THE SHORT STORY KITCHEN | Serial Short Stories

Something Old…Something New

by Lou Barba on February 21, 2013 · 21 comments

Maria’s sedan was not built for the dirt road leading to the mine. The ruts, some of them six inches deep, threw the car from side to side, jostling the women. “I’d better slow down, girls, or we’ll never get there.”

Lisa turned around and looked behind them. “As long as that dust cloud back there doesn’t catch up with us, we’ll be okay. Just don’t stop, whatever you do.”

Normally, this would have been an amusing situation, and brought peals of laughter from the three ladies. But, their minds were on the trapped miners and their families, and joviality would have to be postponed.

{ 21 comments }

From Heights to the Underground

January 27, 2013

Maria brushed Rosa’s silky, long black hair. They were beginning to develop a sisterly bond. Their ages were only a few years apart, and Rosa was easyAunt Maria for Maria to love, pr0bably easier than for her own sister, who had lived through many years of abuse from Rosa. It was a fact that Charisse had refused to take her in, but both Maria and Rosa could understand why she would feel that way. Maria was happy that God had used her to give Rosa the kind of love that she needed at this point in her life.

Read the full article →

Love Done Two Ways

January 12, 2013

Rosa had an hour to wait before she could start her new job. Maria had to be be at the bus garage a 6AM, so she dropped Rosa in front of the maintenance shed. They wished each other luck and hugged. “I’m not sure when I’ll be done, Rosa, but I’ll be sure to pick you up after your shift is done.”

Rosa waved as Maria drove away and found a place to sit at a picnic table next to the old shed. The building badly needed a paint job, but the structure was in good repair. No one was around yet, but the early birds were singing their distinctive song. From somewhere came the sounds of roosters crowing and a dog barking. The sun showed a slight crescent at the top of a hill not far from the school. Soon, the morning light would be full, but it would take several hours before the heavy dew would burn off the grassy areas.

Read the full article →

The Underground

December 9, 2012

Maria and Rosa were dawdling over their breakfast. Pancakes, sunny side up eggs, toast, and coffee were on the menu. Maria had brought several dozen jars of homemade jam from the farm, and they spread this abundantly on their pancakes.

Rosa’s eyes were gleaming and she smacked her lips. “I don’t know if I’ve ever eaten so good, Maria. Certainly not lately, anyhow. I so appreciate this. You will have to teach me to cook this way…I mean if you’d like to,” she finished shyly.

“Cooking is mostly just following directions, but it does take some practice.” Maria got up and fetched a large cookbook. She opened it to a page and handed it to Rosa. “This is the recipe for the pancakes we’re eating. See how easy?”

“It looks easy to mix up, but I don’t know how and when to flip them.”

Maria laughed. “Don’t worry. Everybody breaks their first few. As I said, it takes practice.”

Read the full article →

A Moving Experience

December 2, 2012

It wasn’t as though Maria had ever planned to leave The Village on the Edge of the Sea. Most of her family and friends lived there, people she had grown up with and spent time with even after she became an adult. When the word got around that she was selling the house and moving away, it seemed like everyone she ran into was trying to persuade her to stay. Maria was a beloved person in the Village, and well she should be. Her heart was set on helping people that needed help, and many of the Village residents were recipients of her aid and comfort. Her niece Angel and brother Zane were two of her close relatives that had turned their lives around because of Maria pointing them back to their faith in Jesus.

Read the full article →