the Author

List of Publications

New Releases coming soon

Contact

Acknowledgements

The idea for the first story, Fortune Cookie, came about during a conversation with author, KJ Waters. She had mentioned that there were fortune cookie recipes online where you could insert your own fortune. I thought it was a marvelous idea and decided that it would be a terrific opportunity to write a short story and give a nod to Agatha Christy. Thank you KJ Waters for stimulating conversations that I hope will continue well into the future.

I would like to invite my readers to tell me in their reviews which story's that you enjoyed so much that you want to know more about the characters. So please feel free to mention any and all in your reviews, posted on Amazon, Smashwords and Goodreads. I will stay in contact and let you know which stories will make it into a novel.

I want to thank all my readers and online friends. Your support has been invaluable. A special thanks to: Devika Fernando, Dawn Shepard, Joanne Keniston, Shadrach Del’Monte, Julian Anderson, Gary Dolman, Stewart Kenyon, and Michelle Greer. Your kind thoughtfulness is immensely appreciated. Thank you.

The Fortune Cookie

Jane spotted the TMZ reporter waiting outside her house when she was about to leave. Will they never let up! She thought as she decided to confront them and get it over with once and for all.

Mrs. Franken! The reporter called out.

Yes. Jane shouted back, as she pushed the button on her keyring to unlock the Subaru in the driveway.

I just have a few questions.

You always do, Jane said walking at a brisk pace as the reporter and cameraman rushed up to her on the driveway.

Have you spoken with Miles?

As I stated on numerous occasions. We fostered Miles from the age of 12 to 18. When he graduated from Merriville High School he never looked back. We haven't spoken to Miles in close to four years.

So, you're not on speaking terms?

No! Jane said as she slammed the door on her SUV, started the engine and pulled out of the driveway onto the side street of her modest home in Indiana.

***

Miles Westfield was a bit of an anomaly, raised in the foster care system from the age of 12, he gained attention and admiration in Merriville High School for his writing and producing 15 award-winning screenplays by the age of 17. This accomplishment generated attention of business executives at CBC talent agency in Hollywood, California who worked feverously to get him hooked up with the studio executives for a 10% commission!

After signing with Atlanta Studios, Miles achieved great success writing two number one television sitcoms, She is Alright for CBS and Don't Change a Thing for Cinemax while attending college at Stardom University in Orange County! There was no doubt in the minds of studio executives that Miles Westfield was an up and coming boy genius.

His book, Party on Bart, became a New York Times Best seller, the first week it was published in 2015, right after he graduated college. He gained notoriety, fame and fortune for his accomplishments.

Because of his flawless reputation as a producer, Paramount Pictures paid $2.5 million dollars for his screenplay, Another Brother, Another Mother that was currently in production.

There was no doubt that Miles was a rising star with a bright future. He achieved monumental success and status in his 24 years! Every up and coming college student and seasoned professional wanted to hitch a ride on this rising star for his phenomenal talent as a drama/comedy screenwriter.

Encore Studios hired him to write and produce a new reality television show with a $15 million dollar, budget.

Miles Westfield could do no wrong in the eyes of the studio executives, and it had gotten to his head as dreams of fame and grandeur grew to catastrophic proportions. With great privilege comes responsibility, but because Miles was so trusted, he had free reign on all of his projects. No one needed to handhold him; he was a self-starter with amazing time management skills.

***

July 17th, 2017, Miles sat at the control panel at Encore Studios putting the finishing touches on his new reality television series, The Fortune Cookie when Trenton, his 19-year old college intern, joined him in the screening room.

I can't believe today's the day! Trenton said excitedly.

Well it is! Finally, after a year of work, we're about to get this party started. Miles mused excitedly, as they looked at 16 monitors in the sound booth.

***

47-year-old, Thaddeus, exited the cab and approached his Fifth Avenue office building, in New York, wearing a silk blend suit, when a sharp dressed young man accompanied by a cameraman, approached him at the front campus of the structure. Thaddeus Martinson?

'Yes?"

I was just coming up to your office. I'm so glad I caught you. My name is Frank Stanford, he said extending his hand in greeting. I've been hired by ARG Resources. You have gotten the attention of the head honchos on Wall Street, He continued smiling broadly. You have been invited, for an all expenses paid trip to California, to attend, 'Unleash the Power Within, Seminar!"

Thaddeus was apprehensive as he listened over the hustle and bustle of the Manhattan Street, looking over to the cameraman; self-conscious, Thaddeus stood a little straighter and taller.

We have taken care of everything for you, but you have to leave with me right now if you are going to make your flight. Frank said pointing to the limousine double-parked on the street.

Where is this taking place? Thaddeus asked stunned and thinking, I still have three reports to finish before our quarterly meeting.

On a yacht off the sunny California Coast near Catalina.

Thaddeus raised his hand to his unshaven face and bristled the whiskers, as his thick blonde hair blew in the breeze and asked, 'Tony Robbins?" Very aware of the camera angle, he quickly dropped his hand down to his side.

Right you are!

Who will be attending?

Every up and coming Wolf of Wall Street. Frank said and gently nudged Thaddeus's elbow to lead him to the waiting limousine.

Well okay then, Thaddeus replied with a chuckle, thinking: I need a new deal quick! This is the break I've been looking for; it is only a matter of days before I go down like Madoff. I can feel the wheels of fortune smiling down on me, and I simply have nothing left to lose! He threw his shoulders back and walked proudly with Frank to the stretch limousine double-parked on the bustling street.

***

52-year-old, Nadia Narcette, stumbled through her Florida ranch trying to reach the incessant doorbell that woke her from a stupor in the back of the house as the dogs barked and the bird cawed. Hold your horses! Hold your horses! I'm coming, She yelled as she stubbed her toe on a pile of trash that was strewn in the hallway. Mother of God! She shouted as she grabbed her toe. Holy hell, what can be so damn urgent! She shouted as the doorbell continued. Shaking her foot, she patted down her unruly hair and pulled the silken robe tightly around her anorexic frame and proceeded through her hoarder house to the front door, which hadn't been opened in months. Calm down! I'm coming. Nadia said, as she pushed debris out of the way to open the door a crack to reveal a handsome young man wearing a pinstriped suit. What in God blazes do you want? You're not a Jehovah’s Witness, are you?

No, I can assure you I am not. I am looking for, Nadia Narcette?

Yes. Well, what in the world do you want?

The young man was taken aback by her appearance and the shabby conditions of her house and said, My name is Frank Canton and I am here to tell you that you have won an all expense paid trip to California, from a secret admirer.

What in the Sam Hill are you talking about?

Someone from your past has sought you out and is whisking you away to California for a one week cruise. The Yacht is docked in Marina Del Rey. But your flight leaves in an hour, so you have to come with me now.

Nadia looked down at herself. She hadn't bathed in days and she was so hung over that she couldn't even think straight.

Go quickly and get dressed. I will explain more on our way to the airport, he said standing to the side, revealing a limousine in the driveway and a cameraman to his left.

Stunned and shocked, she yelled, Okay! Okay! Just give me a minute, and slammed the door shut and locked it tight. Panicked, Nadia looked around her trash-strewn house! Who could it be? Nadia wondered. She met many rich men during all the 25 years she had been a stripper up and down the state of Florida. She figured she was forgotten by all of them as she walked carefully back to her bedroom that was piled to the ceiling with stuff and wondered what she should wear.

She took off her clothes and grabbed a bottle of witch hazel and proceeded to rinse her body down with it. The water had been shut off six months ago and she had been using a bucket as a toilet. Her house was in foreclosure, so she had nothing to lose. She grabbed an old shirt from the floor and poured the witch hazel over it and wiped out her armpits and crotch.

Her two dogs continued yipping as she shouted, Settle down! She pinned her hair down, put a net over it to hold her nappy hair in place, and placed her best wig over it, adjusting it to sit right. I really don't care who it is, as long as I can get out of this hellhole, she thought as reached for her dusty old Channel black suit hanging from a nail on the wall. She shook it out and put it on.

All of the beautiful things she had acquired during her stripper days, that had made stripping seem worth it, were now buried under a sea of trash that had essentially been ruined by neglect. She fished out her best Christian Louboutin black pumps, grabbed her black quilted Coach purse and shoved her cosmetic bag in and went to the back door.

She released her two dogs, three cats and Macaw into the back yard saying, Good luck fellows. Maybe I'll see you when I get back? If I get back! She locked the door threw her keys in her purse, and pulled out her bottle of Channel Number 5 and spritzed herself from head to toe. She replaced the perfume and pulled out her Jackie O, dark sunglasses, before walking around the house and through the gangway to meet her mysterious handsome prince in the driveway.

Here, I am! So sorry to have kept you waiting, Nadia said in a long drawn out southern drawl as the stunned driver couldn't help but react to the transformation.

Your chariot awaits, he said with a bow.

I am so excited to find out what this is all about, she said smiling to the camera.

We must leave now. We're running late. I don't want you to miss your flight, Frank said, as he closed the door of the limo and proceeded to get into the driver’s seat.

Nadia