Once Upon a Country Side..

By DinAus

This story is about Mina, a young girl who adores her family. Because of circumstances, she experiences a separation from her parents. Though she suffers some loss of identity, she also learns how to cope with coming of age. She learns the value of friendship and that things are usually not free in life. With the help and support of very special loved ones, she finds her inner capacity to accept life as it comes and make the best of it.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Nov 20, 2013
• ISBN: 9781491836071

DinAus

Ginette Ausman is a mother and grandmother. She wants to express the need for parents to listen to their children as children make the transition between different phases of their lives. She believes it helps children build the confidence and strength they need to grow. Sharing her knowledge with readers is her goal. With her love for life, she brings a touch of humor and sensitivity to her characters.

Book preview

ONCE UPON A

COUNTRY SIDE…

GinAus

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AuthorHouse™ LLC

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.authorhouse.com

Phone: [phone]

© 2013 GinAus. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 12/17/2013

ISBN: 978-1-4918-3606-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4918-3605-7 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4918-3607-1 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2013921161

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Epilogue

DEDICATION

To Family and Friends…

CHAPTER ONE

Mina, don’t forget your raincoat! School was over, and at fourteen years old, I was getting ready for a summer in the country.

My mother was driving me to my grandparents’ house a few miles out of town on a wet Saturday morning. I loved visiting them. Everything was so different out there. Even the air smelled different. Behind the house, there was a path covered with small white stones, yellowish grass under big trees, a huge garden, and flower beds. I had never gotten to explore the path, but this summer, I would discover all its secrets.

Mina, please hurry, sweetie. Your dad and I have to be back before noon. My mother was preparing a big reception for my dad and his coworkers that weekend. I had no idea what it was; it had to do with a big contract my father had signed. So I was glad to go to my grandparents for the weekend.

As soon as we arrived, Grandma was there, waiting for me with open arms. I loved her so much. To me, she always smelled like cotton candy, and her cheeks were as pink as the roses in her garden. Her hair was tied in a knot at the back of her neck, and her blue eyes were just like the sky on a sunny day. Always calm, ready to listen to all my adventures with a big smile. And her cooking! Yum, I could never have enough of it: special cookies, yeasty bread, and delicious cakes. I always looked forward spending time with her and Grandpa.

After my mother left, I asked Grandma if she had something special for me to do. Well, she said, I’m thinking maybe you would like to learn how to make bread today.

I sure would, I said. Where is Grandpa?

In the garden. The carrots are ready. The best time to pick them is after a good rain, when the ground is soft.

Later, she had everything ready to make the bread. I watched her every move. When the dough was ready, she set it behind the stove to let it rise.

My grandpa was in now. Hi, Grandpa. You have a big crop there. Would you like me to clean the veggies for you?

That would be very nice, he said.

I took the carrots to the deep sink outside and brushed the dirt off them. The sun was out again, and Grandma said we would use the outside cooking oven. She asked me if I could go to the neighbors to get some fresh eggs. Sure, I said. I had my boots on, and I walked down the country road to the neighbor.

Going to the neighbor’s house meant I would see Katie, my summer friend. When I got there, Mrs. Monroe asked me how my grandparents were doing. Very well, I said. Grandpa was in the garden when I arrived.

What can I do for you? the lady asked.

My grandmother needs some eggs.

She called Katie, who would get them for me. I wouldn’t go near the chickens. One of them had bit me one time, and I was scared of them. I think I was scared of a lot of things back then. My mother couldn’t understand how I could love the country so much and be so afraid at the same time.

Katie came back with twelve big, brown eggs. She asked me what I was going to do all weekend. I told her Grandma was teaching me how to make bread. She asked if she could come visit in the afternoon. That would be great, I said. Then I walked back to my grandmother’s house.

When I got back, the dough was ready to be put in the bread pan. You do it, Grandma said. You can make two loaves of bread with that recipe. She put the pans in the oven. We played cards while waiting for the bread to bake. Grandpa came and played with us.

I asked my grandfather about the path and where it led. The one behind the rose bush? he asked. That goes to a pond. You never went there?

I said, I’ve been curious about it for a long time, but I never had the chance to explore it. I thought maybe I could go with Katie this afternoon.

I could smell the bread baking in the oven. Grandma asked if I would like some, with butter and jam. I couldn’t wait for it to be ready to eat.

Grandpa sat with me on the porch. If I was going to go to the pond, he suggested I take a fishing rod with me. He told me to be careful. He had no idea how the shore was, since he hadn’t gone there for a long time. The dock might not be as solid as it used to be. Then he told me about one time he went fishing with his father.

I was about ten, he said, "when my dad took me there on a Sunday afternoon. We walked under the big trees and some very tall grass. At first, I couldn’t see the pond. When we got there, my father told me to take my shoes off and sit on the dock. Then he gave me a fishing rod with a big worm on the hook. I sat there for a while. On the shore, I could see the frogs sitting on stones and jumping in the water. Others were just making noise, like some music. There were birds flying over the pond, looking for insects.

Then I felt something pulling down on my rod. My father said I had caught a fish. I reeled it in. As I was doing so, I got up and, in the excitement, I didn’t notice that I had fallen in the water. My father told me not to let go. Here I was, holding on to my fishing rod, with a fish at the end, and splashing on the bank of the pond. I finally reached the shore and got the fish out of the water. My father said it was a big one. When we got home, my mother said she wasn’t sure which fish we would eat that night. His story made me laugh. I hugged him and told him he was funny.

Grandma came out with the bread, homemade wild berry jam, and butter. Grandpa and I had a snack. Grandpa asked me if I would like to go to Mr. Davis’s farm to see the calves that had been born the day before. I would love that, I said. We told Grandma we were going, and we got in the old truck.

We drove along the country road. I could see the corn starting to grow. The fields were green again. The cows were out in the pasture. I could see mares with their fillies and colts. The flowers were blooming everywhere. The air smelled clean and fresh. I wanted to live there forever.

At Mr. Davis’s place, I met his nephew Sam. He was almost sixteen and very adventurous. He was trying to catch one of the steers to brand it. Sam was tall for his age. Grandpa said he would make a good cowboy.

Sam’s sister, Faith, came out of the house. She waved at Grandpa. It looked like he knew everyone in the country. I thought this was going to be a great summer.

Mrs. Davis came out and said, It looks like my nephew and niece are going to have company this summer. She was a short, skinny old lady with a big smile. Her hair was red with white streaks. Grandpa said he’d never seen her without her apron. I squeezed his hand and smiled.

Faith asked if I’d like to see the calves. I agreed. We