Time Pieces:
A Short Story Collection
By Linda Nelson
Copyright 2011 Linda Nelson
Smashwords Edition
Smashwords License Notes
This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
This is a work of fiction. Any of the names, characters, places, and incidents used is either the product of the author’s imagination or is used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
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Bed Bug Ridden
“I never would have purchased this house if I'd known that...” Howard said to his wife.
“Known what?” she asked.
“About this house being infested,” He replied.
“Is that what you think the problem is?” Lorna held up her arm to examine the rash. Red marks covered her right arm and she had more of them on her right leg.
They just moved into the house on Friday. After spending the past three days in it, both of them were now covered with some sort of strange rash. The rash was itchy.
Howard ripped the sheets off the bed to expose the mattress underneath. It was clean. He then lifted the bottom of the mattress separating it from the box spring. A couple of small bugs crawled closer to the center of the mattress.
“What are they?” Lorna tried to peer closer, helping him lift the mattress higher.
“I don't know, but look there is a mess of them there in the corner.” He pointed to the far corner which had slid off the box spring.
Small brown bugs which looked like small beetles clung to the corner of the mattress. Howard grabbed a can of bug spray and squirted it on them. There was no sign of them being affected by the spray.
“How do we kill them?” Lorna grabbed a Kleenex and wiped them off the corner. She missed a couple and they fell onto the floor beside the bed. They scurried away under the bed.
“I'm going to go call an exterminator and see what he says.”
Howard left the room. Lorna followed him into the den where he searched through the yellow pages, searching for local exterminators. He found a couple of them and called them.
He told the exterminators of their problem with the bugs and the rashes. He tried to describe the bugs as best as he could over the phone.
“Bed bugs!” he said to the exterminators. “You say I have bed bugs?” He listened again to the exterminator.
“But how can the mattress be infested like that? We have only been living here for three days now.”
Lorna listened patiently to the one sided conversation. She began to wish they had never moved out of their home they had lived in for the past fourteen years. A bug problem, they never had a bug problem before.
“When can you come out and take care of this infestation?” Howard asked the exterminator. This was the third exterminator he called. So far they were all back logged with current clients with extermination issues.
“In two weeks? I will keep looking then. Thank you for your time.” He hung up the phone and called yet another exterminator.
This exterminator was also booked up for the next month.
“This is ridiculous.” Howard sat down on the sofa in the living room. He had called about ten exterminators in the area and they were all backed up for the whole month. Apparently everyone was having a problem with bed bugs.
“Oh my God,” Lorna said. She noticed a bug crawling on her leg while she sat back on the sofa with Howard. “They are everywhere!” She smacked the bug on her leg, squishing it dead.
She lifted the cushion to the sofa and there were several bugs underneath the cushion. Lorna looked around the room. There seemed to be no where they could sit in the living room without risking being bitten by the bugs. They would not be able to sleep in their bed either.
“I can't live like this,” she told her husband. He looked just as distraught as she felt.
“I know...” he replied, “I can't either.”
“We should never have moved.” Lorna said angrily.
“Well we are not going to deal with this problem much longer. I will take advantage of the home owners' insurance. They can pay for the removal of the bugs from this home.”
“But the homeowners' insurance does not cover for infestation.” Lorna stated.
“I know... That's why tomorrow I'm setting it on fire.”
***********************
The Bee Dance
Mitch and his friends love to play baseball in the field across from his house. They would gather every Saturday to hold a neighborhood game. Mitch always got to pitch.
Allen was the catcher.
Then there was the short kid with the crew cut who always had trouble running the bases. This one time, this kid had hit the ball, and he just stood there watching the ball fly through the sky. Everyone yelled at him to run the bases, but he just stood there dumb-founded.
It was a good thing the outfield dropped the ball, while Jay ran to where Allen stood and grabbed him by the arm and pulled him toward the next base. After a few steps, Allen began running on his own.
The game went on for two hours until Harvey, the outfielder began his dance. He moved way out into the center outfield. Paul always hit the ball far, so he wanted to make sure he caught the ball this time.
That is when he saw the can on the ground. Just an old soda can. The words had faded on the can making them illegible unless you knew the brand logo.
Harvey just could not resist. He aimed his foot carefully. He looked at the home plate. The players were too busy arguing on who was going to be up at bat next.
He focused on the can again with all his attention and kicked it as hard as he could. The can went flying but that was not all that went flying.
The air was suddenly full of bees.
Mitch turned to look out into the outfield before pitching his next pitch. He saw Harvey out in the field. His arms were waving this way and that.
"What the hell is Harvey doing?" Mitch asked the other infield players. "He looks like he is doing the Macarena."
All the infield players turned their heads to look to where Mitch was pointing. They saw Harvey flinging his arms about him and slapping his chest and legs. Allen began copying him. They all thought he was being funny until the bees began stinging them on their arms and legs.
Harvey was running. Running past the home base and then past the dugout. "Bees," Harvey yelled as he passed the rest of the team players. He was then followed by the rest of his team players doing the Bee Dance.
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Swimming Hole
Alex ran down the school steps to grab his bike from the bike rack. It is so hot out! I’m glad it’s the last week of school. He wiped the sweat off his forehead. Spotting Markus, he swung his leg over the bar of his bike.
“Markus, yah wanna go swimming with me?” Alex invited, catching up to Markus on his bike. The walkers blocked his way on the sidewalk. He rode his bike off the sidewalk and onto the road.
“Yeah… Stop at my house so I can get a towel.” Markus answered, pulling into his driveway, he threw his bike down and ran into the house.
Alex watched as the walkers passed the driveway. Raising his hand to flag Jeff down while he passed by. Alex watched as Jeff spun around with his bike.
“Hey Jeff… We’re going swimming. Wanna come? Markus is getting his towel.” Alex stood in the driveway straddling his bike. This is gonna be awesome!
“Yeah... Wait for me. I’ll be right back,” Jeff called over his shoulder, quickly pulling into his driveway to toss his bike down onto the ground. Jeff sprinted into his house.
“Where’d Jeff go?” Markus asked, picking up his bike with a towel slung over his shoulder. He stuffed a soda bottle into the bottle holder on his bike.
“Said he’d be right back,” Alex let his eye follow the walkers by the house. I hope he hurries, I’m hot!
“All right… I got one.” Jeff stated with his towel tied around his waist. His bike still plastered with mud from the fun they had yesterday.
“Alex, have you ever gone swimming here?” Markus called over to him as they neared their destination. Their bikes bounced over the rough trail.
“Na… but it’s hot out and I really need to cool off.”
Jeff flashed past Alex as they neared the pond. They rushed down a steep embankment to stop on a small beach. Alex raced to keep up with Jeff.
“Last one in is a rotten egg.” Alex yelled dropping his bike and kicking off his shoes. He raced across the beach into the water.
“Alex, you not gonna take off your clothes?” Markus looked surprised to see Alex already in the water.
“Na…this is good enough.” Alex splashed the water all around him. He dove underwater and resurfacing quickly. The water felt good, but the muddy bottom did not. Yuck!
“Is the water cold?” Jeff asked, unsure whether to jump right into the water like Alex did.
“Na… it’s great. Come on guys!” Alex called to them. He flipped this way and that way in the water.
Alex saw Markus dive into the water with a splash. Then he saw the movement from the corner of his eye.
“Woo ho!” Alex pointed to a log floating nearby where they swam.
“Aw Man, look at that turtle!” Jeff shouted spotting the turtle sitting on the log.
“It’s huge!” Markus carefully moved away from the log.
“Isn’t that a snapper?” Jeff asked moving behind Alex.
“Get that stick for me!” Alex called to Markus.
“What are ya gonna do man?” Jeff sounded fearful of the turtle’s sharp beak.
Markus made his way closer to the shore. He picked up the thick stick and swam back to Alex. Handing it to him, he moved out of the way.
“Check this out!” Alex shoved the stick toward the turtle’s mouth. The sharp jaws latched onto the stick. The stick snapped in half.
“Oh wow, did you see that?” Markus shouted excitedly. He had moved closer to the shore.
“Yeah… It snapped that stick right in half!” Alex smiled. Look at those puppies run from a little old turtle! Alex found his friends amusing.
“I don’t think I wanna swim in here with that thing! I’m getting out.” Markus stated as he made his way onto the shore.
“Yeah… Me too,” Jeff agreed, quickly following Markus.
“Aw come on guys, don’t let that turtle scare you!” Alex wined. They are such sissies!
“Ew …what’s that all over you?” Jeff pointed to Markus’s back.
“Leaches,” Markus screamed looking over his shoulder. “Ah! Get ‘em off me!”
“Arg... They’re on me too,” Jeff panicked. His legs were covered with the squirmy black things.
“Alex, get out of the water. It’s loaded with bloodsuckers!” Markus yelled as he plucked the squiggles off him.
“Bloodsuckers! Ahh! Their all inside my clothes,” Alex screamed, quickly running out of the water he yanked his clothes off.
*******************
My Hedges
Nick and Patty have been my neighbors for a long time now. They are always getting new pets. Ordinary pets like dogs and cats I can handle. But, when they go out of their way to give a home to some of these creatures; well, I just don't know how much more I can take.
Last Friday was the tip of the iceberg for me. Yup I lost my cool with those people. I said to my dog Pete, "Enough is enough! This has got to stop NOW!"
I was sitting in my living room trying to enjoy my afternoon when I saw it from my living room window. I was reading a nice simple mystery book when I looked up to see it. That great big gray body was standing in front of my picture window.
Pete's head came up off his paws too, just in time to see the blocked window. I thought someone had rolled a boulder in front of my window. I said, "What the hell! Pete, what the hell are those people doing now?"
Pete tipped his head when he looked at me. I guess he didn't know what was up with the window either. I moved to the window to see what the object was, but I couldn't see a beginning or an end to the object. The thing was right up against my window.
I put my book down on the table and headed out my front door. Pete was right on my heels, barking excitedly the whole time. I walked around the corner and to my amazement there it was, sitting up against my house. Its long trunk was gathering my shrubs and shoving the greens right into its mouth.
"My bushes ... Scat! Go Get! Get out of my yard you monster!" I yelled.
Pete ran up to it and barked. It raised its trunk and Pete ran back to me, hiding behind me. I wanted to run up to it and push it out of the way, but I thought twice about it.
Looking around at the damage the thing done to my yard big foot prints smashed my flower beds. My Marigold now flat and covered with dirt. My swimming pool in the middle of my yard was now drained. Hugh puddle covered what was left of my lawn.
"That’s it, Pete!" I grabbed my pitchfork and made my way over to Nick and Patty's house. My hedge fence was now gone. The bushes were nowhere to be seen. All there was left of them was the huge gaping holes in the ground where they had stood.
I made my way up to their front door. I knocked once. No answer...I rapped twice...No answer...I Banged and shouted, "Nick! Patty! You better get out here NOW!"
Nick came from around the other side of the house. Patty threw open her kitchen window.
“What seems to be the problem Ted” they chorused.
“Just look at my yard and that thing sitting against my house. You really have to take better care of your pets. I trust you will be paying for all this damage.” I yelled.
“OMG! Patty, get the phone and call that number from the TV news crew…That’s the escaped elephant from the circus. It escaped last night. Don’t you ever watch the new? There is a reward for its return.”
“I called the number! The news crew and the circus people are on their way over right now to claim their property.” Patty informed us.
It didn’t take long for the news crew to show up. Cameras were flashing and microphones were shoved in front of our faces. I watched as the crew from the circus rounded up the elephant and loaded it into their truck.
Just before they were about to drive away I asked one of the crew members, “What about my property damage?”
He reached into his pocket and produced three tickets. “Here come enjoy the show.” He slammed his truck door shut before I could say anything else.
I stood there holding the three tickets with my mouth wide open, watching the truck leave with the destructive creature.
“Ted, you were saying earlier?” Nick questioned me.
“Nothing…here take these.” Defeated I headed back into my house with my dog at my heels.
*******
Berry Picking For Mom
Nadine loved going berry picking with her mom. They would go every weekend starting in the month of July in the woods behind their house. But on this day, Nadine wanted to surprise her mom by picking the berries for her, without her mom's help.