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    The Potting Shed and Other Stories
    The Potting Shed and Other Stories
    The Potting Shed and Other Stories
    Ebook80 pages1 hour

    The Potting Shed and Other Stories

    By Piper Templeton

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    About this ebook

    Told with subtle drama, humor, and a hint of irony, this collection of short stories scrapes beneath the surface of facades and explores human nature, moral dilemmas, and people trying to connect with one another.

    The collection includes a father trying to reconnect with his son through John Lennon; a young woman returning to her hometown to face an incident that's plagued her conscience since she left; a dissatisfied woman who imagines an eye-catching bag in a storefront window will fill her void; a chance meeting between two strangers at a train station; an elderly woman awaiting a friend's visit as she reflects on a life that's winding down; and an introverted man's desire to visit a farm from childhood.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPiper Templeton
    Release dateAug 8, 2017
    ISBN9781370158263
    The Potting Shed and Other Stories
    Author

    Piper Templeton

    Piper Templeton was born in a New Orleans subdivision in 1964. A Liberal Arts graduate from the University of New Orleans, she loves writing fiction that mines beneath the surface of seemingly ordinary people’s lives. Her first book, Rain Clouds and Waterfalls, was published on Kindle and Create Space in May 2014. She followed it up in 2016 with a women’s fiction/mystery set in New Orleans, Beneath the Shady Tree. Combining her love of children and books, Piper volunteers for a reading program for second graders. She continues to reside in the New Orleans area with her three feathered friends.

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      Book preview

      The Potting Shed and Other Stories - Piper Templeton

      Title Page

      by

      Piper Templeton

      Table of Contents

      Title Page

      Copyright Information

      Dakota

      The Potting Shed

      The Purple Pocketbook

      Love, Scarlett!

      The Last Time

      Miss Landry’s Farm

      Sample Chapters Introduction

      Rain Clouds and Waterfalls Excerpt

      Beneath the Shady Tree Excerpt

      About the Author

      Copyright Information

      © 2017 Piper Templeton

      All Rights Reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher/author except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

      Dakota

      Dylan sat at his old spinet piano in his basement apartment cluttered with guitars, amplifiers and left-over pizza boxes. The late morning sounds of his old Queens neighborhood blared outside—utility trucks rumbling, horns honking, jackhammers buzzing down the road. He started playing the opening bars to Imagine. Whenever he sat at the piano, he began with Imagine.

      The baby upstairs started crying. He stopped playing. He got up, walked across the room to the kitchen area, and grabbed a can of Coke from the fridge. By the time he got back to the living room, the crying had stopped. His mom knew how to soothe his half-sister. It still boggled his mind that his mother and her new husband had a baby together. At 18, he had a baby sister. Half sister. He shuddered and started practicing one of the new tunes on the guitar. The guys planned to come over to rehearse after his shift at the pizza shop.

      He sat back down at the piano where his eyes focused for a moment on the framed picture sitting on top of it: Him, his mom and dad, when it was just the three of them. Central Park. They looked so happy. Were they happy now that they lived apart with new families? Imagine started emanating from the piano as if his fingers worked separately from his mind.

      When he heard the door click, he turned around.

      Dad! Hi.

      Hey, son! Nick Rearden ducked under the door frame and walked across the small carpeted space between the door and his son. Dylan turned to face the piano again and struck the keys absent-mindedly.

      What? No hug for your old man? asked Nick. He leaned over and wrapped his arm around Dylan’s shoulder. Dylan stiffened.

      Nick cleared some papers off the office swivel chair and took a seat. Then he wheeled himself near the piano. He looked around the apartment.

      Nice set-up you got here, son. This works, this works.

      Dylan shrugged. I guess.

      You got some privacy now. You don’t have to worry about your stepsisters barging into your room. And you got a better to place to practice. I’m going to repair some of that Sheetrock over there for you, he said, pointing to a damaged portion of the wall. Build you some shelves for your music stuff. What else you need?

      Dylan kept one hand on the piano but halfway turned to face him. I told you about that leak in the bathroom sink—

      Nick slapped the top of his head. Damn! Dylan, I forgot all about that. These days, if I don’t write something down... He stood. I’m going to go get the tools from my truck and take care of it right now.

      No need. Mom called a plumber.

      Now what did she go and do that for? They cost a fortune and I could have done it in no time.

      I waited a couple of weeks. You never showed up.

      Look, son, he said, taking his seat again. He leaned forward in the chair. You know you can call me anytime.

      Dylan looked at the piano keys. I did call you.

      But you should’ve called me again to remind me.

      I know you have a lot on your plate these days.

      Dylan resumed Imagine.

      Nick stood up and playfully gripped Dylan’s shoulders. It’s fitting you’re playing that. You’ll never believe the call I got today for a job.

      When Dylan continued playing, Nick let go and stood back. "This official sounding dude calls up, you know the kind—like a personal assistant type. He said his employer wants me to come out and give the lady an estimate on an indoor Oriental waterfall type fountain."

      Asian.

      Huh?

      People say Asian now, Dad.

      Okay, okay. Whatever. Anyway, he gives me the address. It’s The Dakota Building.

      Dylan continued playing.

      "Don’t you get it? The Dakota."

      Dylan shrugged.

      Son, that’s where John Lennon lived.

      Dylan stopped playing. It’s also where he died.

      I know. But I think this job is for Yoko Ono.

      Dylan turned around. Come on, Dad. Probably 500 people live in that building.

      "But how many want Oriental—Asian waterfall type fountains? And how many have personal assistants who only refer to their boss as the lady like it’s some big secret?"

      Even if it is, what’s the big deal? You think Lennon’s ghost haunts the place or something?

      Of course not. But I want you to come with me. How cool would it be to see it?!

      Dylan looked down at the carpet.

      "You might see his piano."

      Dylan’s eyes lit up for a moment.

      You can come as my assistant on this job.

      I thought Jacob worked as your assistant.

      "Jacob?!"

      Yeah. You know, the stepson who works with you and goes to ballgames with you all the time.

      Nick sighed. "Come on, son. You know that’s not fair. Jacob’s interested in construction work. He’s taking it up

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