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Weekend Guest
Short story. Sheila and Ryan were lovers until one day Sheila abruptly disappears, leaving Ryan a cryptic note.
Six months later, Sheila surprises Ryan by showing up at his apartment and pretending nothing had happened. Over a long weekend, Sheila dazzles Ryan with grandiose stories of her new life, hinting that they can be lovers again. But something isn't right. Sheila's stories change and she starts acting bizarrely. She has several cell phone calls that she hides from Ryan.
After a night of tender passion, Sheila makes a strange request -- then departs with no explanation why she is leaving or where she is going.
Reading the Sunday paper, Ryan is shocked by a front page story of a financial crime that reveal secrets Sheila had been hiding.
Six months later, Sheila surprises Ryan by showing up at his apartment and pretending nothing had happened. Over a long weekend, Sheila dazzles Ryan with grandiose stories of her new life, hinting that they can be lovers again. But something isn't right. Sheila's stories change and she starts acting bizarrely. She has several cell phone calls that she hides from Ryan.
After a night of tender passion, Sheila makes a strange request -- then departs with no explanation why she is leaving or where she is going.
Reading the Sunday paper, Ryan is shocked by a front page story of a financial crime that reveal secrets Sheila had been hiding.
27 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 2011
About the author
Jack Erickson
29 books43 followersMy interest in fiction, especially mysteries, started when I was about ten years old and read my first Hardy Boys books, "Secret of the Old Clock," I think the title was. I saved up from mowing lawns and running errands to buy every title I could. They were only $1.00 each, but when you're only making 25 cents an hour, it takes time to save those nickels and dimes.
And then I discovered shelves of exciting books at my hometown Andrew Carnegie Memorial library just two blocks away from our middle class home in the Midwest. By that time I was reading "The Saturday Evening Post," "Collier's," "Life," "Look," "Time," "Argosy," "True," "Photoplay," that my parents subscribed to and others I can't remember. Needless to say, I skimmed through them all, and devoured short stories by John O'Hara, John Steinbeck, Ernest Hemingway, Herman Wouk, and Earl Stanley Gardner.
I believe my early interest in reading was a major factor in liking school. Writing term papers was no big deal, and we all know how important that is at university. I enjoyed the many choices available with a liberal arts education and sampled liberally from science, history, languages, art history, literature, and political science.
Those wide ranging interests are probably a factor in the careers I chose, including Russian specialist in U.S. government, legislative aide and speechwriter in U.S. Senate, free-lance writer, former publisher (Red Brick Press) and author of several craft brewing books in the early days of the industry. My most recent career was in financial services from which I recently retired to travel and write.
I've been writing fiction, mostly mysteries and romantic suspense, and have several projects that will be published in the next few months.
I'm always fascinated how people become readers and writers. I'd love to hear your stories how writing chose you.
And then I discovered shelves of exciting books at my hometown Andrew Carnegie Memorial library just two blocks away from our middle class home in the Midwest. By that time I was reading "The Saturday Evening Post," "Collier's," "Life," "Look," "Time," "Argosy," "True," "Photoplay," that my parents subscribed to and others I can't remember. Needless to say, I skimmed through them all, and devoured short stories by John O'Hara, John Steinbeck, Ernest Hemingway, Herman Wouk, and Earl Stanley Gardner.
I believe my early interest in reading was a major factor in liking school. Writing term papers was no big deal, and we all know how important that is at university. I enjoyed the many choices available with a liberal arts education and sampled liberally from science, history, languages, art history, literature, and political science.
Those wide ranging interests are probably a factor in the careers I chose, including Russian specialist in U.S. government, legislative aide and speechwriter in U.S. Senate, free-lance writer, former publisher (Red Brick Press) and author of several craft brewing books in the early days of the industry. My most recent career was in financial services from which I recently retired to travel and write.
I've been writing fiction, mostly mysteries and romantic suspense, and have several projects that will be published in the next few months.
I'm always fascinated how people become readers and writers. I'd love to hear your stories how writing chose you.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 11, 2017
Poorly Written Short Story, The Plot Is Intriguing
This is a strange story. While it generally fits the short story requirements, it has no real ending. I could see this as the opener for some sort of FBI story, but it just isn’t tight enough to be a good short story. The excessive stammering by the protagonist due to his surprise is way over done. There are wasted words throughout the story, like in the description of dinner ingredients. I did like it well enough to try one of his longer novels. This author is talented and the plot he outlines for this story has real promise in a longer form. I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to share my honest review.
This is a strange story. While it generally fits the short story requirements, it has no real ending. I could see this as the opener for some sort of FBI story, but it just isn’t tight enough to be a good short story. The excessive stammering by the protagonist due to his surprise is way over done. There are wasted words throughout the story, like in the description of dinner ingredients. I did like it well enough to try one of his longer novels. This author is talented and the plot he outlines for this story has real promise in a longer form. I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to share my honest review.
March 6, 2017
Didn't realize this was a short story when I startedd it.
As I am not a fan of short stories, I was surprised to find myself liking it. It is hard to establish character in a limited time, but the author succeeded in my opinion.
I would have liked a bit more, it has potential to become a book that I would gladly read.
As I am not a fan of short stories, I was surprised to find myself liking it. It is hard to establish character in a limited time, but the author succeeded in my opinion.
I would have liked a bit more, it has potential to become a book that I would gladly read.
April 30, 2013
This is a very short, short story. The story is well written and very informative even though it is a short story.
I enjoyed reading this short story, just wish it would have been a little longer to discover what happened to the "Guest".
I enjoyed reading this short story, just wish it would have been a little longer to discover what happened to the "Guest".
July 13, 2012
It had potential but fell flat at the end, and left me thinking, "that's it? that's the big secret?"
July 2, 2013
This was a very short story with a strange ending. I usually don't like short stories. I like longer drawn out plots. This was ok. I was just getting into it when the story ended.
August 17, 2014
Very funny novella .
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews