Six Little Lies

By Kathryn P. Most

A compilation of playful tales to amuse, entertain and scare you just a little.



Sweet Revenge: Is just that! A short story of a mother’s love for her daughter.


The Journey: is a short, short story inspired by the beginning of humankind.


Lady of shadows: Takes place in a small town in New England where an Author has a dramatic experience with fog.


Ageless Love: A short story of love and romance in a nursing home setting.


A Secret Place: This one is weird, strange and laughable.


Mystery House: This one is questionable. May scare you but will certainly make you think and wonder what did I just read? Perfect.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Oct 24, 2023
• ISBN: 9798369410059

Kathryn P. Most

Kathryn P. Most is the author of short stories, magazine articles and poems. This book is her first attempt at writing a full length novel. When she isnt writing or re-seaching history and ancestry, Kathryn, knits, crochets, designs and builds costumes for a childrens theater. She is also an avid embroiderer and designs patterns for many different art projects. She considers herself retired and resides with her husband of 53 years in the beautiful state of Arizona; Home of the Grand Canyon.

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Copyright © 2023 by Kathryn P. Most.

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.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 10/24/2023

Xlibris

844-714-8691

www.Xlibris.com

849331

A COMPILATION OF PLAYFUL

TALES TO AMUSE, ENTERTAIN AND

SCARE YOU JUST A LITTLE

Contents

Dedication

Sweet Revenge

The Encounter

Eleanor

The Arrival

The Promise

The Surprise

The Journey

Lady Of Shadows

Author Dies A Mysterious Death

Ageless Love

A Secret Place

Mystery House

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

For all readers that love to escape

from the rat race of everyday

living and infiltrate another realm, just for a little while.

Just for thought, Some suggestions.

In-between commercial breaks, bus rides, long car

trips, beach sitting, and of course, the amazing toilet

setter, your man cave visit or your favorite quite space.

Dedication

I would like to acknowledge the people who

have heard all these stories at least ten times

each, during our editing sessions.

My wonderful writers group. You know who you are!

Thank You, a thousand times over!

Sweet Revenge

Good morning, Ms. Annie what beautiful weather we’re having lately, don’t you agree? said Mrs. Tetley, as she scurried past the elderly lady standing in front of ‘The Old Fashion Candy Store’, not even pausing for an answer. I’ll be coming in shortly to purchase your ever so tasty popcorn; she yelled over her shoulder.

Annie smiled kindly, waving her gnarled hand in Mrs. Tetley’s direction, as the younger lady jogged past.

My, Annie whispered. That young lady comes by here the same time every day or so and says the same thing. Hasn’t bothered to purchase any popcorn for quite some time. Um, um, these young ones," she uttered under her breath, shaking her head from side to side.

Without thought, she placed her index finger on her lips and gently shoved it into her mouth, getting it nice and wet. A habit she acquired from her mother. Pulling it out, Annie held that wet finger in the air and continued her mumbling, Well, she is right about one thing. The weather has been nice these past few weeks. I fear a good old New England nor Easter, is brewing out there. That is, if you can believe the weatherman, which hardly anybody does anymore. She giggled, then gazed out across the horizon and noticed how beautiful the sky was from where she was standing.

Taking a deep breath, she smelled the fresh scent of sea salt in the air and it felt like the cleanest atmosphere in all the world. She couldn’t help but marvel at the wintry scene before her. No snow yet but Annie knew it was coming. Wouldn’t Eleanor just love this weather too? She continued. My Eleanor, my sweet, sweet daughter. Why did you go and get yourself killed, may the good Lord protect you, my lovely. I miss you!

Turning around and facing the door, the elderly Annie Rogers entered the ‘Old Fashioned Sweet Shop’, closing the door behind her and flipping the sign in the window to read, ‘OPEN’. Now she was ready to start another day of selling her famous candy and popcorn. Her small shop faced a cobblestone street, and the front of her store was lined with beautiful flowerpots with the most wonderful smelling flora. A couple of whiffs as you stroll past made you want to enter the shop to see what hidden treasures might be lurking around for you to purchase.

A few minutes later the old cowbell hanging over the front door with a bright red ribbon, rang out. A lady customer, looking about twenty-two entered the shop pushing a baby stroller. She smiled and headed over toward the candy counter located in the back of the store. Next to the candy counter was a row of bins, crammed full of delightful, sweet treats. She found the box of plastic bags and tore off a couple, then began to fill the bags with candy just as Annie rounded the corner of the glass counter.

May I help you, Sylvia? Annie was familiar with all her regulars. It looks like you have your hands full. She continued.

Oh, that’s alright Ms. Annie, I can get it. Just need to pick up some of your wonderful candy to give to JP when he’s being good. Sylvia said, looking down at the toddler playing with a plastic ring containing a handful of pastel-colored keys in the stroller.

That’s nice. The little tikes do like their sweets, don’t they?

I suppose they do, answered Sylvia, although, I try and give him a carrot stick to chew on occasionally but as soon as he starts to chew it, he spits it right back out, just like most kids his age. I remember my sister trying to give my nephew green beans and he gagged and made strange noises and even made like he was going to throw-up. Toby just hated anything green. So hard to get them to eat healthy nowadays! She went on and on, hardly pausing to take a breath, while she kept filling the bags. We can’t spank them anymore, so we bribe them instead. I don’t think there’s one child in our neighborhood that doesn’t have some type of computer gadget or video game. I know the day is coming when JP is going to want all that stuff too. I just pray it won’t be too costly. We just don’t have a dime to spare anymore.

Oh, I know what you mean Dearie. I have only myself to take care of now, but the cost of food and clothes just keeps rising. I just don’t know how much longer I’ll be able to stay in business. When my daughter Eleanor was alive and able to help me, things were much better.

Ms. Annie, I’ve been meaning to tell you how sorry I was to hear about your daughter’s death. It must be simply horrid to lose an only child. She was just about my age too. So shocking! Did you hear Anthony Tyler’s law firm is suing the factory that dumped all that nasty arsenic into the lake? Sylvia suddenly stopped, taking a deep breath,

"Yes, well, I didn’t lose