An original short story: Courage to Change the Things I Can

I wrote this in response to the prompt "Tempted." Hope you enjoy!

Courage to Change the Things I Can by Patty Panni

Instead of walking past Chic Retreat as she’d been doing for weeks, Claire walked into the upscale boutique located on the Village Square, just around the corner from the dry cleaners where she worked. The fabulous clothes and shoes in the window had called to her like a glorious siren song, beautiful but dangerous.

I will not buy anything. I will not buy anything.

“Can I help you?” The woman’s voice came from behind her, and Claire startled to hear it.

“Oh no. I’m just looking,” she replied.

“We’re having a sale today. All our bags are fifteen percent off. Also, there’s a rack of sale items in the back.”

Sale. Claire licked her lips. She strolled over to the handbags. There were designer canvas satchels, small jewel-toned clutches, and what looked to be a hand-painted leather hobo. She touched the hobo bag, fingers stroking the painted image of a peacock, brilliant blues against the fine cream leather. What would it look like, slung over her shoulder? She glanced at the price. $285. Her mind calculated the sale price automatically: it would still be $242 and change. I can’t.

She walked to the rack of clothes in the back marked Clearance. Ooh, a navy silk tee. Is it in my size? No…I can’t!

Shaking her head, Claire backed away, heading to the door.

“Come again,” the woman called as she left.

Not if I can help it. Claire fast-walked the four blocks to the church and ducked in a side door, greeting a few people. She sat in the circle of chairs just as a woman began speaking.

“Welcome to Spenders Anonymous. My name is Gina and I’m a compulsive spender. I have over $78,000 in credit card debt.”

“Hi, Gina,” Claire said, along with the rest of the group.

An original short story: Boots

For those who love romance, here's a short story I wrote earlier this year. Hope you enjoy!

Boots by Patty Panni

He watched her walk away. It was usually one of his favorite past times, especially when she wore those jeans and cowboy boots, but not today. Today he watched her walk away towards the security check line that would take her far from him. Far from their life together.

She had gotten the call in the middle of the night. Calls in the middle of the night are never good news, and this one fit the pattern. It was her brother, telling her their father was gone. Suddenly and irretrievably gone. She didn’t cry last night as she set about doing laundry and packing, but he knew the tears would come. Tears for all that had been and all that would never be. She didn’t ask him to come with her. He would have. God knows it would’ve been torture, but he would have if she’d only asked. Maybe he should’ve offered. Too little, too late. Maybe all the way around.

She had come into his life in an accidental way. He certainly wasn’t looking to meet anyone and neither was she. But meet they did, over a crowded lunch counter. In his corner of Wyoming, Murray’s Diner was the only decent place to get a noon meal. His usual midday meal was a sack lunch he packed each morning. Riding fence lines didn’t exactly afford a set lunch hour with a kitchen. It was always a sandwich and a thermos, which was fine by him. But on that particular day he’d been in town. The court was scheduled to finally close his wife’s estate, and the lawyer had wanted him to be there just in case the judge had any questions. He did not, and the matter was officially closed.

When he left the courthouse, for some reason he just didn’t want to go straight back to the ranch; he suddenly couldn’t face the solitude, so he’d stopped into Murray’s. The place was crowded. Too crowded. He had placed his order to go and figured he’d eat in his truck, when a voice said, “Wow, is it always this crazy busy here?” He had looked up into the bluest eyes he’d ever seen, looking directly at him.

“Well, I can’t say for certain. I’m not usually here.”

“What’s your name, cowboy?”

“Dwight. And yours?”

“Josephine. Jo.” They smiled tentative, polite smiles. “Hey, I’ve got an idea. How about we take our lunches over to that little park a few blocks away. I saw it when I was coming into town. It sure beats trying to get a table here.”

He was about to say that he had to be getting back to work, but something made him stop. “Sounds like a fine idea.”

They spent the next hour talking. She made him laugh, something he hadn’t done in a very long time. When the food and coffee were gone, she took his hand. Said it had been a pure pleasure to meet him and that she hoped life was good to him, that she supposed she’d better be getting back on the road.

“It’s getting kind of late in the day to be heading out. Maybe you could postpone your departure,” he had said, surprising himself at his boldness. She smiled that golden smile at him and said she supposed that could be arranged.

And that was that. She followed him out to the ranch. He bustled around trying to find a set of clean sheets to put on the guest bedroom bed, but she took his hand. Said “I don’t want to put you out,” as she led him to his bedroom. She never did sleep in that guest room. Turns out her visit had lasted a lot longer than either one of them could have imagined. Turns out she was a balm for his weary soul.

As weeks became months, he would hear her on the phone with her brother, her father. They couldn’t understand why she didn’t come home from her vacation out west. Her explanations were never good enough. She didn’t share a lot with him, but he knew things were tense. She was from a small town in Ohio, which was just about as far away from Big Sky Country as you could get. She said she felt like her life began the day she met him.

She got a part-time job in town. Said she didn’t want to be a burden, that she wanted to contribute. He told her she didn’t have to, but every week, her paycheck went for groceries, flowers, something pretty for the house. Little by little, the house started feeling like a home again. Why didn’t he tell her how much it meant? How much she meant? How before she came his life had been cold and empty and he’d never thought he would find love again, but she changed that.

It was later that evening when she called to say she’d made it. She missed him, missed the ranch. She was exhausted and they didn’t talk long. There wasn’t much to say. The next day she was busy with funeral preparations and he was busy with the horses, trimming hooves. They didn’t talk until late and again, it was a short conversation.

He lay in bed that night missing her, wondering if she was missing him or if she was settling back into a life there. Usually he was out like a light the minute his head hit the pillow, but not that night. It was a long night, but he made a decision.

The next morning was the day of the funeral. He was up and out early, giving his ranch hands instructions for the next few days. He packed a duffel bag and headed to the airport. He knew it was crazy. She might not even want him there; she might even be angry at him for coming, but he couldn’t stay away. He had to go, had to see her, tell her how he felt. He was a fool for not telling her before.

He took an Uber from the airport. First time he ever did that. A kid on the plane helped him download the app. Walking to her front door, his stomach was jumping. What if she wasn’t glad to see him? What if she didn’t want him there? He didn’t know if he could bear that.

When no one answered the door, he realized they must still be at the funeral service. Nothing to do but wait. He found a bench in the side yard and sat. It was nice there, shaded, birds singing. He wasn’t used to sitting around, though, and it didn’t take long for him to get restless. The sun was beginning to set when he saw the car pull up to the house. The butterflies returned to his stomach. She’d never looked more beautiful. She was halfway up the sidewalk before she saw him. Her mouth formed a perfect O as he walked up to her, wrapped her in a hug.

“You came. I never thought you’d come.”

“I came.” There was so much more he wanted to say but somehow when he was with her the words were slow to come.

“I never thought you’d come,” she whispered again, before he covered her mouth with his own.

“I couldn’t stay away. I need you. I love you.” There. He said it.

She took his hand. Smiled that golden smile, and he just knew. Everything was all right.

An original short story: English Comp

Hi guys! It's been a while since I posted. I've been busy writing. The big news is I'm writing a book! It's a suspense/crime novel about a girl who is kidnapped into a human trafficking ring and (of all things) the PSYCHIC who helps the police and FBI in the search. It's a pretty dark subject, but I'm really enjoying writing it.

To counterbalance that heavy subject matter, I'm still writing my short stories, and I'm making a concerted effort to keep those on the lighter side. To that end, here's my latest short story. It's 1000 words and the prompt was "Jewel." I hope you enjoy it!

*****

“Mom, I brought you something.”

Laura looked up from scrubbing a pot. “What is it, love?”

Jenny pulled a large booklet out of her backpack. “It’s a course catalogue. Fall registration is in a few weeks. I thought you might want to take a look…see if something catches your eye.”

“Oh, honey. Thank you for thinking of me, but now might not be the best time. After all, we found out this week that the hot water heater is on its last leg. And Dad’s business always slows down in the fall, which means less money coming in—"

“Mom.” Jenny tugged Laura away from the sink and into a kitchen chair.

“You’ve always said you wanted to go back to school, that not attending college was one of your biggest regrets.” Her earnest blue eyes searched Laura’s.

“You’re always so busy taking care of us – me and my girls, Josh and his kids, Dad – everyone. There will always be a hot water heater, Mom, but maybe now’s the time to do something just for you. At least think about it?”

What a girl we’ve raised. Sudden tears came to Laura’s eyes as she fingered the edges of the catalogue.

“Well, I guess it wouldn’t hurt to look.”

 #####

Laura glanced around the room full of young girls in low-rise jeans, boys gathered around them like moons circling bright planets. She’d never felt older or frumpier. Every one of these kids is younger than my own. What was I thinking? I don’t belong here. She reached for her purse.

Just then Professor Eric Compton walked into the lecture hall. He was in his 50s, tall and slim, with a prematurely receding hairline and dark framed glasses. He has a kind face.

“All right, people. Settle down. Welcome to English Composition 101.”

 #####

“What was I thinking, Mark? I can’t do this. I can’t write 1500 words about an ethical dilemma I’ve encountered. I can’t even think of one. And even if I could, I wouldn’t have 1500 words to say about it!”

“Just slow down, babe. Let’s think about this for a minute. Hey, what about when you caught Josh with his pockets full of candy he took from Jim Reeder’s store? You got plenty fired up over that, and I’m pretty sure you had 1500 words to say about it.” Mark winked at Laura.

“Not only did you make him return it and apologize to Jim, you had him at the store every Saturday for months, washing windows and sweeping the floor. That’s how we became such good friends with the Reeders. I remember after it was all over you told me a part of you wanted to just throw the candy away and punish Josh without embarrassing him, but you decided the life lesson he would learn was more important than his – or our – humiliation.”

Laura closed her eyes and breathed in that long-ago memory, felt it envelop her. She remembered Josh’s tears and how her heart had twisted, wanting nothing more than to hug her little boy and tell him it was all right, that all was forgiven and forgotten. But she couldn’t because it wasn’t all right. And it wouldn’t be all right until he made it right.

“Thank you, love. I think I can write about that.”

 #####

“Class, I’ve read and graded your first essays, and I have to say I’m disappointed. Many of them lack a clearly defined thesis. Some of you did communicate a fundamental thesis but failed in your development and support of that thesis. Many lacked originality and sound structure. There was no fluency; your words were flat.” As Professor Compton spoke, he walked among the students, placing their papers in front of them. As he reached Laura, he hesitated, then spoke again.

“However, there are a few of you who excelled. Your papers were organized and well-developed, and you communicated clearly and effectively.” He placed Laura’s essay before her. An A. She looked up at Professor Compton and he gave her a small encouraging smile.

“Well done.”

 #####

“Jenny, what are your thoughts on gun regulation?”

“What?”

“I’m writing an argumentative paper in favor of stricter gun regulation and just wanted to get your thoughts on it.”

Jenny laughed. “Well, mom…I guess I’m for it.”

“Wow…thanks for the help.” Laura stuck out her tongue at her daughter.

 #####

The semester nearly ended, Laura readied herself for the final exam which would be a multiple choice section as well as two essays written during class. The essay topics would only be revealed during the exam. Even though she knew she’d come a long way in her writing, Laura’s anxiety was high. As she walked into the lecture hall, she chatted with her classmates, many of whom she’d gotten to know and like through group workshops, and she felt her anxiety lessen just a bit. No longer feeling the odd man out, Laura knew she belonged. I’ll do my best. It’s all I can do.

 #####

Christmas came and went with its flurry of activities. Laura and Mark enjoyed their grandchildren and made the most of their visits. New Year’s Eve was a quiet affair with just the two of them. Mark made a roaring fire and they toasted the New Year with Champagne.

“I’m so proud of you, babe. You’ve talked about going back to school for years, and look at you. You’re like a shining jewel.” He touched his glass to hers. Laura warmed to his words but chuckled.

“Maybe you should wait to be proud of me ‘til we see if I passed or not.”

“You know you’ve passed. You’ve made good grades all semester. That professor really likes your writing.”

“Thank you, love. I’m still nervous but grades should be posted soon.”

 #####

Laura clicked on the link and logged in. This was it. The spinning blue circle matches my thoughts perfectly. I just hope— The screen opened and Laura read her results out loud.

“English Composition 101 – A!  Mark, I got an A!”

An original short story: Lucky Day

This is a super short story (only 300 words) I wrote a few years ago. Hope you enjoy.

His warm brown eyes follow me, as they do every time I enter the room. Breakfast is served, ladies and gents. I work my way from the door toward his enclosure, measuring out food and water for each dog. It’s quiet this morning, not like the boisterous atmosphere that greets me most days. Eventually, I reach him. 

“Hey there, Harley. Whatcha think, boy? Think today might be your lucky day?” Steadfast and clear, his eyes study me as if I’m about to impart the wisdom of the ages. I can’t say what it is exactly that makes him so special, but I am absolutely convinced that Harley is one in a million, truly exceptional. Trouble is, at first glance there’s not much that stands out when you look at him. Medium build, mild manner, a little gray around the edges…he’s easy to overlook in a group.  But when you stop and take a look at his eyes…his eyes show the depth of his character, the beauty of his soul.

Right before closing, an older couple comes in. “Maltese,” my co-worker mutters, to which I whisper a reply, “Nah…maybe Dachshund.” We always play “Guess What Kind of Dog the Customer Will Request.” It helps to pass the time. 

“Welcome to Lucky Day Rescue,” I say, “Can I help you?”

“We’re looking for a dog, maybe an older dog, with a sweet disposition,” the man says. “Not too big, but not tiny either.” He glances at the woman and continues, “We recently lost our boy Max…he was the best dog ever. We know we can’t replace him, but we still have lots of love to give.”

I breathe a silent prayer: Thank You.

Smiling, I say, “You’re in luck. I’ve got just the dog for you to meet. His name is Harley.” 

An original short story: A Graceland Christmas

In a complete departure from what I usually write, this is a fun little romantic tale set at Christmastime right here in my hometown. I hope you enjoy.  

*       *      *      *

“Happy Holidays!. Welcome to Memphis International Airport. Proceed this way to Baggage Claim.” The airline agent had on a dark blue jacket and skirt and, predictably, blue suede shoes. The two women behind me squealed.

“Helen, look! Blue Suede shoes! How clever is that?! Miss, can we please get our picture taken with you? We just have to show the folks back home in Duluth how Elvis is represented even at the airport!”

I grinned at the guy next to me and kept walking.

“Poor girl. I bet she gets that all the time.”

“Yep. But she’s totally asking for it with the shoes.”

We moved down the escalator and toward the luggage turnstile.

“Are you from Memphis, or just visiting?” His eyes were greenish hazel and had “smile crinkles” at the edges.

“Quick business trip from Philadelphia. You?”

“This is home for me.” He had a slight southern drawl which was kind of adorable. “I’m Christian, by the way.”

“Joanna. It’s nice to meet you.” We shook hands, formally, which made us laugh. His grip was warm and strong.

“You staying around the airport? We could share an Uber.”

Whoa, girl. You don’t even know this guy. Do NOT tell him where you’re staying.

“I’m staying downtown, actually.”

“Well that’s a nice coincidence. I live north of downtown and we'll go right past there. Now we definitely need to share a ride. It’s meant to be.” Christian grinned down at me with his crinkly green eyes and I couldn’t help myself.

“Sure, why not.”

When we got to my hotel, he got out of the car to help me with my bag.

“Joanna…I know we just met and you don’t know me at all and you’re here to work, but—"

“—How about we meet up for dinner tomorrow night?”

Seriously? Did you just ask him out?

I rushed on, “I could give you a call once I know what time I’ll be done tomorrow.”

“Perfect. I’ll take you to one of my favorite spots.”

My meetings the next day were interminable and I found myself thinking about Christian: his tall, slim build, the way his brown hair curled a little at the collar, his lazy grin. I wanted to know more about him and for him to know more about me. When we finally adjourned, I called him. He answered on the first ring.

“Hey, you.” He laughed, and I could hear the sound of a dog barking in the background.

“Hi. Where are you?”

“In my backyard throwing the ball with Lucky.”

“Lucky?”

“My dog. My 75-pound Golden Retriever, to be exact.” Apparently, he flung the ball because I could hear a great rush of crunching leaves which faded almost immediately.

“Wow, that’s a lot of dog.”

Christian chuckled. “Well, he’s more than just a dog. He’s my best friend. When I returned from my last tour in Iraq, he really helped me.”

“I didn’t know you were in the military. What branch?”

“Army. After three deployments I was done. Just ready for a change.”

“You know, I feel like I could talk to you for hours.”

“Me too. So, how fast can you be ready for me to pick you up?”

We ate dinner at a home-style restaurant on a quiet street, not at all the sort of place I thought he might take me. I loved it. We lingered over dessert and coffee, talking about our past, our present, our hopes for the future.

Finally, I said, “I hate to even mention it but it’s getting late. My meetings start early tomorrow. I ... I'm supposed to fly out tomorrow evening, but I really don't want to do that.”

“Then don’t.” He took my hand. “Stay with me for a few days. I want to spend more time with you. You haven’t even met Lucky yet. And, most important, you haven’t seen Graceland.”

“Graceland?” I raised my eyebrows.

“Of course. You can’t come to Memphis at Christmas and not see Graceland. It’s heresy!”

My meetings finally concluded, I checked out of the hotel the next day. Christian was waiting at the front door in his pickup.

“This is insane. I’ve never done anything like this before.”

His eyes crinkled at me. “Me neither. How about we drop your stuff off at the house and you can meet Lucky. I don’t want to make too big a deal out of it, but his approval of anyone I date is very important.”

“Good to know. Sure hope I pass the test.”

“I’ll tell you a secret. He’s a pushover for a girl with a liver snap hidden in her pocket.”

Christian lived in a red brick ranch-style home on a large lot. Beautiful oak trees framed the front of the house and I could see evergreens in the back.

“Brace yourself.” Christian unlocked the door and I could hear him before I saw him. Thundering paws ran to meet us, skidding to a stop right in front of us. Lucky was magnificent, blond, and huge.

“Lucky, sit.”

Lucky sat.

“Wow, he’s beautiful.”

“Well, don’t let him hear you say that. He’ll get a big head.”

Christian made dinner and we ate on the back patio.

“I can’t believe this weather. There’s snow on the ground at home.”

“Sounds like you might need a new home.” He grinned as he stood and reached for my plate. “Let’s drop these off in the kitchen and go for a drive.”

We drove through the city, looking at the Christmas lights. Christian stopped at a park overlooking the Mississippi River. A barge moved slowly below us and its long, low horn sounded.

“This is perfect, Christian.”

“I know. It’s one of my favorite places to go at night. It’s usually quiet like this. A good place to think. And talk.” He looked at me. “Joanna, I know this is really fast and probably crazy, but I’m so attracted to you. And the more we get to know each other, the stronger that attraction grows.”

“I feel the same way.”

Our first kiss was slow and sweet. I thought we would linger awhile, but Christian started up the truck and continued driving.

“Next stop Graceland?”

“Next stop Graceland.”

When we reached the iconic gates, I looked at the beautiful white house, covered in Christmas lights, sitting up on a hill. Even at this hour, there were tourists milling about, taking selfies and reading plaques.

“Know why I brought you here?”

“Um, ‘cause you have a side gig as an Elvis impersonator?”

He shook his head.

“Hmm…you have a podcast called “Love me Tender”? He chuckled and put his hand over my mouth.

“Hush. I’m trying to be serious here.”

“Oh. Sorry.” I smiled up at his profile.

“I brought you here because Graceland at Christmas is magical. And I mean, seriously magical. Growing up, every time I came here at Christmas and made a wish, that wish came true. Every time.”

“Is that a fact?”

“It is. And this year…well, all of a sudden I have a very important wish to make.”

“Actually, I think I might have a wish of my own to make.”

💙