Shattered Dreams - Softcover

Murray, Anne R.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1504983718 ISBN 13: 9781504983716

Verlag: AuthorHouse, 2016

Inhaltsangabe

Shattered Dreams is a fictional novel, written in a third person narration. The plot is suspense, adding adventure and drama. There are some terrifying moments for the main character, Crystal Johnston. Crystal illustrates that one can push forward in life with perseverance and determination. The setting is in Cairo, Egypt, where an American student is on an expedition during the summer. Crystal is unprepared for events that happen and doesn't know how to cope at first due to inexperience. She learns how to empower herself as she encounters life-changing situations. Shattered Dreams is a brilliant portrayal of characters. The protagonist runs into physical circumstances that turn her life around. The book captures the essence of time, giving historical information of ancient times.

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Shattered Dreams

By Anne R. Murray

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2016 Anne R. Murray
All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-5049-8371-6

CHAPTER 1

Later that afternoon ...

After the tour, the students reported to the ground floor's entrance. The professor joined the students to load back on the bus. Crystal would have loved to have stayed longer and seen everything in the museum. It would have taken several hours to have seen all the exhibits and displays. How fascinating, she thought. She hoped to come back and visit on her own soon.

The 15-minute ride to the hotel seemed to take forever to Crystal. Crystal looked at her watch. It was almost 4:00 p.m. when they turned into the hotel's driveway. Once there, the group disembarked the bus. Crystal wanted to find a post office to mail a letter that day. She doubted her cell phone would reach her mother in Baltimore, plus the minutes would be very expensive.

Once back in her hotel room, Crystal wrote her mother a short letter, telling her that she arrived safely this morning. She described the museum and how excited she was to be in Cairo. She was fascinated with the sights and thrilled to start the expedition tomorrow. She finished the letter and took it to the front desk. Crystal inquired about mailing the letter. The hotel could mail it out tomorrow morning, but needed postage. She could get postage at the post office downtown. It was several blocks away though. Why didn't she inquire about it when she was downtown earlier? Crystal then inquired about a Western Union office. She would be wiring her mother periodically for money. The hotel clerk said there was an office a block away from the hotel on the corner.

Crystal walked a block down to the Western Union office. Interestingly enough, the office did have air postage for her letter to the United States. She paid for postage and sent the letter. It would go out in the evening mail, the worker said. It took about 10 business days to deliver.

Crystal walked back to the hotel. She made her way to the elevator and went upstairs. She wanted to take a warm bath and rest before dressing for dinner. Having little time earlier today, she had planned to unpack some before dinner. Given the time, she may have to unpack the rest of her clothes after dinner. There were only a couple of hours before the social this evening.

It wasn't a very large hotel, but spacious enough for large groups. There were 120 rooms in all and three floors. Crystal and Angie's room was "301," located on the third floor, nearest the elevator. It was a standard room, two double beds with ample closet space for hanging clothes. The closet was located at the door entrance. There was also a television and telephone inside the room. Outside the room was a small balcony overlooking the wading pool, which was located on the ground floor. There were two chairs and a small table outside on the balcony.

Crystal unpacked her clothes to wear tonight. She unpacked the bottled water she brought, but didn't have anyway to cool it. There wasn't a small refrigerator inside the room. She got a bucket of ice at the vending machine and set the bottled water in it to keep it cool. There wasn't a microwave or a coffeemaker either. All the comforts of home and what she took for granted.

Crystal wanted to run her bathwater before her roommate got into the room. Angie and a few other students were downstairs taking pictures of the hotel. Crystal got out a jar of scented jasmine bath crystals, pouring some into a bathtub of warm water. It smelled wonderful and felt so good to soak. Crystal stayed in the bathtub several minutes. While soaking, she heard the door close. She guessed it to be her roommate. She heard another voice, but it was a masculine voice.

Crystal grabbed a towel in the bathroom. She didn't have any clothes on, just the bath towel wrapped around her. After a few minutes, she heard the voices leave the room. She hurried into the room to find her house robe. She changed into her robe in case Angie and the other student came back into the room.

Within minutes, Angie appeared back into the room alone. "I wondered where you were," Angie said.

"I was taking a bath," Crystal replied. "I didn't have a stitch on."

"I see," Angie giggled. "Another student and I have been touring the hotel. Not much to see - just a lobby and a restaurant with a bar alongside," she answered.

"I thought I heard a masculine voice in here," stated Crystal.

"Yes, that was Phil, another student I met yesterday at the airport before the flight," Angie replied.

"Oh, I wanted to get cooled off. It felt relaxing and so good," Crystal replied.

"Sounds smart. I think I will take one next," Angie said.

"What are you going to wear tonight?" Crystal asked.

"Probably a short skirt and a sexy shirt. I don't have that many nice clothes with me," replied Angie.

"I don't either. I will just have to make do with what I have," Crystal said.

"That is cute. That black outfit," Angie stated. She pointed to a black pantsuit Crystal had hung up in the closet earlier. It was made of thin lace on top with ruffles and matching polyester pants. There was a golden belt to fasten around her tiny waist. It was a pantsuit designed by her mother.

It flattered Crystal's slim body.

"That was designed by my mother. She is a clothes designer," Crystal said.

"Really, she does a good job," Angie replied.

"That is more for a formal dinner, but it will do, I guess," Crystal replied.

Within the hour, Crystal was dressed. She had put on her makeup and was curling her hair. While Angie was taking a bath, Crystal hung some of her clothes up in the closet. The rest she would have to unpack after dinner.

Angie got out of the bathtub and started dressing for dinner too. She wore a dark skirt with a sheer dark top. The back was low and showed off her beautiful tan. Angie was a very attractive girl with long brown hair and brown eyes. She was medium tall with a medium build.

Crystal's mother always dressed Crystal in beautiful clothes, even when she was a little girl. Being a fashion designer, Gloria had fashionable taste with beautiful dresses and ruffles. Crystal preferred pants and pantsuits, but wore the clothes her mother designed to please her. Many times, the clothes were made by her mother too.

The social was scheduled at 7:00 p.m. and dinner at 7:30 p.m. Both girls looked lovely this evening. Crystal decided to wait on Angie to finish dressing. Angie commented to Crystal that she liked being politically "on time." This meant she liked being a few minutes late to make an entrance to any event. Angie put on her foundation and styled her hair. Both girls descended the elevator to the bottom floor. There, in the lobby, a crowd of students had already gathered. This would be the time to meet the other students. There was a choice of Egyptian tea or coffee and a tray of Konafa, an Egyptian dessert made of thin pastry strands, nuts, and syrup. 5 Crystal poured herself a glass of herbal tea. She ate one of the Konafa treats. Angie was busy talking to another student she had met today.

The professor came down to the lobby about five minutes later. He was followed by two other students, Crystal recognized as graduate students. The professor had encouraged students to introduce themselves to others that they haven't met before. Pretty soon, the lobby was covered with students.

Crystal was a little shy about meeting others, but she was persuaded when Angie came over with another student. Crystal recognized him as the student following her around at the museum...

Details zur Ausgabe

• Verlag: AuthorHouse
• Erscheinungsdatum: 2016
• Sprache: Englisch
• ISBN 10: 1504983718
• ISBN 13: 9781504983716
• Einband: Taschenbuch
• Anzahl der Seiten: 318
• Kontakt zum Hersteller: Nicht verfügbar
• Verantwortliche Person: KreGa Onlinehandel GmbH; 4950000000000; info@krega-onlinehandel.de; ; Birkenweg 31; Brakel; 33034; Deutschland