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BETWEEN THE PAGES

Can we ever really tell the whole story in our books? I couldn't. If I did, I would never have stop writing them. Here are of the stories that could have happened in my published series The Barlow Trilogy. ENJOY!

Picture of a fake newspaper story about a fire that occurred years ago at a children's orphanage
Cover of Trestle Rat The Story of Al

of

Two Days Earlier

The boys were playing baseball when the attendant came to get Alan. It was his turn to bat. He was the smallest on the team. But that meant nothing. He had the swing of an Allstar. Everyone wanted to be on his team. “Young Ferguson,” the attendant called for him. “I need you to come inside.”

“Right now?” he protested along with the rest of his team. “It’s my turn to bat.”

“Yes, right now. It’s important.”

He threw his bat down disappointedly and started walking towards her. “Sorry guys.”

The attendant patted his back to console him. “There will be other games.”

“Yeah, but we we’re about to win this one.”

“Well, maybe you still will.”

“Where am I going?”

“To see Mr. Foley.”

“Why? Am I in trouble?”    

“I don’t know. Have you done anything to get in trouble for?” He pondered that thought until he got to the Director’s office. She knocked on the door.

“Come in.” Alan was nervous. He had never seen the inside of Mr. Foley’s office before. Whenever one of the other boys went in and came out, they had scary stories to tell. He wondered what his story would be. “Young Ferguson don’t look so afraid. I just wanna talk to you.” He tried to reassure him. “Thank you Ms. Gordon.” She gave a reassuring wink at Alan as she left the office.

“Why am I here, Sir?”

“Alan, I’m sure you know MEET ME DAY is in two days.” He sat with his hands intertwined on the desk, watching his reaction.

“Yes, Sir.”

He leaned back in his chair pondering his next words carefully still staring at Alan. “How do you feel about MEET ME DAY? Do you like meeting the nice grownups?”

“It’s aw’ight. They’re aw’ight too.”

“Then I can trust you to not go off hiding this time?”

Alan dropped his head. “You know about that?”

“I do. You wanna tell me why you do that?”

Alan didn’t know what to say except the truth. “Cause I ‘on’t wanna be adopted.”

“You mean you wanna stay here in the orphanage until you’re an adult?”

“No. I want my own family.”

“Alan, your parents are….” He paused to consider his feelings. “You still don’t remember anything about the accident?”

“No. Nothing.”

“If there were people out there related to you, we would’ve have found them by now. Believe me I search every year before MEET ME DAY arrives. You must give someone else a chance, Alan. It could make all of you very happy.”

Alan sat quietly staring blankly at Mr. Foley as if seeing straight through him. Mr. Foley didn’t feel accomplished in his attempt to persuade him. But he hoped a couple nights sleep would help. Alan didn’t feel much like playing ball anymore. Instead, he went to sit in his favorite spot by the pond. So many thoughts bounced around in his head, but none of them were of the accident. Until he can remember, as far as he is concerned, his parents are still alive, and his heart is set on finding them.                             D.M. Williams

To Be Continued

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