Minor Crossings

By Jen Selinsky

"Minor Crossings" is comprised of stories Jen wrote before she turned eighteen. The author wrote most of these works during her high school years. To keep with the authenticity, Jen changed very little of the original works.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jen Selinsky
• Release date: Jan 5, 2018
• ISBN: 9781370480425

Jen Selinsky

Jen Selinsky was born in Pittsburgh, PA. In 2003, she earned her bachelor's degree in English from Clarion University of Pennsylvania. In 2004, she earned her master's degree in library science from the same school. Jen has worked as a professional librarian for over twelve years. She has published more than 170 books, most of which contain poetry. Her work can be found on the following sites: Lulu, Amazon, iTunes, Kobo, Barnes & Noble/Nook, Smashwords, and Pen It! Publications. She has also been featured in publications such as: The Courier Journal, Explorer Magazine, Liphar Magazine, and Indiana Libraries. Jen lives in Sellersburg, IN with her husband.

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Minor Crossings

Jen Selinsky

These stories are works of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Copyright © 2015 by Jen Selinsky

All rights reserved by the author. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission of the copyright holder.

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

Cover Art Copyright © 2014 by Travis Potts

ISBN: 9781370480425

Dino-Bone

I just found a baby dinosaur in my trick-or-treat bag. It got out and ran away. And I ran after it. Then I caught him. The next morning, I got up and put on my clothes and went outside. I looked for his mom, but I didn’t find her. The next day, I went out again. It was noon. Finally, I found his mom. And I named him Dino-Bone.

October 1988

Florida

I hate it. I hate it, dude. I hate being a leaf. It is so unrad, living things have all the fun. They get to go to all these awesome parties and stuff. I have to say in the cold and sit on my butt. Man, I wish I was a cool dude or dudett. I probably wouldn’t mind being an animal. Life is not fair. Plus for a leaf, it’s cheap and short.

Just then, a leaf from Florida flew in.

He came up and said, Chill, dude, I’ll take you back to Florida with me.

Okay, but how long will it take?

A couple days.

Serious. I promise.

All right, yes, I’m leaving here, the leaf said.

After four days, they ran into a storm. It blew them back a little, but in only took half an hour to get back.

The next day, they found a tent and were still cold. They went in and found a cricket. He let them in for the whole day, then they said they were going.

Sounds neat, he said.

When are you leaving?

Tomorrow, they said.

OK, dudes, let’s hit the sack. So they went to bed.

The next day, they finally left.

When they only had four hours left, they met a mouse. She ran inside and got her family out.

Come on, dudes and dudettes. We’re goin’ to Florida.

Yes! they shouted.

Finally, they got out there and found hundreds of fun things to do.

1991

The Best Friends’ Weird Experience on Life on the

Dream Side

There were two girls who were best friends. Their names were Kimberly and Clara. They had the same classes, rode the same bus, and liked the same things.

It was Friday, November 13, 1992. The same day at school, Kimberly had asked Clara to spend the night and she accepted.

That night, Clara went to Kim’s house looking for her.

Kim’s mother, Mrs. Krueger, answered the door. She was a nice, thin woman with long white flowing hair, about 38 years old. She was married to John Krueger and also has a sixteen-year-old son named Chuck. She let Clara in and offered her cookies and milk while she waited for Kimberly to come downstairs.

Oh no, Clara thought. I forgot to call my parents. She excused herself to the kitchen to call them. She waited while it rang 1,2,3,4 times. Her parents never answered. The funny thing was that her parents said they would be home tonight.

Oh well, she thought. They probably went out. When she came out, Kimberly asked her parents if they could leave for the night.

They accepted and left.

Clara asked, Why did you ask them to leave?

Oh, I always do that when friends spend the night, so we can have some privacy.

Oh, Clara said, thinking this was a bit strange.

They had all sorts of fun. They ate pizza and drank red soda and watched horror movies.

Hey, yuk, this soda tastes weird, Clara said.

Why? It’s probably just outdated, Kim said.

But little did Clara know it was blood!

Later at night, when it was time for bed, Clara asked Kim if she wanted to tell ghost stories.

No, Kim shrieked. I scare easily.

OK, good night.

Then there was a squeaking sound.

Kim, Kim. Wake up!

What? Kim asked.

I heard a squeak.

Oh, go to sleep already, it’s only a mouse.

Squeek. Squeek. Squeek again.

Kim, get up now.

Didn’t I just tell you to go to sleep, Kim said angrily.

But I heard it again, and that ain’t no mouse.

Clara, go to bed. But before you do, will you help me carry out the garbage? Tomorrow’s trash day, you know.

Duh, Clara said. OK, I’ll help.

The two girls went downstairs and got 1 bag of trash each.

Brr. Kim, can I please get my shoes? It’s cold out here.

Don’t be such a baby, Clara.

OK. OK. Chill already. You are getting so bossy these days.

Sorry, Clara, I didn’t get enough sleep last night.

Clara looked down at the wet soggy grass. Suddenly, it turned red. It turned into blood.

Ahh, she shrieked.

What? What? What? Kim asked.

The, the, the grass. It turned into blood!

Kim looked down at the grass. Oh, stop your belly aching. It’s only rain water.

Just then, Clara dropped her bag and inside was a pale, dead, and bloodstained body of a man.

Help me, ahh… it said.

Clara screamed again. Oh my God Kim, in the garbage bag was a dead body of a man, and it said ‘help me’.

Clara, Clara, calm down. It’s only your imagination. Let’s take you inside and take your temperature before you say the Bogeyman is out to get you. Besides, radar said a big storm is coming.

Kim was right, a big storm did come.

Come on, Kim, let’s shut the door and windows so the rain doesn’t come in.

After they shut the windows and the door, the full moon appeared and Kim became this horrible blood sucking vampire.

Clara screamed and started to tear up Kim’s room, throwing stuff at her to keep her away.

Clara said, I know, it all makes sense now. The phone, the last name Krueger, your mom’s white hair, the squeaking, the full moon, you being scared of ghost stories, blood grass, the dead body, you asking your parents to leave, and finally the blood drink.

Now I came from your blood.

Noooo, Clara whimpered in her sleep.

Clara, Clara, wake up.

There she was in Kim’s bright face. Get away, Clara whimpered before she woke up. It was only a dream.

Kim smiled at her with her vampire teeth laughing. Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha.

Clara, honey, wake up.

Oh my God, Mom, I’m so glad to see you.

I am also glad to see you. Now I can chop your head off.

Ahh, Clara shrieked.

The next thing she knew, she was sitting up in bed. Huh, what happened? Whoa, I must have had a triple dream. Huh, more like a nightmare, she remarked. I’m alive." Clara shook herself awake.

Kim burst into the room screaming.

Clara, Clara, I had the worst nightmare. I dreamt you were a vampire. It was a triple dream.

Hey, no kidding, I had that same dream about you.

Are you thinking what I’m thinking?

Yep, Clara said. The two skeleton necklaces we gave each other. They must have been cursed. We’ve got to find and destroy them. Clara found hers and disposed of it while Kim frantically looked for hers.

Clara, help.

No, Kim, you have to find it, or the curse will go on to the younger generations.

Kim quickly found it and trashed it.

Yes, they both said at the same time.

Now no more curses. Too bad none of our ancestors could figure it out.

Yeah, bummer.

Later that morning, they are breakfast and got dressed.

Kim, wanna go to the mall?

‘Kay, she said.

Yo, Kim, you sure you’re not a vampire?

Yeah, why?

Because I’ve got proof that you are.

Yeah, right.

1993

The Haunted House

I got out of my car and pulled out the letter.

This is the place, I said to myself as I walked toward the house. By the way things looked, I would never guess this was the right house!

Windows were shattered, weeds were overgrown, the red paint was chipped and all these household items were scattered all over the lawn!

Then I went inside. Yuk, what a mess! I thought as I walked through the first story.

After that, I went upstairs to explore a little. It was a mess too, broken furniture, shattered mirrors, ripped clothing and the bathroom was flooded! When I walked in the bedroom, I found a perfectly made bed, no dust, flowered wallpaper and a lump on one side of the bed!

This house is scary, I thought. I’m outta here! I ran downstairs and headed for the door, but as soon as I reached it, the door shut all by itself!

Great, I thought. No back door, now I’m stuck here!

As I paced the house, I saw a man! He came up to me and said, You must be the new landowner. Hi. I’m Mr. Jiles, the caretaker.

If you’re the caretaker, how come this place is such a mess? I asked.

Well, this is an old house, and today’s my first day assigned to it. I’m married, but no women were seen here until you came. It was nice meeting you. Maybe I’ll drop by sometime later! He shook my right hand as he left.

I held up my hand and it had disappeared. It was still there, I could feel it, but I couldn’t see it. As if it was invisible!

At 9:00 p.m., once again, I tried to open the door, but I wouldn’t budge.

Hours later, I tried again, still it didn’t open. I was forced to spend the night!

Just as I went upstairs, when it was time for bed, I felt something race up the stairs past me.

Just the wind, I thought. I