The Watering Hole

By Vivian Phelps Ray

This is a story about ten teenagers who spent lots of time together, enjoying the summer sun, swimming and exploring. It was one of those beautiful but strange days that no one understands. Maybe it was strange because of the weather. It was 106 degrees in the shade and the old people were saying that this heat was caused by dog days, and that they were
just lasting too long, that the world was coming to an end, and that Jesus was coming back to judge everyone.

The kids found a lovely watering hole on this day, and because it was so hot, they decided to go for a swim. This was such a beautiful and calm area, and since no one else was therethey claimed it, and called it their spot and they went there often.

One day while swimming, one of the girls spotted something shining in the water that appeared to be the sun reflecting on a rock. After taking a closer look, she started to scream and everyone asked what was wrong. She said There is a body in the water. It was a dead lady. She was so beautiful, she had olive colored skin, she was wearing a white sequin dress with matching shoes and purse, and her hair was cut short with bangs. Her purse was opened, which revealed a compact engraved with Mary C. King and an address. There was also a small bottle of perfume inside. The police was called, and before the kids could turn around, the police and the coroner magically appeared. That day, these kids were plunged
into a bizarre situation that demanded answers.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jul 8, 2013
• ISBN: 9781483646824

Book preview

Copyright © 2013 by Vivian Phelps Ray.

ISBN:      Softcover      978-1-4836-4681-7

                Ebook          978-1-4836-4682-4

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

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

Rev. date: 07/03/2013

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Contents

Introduction

INTRODUCTION

This is a story about ten teenagers who spent lots of time together, enjoying the summer sun, swimming and exploring. It was one of those beautiful but strange days that no one understands. Maybe it was strange because of the weather. It was 106 degrees in the shade and the old people were saying that this heat was caused by dog days, and that they were just lasting too long, that the world was coming to an end, and that Jesus was coming back to judge everyone.

The kids found a lovely watering hole on this day, and because it was so hot, they decided to go for a swim. This was such a beautiful and calm area, and since no one else was there—they claimed it, and called it their spot and they went there often.

One day while swimming, one of the girls spotted something shining in the water that appeared to be the sun reflecting on a rock. After taking a closer look, she started to scream and everyone asked what was wrong. She said There is a body in the water. It was a dead lady. She was so beautiful, she had olive colored skin, she was wearing a white sequin dress with matching shoes and purse, and her hair was cut short with bangs.

Her purse was opened, which revealed a compact engraved with Mary C. King and an address. There was also a small bottle of perfume inside. The police was called, and before the kids could turn around, the police and the coroner magically appeared. That day, these kids were plunged into a bizarre situation that demanded answers.

Characters

Margaret Womack

A.C. Colby

Caroline Mason

Samuel (Sonny) Barnes

Bobby Patterson

Gwendolyn O’Conner

Velma Carson

Elaine Gold

Malik Thomas

Hakim Thomas

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There are some things in life that defies all logical explanation. If you are like me and my friends, seventeen and knowing everything about everything, you feel that nothing can over-power your wise mind and your wonderful way of thinking. You know that you are smart and nothing can fool you. But there are things in life that will shock you and make you wonder why. It was so hot that some of the old Black women were talking about the world was coming to an end, because it is too hot to be the fall of the year. Little white ladies with their myths were talking about he is coming back soon so you better be ready. This was a very hot day just like today. Back in August 1995, the time of year when leaves change color by becoming yellow, red, light brown and pale green, and that shuffling sound they make when the wind blows, and the coolness meant fall, but not today, we were having a heat wave. It was one hundred and six degrees in the shade.

Boy was it hot! This heat has lasted all week, and everybody was trying to stay cool. And I wondered out loud, we are so bored. Me and my two best friends, Anita Mandolin and Caroline Mason, waited and watched for our friends, Hakim and Mali, who were coming to take us swimming. I wished they would get here soon. Just as I thought we would just melt, the car appeared down the road, and it