Ten Little Tales

By Ronald Savage Jr.

Ten Little Tales is a collection of ten fictional, short stories focusing on family, faith, friendship, and fun across multiple genres. Whatever the genre, Ten Little Tales has a story for every person to enjoy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ronald Savage Jr
• Release date: Jun 1, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201907976

Ronald Savage Jr.

Ronald Savage Jr. is an author that strives to bring stories to life. He is from Texas and graduated from Prairie View A&M University with a Bachelors of Arts in Mass Communications (Minor in English).

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Acknowledgements

Thanks to God, family, and friends.

Dear Reader,

Thank you for your support by purchasing this book. I hope this collection of short stories I’ve written blesses you in some way. Ten Little Tales is a project I began after the completion of my first book The Honor Society. The focus of this project was to provide lighthearted stories about Black characters. This project took three months to complete, and I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it. Again, thank you for your support.

- Ronald Savage Jr.

Mervin, Marva, and the Bible Verse Mystery

Mervin and Marva Jackson: a brother and sister sleuthing duo. Big or small, no mystery was too hard for the Jackson siblings to figure out. Today, however, the Jacksons weren’t solving any mysteries. Instead, they were preparing for an upcoming play at the church.

They were telling the story of Esther, and fellow church member Millicent Maron was the director. Millicent majored in theater at college, and she had returned home for the week. Because she was the director, Millicent decided who played each role.

For Esther, she chose her childhood friend Melanie Neal. As Haman, Millicent picked her brother Mackenzie Maron. Millicent’s best friend Minerva Barton would play Queen Vashti, and Millicent’s college classmate Myron Gray would be Mordecai. Mervin and Marva were also roped into the play as King Ahasuerus and the Narrator. Things started off rocky when Millicent and Minerva argued before the rehearsal.

Millie, why am I playing Vashti? Minerva asked. I mean, I am your best friend after all, and you said you had the perfect part for me.

I do, Millicent assured her. You’ll make a great Vashti.

I don’t want to be Vashti. I thought you wanted me to play Esther.

Mel is going to be Esther and you’re going to be Vashti. No role is too small when it comes to telling a story, Minnie.

Why can’t Marva do it then?

Because I want Marva to be the narrator.

If I didn’t know any better, I’d say that you were trying to make me look bad.

Minnie, if you don’t like it, you’re more than welcome to leave the play and I can find someone else.

Minerva stormed away, muttering something under her breath. After that, the rehearsal dragged on and hit several bumps in the road. Costumes weren’t ready, people forgot lines, and Millicent seemed overwhelmed. Myron once again messed up one of his lines and Millicent hit her breaking point.

Myron, that’s not the line!

Sorry Millie, Myron laughed nervously. He took the opportunity to read the script in Millicent’s Bible.

Alright everyone, Millie sighed. We’ll have a small break and then it’s right back to work!

Millie, just admit you don’t know what you’re doing, Mackenzie complained as he approached her.

I know what I’m doing.

It doesn’t look like it.

They’re only minor issues Mack, and we can easily fix them. That’s what rehearsal is for.

We’re supposed to perform this play on Sunday and nothing’s ready. You can’t possibly believe you’ll pull this all together in two days.

God will make a way.

Millie...

I can do this Mack. Now if you’re done bothering me, I have things to do.

Mackenzie shook his head and left Millicent alone. Everyone dispersed to enjoy the break. Mervin and Marva walked to the gas station up the street to buy themselves some snacks.

How do you think the play will turn out, Marva? Mervin asked as he looked at his reflection in the mirror behind the counter. He and Marva were often mistaken for twins with their dark brown skin, dark brown eyes, and matching afros. However, Mervin was one year older than Marva.

I’m sure Millie can pull it together. Everyone just needs to be willing to work together.

I’m just glad we don’t have a case to solve today.

But you love solving cases.

Yeah, and I would love it even more if we got paid for doing it. We can’t keep doing this stuff for free forever.

Mervin, no one’s going to pay two people in their early twenties when they can hire someone with experience and resources.

I just want to get paid for running all over the town, that’s all. We should start charging people for our services, Marva.

The whole reason we solve cases is to help the community.

We can’t help the community and get paid at the same time? Mervin waved around the candy bar he held in his hand. These snacks aren’t cheap, you know.

Mervin...

Fine, Mervin pouted.

Don’t get all grumpy with me.

Let’s just get back to the church.

The Jacksons returned to the church and found Millicent freaking out. She stood alone in the sanctuary, holding something in her hand.

What’s going on? Mervin asked.

I came back from the restroom and found this on the podium, Millicent explained. I can’t find my Bible anywhere. It’s gone!

Millicent handed Mervin a piece of notebook paper with a message scribbled on it.

...Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience, he read. James 1:2-3.

Someone’s trying to be funny, Marva shook her head.

Millie, why would someone take your Bible?

I don’t know. That Bible was a gift from my mother, and more importantly, it has the script and all my notes for the play in it. Please help me find who took it.

Well, Marva? Feel like taking on a case today?

I don’t know, Mervin. Are you going to charge poor Millie for your services?

Now if I say yes, I’ll look like the bad guy.

Then don’t say yes.

We’ll help you Millie, Mervin sighed.

Thank you both so much! Millicent clapped. Just let me know how I can help, and I’ll do it.

You can start by telling us what you know. Marva dug around in her purse and pulled out a notepad and pen.

Well, when I went to the restroom, Myron was still looking at the Bible, Millicent recalled. I was only in there for a few minutes and when I came back everyone was gone. Then I found that note and noticed my Bible was missing, so I started looking for it. That’s what I was doing when you guys came in.

Do you recognize the handwriting on this note?

No.

Myron was the last person you saw with your Bible? Mervin chimed in.

Yes.

"I guess we’ll go question him next. Do