Kindness is Often Quiet

Released March 22, 2022
Charlotte’s essay is found on page 56. “Kindness is Often Quiet”
When in the first grade, Charlotte learned what kind and gracious people her parents truly were. Twins in her class were afraid they’d miss Christmas. Their Dad was unemployed and they had recently moved. When Charlotte’s parents learned of this they purchased coloring books, crayons, and books to read for the entire class. Santa delivered these to the classroom. Her father was the local mail carrier and knew there were two younger children in this family. On Christmas Eve, Santa delivered a bag of food and presents to the twin’s home. Years later Charlotte learned Santa had been her father dressed in a borrowed large red coat.

Retail price of the book is $14.95 and is available at all book sellers or from the author at workdesk37100@yahoo.com. $15/ includes shipping.

 

 

Uncle Homer’s Dog

Released August 13, 2021 is all about dogs.
Charlotte’s Uncle Homer was killed during the invasion of Saipan in 1944. Her Uncle’s dog was her best friend. The story tells of the love between the dog, the uncle, the child. “Uncle Homer’s Dog” can be found on page 22.
Retail price of the book is $14.95 and is available at all book sellers or from the author at workdesk37100@yahoo.com.
$15/ includes shipping.

 

 

 

The Guest Cats

A new Chicken Soup for the Soul book will be released August 8, 2017.
It is all about cats. Charlotte Lewis lived with two large white cats for more than a decade.
Her essay of how that came about was chosen for inclusion in this book.
“The Guest Cats” can be found on page 51.
Retail price of the book is $14.95 and is available at all book sellers.
All royalties from this book go to American Humane.

 

 

 

Preserving the Tradition

A recounting of the tradition in high school of a senior class prank.  No one in the class wanted to play a prank on the principal/school except one person who felt it was necessary to preserve tradition.  How much trouble can a 17-year old with 500 marbles do?   Even though she admitted the prank at graduation, no one believed her.  She was a ‘goody-two-shoes’.  At the 25th reunion of the class, the principal admitted he knew it had to be her.   Who else knew there were 500 marbles?

 

 

 

Atonement

An elderly lady lies dying. She knows this for sure as she’s eavesdropped when her doctor spoke with her children outside her room. And the doctor tells her it’s time to make her peace with her God.  A granddaughter brings her a mixed cd of music she believes her grandmother would like.  As each song plays, memories of some time or place fill her mind.  They bring her to tears.  When the nurse begins unhooking her IVs, she realizes that she is dead.  The nurse tells the granddaughter that the CD wouldn’t play but the grandchild sees her grandmother’s tears and knows that she heard every song.

 

 

 

Dawn to Dusk

Dawn to Dusk is a summary of an elder’s life.  Dawn arrived more than ninety years ago.  The life is recounted using the hours of a day.  Real smaltz but realistic to someone who is aged.  Dawn to dusk – my life has been good.

 

 

 

 

 

The Tea Room

Two friends make up a ‘waiting list’ name for those times when they are out and are asked for a name for the waiting list. Many restaurants do this. They took a syllable from each of their last names, added a Y for class and used the name for years.
One year they went to the Neiman-Marcus tea room in Beverly Hills and used their made-up name to make the reservation. They’d never been there before and were in awe at the Christmas decorations. As they were ready to pay their bill and leave they learn that their made-up name was the real name of a regular patron of the tea room. A heartwarming, totally believable story of two friends.

 

 

An Odd Sized Casket

Owl Canyon Press often has “hackathon” contests. The first paragraph and sometimes the last or one in the middle are given as definite prompts.
They must be used as-is. The author is required to write a story with 42 paragraphs using these two in the proper place. This book was produced from the 4th Hackathon. Charlotte’s essay, Funeral for an Old Friend, is on page 116. Check it out