A MEMORY OF LESSONS
It’s the 1960s; he’s twelve years old and all boy. Jimmy finds himself in some favorable situations and some troubled ones. Go along for the drama and light humor as he and his friend Bobby experience a few of life’s many lessons. From patience, to worry, to family, Jimmy creates for his own mind…A Memory of Lessons.
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THE SUMMER THAT HOPE LIVED
A Father missing in Vietnam, a Mother in a deep depression and a family torn apart. Strength and faith are the main ingredients of hope...but is it enough to reunite a family?
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"I just finished your book ‘A Memory of Lessons’ and I would like to congratulate you on a job well done. You have a lot of potential as a writer and I hope you continue to pursue your efforts in that field. It was terrific that I could visualize the characters and setting and especially interesting that it was told in such a way that I could relate to the story from my own memories as a youth. Again I say bravo on a first-rate book."
Del Layne
"The author tells an engaging story of family values and relationships."
K. Saylor, Principal, retired
ISBN # 978-1-61546-165-3
ISBN # 978-1-4490-0406-4
Prologue
“Momma…Daddy is home!” I yelled.
“What did you say?” she asked.
“Some Army men are in our driveway,” I replied.
Mother pulled the door open quickly. “Mrs. Bell?” one of them asked.
“Yes,” she answered.
“Mrs. William Theodore Bell?” the other asked.
“Yes,” she repeated.
The two men looked down at me, then back to Mother with sad expressions on their faces.
“Billy, go in and close the door,” she demanded.
Watching from the window I saw Mother drop to her knees and cover her face with her hands. The men helped her to stand and get back into the house. Mother was crying and chattering to herself.
“What’s wrong Momma?” I asked.
“Call your Uncle and tell him to come at once,” she stuttered. The men stayed with us until Uncle Robert and Aunt Jeannie arrived.
“How is my brother?” Uncle Robert asked them.
“I’m sorry sir, he is missing in action and presumed dead,” one answered.
“You’re wrong,” Uncle Robert replied angrily. He followed them to their car, barking questions the entire way. Aunt Jeannie grabbed Mother and held her tight, both were crying. I had heard what the man said to my Uncle about my Father. They were wrong I thought. My Father is alive. My Uncle picked me up into his arms and assured me that everything would be all right.
Mother was hurting beyond belief. As time went by her depression over Father became worse. Michael and I were going to stay with our Grandparents for a while, just until Mother got better. When she was leaving I waived to her until her car was out of sight. Little did I know that it would be years before I saw her again.
