Author Archives: gj080740

Janet interrupted Gary’s retelling of his story by asking, “You ran backwards the whole way around the Super Lap?”   “That is what you got out of my story so far, that we ran the Super Lap backwards?  Really?”   She smiled at him and sipped from her wine glass before she responded, “No, IContinue reading “It’s Only a Game – Chapter 5 – Tuesday”

Gary returned with the two drinks, sat down next to Janet and said,  “I have to begin to explain to you what my Dad was like.  Do you remember my Dad?”   “Sure,” Janet replied.  “He was always nice to me.”   “Oh, my dad was nice, and he was a great dad.  He wasContinue reading “It’s Only a Game – Chapter 4 – Monday”

Gary stepped out of the elevator on the top floor of the Millennial Hotel to the restaurant that slowly spins at one revolution an hour in order to change the panoramic window view of St. Louis.  The Hotel was near the riverfront but not quite on it and was about 30 stories tall and, asContinue reading “It’s Only A Game – Chapter 3 – Reunion”

Spanish Lake is at the far eastern area of the Hazelwood School District in north St. Louis County.  When Gary was in high school, the district was in the midst of a population explosion and were building two additional high schools that would the three schools would become Hazelwood West. Hazelwood Central and Hazelwood East. Continue reading “It’s Only a Game – Chapter 2 – First Sight”

It was 12:34 p.m. when the plane touched down on Friday, October 1, 1993 at St. Louis Lambert International Airport.  Gary Jackson knew the time because he looked at his wristwatch when it happened.  He eased back in his seat as the plane’s brakes slowed it down allowing it to exit the runway and angleContinue reading “It’s Only a Game – Chapter One – Sightseeing”

Hello Dear Friends!  I hope you are well and safe.  One thing that the pandemic has done for me is doing this: for two hours every day I write.  So far, I have completed two stories that I have shared with you: The Flock and Candlelight.  I hope you have read and enjoyed them.  PleaseContinue reading “It’s Only a Game – Preview”

Mike and Louise Kerls were in their car driving from Anna Dell’s graduation celebration at the University of Missouri at Columbia.  They were honored to see her receive her degree in Social Work. The sunlight followed them through the trees that lined the road into town, their home of Candlelight.  Mike pulled the car toContinue reading “Candlelight – Epilogue – Today”

Louise Barber woke up and pulled her comforter up to her chin.  She stared up at the ceiling as her first thought turned to Mike Kerls.  Boy, the last twenty-four hours were a whirlwind of events with the hustle and bustle of final preparations to the mini mart, the busy-ness of the bakery preparing foodContinue reading “Candlelight – Chapter 17 – Christmas Day”

Robert Fuller stood in front of the floor length standing mirror his late wife had placed in the corner of the bedroom.  He was dressing to attend the traditional Candlelight Christmas Eve Service that was held at the Catholic Church.  He had not attended the event in a long, long time.  He decided to wearContinue reading “Candlelight – Chapter 16 – Christmas Eve”

In the Community Room at Mary’s Memory Care, Marvel was sitting at one of the five circular tables scattered around the space used as the activity room and lunchroom.  At the table meeting with her was Pastor Paul and Lou Barber. Together, they are reviewing the final steps of their project.   “You know whatContinue reading “Candlelight – Chapter 15 – Final Steps”