TNT and the Stranger: 6ixes, #1

By Tuff Gartin

TJ and his mentally handicapped sister, Teresa, live a terrible life with their mother. But that will all change when their father is out of prison. As they count down the days to his release, a creepy man appears in their lives. Is the sanctuary outside of their mother's home still a safe place to be?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tuff Gartin
• Release date: Sep 15, 2019
• ISBN: 9781947903036

Tuff Gartin

Tuff Gartin lives in the Nashville, Tennessee area. He has a wonderful and supporting family that encourages him always, despite what they may be thinking about crazy authorpreneurs. Tuff enjoys spending time with his family and, otherwise, writing for his Tuff Readers and watching sports. As long as there are Tuff Readers out there, Tuff will stay committed to giving his readers the best reading experiences he and his Muse can create. Are you a Tuff Reader? Visit www.tuffgartin.com/myreaders.html to find out. If you are, please sign up for Tuff’s email list to get the latest info on Tuff and his books. Author website: www.tuffgartin.com

Book preview

TNT and the Stranger

A 6ixes thriller tale

TUFF GARTIN

Acknowledgments

I must thank my lovely wife, Jeanne. Yet again, her encouragement and feedback throughout the entire process made this a better story. Thank you so much, honey.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Fears

Stranger in the Night

In a Bad Way

Interruptions

Strange Love

Uncertain Future

Tantrum

The Handy Dandy Candy Shop

Hide and Seek

Trapped

The Stranger

Decision Made

Special

Afterword

About the Author

Published by Tuff Gartin

Cover design: Tuff Gartin

Copyright © 2019 by Tuff Gartin

ISBN: 978-1-947903-03-6

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by United States of America copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed Attention: Permissions Coordinator, at the address below.

Tuff Gartin

P.O. Box 218294

Nashville, TN 37221

PUBLISHER'S NOTICE

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

Fears

June 1, 12:06 AM.

TJ was sound asleep on the floor of the room he shared with his 6-year-old sister, Teresa.

Teresa screamed, Tingly! Feel weird! Bad man! Bad man! No take me! No take me!

TJ sprang from the floor to be by his sister's side, consoling her.

It's okay Resa. There's no bad man here. It's just me and you, he comforted.

He pulled her tight, caressed her shoulder and gave her a comforting kiss on the top of her head.

He grab me through window, she explained.

TJ pulled the curtain back to show her the window was closed.

You're safe Teresa. TJ will never let anybody take you.

Teresa snuggled into TJ's chest and said, TNT.

To this day, every time Teresa said this it sent chills throughout TJ's body. He loved Teresa beyond words. TJ, only eighteen years old, was forced to grow up quickly and considered himself just as much of a father to Teresa as he was her brother. When she was younger and first learning to communicate, TNT was the acronym TJ had introduced to Teresa to signify their bond. It stood for TJ and Teresa (using the first initials, T and T, shortened to TNT). Adding to the TNT theme, TJ had explained to Teresa that even dynamite could not blow their love apart. Ever since that day, TJ would hug or squeeze Teresa when she needed his comfort and say, TNT. It was amazing how three letters would become the source of so much affection and signify such a strong bond between two people. But TNT meant the world to them both, and their bond was stronger than dynamite.

TJ and Teresa lived a tough life. Their father had been in prison seven years now for the reckless homicide of their other sister, Tina, who was 6 when she died in a tent fire. Their mother, Nancy, had just discovered she was pregnant with Teresa days after that incident. Nancy struggled terribly with the death of her precious Tina and turned to drugs and alcohol to help her cope. Nancy's addictions caused Teresa to be born with stunted growth and an underdeveloped brain. Teresa would always have an intellectual disability. From