Bumpy Roads - Softcover

Wilson, Brian

 
9781490713274: Bumpy Roads
Softcover
ISBN 10: 1490713271 ISBN 13: 9781490713274
Verlag: Trafford, 2013

Inhaltsangabe

Bumpy Roads is a collection of thirty-five entertaining and mostly humorous short stories comprising of life experiences in which we can all relate. Life travels many roads. Some are bumpy and may not be welcomed experiences, but they are also often the funniest times in our life. These are the times to cherish, reflect on, build upon, and sometimes, are a catalyst for moving on. Bumpy Roads reminds us that life is unpredictable and change, inevitable-new faces, places, and unique experiences. Life can be embarrassing, demanding, challenging, yet rewarding. We largely decide our own destiny by the directions we decide to take. This book sets out to entertain the reader, yet provoke thought. It is my hope that you, the reader, will enjoy these stories.

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Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

Brian Wilson was a founding member of the Systems Department at Lancaster University, UK, in 1966.

Auszug. © Genehmigter Nachdruck. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.

BUMPY ROADS

A COLLECTION OF SHORT STORIES

By BRIAN WILSON, Rachel Coop

Trafford Publishing

Copyright © 2013 Brian Wilson
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4907-1327-4

Contents

PART ONE—Stories By Brian Wilson...........................................1
Shaky Grounds..............................................................3
The Tree...................................................................9
Just Water Under the Bridge................................................13
A Case in Time.............................................................19
The Journey................................................................25
Uk Road Rage...............................................................31
Happy View Hospital........................................................39
Three Granddads............................................................43
Up the Garden Path.........................................................49
Zimbabwe—Land of Disappointment............................................55
The Past Revisited.........................................................59
On a Crusade...............................................................63
Solomon's Gold.............................................................75
Sydney Adventure...........................................................79
Garage Sale................................................................85
PART TWO—Stories By Rachel Coop............................................93
Memory Lane................................................................95
Flatting Dramas............................................................99
Flight 00Xyzk2.............................................................103
Sprinkleening..............................................................109
First Date.................................................................113
PART THREE—Stories by Brian Wilson.........................................123
The Bully..................................................................125
All on a Sunny Day.........................................................131
A Memorable Sermon.........................................................133
Wedding Worries............................................................137
The Three Passes...........................................................143
The Gold Coast.............................................................147
A Day in Shanghai..........................................................153
Home Alone.................................................................159
Baby Day...................................................................161
Death in the Family........................................................165
The Gardener...............................................................169
Love Conquers All..........................................................173
An Anxious Moment..........................................................177
Beneath the Ice............................................................181
Crowded House..............................................................185


CHAPTER 1

SHAKY GROUNDS


"JUST A TRUCK passing," said Alex, laughing.

"Well it's so unnerving. Every time I hear a truck passing I think,hello another one," replied Bruce, as he composed himself and withdrewhis hands from the balcony rails. Alex, meanwhile took another biteout of his Boston bun, smacked his lips, then turned to Bruce. "Don'tworry it's just another moment in time. It will soon all blow over."

Bruce reached for his cup and took a sip of tea. This did seem tohelp calm his nerves. Apart from the fear of another earthquake oraftershock, it was very pleasant sitting on the balcony eating lunch ona sunny day.

"It's all bumpy roads from now on," added Alex.

"Yes, I had noticed a lot of road works around the city. Theearthquake caused a lot of sags and bumps, as well as broken pipes."Bruce produced a ginger biscuit and dunked it into his tea then bit offthe softened biscuit end. He had learned this trick from his parents. Itseemed to be an English tradition.

"That's not quite what I was getting at," clarified Alex. "I sort ofmeant it more figuratively."

"Like the future of the cathedral after all the earthquake damage?"

"Yes, and like demolishing most of the tall buildings in the centralbusiness district," added Alex. "Then there are seven thousand plushouses in the red zone."

"All to be demolished?"

"Yes, I would think so," replied Alex, "as well as many otherdestroyed houses in other parts of the city. But enough talk aboutthe Christchurch earthquake. I hear you've been travelling your ownbumpy roads."

"Bumpy roads! Bumpy roads! More like a dead end road gettinghim to pay his rent. When we signed up Marty for the flat his partnerwas a lovely lady, though he was a skinhead with tattoos. But myuncle used to say people shouldn't stereotype, so I put aside all mypreconceptions and agreed to their tenancy."

"Bad move?"

"Say that again."

"Bad move," repeated Alex, jokingly.

"I meant figuratively," responded Bruce who was not amused.

"Anyhow, not long after renting they split up. Unfortunately it wasMarty who stayed on. We got the raw end of the deal. His ex, who wasthe mother of his children, then moved in."

"So, she was no good?"

"No, she was fine. But this relationship didn't last either. He hadn'tbeen long back with her before he was once again playing the field.Naturally, when she found out he was having an affair, she left him."

"And the flat?"

"Yes."

"Another raw deal?"

"Very much so. From there on it was all down hill." Bruce tookanother sip of tea and dunked his biscuit again. He was clearly nowagitated, this time having to steady his hand as he held the cup to hislips.

"Gee wiz, it sounds rather like the storyline of a TV soap,"commented Alex. "I have always considered soaps as rubbish and notworth watching, but I guess we live in our own little cocoons and don'trealise how differently the other half live."

"Yes, it is hard to believe. Anyhow everything turned to custard. Heseemed to mix with the wrong crowd and from there payments ceaseddespite promises he would pay the rent owing."

"So you took him to the Tenancy Tribunal several weeks ago?"

"I had no choice but to evict him. I can't afford to have a tenantwho doesn't pay his rent, especially when the bank still expects me topay the interest on the mortgage. These tenants think we are rippingthem off, but they don't...

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Verlag
Trafford
Erscheinungsdatum
2013
Sprache
Englisch
ISBN 10 
1490713271
ISBN 13 
9781490713274
Einband
Taschenbuch
Anzahl der Seiten
216
Kontakt zum Hersteller
Nicht verfügbar
Verantwortliche Person
Nicht verfügbar

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