Closing Shift

by Cameron D. Garriepy

Elli prefers working the evening shift in a coffee shop so she can plan, unnoticed, her escape from a life of quiet desperation. Will the arrival of an intense stranger draw her out?

Genres: Short Stories

7 pages, ebook

First published August 12, 2011

About the author

Cameron D. Garriepy attended a small Vermont college in a town very like Thornton. She's missed it since the day she packed up her Subaru and drove off into the real world. Some might say she created the fictional village as wish fulfillment, and they would be correct.

She is the author of the Thornton Vermont series, and the founder of Bannerwing Books, a co-op of independent authors. Prior to Bannerwing, Cameron was an editor at Write on Edge, where she curated three volumes of the online writing group's literary anthology, Precipice. Cameron appeared in the inaugural cast of Listen to Your Mother - Boston, and irregularly contributed flash fiction to the Word Count Podcast.

Since her time at Middlebury College, Cameron has worked as a nanny, a pastry cook, an event ticket resale specialist, an office manager, and a content writer. In her spare time, she cooks, gardens, knits, reads avidly, and researches hobby farming. She writes from the greater Boston area, where she lives with her husband, son, a pug puppy, and four hens.

Reviews

[Richard Goodrum · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of a psychologically abused woman. Stirred to passion by a stranger, she's ready to start life anew.

Easy-to-read. Entertaining. Informative. Tragic. Twisted.

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this little short story; such a simple thing; a stolen moment at the end of a shift. The story left me hoping this couple experiences more than a one-nighter between two lonely people ~ it is too bad that she ran away.

Marianne Curtis
Author
Finding Gloria
Moondust and Madness: A collection of Poetry
Finding Gloria ~ Special Edition
Behind Whispering Pines
Brian's Last Ride

[Merissa (Archaeolibrarian) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very short story - a snapshot into one moment of time in a couple of peoples' lives. I won't say anything more about the story or I will tell you what happens, it really is a short story. However, what I will say is that this could be expanded into a novella or novel and I would definitely read it!

Packed full of emotion, I would have loved to have known more about David and Elli (I also prefer her 'real' name). Very well written and thoroughly enjoyable.

* Verified Purchase on Amazon *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!

[Dorel · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the first book I read by Cameron D. Garriepy. The book was too short the storyline didn't make any sense. The only reason I gave it 2 stars is because Eli could been a good character if the book was written differently. I would not recommend anyone to read this book its a waste of time. I don't think I would read books by this author if she writes this bad.

[Cameron Garriepy]

This short story is my first literary child.

Elli and David mean a great deal to me, and I hope you'll enjoy their encounter, both for the story it tells about isolation and connection, and the possibilities it presents.

[John Dolan · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Closing Shift' is an elegantly written and beautifully structured short story, with all the right ingredients to pull at your emotions. I loved it and wanted more, much more.

I will be reading more from Ms Garriepy very soon! Her full-length novel,'Buck's Landing', is already on my Kindle.

[Lance · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent elad feamle character who's easy to root for. Cameron really does agood job of delivering her story.

[SandraE · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not so much a story as it is a chapter with potential to be the opening for a full length novel.

[Linda P]

3*(7) (8pgs)

[Heather Whiting · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this short story as much for the elegant way it is written as for the plot. Can't wait to read more by this author.

[Natalie Alder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick and fulfilling

A nice short story where beliefs are challenged and lust prevails. Wonderfully descriptive writing in a concise package. A little joy.

[Susan Molloy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicely-written short story about a woman’s liberation. It was written well and coherent, and overall, I like the smooth writing style.