Short Tails

By Arna Sharbono

The book contains entertaining stories about animal antics, childhood adventures, and hazards at sea. Read what happens when two sisters hear sounds in the night. Is Bob really a sea captain? Find out about the chores the sisters have on Grandpas farm. See what happens when two men go fishing. Find out what the new puppy has to learn.

• Language: English
• Publisher: LifeRich Publishing
• Release date: May 24, 2017
• ISBN: 9781489711052

Arna Sharbono

Arna Sharbono grew up in Nebraska. She moved to a homestead in Eastern Montana as a new bride. While living without electricity and other niceties, she taught at school, raised three children, and helped on the ranch. Arna lives in Missoula, Montana, has seven grandchildren, and several great grandchildren. She still loves gardening and has the most beautiful flowers in her neighborhood!

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Copyright © 2017 Arna Sharbono.

Illustrations also by Arna Sharbono.

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ISBN: 978-1-4897-1106-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4897-1105-2 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2017904584

LifeRich Publishing rev. date: 05/23/2017

Contents

The Intruder

The Favorite

Playmate

The Sea Captain

That Dog!

Ima Kitten

Winter Fun

Friends

The Tree House

The Little Acorn

‘T’ for Treasure

Be Careful What You Wish For!

A Song to Sarah

To my daughter-in-law, Diane, with love and appreciation for her ideas, time, and, above all, her computer.

TO THE READER

Some of the stories are true.

Some of the stories are partially true.

Some of the stories are imaginary.

You, the Reader, decide!

The Intruder

W e were living in a very small town in northern Nebraska. My parents owned a small business and weren’t in need of our help during the summer, so my sister and I were to spend this summer with Grandpa and Grandma and lend a hand. Each year we looked forward to their visit so that we could accompany them back to the farm. Grandpa’s farm was located further east in the corn belt.

This time, as we approached the farm I noticed a definite aging of the buildings. The house stood on a small hill, the paint peeling, and the gray boards showing through. Definitely in need of paint! The old cottonwood tree, near the front door, was struggling for life with a few green branches showing thru the dead ones. The outbuildings were also in need of paint, and some were leaning at an angle that suggested that a stiff breeze would capsize them. The machinery standing in the barn yard was old and rusty, and one hardly believed that it would last another year of farming. Everything had an old and grayish look in the late afternoon shadows. I looked at Grandpa and I realized that Grandpa was getting old too! Very old! I believed this would be the last summer that we would be spending here on the farm, as my Grandparents were getting too old and tired to do the work on the farm and would be moving into town.

No doubt we could have been lots of help to our grandparents, but like most kids, we goofed more than we worked. We wandered thru the barns watching the animals; to the pastures gathering the wild flowers, and occasionally would help with the garden and chickens. The few minor odd jobs that we did certainly were not what our parents had in mind when we were to lend a hand, but Grandpa wasn’t very strict with us.

Evenings were spent hurrying thru with the supper dishes while Grandma popped corn. Grandpa would take us into the living room to tell us of his boyhood days on the prairie, and the early days on his farm. Occasionally he would add a few ghost stories to liven up the evening. This evening was mostly ghost stories, and as soon as Grandpa finished one, we would beg for another, each more hair-raising than the one before. He topped the evening off with a doosy and then marched us off upstairs to bed. Eerie shadows and figures preceded us down the hall as we carried the kerosene lamp to our room. Since the children had married and left home some of the upstairs rooms had been vacated and closed off. This knowledge didn’t give us much courage as we crept by the vacant rooms. After reaching the security of our room and setting the lamp on the bureau, the shadows that danced on the walls and ceilings suddenly became friendly. We slipped out of our clothes quickly and prepared for bed. Jumping into that huge, soft, downy bed would soothe all our fears and soon we would be asleep – but not tonight!! From somewhere there was a strange sound, -- and another, -- and another! Yes – it definitely was the sound of chains dragging, and it sounded pretty close – and it was coming closer! I knew it wasn’t my imagination, because suddenly my sister was sitting up staring wide-eyed at me as if waiting for an answer that I couldn’t give. All at once that nice, cozy, warm bed became a clammy, cold piece of