Sea Lanes: it never happened

By Robert M. Leger

"Freshman"  - Anxious to get back to college, having to work the summer for his dad, will he learn who the smart people really are?

 

"Museum Day" – The herd of kids was axious to see the dinosaur bones at the museum, but their teacher was looking forward to renewing old memories.

 

"Road Trip" – Two college kids heading home on a break, take many detours as they stretch their wings and look for new things, and discover a quiet thing that surprises them.

 

These stories are intended to be fun - what's wrong with that? It's why I included several pictures with the stories, to spur the imagination and inspire. 

Sometimes the picture comes first, inspiring the story, or at least a scene. Sometimes the story springs from a single idea - could ther be a detective so good he could solve crimes that haven't happened yet? Are machines too helpful?

 

And there's some serious stories too. What's it like leaving the small town you call home to go back to excitement of college? 

 

Enjoy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Robert M. Leger
• Release date: Aug 4, 2021
• ISBN: 9798675365968

Book preview

Boots

snow on mountain with fences

Jill felt the chill even inside her car, paused momentarily at the top of the rise just coming into the foothills near her parent’s winter home. Unlike most retirees, the Clansons went to the snow in the winter and the dry deserts in the summer, though, to be sure, they loved the challenges of the weather extremes.

Jill knew their home was snug. They could plop down in an easy chair in front of the mountain-facing window and watch the clouds crawl over the mountains like airy glaciers, dropping snow in each crevice as they moved.

That was exactly what Jill wanted. Plop down in a chair, holding a hot coffee, staring out, trying to think.

She took her foot off the brake and muscled her small SUV down the swooping road. It had been a few years, but she still remembered most of the broad bends and curves. The turnoff to her folk’s place was just ahead, to the right, just before the huge boulder. Dad would have the long drive mostly plowed, though this snowfall was recent.

Just past the boulder, the wire fence squaring off the property rolled up and down the hills. It kept the horses in, but the neighbors all knew the entry gates, so they could ride through if they wanted. She’d done that herself in her growing-up summers.

Dad stood just inside the garage door, and, seeing her drive up, wiped his hands on a shop rag and called out to the house. By the time Jill drove up, her mom was coming out the front door, pulling on a patterned red sweater and waving.

They all embraced in the driveway, her dad grabbed her bags while her mom walked her in.

Oh, it’s so good to see you, honey. I’m so glad you came!

Jill grinned in spite of her pensive mood. It’s good to be here.

She looked around the giant family room with the enormous fireplace, seeing all the old familiar pictures on the wall, the lamps, the magazines and books on the coffee table.

Oh, she said, noticing, you’ve got a new area rug! She could see it had a somewhat native American look, in browns and reds.

The overall look was lived-in, comfortable, cozy. She felt the first layer of her ache softening.

You must be starving! Adele Clanson said, just as Jill expected, but truth was, she could eat a little something.

They headed straight for the kitchen while Rod Clanson put her bags in her room upstairs. There was no fuss or ceremony, everything was just as Jill knew it would be.

Adele started pulling out the fixings for sandwiches and opening some cans for soup, chattering away the whole time. Jill pulled down a few plates and cups, but mostly let her mother do what she just naturally did. A few bites of sandwich and a few spoonsful of chicken noodle and another layer melted away.

Well, tell us about what’s going on, dear, her mom coaxed as her dad sat at the other end of the table drinking his coffee.

Oh, not too much to tell, she began. Work is great, though things slow down like they usually do, you know, because people don’t think much about hiring landscapers in the winter.

Her parents listened attentively, waiting for it, knowing she would get to it in her own good time, when she’d burned off all the protective city layers.

But she talked herself out before too long, the fatigue of the drive up finally getting to her. Her mom recognized it and wanted to shush her off to bed for a nap, but Jill grabbed a cup of cocoa and headed for the easy chair by the window, the one she’d been thinking about the whole trip. And there it was, thick leather overstuffed and well worn. Two other chairs and an equally comfy sofa were also grouped in the family by the window, and the wood floors showed where they’d been dragged around to enable a board game on the coffee table, or pushed back to allow room for the Christmas tree.

The late afternoon sun painted tree monsters on the snow dusting, but they were lazy monsters, arms spread wide, but just stretching, getting ready for a winter’s nap. Dad sat opposite her, but said nothing, pretending to read the paper by really eyeing her, she knew.

The far mountains wrapped their white snow blankets around themselves. Mom came in and they chatted a bit more, Mom doing most of the talking, mostly about the neighbors, the winter, the horses, the just passed Halloween festival at the town center.

Somehow Jill made it up to her bed and slept deeply, the cool fresh air cleaning out the cobwebs. She had a funny dream she couldn’t remember, but was glad she’d dreamed. It had been awhile.

She rose early, but there were already sounds and smells of breakfast downstairs.

Did you sleep well, honey? her mom asked.

Yeah. This fresh air really clears up your head, doesn’t it?

Her mom smiled, piling sausage and eggs on her plate. Jill’s breakfasts were usually light, but she surprised herself by finishing it all off

Looking out at the slight steam rising from the sun-heating snow, she suddenly had an idea.

I think I’ll take a little walk this morning!

Oh, that’s a good idea. Mom said. The snow’s not too deep. You’ll love it.

But then she remembered. Oh. I forgot. I didn’t bring any shoes to wear in the snow!

That’s okay, her dad said. We’ve got your old boots out in the mud room still. No problem.

Her boots. She remembered. She’d walked everywhere in them. Not just here at her folks place, but back when she’d gone with the group from church on that week-long hike in the Sierras.

She got herself otherwise dressed for the weather and made her way back to the mud room. A little bench there held her boots. She sat and starting putting them on, the leathery smell bringing back more memories.

Dad walked in. Would you mind some company? It’s such a beautiful morning.

Jill hesitated. She’d been preparing herself for some alone time. But the look on her dad’s face told her she couldn’t say no.

At first she grabbed his arm and they stepped out into the chill air. The snow’s wetness dampened down the smell of the trees at first.

They headed north, to the fence line, Jill leading the way, her dad walking calmly beside her.

Without warning she found herself talking to him. Did mom tell you about Karen?

Her dad grunted a little.

She’s getting married. In February. Valentines’ Day. She smiled at the romantic thought.

Their boots crunched the snow with every step. A little breeze blew from the west.

She was roommate for a long time, wasn’t she? They marched on.

Yeah, five years. She sighed. Eddie is terrific, he’s crazy about her. They’re so cute together.

There was a long pause that her dad broke. And you’re already starting to miss her, huh?

Jill took a sharp breath. Yes, that was it. Anyway, part of it.

Things always change, honey. You know. Old friends move on, move away, new friends, new things come along. You never can tell.

They’d made the fence line and were at the top of a little hill. The view was breath-taking mountains stretching to the left and right, the valley and lower hills in front of them showing the few homes of the hill people that were her parent’s neighbors.

Jill took a deep breath, thinking. She looked down at her feet. The snow’s chill hadn’t touched her toes yet. Those boots were sure great, she thought, even after all these years.

She looked at her dad. As usual, I guess you nailed it. I’m missing Karen and she isn’t even gone yet. And I’m feeling a little sorry for myself.

Rod Clanson scooped up his daughter in his arms. You’ll always have us, honey.

That wasn’t true, Jill thought, but she knew what he meant. I know, Daddy.

He loosened his hug to just one arm. Besides, you never ever know what’s around the corner.

Jill sighed for a long few seconds, then stopped.

Wait a minute.

She gave him a sideways look. Dad, are you and Mom up to something?

Her dad did not have a poker face.

Oh, gosh... I don’t know ... I ...

Uh oh, she thought. Dad ...?

Uh, well, ... I guess your mom ... I guess she invited Tommy Michael over for dinner tonight.

She gasped, giving him a little punch. DAD! What are you doing?

He shrugged. Oh, you know your mom....

Seeing his sheepish face, she knew she couldn’t be mad. She sighed, shaking her head. You guys are incorrigible!

He laughed, but then bent down, as though looking at something, then suddenly springing up and throwing a handful of snow at her.

She blinked, shocked, but recovered quickly. A little snow fight followed for a minute, till they slipped and fell over laughing.

As the sun started to warm the air, they made their way back, sometimes holding hands, sometimes not.

Jill sighed again, laughing at her silly parents trying to fix her up.

But as they neared the house, she started trying to remember Tommy Michael. She sat on the bench in the mud room.

Oh yeah, she thought, he’d taken her skiing that one time. Come to think of it, wasn’t that when she first got these boots?

She