The Sling Shot

 

THE SLING SHOT By Ronald Bunch

 

11/8/2024

 

Huey zipped down a steep hill in winter as the bitter cold bit his face. He dreamt of every detail in the past of 2023. His feet burned from frostbite not caring. He was focused on racing the other children up to the summit.

“Yay,” he cheered for the tenth and last time down near a party of gawkers, not wanting to climb up the hill again with sweaty snow pants. Huey’s mom was patiently watching all the sledders waiting for her son to finish.

When Huey awoke fresh from his slumber, he could smell carcinogens from cigarette smoke, drowning him. He habitually parted his chestnut-brown hair with a comb; then trudged downstairs to make sure the apartment was not on fire. His Caucasian dad, David, was the source of the fumes. He was smoldering in tabaco and fasting.

“Son, never smoke like me, or eat like your mother Lisa.” She was short and obese. “Get dressed for school.”

“Okay dad, I will put my action figure down. Can I get another one on my birthday?”

Huey’s dad ignored him.

***

 

After Huey’s went to school, he went to fly a box kite, a gift from mom and dad. He lost the kite in the woods where he went sledding.

“Mom, can we go to a store, so I can spend my five dollars? Sorry about the kite.”

Huey just turned ten today. He received the money in the mail from his Aunt May. It was Friday after school in autumn, now five o’ clock.

“Son, what would you like to buy?” Lisa inquired, also thinking about a massive chocolate cake with pecans and caramel icing. “You’re in trouble mister, that kite cost an hour’s salary.”

“We will see when we get there, let us go to a supermarket, so I can play free videogames, you know? Like fighting games, so I can play against other people,” Huey protested.

“Only because it’s your B-day.”

So, Huey and his parents drove to the nearest supermarket. They got off the expressway and passed by a crowded mall, then drove into the store’s parking lot. Huey was excited.

Huey and his mom walked for two minutes in the supermarket, then stopped to smell the aroma. This gave them a craving. Huey got in line with her mom at the snack bar, seeing how much the fried chicken would cost, but being poor and frugal, they did not have enough money.

His father waited patiently outside to enjoy a smoke.

“Come on mom, we have better places to explore.”

“Yes, show the way.”

Huey followed his mom past the clothing department and into a crossroad of aisles. He saw her look at building block castles and spaceships, he wished such toys were not so expensive.

Next, they headed past an aisle of locked-away rifles and other hunting gear, even bows and arrows, which Huey liked.

He walked one more aisle down and found video game consoles and games behind glass shelves. He looked in awe at the games he wished he could play, while he heard plastic buttons being mashed.

By the checkout table, two adults were playing a fierce fighting game. The characters threw spears, fireballs, and were martial arts masters. When Huey got a chance to play, he was relieved from waiting in line. He did not doubt his gaming skills, even though Huey knew how advanced the game the guy boasted of was. They played for thirty-two minutes, and Huey lost every round then complained: “That’s all you ever do is pick that fighter!” He was done playing and looked for something on sale to buy to ease his defeat.

“Mom, can I get this?” Huey pulled on Lisa’s sleeve, speaking impatiently after checking a shelf between the aisles. He held a sling shot with cardboard and plastic packaging. “It comes with bb’s and it’s only five seventy-five.”

“Put that back, we don’t have enough money.”

“But it’s my favorite,” he exasperated her with flailing arms and speech.

“I don’t have an extra dollar, the money is paid for, see, your father will pawn anything if we don’t buy him cigarettes.”

Huey thought, you would think dad would smoke less these days, in 2024, but he does not, even though cigarettes are price gouging. They used to cost a dollar…think of all the money I could be saving for my future, and to mention, the sling shot.

“Huey, put that back!” Lisa scolded, unable to pry it from his football grip.

“No!” He refused to give her the sling shot. “I’m going home with this one way or another—”

Huey pulled the sling shot from Lisa’s grasp after stomping on her foot.

“Ouch!”

Her son ran off into a throng of an arriving girl scout group. They were allowed to sell cookies at the supermarket, they were following their leader.

Huey’s mother was wincing in pain and when she looked for her son, her anxiety was skyrocketing.

First, Lisa backtracked, looking down each aisle until she found the precious sling shot on the tile floor without Huey.

“My son, he’s missing!” Lisa repeated, over and over in dismay.

 

***

 

Fifteen minutes later, David saw his wife lying on white tiles with his son trying to wake her. Huey had tears in his eyes…he was glad the girl scouts resuscitated her. Huey ran off, not knowing his mom had fallen. He followed one of the girl scouts, holding a box of cookies, wanting to satisfy his sweet tooth, he dropped the sling shot after tripping, not caring his shoes were untied.

“Mom, I am sorry I…I should not of ran away, I went to dad, you can give me the dollar, he did not need the cigarettes, he is going to quit just for today. Mom do not die…please wake up.”

“Is this true Dave?” She turned her head and felt the swollen lump on the back of her noggin.

“Yes, I will chew gum instead, I did not know how bad Huey wanted that sling shot. I am such a terrible parent,” he made a fuss, “cigarettes were all I could think about…could you ever forgive me Huey?”

“Yes!” Huey declared and smiled while nodding when Lisa sat up.

“I must’ve passed out when I thought…” She could not finish her sentence. “I am glad you are safe Huey. I still have that extra dollar; let us have you master the self-checkout—”

Huey detested the thought of AI for shopping like his schoolteacher Anna Marrie.

“But I hate those!”

***

 

All Huey could think about on the drive home to Martindale Street was how he would use the sling shot he bought, and he wanted to show it off to his friend Emmanuel. They played every day together, inventing their own games such as hockey-soccer, where you smash the ball into a goal with a hockey stick. This way you did not need to be an accomplished ice skater. The boys loved to play hockey video games at Emmanuel’s upstairs apartment. Huey would feel embarrassed when his mom would dust the ceiling, sometimes she would poke and jab, intentionally, especially when poor Huey could hear the roar of music or Emmanuel’s parents making love.

It got dark early because it was fall, now 6:50 P.M. in USA, Michigan.

When the car was in the driveway, his father took the sling shot from Huey.

“You have chores to do son.”

“Okay dad, but when do I get to shoot the sling shot?”

“Tomorrow. But for tonight, we will have a late dinner, then we will go to work in the house.”

 As Huey laid in bed at 9:00 P.M. he pondered about what he did. “Hmm…” He put the knuckles of his right fist under his chin. I did help dad assemble our new dining room table, then I watched an anime about a talking cat, until my mom told me to study for the class spelling bee, but all-in-all, I enjoyed my steak with yams.

As Huey dozed off, he thought about showing the sling shot to his friend Emmanuel, who lived in the apartment too.

The next day, an excited Huey folded his blanket and sheet off and looked for the weapon, until he saw it resting on the new glass table.

“Great! I will show it to Emmanuel.”

Huey knocked on the locked door leading upstairs, but no one answered.

Huey walked away with his head held down. Then he heard Emmanuel’s chortle, brightening his mood.

“What do you want Huey?”

“Oh, I just thought I could come over and show you my sling shot. I will be right back; I need to find the metal bb’s.”

“I must eat breakfast, or my dad will be angry. He just fried me raspberry pancakes soaked in maple syrup,” Emmanuel said unintentionally slamming the door to his balcony.

Huey hurriedly went back into his apartment and caught a glimpse of dad pouring coffee in the kitchen. David never spilled, unlike Lisa when she drank alcohol.

“Huey, the pellets are on the counter,” dad said. “Let me teach you how to aim, load, and shoot.”

Huey sat in a chair in the backyard, with an ingrown tree exploding out of the fence, while David placed an array of beer and soda cans on an old weightlifting bench. His dad began shooting down the aluminum cans with copper pellets like he had the favor of God.

Huey whispered, “Okay King David,” seeing his dad’s boasting.

Next, Huey had a turn. He could not quickly pull the band back half foot like David did gloating. Huey found out later he took after his father. Huey decapitated one of the plastic army men, which was set up. Ready to load and fire again.

“Did you show Emmanuel your sling shot, son?”

“I did, dad, but Emmanuel needed to eat breakfast. But can I try it outside the gate?”

“No, stay in the yard, don’t get trigger happy.”

After his father left, Huey saw a squirrel, but first he aimed at a pigeon that was cooing in a distant view.

Two pigeons were overlooking the backyard when Huey loaded the ammo with a straining pullback. The pigeons flew off and there was a loud snap. The pellets rolled down the roof after the sling shot band broke. It flung into Huey’s left eye impairing him.

Huey saw a curtain close moments later—assuming that was Emmanuel’s room, and he heard the sling shot break.

Huey not thinking, at once tied the broken band back together, turned, loaded, and shot multiple times at a squirrel digging into the dirt. It had stolen a walnut.

Huey missed every shot, except for his own eye, which was bruised, red, and swollen. The critter escaped into a hole under the wooden fence.

***

 

Huey did not give up on his mischief and left the backyard through the gate.

He rode his rusty bicycle outside the apartment and into an empty parking lot. He scanned with his eyes looking for adventure, seeing grasshoppers and crickets. He rode between two curbs then in circles around the lot.

 

***

 

Thirty minutes later, Huey huffed and puffed, stepping on his brake. He decided it was not safe to be alone and wanted to see Emmanuel.

Hornets were chasing and swarming Huey. He was stung twice on his bottom lip, it was swollen. Huey barely escaped the hive with his life, he overexaggerated, thinking he would die from venom. Before his race home, he shot at a hive of angry hornets. He knew they were in a mound of leaves outside the fence.

Huey got off his bike and saw a lady furiously approaching him…she was looking at his sling shot.

“Did you damage my car?”

“No, of course not.”

“Explain the hole in my windshield!”

Huey looked across the street, “There’s no way I could shatter a whole car window—”

She took the sling shot from him and he was heartbroken. After wrongfully accusing him, she left with Huey’s weapon. All he could think about was how to get it back, then Emmanuel came.

“She took my sling; can you believe it?” He was bitterly crying.

“Don’t worry, at least you can’t go to juvey right?”

“I do not know…I do not know. I will see you at school on Monday,” Huey panicked, and ran to his house, leaving his bike and best friend behind. Huey wished he could have played a new game with the sling shot. Emmanuel and Huey were determined to get it back.

Huey did not have an allowance, so he could not buy a new sling shot. David spent all his toy money on cigarettes. Later, Huey made a bow and arrow with sticks and copper wire from branches near the hornets’ nest. Huey cheerfully played with Emmanuel, to see who could shoot the highest.

Huey would never get his sling shot back despite telling David and Lisa to call the police. Huey thought the lady broke the law by confiscating his sling shot. He spent the night hurt, crying on his pillow smelling cigarette smoke.

When it was Monday, Huey did not want to go to school. He was ugly from the black eye. It made him think of Black Friday. He remembered telling Emmanuel he would meet him at school. Huey ate two raspberry pancakes and got everything ready for school, feeling hostile and alert.

Lisa drove Huey to school. In the parking lot he finally got the nerve to ask his mother a question, “Can I get a new sling shot at Black Friday mom?”

“Absolutely not!”

Huey became depressed then walked with Emmanuel as the bell rang. They told each other knock-knock jokes about the pecan caramel cake, and they strolled to school. When the classmates came home, they shoveled down the pecan cake.

World English Bible Permissions (WEB)

This is why I had to delete most of my writing on Booksie and had to make remakes of my books that are for sale.

First of all, I received an email scam in my junk mail (never read those unless you have to) that said I was hacked, I believed this, and I didn’t want my writing stolen. I’m glad none of my writing was taken, but I was under a lot of stress. It is finally over, and I never paid the person, I didn’t have enough money anyway.

The bad news about sharing the Bible, most Bibles are copyrighted, and they give you a limited number of verses to use, and you may have to pay royalties.

The good news about sharing the Bible, I bought the World English Bible (WEB) on amazon for only $1.99. I downloaded Kindle For PC, free on amazon. See the amazing copyright information below for the World English Bible!

*The World English Bible is in the Public Domain. That means that it is not copyrighted. However, "World English Bible" is a Trademark of eBible.org. You may copy, publish, proclaim, distribute, redistribute, sell, give away, quote, memorize, read publicly, broadcast, transmit, share, back up, post on the Internet, print, reproduce, preach, teach from, and use the World English Bible as much as you want, and others may also do so. All we ask is that if you CHANGE the actual text of the World English Bible in any way, you not call the result the World English Bible any more. This is to avoid confusion, not to limit your freedom. The Holy Bible is God's Word. It belongs to God. He gave it to us freely, and we who have worked on this translation freely give it to you by dedicating it to the Public Domain.*

More...

*There are already many good translations of the Holy Bible into contemporary English. Unfortunately, almost all of them are restricted by copyright and copyright holder policy. This restricts publication and republication of God’s Word in many ways, such as in downloadable files on the Internet, use of extensive quotations in books, etc. The World English Bible was commissioned by God in response to prayer about this subject. Because the World English Bible is in the Public Domain (not copyrighted), it can be freely copied, distributed, and redistributed without any payment of royalties. You don’t even have to ask permission to do so. You may publish the whole World English Bible in book form, bind it in leather and sell it. You may incorporate it into your Bible study software. You may make and distribute audio recordings of it. You may broadcast it. All you have to do is maintain the integrity of God’s Word before God, and reserve the name “World English Bible” for faithful copies of this translation.*

I believe you should add WEB at the end of each verse, so people know which Bible it’s from. I personally love the World English Bible, especially now that I can use God’s word all I want with no copyright restrictions.

Gorfeenda

 

Chapter 1

 One day a young man had a crush on a young woman. His name was Tim, her name was Samantha. It was a cold snowy morning, and the man had a thought in his head. This thought was will I or will I not ask Samantha to the high school dance?

​            As he stepped onto the icy pavement of the parking lot, he knew the answer. Yes, today I’ll ask Samantha whether or not she rejects me. The dance is tomorrow. And as he stepped twice another thought emerged, I’ll go to that dance whether or not I have a dance partner. He pumped his right fist with indignation and walked his way into the high school after he spoke to his mom on his cell phone. He told her about the girl he had a dream about and likes, and that her name is Samantha.

Tim thought, I’ll never know if Samantha likes me unless I ask her to the dance, then she’ll know that I like her as well.

He was eighteen years old and a senior in a public high school. However, he recollects his days in fifth grade when he used to be the smartest student in his class, but in high school he wasn’t.

Tim said encouraging himself, “If you start low, don't worry, all of the greats started low.”

Tim had a younger sister and a mom and dad. He was a well-educated man, and the starting quarterback for his football team. He hoped to earn a scholarship to attend the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. It was his dream to learn more about himself and to have a career one day. His educational future looked uncertain, but he was a great football player.

As Tim walked through the crowds of students—even some late teachers, he made his way down the cerulean-blue halls to his locker. He put his coat and hat away, grabbed his notebook, a pen, and a textbook. He looked into his mirror, seeing his black crew cut with a handsome Caucasian face. ​

“Room 108,” Tim said, “that's where my stop is.”​

Now for sale at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D5C67SSG

Heart of Brawlsteenian

 Alcor is tracking the Heart Shards in January during World War 3 at 3021 A.D. for one year. If you fit the Shards together it forms a glowing red heart. A battery with enough power to rule the world. In the end, the hero brings the Shards to the Brawlsteenian space station and he has to make a decision. To destroy it, or to keep it to rule the world; all in the attempt to prevent World War 4.

Chapter 1 (Sample) World War Three Alcor, a young man, during World War Three, came out of his bomb shelter called Enwake. After an elevator ride, he unwrenched the door which could only be unsealed from the inside. When he opened the door, he noticed it was January. This was the first time he saw a snowflake. His mother warned him that he shouldn’t go outside, but he didn’t listen. He wanted to see it for himself. He thought he would be excited to see it for the first time. He wanted to find a girlfriend. Alcor was prepared for battle, and besides, he wanted to help Enwake. It was where he was born. He dreamed many times about finding a Heart Shard.

For sale at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D12CLY3P

Ghost Love

 

INTRO

A disability lawyer who is an atheist is married three times and is divorced three times because of fornication and adultery. The last woman he married was a Catholic and said a true believer wouldn't of cheated. After the divorce he moves into an apartment at a discount and finds they say its haunted, but he doesn't believe in ghosts. He has dreams about a woman trying to seduce him but he denies her, eventually he is physically pushed by the ghost, the ghost says Jesus is real and the lawyer believes. He decides to marry the ghost instead of having fornication, but she vanishes and leaves from purgatory with his help. Later he tries to mend the broken heart of his last divorced wife, he tells her he's a true believer now and will never cheat on her again so they get back together!

STORY

Ghost Love

Part One the Strip Club

 

HE TOLD his third wife (he was divorced two times) that he wouldn't go to stripper bars, but here he was at one watching women dance. After the waitress gave Leonard Mackly another beer, he said, “Thanks,” and she said, “you’re welcome;” then, she playfully smiled back.

               Leonard smiled as he spoke, saying foolish things since he was drunk. "You know I'm not supposed to be here, I lied to my wife."

               But the waitress with a rose in her hair and a heart shaped bra didn't talk back because she had other tables and customers to please. But this other waitress who was supposed to show her breasts, but didn't, was fired, and on her way out she heard what Leonard said, so in her fury, she heard Leonard's phone ringing. She grabbed the phone, which was left out, and said: "Your man is cheating."

               Too bad for Leonard when his wife heard that.

               Leonard picked up the phone when the waitress walked out. She was wearing casual clothing. While Leonard was listening to his wife, he asked for Stacy's phone number. She was the waitress who smiled at him.

               Now his wife, whose name was Mary, was yelling at him. "You have to sleep in our boat until you take a lie detector test!” She said.

               Mary hung up in anger, especially when she heard Stacy give him the phone number.

               Leonard was afraid to go home so he met Stacy in the afterhours when the stripper bar was closed. At 2:00 A.M. they met at the boat and kissed. Leonard wanted to go further, but she said no.

               Before he went home to see Mary, he slept until noon and was vomiting for the amount of alcohol he drank. Leonard forgot he kissed Stacy, but she called him and left him a message saying, “It was a good dinner.”

               When Leonard got home, and before he unlocked the front door, he checked to see if Mary had left any messages on his phone. She didn’t leave any.

               Leonard took out his keys and unlocked the door. It was still noon when he started saying, "Honey are you home?"

               "Yes dear," he heard a short sound almost as a whisper. Mary was nearby. She was in the dining room.

               It was hot out, ninety degrees, so Leonard didn't have a coat on to put away.

               Mary immediately said, "Who is Stacy, and why did you ask for her phone number?" She was now in the kitchen, a couple of feet away, putting food away. She just got back from the store.

               "I was working as a disability lawyer, and Stacy is one of my new clients," Leonard lied.

               "Oh, then why was there music, like in a strip club?" Mary said.

               "Look honey," he said, "I did what you said, I slept in the boat last night, and I'm willing to take a lie detector test."

               "Okay," she looked and sounded serious. "Leonard, you can sleep in the house once you take the test."

               "I'll take it today," he sounded alert.

               He tried to give her a hug, but Mary said, "No, not until you take the test."

               "Okay, I'll take it right now." So, Leonard walked out of his house and waved bye. Mary waved back in a pleased fashion.

               Leonard was asked a series of questions before the test. He was asked who Mary says Leonard cheated with, and any questions she says were lies, such as, if Leonard went to a strip club.

               Now, Leonard was asked the same questions during the test.

               After the test he was handed a white envelope with the test results.

               Leonard was told not to open it alone, but with Mary. He was confident he would pass the test and get away with all the cheating and lying he was doing to his wife.

              

 

Part Two Lie Detector Test Results

 

WHEN LEONARD got home Mary was taking a nap on her bed. He sat at the foot of the bed and smiled, he said, "Honey, I have the test results, want me to read them for you?"

               "No," Mary said, "give them to me."

               So, she opened her hand and took the white envelope upon opening it. There was nothing in the envelope except the test results.

               Mary was astonished after she read it.

               "You got the kissing question wrong, but passed everything else," she said.

               It took a little while for the test results to sink in. Mary's and Leonard's hearts were breaking, and by the time her tears were falling, and she was wiping the discharge with a long sleeve shirt. She spoke.

               "Why couldn't you be a Catholic like me, and not an atheist Leonard?"

               Mary inhaled through her now wet nasal passages. She was sad and angry. "A true believer wouldn't have cheated Leonard."

               "I'm sorry Mary," he said. "I'll admit it, I did the kissing, the test said, but I promise, I'll never do that again."

               "It’s too late," Mary said, "the only way I'll take you back to be my husband again, is if you stop being an atheist, and be a Catholic."

               "I can't stop being an atheist Mary, I'm sorry," he said.

               So, Leonard kissed his wife's forehead and said goodbye before the door closed. He had tears in his eyes. Now he wished he had never lied and cheated on Mary.

               Mary and Leonard went to a divorce court to finalize their break-up. The papers were signed and filed by both parties and the judge. In settling the matters, Mary received the most property because of her low income. She works as a cashier. She gets the house and one car, while Leonard has a higher income. He received a boat and one car. The break-up was finalized, and they both went their separate ways.

               The first thing Leonard thought he ought to do was to find a place to stay instead of just the boat. So, he looked on the internet and found a very nice apartment for rent. It had two bedrooms and one bathroom with a deck and swimming pool.

               Leonard wondered why the rent was so cheap, only six hundred dollars a month. Leonard kept asking so, eventually, the landlord told him why the price was half the amount. She said people don't stay very long, only a month to six months long, then they complain about a ghost and leave.

               Leonard wasn't worried about any ghost because he doesn't believe they're real, but what he was worried about, is if Mary would let him have any of the stuff inside the house, such as furniture and clothing.

               Leonard was disappointed to find out she wouldn't give him any furniture, but at least he got his clothing back.

               After Leonard filled out an application, the landlord said, “The first person who gives the deposit money gets the place to rent.”

               So, Leonard gave the deposit money of six hundred dollars, immediately. No got the place, since no one else gave a deposit.

               Leonard made an appointment on Friday to sign the lease, which was four days from today.

Leonard slept in the boat until he signed the lease. The first thing he did when he moved into the apartment was hang up his clothes, including his suits, ties, and casual wear.

               It was a hot summer. So, Leonard decided to meet his neighbors and take a swim at the same time, for they were swimming right now. His neighbors were a nice couple with their child swimming on a floating lifesaver.

               "Hello, I'm your new neighbor who lives upstairs, my name is Leonard Mackly."

               All three of his neighbors responded, including the little boy who said, "Hi.”

               The wife said, "Please feel free to swim with us," she noticed he was wearing swim trunks.

               "That's exactly what I was going to ask you, if I could go for a swim with you guys."

               As Leonard tested the water and got into the pool, the husband spoke: "I'm glad you got into the pool with us, because I was going to cut the lawn in thirty minutes."

               "Oh, thanks for telling me," Leonard said.

               "Sure, no problem, and my name is Dave," he said as they shook hands.

               The pool was large enough for each of them to have a space to swim.

               "Boy, it’s a hot one out today," Leonard said. And they all agreed as they swam for thirty minutes.

               Soon later they all got out of the pool and dried off with their towels. Dave went to get the lawn mower while his wife and son went inside and Leonard got ready for work, but before Dave made it to the garage and Leonard got to his apartment door it started to rain.

               Dave said, "I guess I won't be cutting the lawn now.”

               "If you need anything, just let me know," Leonard said.

               "Sure, and same here," Dave said, "do you need an umbrella, Leonard?"

               "If it isn't too much trouble, I do need one," he said.

               "Here's an extra one," Dave said.

               "Thanks,” Leonard said.

               So, with an umbrella Leonard went inside his apartment to dress for work. He wore a clean and smooth black suit with a red tie under his big smile.

               Leonard drove downtown at 4:30 P.M. to arrive early for work. On his laptop, which was one of the only things he got out of the divorce, Leonard prepared for trial with.

               Twenty minutes later his client arrived, apparently, she had trouble finding the place. She suffers from a mental illness called paranoid schizophrenia, and she had it for one year, which is enough to prove she has the illness.

               Before the trial started, she was scanned by the police officer for any metallic items. There was no metal on her person. Her mother had the keys, and she drove her in the rain. There was only about eight minutes left until the trial started. With this time Janet and her lawyer Leonard prepared for the case.

               She told him she has anxiety and paranoid thoughts about people wanting to kill her, that there are hit-men after her. She also had homicidal and suicidal thoughts.

               After she told Leonard what medication she's on and that it’s not completely working, the trial started.

               After introductions, the Judge told her to speak up, for the microphone she was speaking into was for recording her voice not to raise the pitch.

               The judge asked her, “Are you on Risperdal for schizophrenia?”

               She said, “Yes.” Then they talked about what voices she hears and what hallucinations she has. She said, “I hear a voice that tells me to kill people and I see demons, but I don't think the voices and hallucinations are real like I used to think they were.”

               The command voices had no effect on her.

               The Judge asked her, "Do you do any chores?"

               She spoke up and said, "Yes, I do the laundry."

               Then the Judge notified her, "There are jobs available where you can work alone, so you don't have to be bothered by others concerning your mental illnesses."

               Then it was the lawyer Leonard's turn to speak, and he said, "Janet has no transportation to go to work, for her mother won't drive her, and she has anxiety when she rides the bus, or free rides, because of the people, she thinks they are going to kill her."

               "Is this true Janet, that you can't stay on a bus, that you have to get off because of your anxiety? You know Janet, if you lie to me you can go to jail for perjury."

               "Yes, I know," she said, "and I can't go on busses, or other rides because of my anxiety."

               "Any final notes?" The Judge said.

               Leonard and Janet said, "No."

               "Okay, I will come to a decision after I review this recording at home," the Judge said. "I will send the results to both you Janet and you Leonard, and with that the court case is finished.”

               Leonard and Janet shook hands and left to their separate ways with a feeling that they would win the case.

 

Part Three the Ghost

 

BEFORE LEONARD went home, he went shopping. He bought eggs, noodles, milk, cereal, coffee, and pasta sauce. By the time he got home it was 6:10 P.M. He made dinner with what he bought at the store. So, he had pasta with plenty left over that he threw out.

               With an hour and fifty minutes he decided to watch television, and lucky for him his two favorite cable shows would be on, about a pawn shop and a crime investigation.

               With the shows over at 8:00 P.M. he decided to go to sleep. During his sleep he had dream about an attractive woman. He dreamed she was lying on his bed. She was giving him a massage with one leg around him. Then she was kissing his neck and whispered in his ear saying, "Let’s make-out."

               But Leonard denied her and said, "No." He said no because he wants to start changing his habits where he kisses other woman, since he doesn't want to fornicate.

               But the lady kept asking to have sex with him, and he kept saying, "No," until he woke up.

               He thought he saw an image on his bed for a half-second when he opened his eyes, then it vanished.

               When Leonard was trying to get up something forcefully pushed him off his bed and onto the floor.

               Leonard heard a whisper in his ear saying, "Kiss me, or else.”

               Leonard felt threatened and that he was dreaming, because he doesn't believe in ghosts, and this was clearly supernatural.

               He pinched himself to find he was still awake, then he said, "I don't do that anymore, and especially not with a ghost.”

               Leonard got off the floor and searched the room. He thought, now I do believe in ghosts. The ghost must have left because he couldn't find it in his room, or his apartment for that matter.

               Leonard began to think this was a one-time thing that he shouldn't worry about it.

               So, he decided to have cereal for breakfast then go for a swim before work. Leonard ate bran flakes which he buys for the extra fiber for a healthy digestive system. He finished his second and last bowl of cereal while he wore his swim trunks.

               When Leonard was swimming alone, he felt a down push then being held under, he tried to break free for a whole minute. Then his head, which was like a tree full and thick in summer, gasped for air.

               After Leonard recovered, he heard a voice from one of the lawn chairs, and his heart started to beat rapidly, not just because she was attractive, but because she seemed to appear out of thin air.

               "Hi, my name is Carla," she said.

               "I'm Leonard,” he said.

               "Come and sit down here," she pointed to an empty lawn chair. She was a dark skinned woman with pretty brown eyes, and Leonard was a muscular white male with thick, full, black hair, they fell in love at first sight.

               So, he sat down in the empty lawn chair. The chemistry he felt with her was as if he was rocketing through space. "Wow, do you feel this chemistry between us Carla?"

               "I sure do," she said. "How about we make out?"

               "Okay, just a little," Leonard said.

So, they made out and Carla was very aggressive as she kissed him. "Carla, no sex, and especially because there is a whole family living downstairs. What would they say if they saw us?"

               So, Leonard pushed off Carla. As he blinked once she was gone, she vanished in thin air.

               Now that was strange, Leonard thought, where did she go?

               He finished swimming for about thirty minutes, and he was pissed-off that he didn't get Carla's phone number.

               Leonard dried off and he remembered he forgot to put on sun lotion, so he applied some.

              

 

Part Four in Love with A Ghost

 

WHEN HE HAD his suit and tie on and his laptop, he was ready for work. This next case was for a blind person, all she needed to do was see a doctor to verify that she was blind then go to the trial.

               It turns out she didn't need to go to trial. She won her case as soon as the doctor verified, she was blind.

               After the case Leonard went to buy furniture for his new apartment. He bought furniture for his bedroom, dining room, kitchen, and front room. It was to be delivered at different times because he didn't go to the same stores, and they have different time schedules.

               When Leonard got home his new kitchen table arrived, and he didn't experience anything supernatural, such as ghosts.

               Next the television stand arrived.

The rest of his furniture should arrive tomorrow or the day after that.

               Leonard ate dinner and watched reruns of his favorite shows before going to bed. When Leonard went to bed, he had another dream or one that he thought was a dream.

               Again, a woman tried to seduce him, but this time he recognized who it was, it was Carla.

               She rubbed his back, then sat at the foot of his bed cross legged. She kept whispering to him, "Kiss me, kiss me, kiss me..."

               When Leonard awoke from his sleep he was startled, but Carla was gone. So, he got up to use the restroom.

               It was summer on a Tuesday, and after he used the bathroom, Leonard shaved and checked who rang the doorbell. It was more furniture movers, apparently, they had a brand new couch for Leonard's front room.

               He opened the door for them, and they brought it in.

               Leonard ate breakfast and watched television on his new couch. He was ready to go for a swim after he watched television, so he got his swim trunks ready.

               When he stepped outside and to his surprise, Carla was out talking to his neighbors.

               Maybe Carla isn't a ghost after all, Leonard thought. And maybe I love her because I had dreams about her.

               "Hello," said Dave's wife, child, and Carla.

               Dave spoke and said, "We're all friends here, and Carla said she's in love with you Leonard, what do you think of that?"

               "Wow," Leonard said, “I'm in love with her too.” Carla smiled when she heard that.

               "Come in the pool with us Leonard," Carla said.

               So, Leonard sat down in the pool steps where his legs only pierced the water like a flamingo. Then he walked down the stairs and into the deep section where his chin was visible.

               The boy was on a flotation device, while Dave and his wife were talking.

               As the water got deeper, Leonard began to swim next to Carla with the dog paddle.

               "I have something to tell you,” Leonard said.

               "What is it," Carla said

               "Well, I've been having dreams about you."

               "What kind of dreams?"

               "Well, they show I'm in love with you, what do you think of that?"

               "Wow," Carla said, "I like that a lot. Would you be willing to go to a place where we can be alone?"

               "What kind of place?" Leonard said.

               "How about your apartment," Carla said.

               "Okay, then let’s go," They both agreed.

               So, Carla and Leonard both went upstairs to his apartment, but just as more furniture was arriving. Leonard opened the door for the movers as Carla waited upstairs.

               It was the last of his furniture, including: A bed, lamps, chairs, dishwasher, and a dresser. It took a whole hour for the furniture to be moved in.

               While the move was taking place Carla and Leonard were talking and watching TV on cable.

               After the move, Carla was talked up and was asking Leonard if she could see the bedroom, Leonard agreed saying, "Yes."

 

 

Part Five Tragedy

 

AS SOON AS Carla got to the bedroom she was lying on the bed and asking him to come closer, but Leonard said, "No, not until we are wed. You are aggressive Carla, if it was the old me, I would have jumped on the idea of us having relations, immediately, but now I'm different because I decided not to do fornication anymore."

               "Well, that sucks," Carla said. "There's something I need to tell you Leonard."

               "Okay," he said.

               "You know those dreams you've been having?"

               Leonard nodded.

               "Well, they weren't really dreams, that was actually me trying to seduce you."

               "This is hard for me to say, but Carla, are you a ghost?"

               "Yes," she said. "But right now I manifest here. I had a tragic death an hour before my wedding."

               "Well, you shouldn't be trying to have fornication," Leonard said, and I have a question, Carla. What is dying like?"

               "Well, for me," Carla said. “Me and my engaged boyfriend, were violently murdered and robbed the day of our wedding. I died instantly, so I didn’t suffer, but I never got married.”

               "I can help you with that," Leonard said. "Just stop trying to seduce me, okay?”

               "Okay," Carla said.

               After what Leonard heard and seen, he decided not to be an atheist anymore, and he thought that God must be real.

               When Carla got off the bed and stood, Leonard took her hand and fell on one knee, he said, “Carla will you be my wife?"

               "Of course I will,” Carla said with a big smile on her face. They hugged snugly, and as Leonard spoke, she vanished between his arms. He said, "Let’s get married. Carla, where did you go? Come back, I’m trying to help you!”

               As time went on Leonard waited for Carla to come back, then he received an important letter in the mail about Janet's disability case, she won the case.

               Wow, good for her, Leonard thought.

               A couple hours later which were passed by swimming and watching cable television. Leonard got ready for work.

               His next disability case was about a man with no hands. His name was Derek, and Leonard will help him as his lawyer.

               There was a discussion about whether Derek could afford robotic hands or not, and this conversation went on during the trial between Leonard and the judge.

               Apparently, Derek's health insurance wouldn't cover those hands, so Leonard won the discussion.

               After the case when Leonard went home and before he loosened his tie and got on casual clothing, he searched for Carla, and he was unable to find her.

               The next day, and after breakfast Leonard went looking for Carla. The first place he searched, besides the apartment, was the swimming pool.

               And there she was, beautiful Carla once again swimming by herself.

               "Hi, Carla," Leonard said excitedly.

               "Hi Leonard," Carla said with a big smile, "get your swim trunks on."

               "Okay, I'll be right back."

               So, Leonard got on his swim trunks. When Leonard came back, he used the diving board for the first time and, splash, he was in the pool.

               Carla and Leonard were hungry for each other, so they kissed right away. Carla broke away for a moment and caught her breath, she said, “Let’s get married at St. Adalbert church on the first, at noon."

               "Okay," he said.

               "Okay, I'll be there too," she said.

               "I'll be gone for a while," she said. "Until it’s time for our wedding Leonard."

               "Okay," he said.

               Then she vanished between his arms.

              

 

Part Six the Wedding

 

IT WAS NOW the first of the next month, and Leonard received a letter that Derek won his disability case. Leonard was so happy that Derek won, while he ate breakfast.

               Before Leonard went to work today, he had the wedding scheduled, and right now he was looking for Carla inside the apartment and next at the swimming pool, but he couldn't find her.

               She must be at the St. Adalbert's church, he thought.

               Right now, it was 10:00 A.M. and Leonard decided to watch television until eleven-fifteen.

               Now it was time for Leonard to get ready, so he wore a black suit and drove himself to St. Adalbert's church.

               As the wedding started the best man and priest waited at the altar with Leonard for the bride. Next the groomsmen and bridesmaids came down in pairs. And last was Carla who came down the aisle with pleasant music, they were all in awe of her beautiful dress.

               After introductions and everything was said by the priest and Carla and Leonard both said, "I do.”

               The priest finished with, "You may now kiss the bride."

               And as they kissed Carla began to vanish before everyone in the church, starting with her feet and all the way up to her head.

               "Don't be startled," the priest said. "She's in heaven now."

               And after the wedding Carla was never seen again.

               Leonard was single again so he thought about what Mary said, "A true believer wouldn't have cheated." Leonard got on his best suit with a handful of roses.

               When he knocked on the door and Mary answered it, she said, "I missed you Leonard, thank you for coming over."

               "I missed you too," Leonard said, "and I came over to tell you something important, I'm a true believer now and I will never cheat again. Will you get back together with me?"

               "Of course I will, after I destroy those divorce papers.” She ripped them up and Leonard helped.

               Mary hugged him.

               Then they started kissing,

saying, "We're back together! We're back together..."

               And Leonard spoke, saying, "Yes we are! Yes, we are..."

               So, they made-up and went swimming at Leonard's apartment.

               A week later, Leonard found out by his landlord that his neighbors learned about Carla’s tragic end, but they didn’t feel haunted anymore thanks to Leonard. He said goodbye to his neighbors, and Leonard moved back in with Mary, and they renewed their marriage. He read the Bible many times and Jesus Christ became his Lord and Savior.