Let me know what you think. I realize that it needs editing...grammar and such, but I've actually just been letting my fingers fly. Yes do critique. Thank you in advance.
Chapter One:
The leaves were dropping all around as Shelly walked through the park. Her heels clicked along the pavement as she paid close attention to stay on the sidewalk. The wind was blowing making more leaves fall; the leaves of all colors now was more beautiful than she remembered. Red, yellow, orange, some with hints of a mixture of all three colors. This park was where she used to come as a young child and play. Her thoughts went to a day and she smiled...she could see that all the mothers and fathers had brought their picnic baskets and laid down blankets all around. Kites were the big thing then...seeing the mother's and father's showing their children 'how' to run so the kite would float into the sky; also children learning how to ride their bikes in the grass; after many times of falling in the soft grass and after many times the children would throw the bike down and simply say, "I can't do it!"...the parents consoling them letting them know that they could do it; but they have to keep trying...then that 'perfect' moment...VICTORY...their son had rode a good 7 feet before falling; just remembering the look on his face when he realized that yes he 'could' do it...he only had to try harder and each time it became easier. Then there were the children that already knew how to ride their bikes whizzing by laughing, mothers letting their little ones to not go to far because lunch would be ready soon, the fathers tossing a football back and forth with their sons, little boys and girls with their 'bug catching' gear on on a hunt for the 'big' one. I don't recall ever seeing them catch the little lizards that they tried so hard to catch; just little ants every now and then. She smiled as she remembered what she thought were precious times that she'd never forget.
Chapter Two:
As Shelly smiled at all the 'warm' & 'fuzzy' thoughts she felt something hard under her shoe. Looking down she stepped back and at first leaning down to take a close look at what appeared to be a ring. Bending down she examined it further; it was a ring and looked to be very, very expensive. (if it was real) She reached down to pick up the ring and it actually felt warm. It was warm in her hand as she closed her hand around the ring. It almost felt magical in a way because it seemed to make her feel way all over. It seemed to make her feel happy; she shook her head for a moment because she couldn't understand why a ring could make her feel warm; but it had. She put the ring in the bottom of her coat and decided that she would put an ad in the newspaper when she returned to work...oh the lunch hour just wasn't long enough...an hour had already passed and it was time to go back to work. She walked a bit faster so she wouldn't be late for her meeting. She was afterall the 'key' speaker. As she stepped inside the building Mr. P looked and smiled as he opened the door as he always did and said, "Good walk today, Shelly?" "Wonderful, Mr. P. Thank you." Fine man he was, he was married with 3 children and he always had a story to tell about his children or his wife and there wasn't a time that he didn't have a smile on his face. She smiled as she thought of Mr. P because he had the All American dream she thought. You see Shelly wasn't married and had no children but she wanted children someday and someday soon. She felt as though her 'clock' was ticking even though she was only 25. Going up the escallator she removed her jacket and straighted her suit before getting to the top. Her business suit was navy blue with buttons of large round circles on her blazer. She indeed looked very much the business women with matching pumps and a simple strand of pearls around her neck. Upon entering into her office her assistant let her know that there were several messages for her and also that the meeting was in 5 minutes. She opened the closet and hung up her coat and reached into the pocket to see the beautiful ring that she had found. When she picked it up she instantly felt warm again; a really 'calm' feeling...something like an "everything's going to be just fine" kind of feeling. She put the ring back in the coat pocket and closed the door to the closet. She reached across her desk and flipped through messages...actually her mind was on this meeting. She was prepared and ready. She grabbed her briefcase and headed toward the meeting room.
Passing through the tall double doors with large brass knobs as her hand touched the knob she thought of just how many important business people had passed through the very same door she was about to enter. Everything was immaculate, the table shined like glass, the water pitcher and glasses were of only the finest crystal (that's the only way her father would have it) not even a hint of a water spot would 'ever' be seen on this crystal. "Well hello there Shelly" "Hi" she replied as she was trying to remember his name; he had been to one other meeting she had attended she remembered because he had taken notes the entire time she was speaking...actually her 'performance' - yes performance because that's exactly what it was to her. She would go into "her world" of "all business - speaker mode" in less than 5 minutes.
It wasn't that she was 'not' trying to be sociable but these people had come to 'listen' to her speak about the weekly updates from her perspective as to how to be a better writer for advice columns (not just 'any' advice column) it was for THE DAILY; this was her 'baby'. The newspaper that had been handed down to her by her father. She had worked side by side with her father for 5 years. He taught her everthing he knew and of course the 'must haves' and that is what she was speaking on today; the 'must haves' for the newspaper.
"Ok everyone please take your seats; grab something to drink before you do because this meeting might take a while" She scanned the room looking for Lorraine. Lorraine was the reporter/writer for the "Advice On Marriage" Column. She had a masters in psychology, been married for 30 years to the same man, 2 grown children and now a grandchild she was raising that was a glorious age of 7. "Aha there you are" looking at Lorraine as she entered the room. Her hair was pulled back as usual way up high on top of her head; jet black...but only because she had her weekly appointment with her hairdresser to get that much needed 'touch up' to keep it that way. Today however she had a gray outline around her face; framing it in a way Shelly thought was distinguished. But as soon as Lorraine heard her she said, "Oh hi Shelly; sorry if I'm late but my hairdresser was running late and couldn't fit me today so I had to re-schedule for tomorrow" "That's ok Lori, you're not late, we're just about to start, go ahead and grab something to drink and by the way I put your favorite candy inside your drawer by your chair at the meeting table" Lori smiled. Shelly smiled back and thought if only Lori knew that the candy that she thought was so delicious was actually sugar-free because she was a diabetic she would've spit it out saying it tasted terrible. However Shelly took great care with the candy company having them wrap the sugar-free candy with regualar wrappers instead of ones that said sugar-free. "Well chat after the meeting" she said to Lori and then winked. "Ok" Lori replied and ripped open a piece of the candy and just smiled.."a lil' piece of heaven" Lori said. As Shelly looked at Lori though she looked to her as if she was tired; maybe worn out from that grand daughter she figured. That was a huge responsiblity that she and her husband had taken on but Lori wouldn't have it any other way.
Chapter Four - to be continued. I actually have all the way through Chapter 16 available.
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