Short Stories - Introduction

It was a hot summer day that Monday afternoon. So hot, in fact, that car engines were not starting, cows were not giving milk, and all the birds were hiding in the trees. But that didn’t bother Billie Joe. She was determined to enjoy her summer day. Billie Joe, a young, red-headed girl, skipped aimlessly across a deserted field covered in wildflowers, dandelions, and tall green grass. Her complexion was white. She had spent the entire winter indoors recovering from pneumonia. At last, she could go outside and soak up some sunshine.

As she cleared the field she comes to a small creek. She looked down into the water and for the first time in months she had rosy red cheeks. Without hesitating, she jumped across and ran at full speed toward a patch of thick forest. She had never been in this patch of forest. In fact, she had never seen anybody back here. She slowed down and walked into the thick brush. There was no path so she had to make her own under tree branches, over rocks, and around fallen trees.

Her exploration was brought to an abrupt halt. Directly in front of her was a little log cabin. The logs of the cabin were old and moldy. The windows, what was left of them, were stained and cracked. The roof, sturdy enough, was bowing on one side.

She approached the door. The doorknob was rusty and worn. The thoughts of what was inside raced through her mind. The curiosity drove out any fear of what was inside. She took a deep breath and boldly opened the door. It took some effort at first, but with a little force, she managed to open the door.

Dust began to fly. Billie Joe took a deep breath. She smelled a damp, musty smell. She walked through the doorway and began to look around. In the corner of the cabin, there was a small stove. There was a table in the middle of the room and a bed on the other side.

A small book on the table caught her eye. It was a small journal. She walked directly toward it and picked it up. Thumbing through the pages, she noticed the dates on the top of the pages, 1888, 1889, 1890 and so on.

Just then, Billie Joe heard a noise in the rafters. Fearing it was a mouse or rat, she concluded that it might be a good idea to read the book at home.

That evening when her chores were done and when she had finished her supper, she rushed to the living room where the book was sitting on the coffee table. She opened the book at page one. The name on the first page was Joseph Crump, 1869. She turned to the next page and began to read. After several pages in, she noticed that it didn’t read like a journal. The author kept changing people and scenes. In fact, nothing was the same throughout the whole book.

Billie Joe concluded that this was a book of stories he had encountered. She decided to start from the beginning again a take it in a little at a time.

What is in this journal? What sort of stories will she find? There’s only one way to find out! Keep reading!

The following stories were found in that book. Please follow the series and share with your friends. If you like what you are reading feel free to send some love by giving a tip! I would appreciate it very much! Be sure to follow me on Instagram @realandrewhoover. Also, check out my website ashoover.com! You can also purchase the image there.