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Yesterday
A heartwarming short story collection of family life, friendship, and love
- WARNING - these powerful, emotive, stories might make you cry
YESTERDAY is a collection of emotive stories that have won recognition in international competitions, been published in summer specials, glossy magazines, and broadcast on radio
Heartwarming, Tearjerker, Women's
#1 The Biker
She had known another motorbike-mad lad, and he had been special, as well. He’d always had mechanical bits and pieces hanging around, particularly as a teenager...
#2 Take Your Partners
The lights were down, and they were dancing very slowly. She enjoyed the atmosphere, felt as if she was drifting on a cloud. This sort of friendship didn’t happen often, but when it did, she knew how to make the most.
#3 Forget-Me-Not Days
Gran’s notion of her lifestyle was that it was a rucked old sack in need of smoothing out, but does Gran always know best?
#4 Ben And I
Mum had been emotional before I left, but I couldn’t really blame her. After our angry exchange, she started on the baking as if it were unarmed combat. Flour powdered everything, and I knew it would be best if I left her to it. Dad might have to suffer her wrath while I was away, but that couldn’t be helped. I wasn’t Mum’s favourite person at the moment, and when swords are crossed family life has to suffer.
#5 A Stroll In The Park
The little girl brushed her as they passed the big iron gates. For some reason she instinctively knew who the girl was. A minor indiscretion, love? Such a small term to encompass tragedy.
#6 Seal Of Approval
The room was dark with shadow. Green velvet curtains smothered the daylight. The dark green carpet was well on its way to being threadbare. In the middle of the room, stood a round table covered with lace. An old long-case clock ticked away loudly in the hall.
“It’s great,” Kevin said, open-mouthed. “Just like a haunted house I saw on the TV... Is it haunted?”
#7 Tomboy
Rita rummaged in her bag. She was around fifty and had what Grant once described as a ‘well-worn’ face. Not that he’d meant it in a derogatory way, it was just that… well, she looked sort of…. comfortable.
Because of the way she dressed, she probably appeared older than her years, but she had a pleasant personality, a sensuous voice, and was the mainstay of the local amateur dramatics society. She also had the dubious distinction of being the mother of Dominic Jenning.
#8 Past Mistakes
She searched for a clever reply. It suddenly struck her that Mum was right, she did treat life too lightly. Now was as good a time as any to start being a little more serious. She cleared her throat again, but it didn’t clear the commotion in her head. She knew that what she did now, might affect her life forever.
#9 The Punch And Judy Man
A dozen conflicting feelings raced through me. It was ridiculous that mere words should conjure so much emotion, should drag so many memories into the rawness of the day. You’d think at my age I’d be able to control them. It isn’t as if I haven’t had practice, but it’s hard when I’m caught unawares. It could all have been yesterday, yet sometimes it seems as if it was I00 years ago. I still want to cry, even now.
#10 The Otter Boy
At the bottom of the hill, just before the wood, an old bridge crossed the brook.
- WARNING - these powerful, emotive, stories might make you cry
YESTERDAY is a collection of emotive stories that have won recognition in international competitions, been published in summer specials, glossy magazines, and broadcast on radio
Heartwarming, Tearjerker, Women's
#1 The Biker
She had known another motorbike-mad lad, and he had been special, as well. He’d always had mechanical bits and pieces hanging around, particularly as a teenager...
#2 Take Your Partners
The lights were down, and they were dancing very slowly. She enjoyed the atmosphere, felt as if she was drifting on a cloud. This sort of friendship didn’t happen often, but when it did, she knew how to make the most.
#3 Forget-Me-Not Days
Gran’s notion of her lifestyle was that it was a rucked old sack in need of smoothing out, but does Gran always know best?
#4 Ben And I
Mum had been emotional before I left, but I couldn’t really blame her. After our angry exchange, she started on the baking as if it were unarmed combat. Flour powdered everything, and I knew it would be best if I left her to it. Dad might have to suffer her wrath while I was away, but that couldn’t be helped. I wasn’t Mum’s favourite person at the moment, and when swords are crossed family life has to suffer.
#5 A Stroll In The Park
The little girl brushed her as they passed the big iron gates. For some reason she instinctively knew who the girl was. A minor indiscretion, love? Such a small term to encompass tragedy.
#6 Seal Of Approval
The room was dark with shadow. Green velvet curtains smothered the daylight. The dark green carpet was well on its way to being threadbare. In the middle of the room, stood a round table covered with lace. An old long-case clock ticked away loudly in the hall.
“It’s great,” Kevin said, open-mouthed. “Just like a haunted house I saw on the TV... Is it haunted?”
#7 Tomboy
Rita rummaged in her bag. She was around fifty and had what Grant once described as a ‘well-worn’ face. Not that he’d meant it in a derogatory way, it was just that… well, she looked sort of…. comfortable.
Because of the way she dressed, she probably appeared older than her years, but she had a pleasant personality, a sensuous voice, and was the mainstay of the local amateur dramatics society. She also had the dubious distinction of being the mother of Dominic Jenning.
#8 Past Mistakes
She searched for a clever reply. It suddenly struck her that Mum was right, she did treat life too lightly. Now was as good a time as any to start being a little more serious. She cleared her throat again, but it didn’t clear the commotion in her head. She knew that what she did now, might affect her life forever.
#9 The Punch And Judy Man
A dozen conflicting feelings raced through me. It was ridiculous that mere words should conjure so much emotion, should drag so many memories into the rawness of the day. You’d think at my age I’d be able to control them. It isn’t as if I haven’t had practice, but it’s hard when I’m caught unawares. It could all have been yesterday, yet sometimes it seems as if it was I00 years ago. I still want to cry, even now.
#10 The Otter Boy
At the bottom of the hill, just before the wood, an old bridge crossed the brook.
82 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 6, 2011
About the author
A.J. Barnett
10 books51 followersI’ve been an obsessive writer for almost as long as I’ve been a reader. In 1994, I went public when a string of magazine stories were accepted and have been lucky enough to be published ever since.
I unquestionably love my own stories, or I wouldn’t have written them. If anyone is interested in what I was trying to do with a particular story, I’ll put it under my own ‘review’ of the story – otherwise, I’m principally here to share what I enjoy, and enjoy what you share.
I won't give longs reviews on books - you'll probably accuse me of promoting other authors if I do - so I'll keep my reviews short and sweet.
My stories have been recorded by 'Talking Newspapers' for distribution to the visually impaired, have featured in periodicals, anthologies, summer specials, international newspapers, been broadcast on prime-time radio, and published in several international writing competitions, at times fighting off entrants from 27 countries. An audio collection of short stories has been released, recorded by radio personality, Pauline McGough.
I have two elder sisters, two daughters, and inherited two more daughters with a second marriage. I count myself lucky to live on the outskirts of Jalón, Spain, overlooking vineyards, villages and olive groves.
I unquestionably love my own stories, or I wouldn’t have written them. If anyone is interested in what I was trying to do with a particular story, I’ll put it under my own ‘review’ of the story – otherwise, I’m principally here to share what I enjoy, and enjoy what you share.
I won't give longs reviews on books - you'll probably accuse me of promoting other authors if I do - so I'll keep my reviews short and sweet.
My stories have been recorded by 'Talking Newspapers' for distribution to the visually impaired, have featured in periodicals, anthologies, summer specials, international newspapers, been broadcast on prime-time radio, and published in several international writing competitions, at times fighting off entrants from 27 countries. An audio collection of short stories has been released, recorded by radio personality, Pauline McGough.
I have two elder sisters, two daughters, and inherited two more daughters with a second marriage. I count myself lucky to live on the outskirts of Jalón, Spain, overlooking vineyards, villages and olive groves.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 9, 2012
A very well written set of short stories.
May 19, 2011
This is another collection of heartwarming short stories.
My first collection of tear-jerkers seems to be quite popular in the UK, so I thought I'd offer a further ten stories. I hope you enjoy reading them. as much as I enjoyed writing.
My first collection of tear-jerkers seems to be quite popular in the UK, so I thought I'd offer a further ten stories. I hope you enjoy reading them. as much as I enjoyed writing.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews