Short Stories

by Dee Hartmann

Story #1 Abby's Friend

Abigail’s eyes squinted as the electric doors swished open in front of her. It had been three month’s since she had been outdoors and the sun’s rush upon her skin felt warm and healing. As she breathed in the air it felt....... real, not like the recycled air in the hospital with it’s hints of sickness and sanitizer.

You see, her stay in the hospital had changed her. To stay positive she would visit the children’s cancer ward and while doing that she met a young girl named Bella that shared with her that God wasn’t just an enigma up in the sky but He was her friend. Abby was touched by the tiny girls relationship that seemed so intimate and through their time together she came to accept Jesus as her Savior.

The nurse had called a cab to pick her up since her husband had left her when she first became ill and no children were ever born from the brief union. She felt afraid but excited at the same time. Surviving the cancer had made her spirit stronger although her body was still weak. As she closed the door to the cab she said, “5th and Ocean please.” The driver, facing straight forward, said nothing as he merged out into traffic.

The ride took Abby past familiar landmarks, some making her smile yet others bringing back sadder memories. Although her emotions were all over the place, she couldn’t help but feel peace, a strange peace that made her body feel at ease and serene. She lost herself in her thoughts until she recognized the smell of the sea. It’s salty green coolness began to enter her skin and a sweet whisper passed her lips, “Home”.

A few minutes later she raised her hand and touched the driver’s back, “You can stop here” she said. He pulled over to the side where the sand had spilled over onto the road. He remained as he was, silent and unobtrusive, as if giving her the respect of stillness, at least that’s what it felt like. She sat and stared out the window as the glistening sea danced like a liquid parade welcoming her home. Her heart welled up with an emotion that she hadn’t felt in a long time. She was going to be okay......everything was going to be alright and she felt safe.

She reached for the door handle, pulled it and pushed the cab door open. Then, reaching down she took her sandles off and held them as she swung her bare feet out into the warm sand. It rose up between her toes and the heat from the sun’s rays seemed to envelope her. She felt her arms rise a bit in front of her as if she thought it would all run to her and hug her. The cool breeze brought the sound of children playing in the distance and the rhythmic beating of the waves against the shore made her mind relax.

She walked toward the water, not even noticing the weakness that still remained in her legs. Stopping at its edge, the waves surrounded her feet as if they knew she wasn’t ready for their real power, so they were gentle with her. Facing west, she closed her eyes for a moment, letting the warm sand and sun settle on her and the soft breeze sweep across the tiny hairs on her body. “Thank you Lord,” she sighed. “Thank you for all of it.”  At that moment a small cloud passed over the sun as if to remind her that life will always have its dark and light moments. The peace of the moment brought her relief from the prior months, and it was evident as her face reflected the inner glow of new found repose.

“It’s time for me to go rest now” she said to the sea. “I’ll be back tomorrow.....I know you’ll be waiting for me.” She turned and walked toward her cottage, each step feeling like strength coming back to her soul.  The sun now beginning to cast its twilight glow, she thought of her life that lay ahead and she realized that although things would be different........she wasn’t alone anymore. If she hadn’t got the cancer she would have never met little Bella and never come to have the peace of God that she now knew. “Blessings little girl, for being so pure.” Abby whispered into the air. Then she opened the cottage door, wiggled the sand from her toes and took her first step toward her new life.

Story #2 The Circle of Life

There once was a boy named Nodnarb, who lived in the darkness of Woosh. One day the voice of his father spoke to him and told him that he would have to leave Woosh and go to where the light was. He was needed there and no one else could do what he was chosen to do. Nodnarb went courageously, not knowing what lay ahead, but he knew that his father packed everything that he would need inside of him, and so he went.


Meanwhile, in the land of light there was a young woman named Semra, she was very lost and had much confusion over the strange shaped pieces that rattled around in her heart. She was in much need of something bigger than herself she thought, but her father who loved her dearly, knew that he was the bigger thing she needed, and that it was actually something smaller than her that would show her the way, so he gave her Nodnarb.


Nothing in all of the land of light could take Semra's attention away from her small gift, her precious son. Everyday she held him, fed him and spoke love to him. She adored and protected him with all her heart, body, mind and soul. Nodnarb became more important to Semra than herself. Neither of them knew, but their father had laid out a course for them to travel through the land of light, and every event would lay a color upon their journey. You see, in the land of light, the more colors you have to take with you when you have to go back to Woosh, the more exciting it will be when the lights finally come on there, and all is revealed! The whole purpose of life in the land of light is to collect as many colors as we can!


Semra began their journey even though she had to learn along the way how to care for Nodnarb. There were many times when Semra was afraid and felt alone but she began to see something that comforted her spirit....Nodnarb's heart was different than the other boys, the treasures that his father packed into his heart weren't common ones but each had a peculiar shape just like the one's in her own heart! She couldn't put her finger on it but she could see her father's handiwork in it and that made her feel safe and gave her courage to go on.


Semra and Nodnarb traveled many miles during many years, through valleys and to mountain tops together and never left each others sides, no matter how difficult the paths were. They cared for each other and forgave each other for all the times they didn't understand the other ones heart.  He made her laugh and she taught him about deep things. But, as it is in the land of light, everyone must grow, Semra's father wanted her to go travel with him and the time came for Nodnarb to go be a man in his own right. So their father sat them down and said that he would help them to break the seal that held them together. Semra was terrified and wept, which made Nodnarb feel guilty and terrible because he wasn't doing anything wrong. He was just doing what all the strong, young men were called to do naturally at that time in their lives. So, their father told them that to break the seal they would not  have to pull apart, but instead come together.


They trusted their father and as they leaned forward toward each other, their father revealed to them the meaning of the odd shaped pieces. Semra's fell first and as Nodnarb's pieces fell over hers they realized that they were puzzle pieces! They each had the other side of the other one's piece, and as the pieces settled, there among them emerged a picture of their journey together! Everything suddenly had meaning and purpose! It was by coming together, not pulling apart, that their seal was broken, but the father replaced it with something much stronger, he gave them memories and wisdom that would permanently live in their hearts forever! Stories and lessons that they would share along their new paths. Nodnarb was now free to go and become the man his father intended him to be!


And that's exactly what he did! Nodnarb met and married a beautiful young woman named Anna oj. in the land of light, and they asked their father for two children from Woosh and he gave them to them, to care for and to love, they named them Copper and Eba. Semra traveled with her father to many strange places, bringing all she had learned wherever he took her. He also taught her that she was her own woman, one that would serve in many different roles during her lifetime and not be defined by just one of them. By letting go, Semra received so much more! She often visited her family, and when she would hear those pieces rattling in her grandchildren, she would just smile. Their memories and new insights grew and it was very wonderful for all of them because they loved to share those things with each other. Nodnarb told Anna oj the story of the peculiar pieces and that they would have to lean toward their children one day to break the seals. But Anna oj just laughed and said, "We'll deal with that someday, for now, let's just add colors to our journey!"