It's a Puzzle

By Robert S. Maiden

It's a puzzle. In an everyday small town in Texas, folks go about their everyday lives base on decisions in which they are placed in or they placed themselves in.

Story 1:

He fell backward as he came to a rest on the ground.

"Ha, that's what you get for not paying attention."

"DJ!" Maggie cried for him and jumped off the swing, almost hitting the ground wrong. She caught her balance and ran over to him. "Are you okay, big brother? Please be okay!" Tears were now forming in her eyes as she was being lifted from behind by her father.

Story 2:

"What's your name?"

"Um, Mathew...Mathew Patrick."

She wrote his name on a tag in a black magic marker. "Okay, who is your sponsor?"

"Sponsor?" He was a bit confused.

"Yeah, who invited you?" Before he was about to answer, she started to look him up and down. "You know, based on your looks, we can say that I was the one who invited you?"

"Oh, now that you mentioned it. It was Donny."

Story 3:

He rubbed his arm. "Okay, so whatcha want to do now? Movies, dancing, or..."

"Hey, let's go back to the pawnshop."

Bobby had a confused look on his face. "But why?"

"Because," she responded with attitude, "maybe, just maybe, we can..." She didn't want to get into explaining the reason. "Just go. You don't have to go in. I just want to see."

They pulled into the parking lot, and she immediately got out. Bobby stayed in the car; he knew whatever he had in his head was probably not going to make her happy.

After twenty-five minutes had gone by, she came out with a big smile on her face. She got in. "It can be done."

He drove off, not sure if he wanted to know what she was talking about, but then again, he had to ask. "Okay, what can be done?"

Story 4:

"Okay, so I have nothing. I lost everything...screw it! I'm going back to the shelter. If I refuse to leave, then maybe they will call the cops and have me arrested or they will give me a place to stay at least." He thought about it and responded with a nothing-to-lose attitude. "Oh, hell with it, I got nothing to lose."

He started to walk back to the shelter.

Story 5:

She was more confused than before; she had never sleepwalked a day in her life, so and how did she end up in her chair in the living room? She looked up at the clock in the middle of the mantle and noticed the time was 5:00 a.m., just a few more hours before the sun would be coming up.

She yelled out for her husband, "Bernie...Bernie!"

No answer.

She got up, went to the window, and peered out.

Regardless of the turnout, it is merely a decision in which we hope will turn out one way; but oftentimes, it turns out in a way we never saw coming. Follow along as these few selected individuals find out that it's a puzzle.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Sep 13, 2023
• ISBN: 9798889601661

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It's a Puzzle

Robert S. Maiden

Copyright © 2023 Robert S. Maiden

All rights reserved

First Edition

PAGE PUBLISHING

Conneaut Lake, PA

First originally published by Page Publishing 2023

ISBN 979-8-88960-148-7 (pbk)

ISBN 979-8-88960-166-1 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

About the Author

Chapter 1

It was in the year of 1985 as the humid wind slowly moved through Baytown, Texas. Customers were walking in and out of the local Kmart. A 1979 Pontiac Firebird pulled into the parking lot with smoke trailing behind. The occupants circled several times searching for an acceptable place to park. As it came across a parking spot located as close to the front entrance as one could find, the driver had to give it all she had to make sure that the vehicle was in between the lines. Once it was as close to properly parked as one could get, a screeching sound could be heard coming from the front tires. The vehicle was placed in park, and the ignition was shut off. The vehicle continued to sputter as if it wasn't ready to shut down. Once all the sputtering was completed, a loud bang came from its tailpipe, followed by a small amount of black smoke from the tailpipe. The female operator, paying no attention to the sound or the smoke, just reached for the rearview mirror and gave it an adjustment to see her reflection. She made an attempt to make herself more presentable to enter the store. In the passenger seat sat her eight-year-old son, DJ Reader, who peered out the window into the store. Once she was satisfied, she rolled up her window, making small mumbling comments with each turn.

The window, which never really rolled up all the way, came to a crocked angle and stopped. As she looked over at him, he turned his head toward her. Okay, I guess I am ready. How about you, DJ?

He smiled up at his mother without saying a word. He was more than ready, but he couldn't get out not only because of the broken door handle that was never fixed but also because of the cast that surrounded his arm. He sat there with excitement because his mother had promised him that he would be able to pick out a toy not because it was his birthday but because of him being so brave in the doctor's office. He peered over the dashboard at the double doors that led to the entrance of the store and then back at his mother who had just finished getting herself together.

She tapped him on the shoulder. Okay, listen, we don't have a great deal of money, so please let's not get too ridiculous with your selection.

DJ nodded his head anxiously.

She placed her hand tenderly on his cheek and brought it to a stop under his chin. I am so proud of you for being such a brave little man today at the doctor's office. I know if it were me, I would have cried out before they even touched me, let alone my arm. You took it like a strong young man.

DJ looked down at his brand-new cast on his right arm that went from around his bicep to his wrist and then up at his mother. He adjusted the sling and noticed she was smiling, which made him smile back.

Okay, it's getting hot in here. Let's go inside. She got out of there and put her purse over her shoulders and went to the passenger's side of the door to open it up. After a few tugs, it opened, and he felt the still, filling warm air hit his face. He began to turn a little red around his forehead and cheek area. She held the door open, and he got out. Once the door was closed, she lowered her hand to take his; she looked down, Oh, I guess I have to get used to you not being able to use that hand for a while.

DJ laughed, That's a good one, Mom.

She went to his other side and grasped his left hand as they walked to the end of the row, looking both ways before crossing.

Once they were close to the door, he let go of her hand and grabbed the door handle with his left hand and pulled it open.

Such a gentleman! she said as she stepped through.

DJ held the door open for an elderly couple who came up from behind them.

Thank you, young man. The woman smiled, walking into the store.

He released the door and caught up with his mother. They walked past service counter and the deli. The smell of popcorn caught his attention, and he looked up at his mother and gave the sad eyes. She felt his stare and looked down at him. In a comforting voice, she said, "I know it smells good, but as I've said before, you can't shop without popcorn!" She laughed and got in line. They got the medium-sized bag of popcorn, and the aroma filled their nose when the bag was opened. She placed it low enough for him to place his hand inside and grab a handful before placing it in his mouth.

They made their way past the clothing area till they found the toy section. In the isles, there were adults, children, and elderlies passing through, stopping, and looking at the latest and greatest toys that money could buy. He looked up at her.

Okay, go ahead. I'll be right here.

DJ let go and speed-walked through the isles with excitement. He was never into building things, so he passed the Legos, Lincoln Logs, and Erector Set. He noticed the models, thought about, then looked at his hands. You would need two hands to put that one together, he thought to himself.

He found the shelf with the action figures and grabbed the two main characters in his favorite show. He showed them up toward his mother as she placed a single finger in the air for only one. Come on, Mom. You can't have BA Baracus without Murdock! DJ saw a classmate of his out of the corner of his eye holding what appeared to be the entire A-Team in both his hands. Hey, Samuel.

Samuel looked at his direction. Oh, hey, DJ. Taking notice to his arm in a sling, he said, Man, what happened to you?

DJ thought about it and said, I fell.

So that's why you weren't in class today. It's a good thing because we had a pop quiz in math. It was brutal. Mrs. Harris surprised us all.

Samuel, we need to go!

Samuel looked up at his mother coming toward them. Hey, Mom. Um, this is DJ. Samuel went back to pleading with his mother. Look, I'll mow the lawn for a week, but I gotta have both.

His mother looked down at him, gave a little smirk, and said, Okay, for two weeks.

Deal. See you later, DJ.

He watched as they walked off toward the front where the registers were located. DJ went back to find a toy. He was almost toward the end of the isle and wished to the action figure area: Star Wars, A-Team, Superheroes. The cost for anyone of those would be too much for his mother to pay for; after all, she had to put a large down payment on his doctor's visit. He found himself in the puzzle section. His mother caught up to him, DJ, have you made a decision yet?

He looked up at her and said, Not really.

Well, you're going to have to hurry up. We need to get home. I have to get dinner started. Your dad will be home soon.

He looked down at the floor.

DJ, please don't. She sighed. Look, what about this one here? She was holding a Rubik's Cube in her hand.

He thought about it and remembered that they had contests for solving the puzzle the fastest. He looked at his hand; what if he learned to do it with one hand? That would be something. He looked up at his mother and said, Sure!

Okay, great. Come on. We need to get going.

They fast-walked up to the front to pay for the item. They got in line; DJ looked around at all the people moving about, not really paying anyone else any attention. He looked back and said, Oh great, the Halloween decorations are being put up already. Soon enough, the weather would cool off, and he would get to dress up and go trick-or-treating. Mom, he said and tugged at her arm and pointed to the displays being erected together.

Oh wow, it's almost that time again. You know what you are going to be this year?

Next in line. They looked forward and noticed that the gentleman was ready to ring up their items. After ringing it up, he said, That will be $2.10 with taxes. Would you like a bag?

No, we can carry it out. She was digging through her purse and pulled out a wrinkled one-dollar bill. She then pulled out her change purse and emptied it out on the counter, moving change to the side, quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies. She got to ninety-seven cents and started to dig. I know there is a quarter in there somewhere.

She fumbled in her purse as DJ looked around; he felt a little embarrassed not because of the change but because he was watching his mother struggle to find a quarter for a gift for him. Mom.

Hold on, DJ. Do you take checks?

I'm sorry, but you're in the cash-only lane.

As she fumbled, she looked down at him and said, Sorry, buddy, I guess we shouldn't have bought that popcorn.

He looked down at his feet.

Here ya go, ma'am, a male voice from one of the customers in line had stated.

DJ looked up to see a man holding out a quarter.

I can't! his mother stated.

Please, ma'am. It's no trouble.

She looked down at the hand holding the quarter and then toward her son, DJ. She reluctantly took it and smiled. She whispered the words thank you and turned to give it to the cashier. The cashier took the quarter along with all the change that was scrapped up, and he completed the transaction. They exited the store and casually walked toward the parked vehicle.

They made their way through the town. DJ kept his eyes on the cube; he knew he could master the puzzle but was not sure how he was going to actually do it. The car slowed down and stopped as they came to main street. That's a nice gif—

Just then, a horn sounded behind them.

She placed her hand up, indicating that she knew she was supposed to go on green. They went up for about six minutes more till they came to Alexander and turned right on the green light. As they got closer to their street, Windy Lane, the car slowed down and turned right on the road that ended at a dead end. She pulled into the house on the left, parked the car, shut it off, and got out. She went over to the passenger side and let DJ out. Okay, go inside. Your dad will be home soon. I'll get your sister from the neighbor's house. She walked across the yard as he walked up the carport to the blue-colored front door and turned the knob.

Where the f——ck have you been! a voice came from the kitchen. He was shaken as he couldn't find the words to answer. His dad was standing in the doorway, button up shirt opened all the way with sleeves rolled up. He was wiping his hands on a rag and noticed it was not his wife. Oh, it's you. Where the hell is your mother?

DJ stood there, frozen in place. She…she…

Well spit it out, boy. Where the hell is she?

The door opened behind DJ who stood scared. I'm right here. I had to go get Maggie from the neighbors. She walked in and said, You kids go play out back. DJ, look after your sister and—

His dad jumped in, Yeah, boy, the last time, she got hung up in the woodpile.

Yes, sir, he responded, still shaken. He placed the still enclosed cube in between his sling and arm, reached down and grasped his sister's hand gently, and led her toward the kitchen and out the back.

Chapter 2

Before closing the door, DJ heard his mom, saying, What are you doing home and where's the truck? He could hear a faintly I got laid off, and they took the company truck back. DJ thought to himself, This is not going to be good. He turned toward his sister, who was two years younger than him. So what do you want to do?

She looked up at him and then looked around the play area. She placed her finger to her bottom lip as if she was giving it a great deal of thought. She looked