An Anthology of Short Stories and Poems

By Brian Clements

This collection of short stories and poems will excite your imagination and emotions. Enjoy love stories such as "Twice in a Lifetime," "The Folk Singer," and "Billy, Don't Be a Hero." Also, enjoy mysteries involving Private Detective Jack Donovan in "If You Could Hear What I See" and its sequels. Plus, enjoy the tearful poems "The Thin Blue Line" and "Rebuking Michael." And don't forget to follow David and Carol Anne as they renew their relationship and end up in unusual ghostlike locations. Thank you and I hope enjoy these stories.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jan 15, 2020
• ISBN: 9781645846161

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An Anthology of Short Stories and Poems

Brian Clements

Copyright © 2019 Brian Clements

All rights reserved

First Edition

PAGE PUBLISHING, INC.

Conneaut Lake, PA

First originally published by Page Publishing 2019

ISBN 978-1-64584-615-4 (pbk)

ISBN 978-1-64584-616-1 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Twice in a Lifetime(The Dance)What Would You Do If You Were Given a Second Chance?

Murder in a Storm?

The Thin Blue Line

The Folk Singer

The Reunion

Don’t Be a Hero

Tate’s Hell

Sitting at Chick-fil-A

Rebuking Hurricane Michael

If You Could Hear What I See

My Ride to and from Work

Weekend at the StanleyWhat Could Possibly Happen?

Crossover

Snow Day

How Do You Get a Mime to Speak?

Substitute Teaching

Avalanche on I-70

Twice in a Lifetime

(The Dance)

What Would You Do If You Were Given a Second Chance?

Lee Robinson had been upset during the past few years. He’d had one failed marriage, and the current one isn’t going all too well either. He hasn’t had full-time work in about eight years. Lee had been substitute teaching for most of those years and also working at Walmart. His wife has stated that he needs to do as she says or he’ll have to leave.

He had been praying about everything in his life: his marriage, finances, and the past, which he couldn’t change. Only if he could.

Lee had only one regret in his life. Her name was JoAnne. The one person that he felt like he loved with all his heart. The one person he still really cared for. The one person that he feels he let down. But also, she was the one he never really knew. How does somebody change that one regret?

The only problem was that she passed away forty-two years ago.

You see, Lee never really had the chance to go out with her. He remembered that he asked her out three times while in junior high and high school before she got sick. Plus, three times also after she got sick. She told him at that time she liked him, but she didn’t want him to get hurt since she was sick. She also said that she would be praying for him every day.

Lee remembered when he first heard JoAnne was sick. He was heartbroken. After he heard about it, he got as much information that he could about her and leukemia. When she passed away, he was so upset he couldn’t even go to her funeral. He used the excuse that he was in college, even though her funeral was on the weekend.

Lee eventually married into an abusive marriage which lasted about twenty-two years. They adopted a son, named Caleb, who was now away at college.

After a tough day of substitute teaching, when a student flooded his science class by activating the emergency shower in the classroom. Lee decided to go jogging. At sixty-two years of age, he had kept himself in shape over the last thirty-some-odd years. He had noticed quite a few people his age looked like death warmed over. But that was them. Lee thought it was best to take care of himself. It was tough, but he did without fail.

It was a very warm day and a little cloudy, but it didn’t look like it would rain, so Lee decided to go on his usual three-mile run/walk along Fountain Creek near Colorado Springs. About halfway through his run, it started to really cloud up. Then it got very windy and started to rain. He was out in the middle of a field when the lightning started. That is some place he didn’t want to be. Lee had a slight case of astraphobia (abnormal fear of lightning) when he almost got hit by lightning back in 1995. That year, he was on the back porch of his home in Florida, and a tree was hit twenty feet from where he was standing. The lightning also blew out a few things in his house.

So Lee decided to turn back and start to look for some shelter. He saw another runner who didn’t seem too concerned about the storm. Lee started to run toward a nature center, which was about two hundred yards away.

Then, all of a sudden, lightning struck near his foot and knocked him about twenty feet in the air, and Lee fell on his back.

While lying there, Lee saw the same young man standing over him. He was about six feet, 160 pounds.

Lee called out to him, Can you help me? I’m hurt.

I’m sorry, but I can’t, the young man said. But I’ll be escorting you to the Judge for you to answer the charges.

Suddenly, Lee is in a castle-like area, dressed in the same shorts and t-shirt when he was running.

What Judge? What charges? asked Lee.

An older man dressed in a robe came from behind one of the columns and stated, Why, the charges about your life, Lee. You didn’t live your life to your fullest potential. These are some very serious charges.

Really? You’re kidding? Who in the heck are you? asked Lee.

The young man replied, This is Judge Othniel. The one who will be judging you for what you’ve done with your life.

Okay. And you are?

I am Mr. Jones, your escort.

To where?

To the hereafter. But first we have to appear before the Judge to see where to put you.

Why?

Judge Othniel replied, To find out why you turned out the way you did.

And how did I do? Lee asked.

Well, Lee. I know you have that one regret. And it’s a pretty big one. And that one thing has affected your whole life. Very sad. Two failed marriages, a disgruntled son. What more can I say? Am I correct, Lee?

The judge shows some video of JoAnne, alone, in her hospital room, sick, receiving treatment, and looking very discouraged.

Lee was almost in tears.

And you were afraid to ask her out again. Why?

I didn’t think she’d say yes. Last time I asked her, she told me that she didn’t want me to get hurt.

She really didn’t mean that. She was looking for someone to help her, and she just wanted to hear those words. But she didn’t know how to ask. That person should have been you, Lee. You could have said the right words to her. But you didn’t even try. Why?

What words? I didn’t know what to do. I wish I had done more.

Maybe you can…So…here’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to send you back so you can ask her out one last time. Maybe get that one kiss that you never got and to tell her what she needs to hear.

Lee seemed a little skeptical. How can that happen?

Mr. Jones interrupted, Listen to the Judge. He can do anything he wants. You should be thankful.

Lee gave Mr. Jones a doubting look.

Judge Othniel then said, Just remember, Lee, you change one thing, and it all changes… So it is the decision of this court that you be given a life sentence.

Lee asked, What does all of that mean? It doesn’t sound good.

It can be…It all depends on you, Mr. Jones said.

Judge Othniel continued, You will have three days and three days only. You’ll be going back to that point that is most critical in your life. You will go back with all of your memories intact. But nobody will recognize you. You are a free agent of the universe with the blessing of God Almighty and his court.

The gavel slammed down, and Lee was somewhere that looks familiar but is unsure…at first. Why, it was Lee’s old high school in Florida. Around 1970–71. A lot of memories. Both good and bad. Got in trouble in school a couple of times. Talked a lot in class. Even got kicked out of Biology class for a couple of days. Some of the other kids were throwing things at him, and then he threw one of the items back, but it hit the teacher instead. Lee really didn’t do all that well in high school overall. He was ranked four hundred out of the six hundred graduates. But he was able to go to college.

Lee saw Mr. Jones in the mix of things. It was about eight, and school hadn’t started yet. Students were just starting to arrive. School started in about twenty minutes.

Mr. Jones, Lee asked. What am I doing here at my old high school?

To make that change, Lee.

How? I don’t even know who I am or where to go?

Well, for starters, for the next few days, your name is James May, and your answer is right behind you. Oh, you are the new kid in school. First day.

James/Lee turned around and saw JoAnne right in front of him. His heart nearly skipped a beat. It turned out that she was his ambassador for his first day of school. She would be showing him around and where all his classes are. She was just as beautiful as he remembered. And a little chattier than he remembered.

James May? she said. I’m JoAnne. I’ll be helping you find your classes today. Where are you from? Okay to call you Jim?

Lee replied, Sure. Uh…Colorado. My dad is in the Navy.

JoAnne gave him a sarcastic look. Really? The last time I checked, they didn’t have an ocean anywhere near Colorado.

Lee responded awkwardly, Uh, my dad worked at NORAD as an artist.

Why would NORAD need an artist?

To be honest, I have no idea. I’m just his son. He didn’t tell me much about his work.

I didn’t mean to ask too many questions.

You didn’t. Sorry about the sarcasm. How about you, JoAnne?

Well, my dad’s a doctor. A surgeon to be exact. That’s what I want to do when I finish college. That is, if I live long enough.

What do you mean?

I have leukemia. I’ve had it about eight months now. Started treatments a few months ago at St. Jude’s in Memphis. Have to go back again in a couple of days for more treatment.

I am sorry to hear that. St. Jude’s is a great place. Do you have any friends that’ll help you or go with you to Memphis?

I do. But I’ll be gone for about two weeks, and they really don’t want to be gone that long from school. Oh, I understand that, but it gets so lonely up there with just my family. I love them, and I know they’re doing their best, but they’re just worn out right now. God, I’ve been praying for a friend to lean on.

I’m sure you’ll find somebody.

I hope so. It’s starting to wear me out also.

Well, she took him to his classes each hour until lunch when she went to the McDonald’s across the street. He ate in the cafeteria since Mr. Jones and the Judge didn’t give him enough money to go with JoAnne. While getting his lunch, he noticed his young self and decided to approach him.

Hi, I’m Jim. I’m new here. What’s your name?

I’m Lee. Nice to meet you.

I was wondering if I could eat with you. My first day here, and I don’t know anybody at school.

Sure, have a seat.

The only person I’ve really met so far is my ambassador, JoAnne. Nice girl. Maybe you can help me meet some people. She seems to have a lot on her mind.

Yes, she does. With her illness and all that. I’ll introduce you to some of my friends. How is she doing anyway?

"JoAnne? I just met her today. I guess she is okay. She sounded a little