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First Priority
An inspirational literary short story. A first prize-winning short story in fiction-writing competition at Southeastern Louisiana University in 1987 that was published in the university's literary magazine Gambit in 1988.
June Russell is the daughter of a small-town Louisiana strawberry farmer determined to prove to her mother that she can do as well operating the strawberry farm as a man. Her mother believes in superstitions and God and has reared June on Bible verses as well as superstitions, but June is not superstitious. She intends to make it her first priority, after berry season, to influence her mother, Myrtle, to forget superstitions and rely on God's Word. Is she fighting a losing battle? She's not one to give up easily.
Andy Allen is a local strawberry inspector, and Myrtle thinks her college-educated daughter can do better than him, but she hopes her berries will pass inspection since he's smitten with June. He winks at June when they deliver strawberries to the farm bureau, and nothing escapes Myrtle.
There was just no changing her mother’s mind. It was a hopeless case. Not one to give up, she intends to make it her first priority, after berry season, to show her mother once and for all that she believes in the power of prayer, not superstitions. Well, maybe not her very first.
She smiled and sighed as Andy’s memories floated through her mind. She’d had a crush on him all through school and just when she thought he was getting serious, he’d disappeared and left town without any explanation. There one day and gone the next. Like a ghost of the past, those sweet summer memories haunted her and she couldn’t help but wonder if his twinkling eyes and dazzling smile meant he remembered those days. He had winked at her. Was it possible her mother was right? The way he’d placed his thumb above his bottom lip and on his teeth, his face gave the impression he was thinking about something besides strawberries. June hoped that for once, Myrtle was right about something, but she’d never admit it to her mom.
June and Andy's love story and romance are continued in the novel Mysterious Ways which will release in March.
June Russell is the daughter of a small-town Louisiana strawberry farmer determined to prove to her mother that she can do as well operating the strawberry farm as a man. Her mother believes in superstitions and God and has reared June on Bible verses as well as superstitions, but June is not superstitious. She intends to make it her first priority, after berry season, to influence her mother, Myrtle, to forget superstitions and rely on God's Word. Is she fighting a losing battle? She's not one to give up easily.
Andy Allen is a local strawberry inspector, and Myrtle thinks her college-educated daughter can do better than him, but she hopes her berries will pass inspection since he's smitten with June. He winks at June when they deliver strawberries to the farm bureau, and nothing escapes Myrtle.
There was just no changing her mother’s mind. It was a hopeless case. Not one to give up, she intends to make it her first priority, after berry season, to show her mother once and for all that she believes in the power of prayer, not superstitions. Well, maybe not her very first.
She smiled and sighed as Andy’s memories floated through her mind. She’d had a crush on him all through school and just when she thought he was getting serious, he’d disappeared and left town without any explanation. There one day and gone the next. Like a ghost of the past, those sweet summer memories haunted her and she couldn’t help but wonder if his twinkling eyes and dazzling smile meant he remembered those days. He had winked at her. Was it possible her mother was right? The way he’d placed his thumb above his bottom lip and on his teeth, his face gave the impression he was thinking about something besides strawberries. June hoped that for once, Myrtle was right about something, but she’d never admit it to her mom.
June and Andy's love story and romance are continued in the novel Mysterious Ways which will release in March.
26 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1987
2 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 27, 2015
First Priority: A Short Story by Author B. J. Robinson
Short and sweet novella by talented Author B.J. Robinson!
"First Priority" is a great introduction to "Mysterious Ways" when the reader gets the full picture of the romance which is yet to unfold between June and Andy. They were initially attracted to each other in high school. After going their separate ways, they meet up again at the strawberry bureau where Andy works as an inspector. June, Myrtle's college-educated daughter, is home helping her superstitious mom with her livelihood...strawberry picking. Her mother openly wishes she had a son who could help her out on the farm. Much to the chagrin of June, this constant reminder encourages her to rise to the occasion. She comes up with a bold plan to get a better price for their strawberry harvest after their crop is hit by a hail storm rather than take the measly amount offered by Andy at the bureau. June uses her creative thinking and and marketing skills to come up with a better plan...
When Author B.J. Robinson puts pen to paper she clearly demonstrates her love of writing and her gift of telling a compelling story. "First Priority" is bound to pique the reader's curiosity with the desire to know more about June, her possible romance with Andy, and whether Myrtle's suspicions are just old wives' tales...
Inspirational Author & Book Reviewer ~ Dolores Ayotte
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007K8QO28
Short and sweet novella by talented Author B.J. Robinson!
"First Priority" is a great introduction to "Mysterious Ways" when the reader gets the full picture of the romance which is yet to unfold between June and Andy. They were initially attracted to each other in high school. After going their separate ways, they meet up again at the strawberry bureau where Andy works as an inspector. June, Myrtle's college-educated daughter, is home helping her superstitious mom with her livelihood...strawberry picking. Her mother openly wishes she had a son who could help her out on the farm. Much to the chagrin of June, this constant reminder encourages her to rise to the occasion. She comes up with a bold plan to get a better price for their strawberry harvest after their crop is hit by a hail storm rather than take the measly amount offered by Andy at the bureau. June uses her creative thinking and and marketing skills to come up with a better plan...
When Author B.J. Robinson puts pen to paper she clearly demonstrates her love of writing and her gift of telling a compelling story. "First Priority" is bound to pique the reader's curiosity with the desire to know more about June, her possible romance with Andy, and whether Myrtle's suspicions are just old wives' tales...
Inspirational Author & Book Reviewer ~ Dolores Ayotte
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007K8QO28
March 16, 2015
This is a sweet book -- inspiring, just as the introduction says. I particularly liked the cover!
I like the way B.J. Robinson writes of things she knows, adding colorful details.
I like the way B.J. Robinson writes of things she knows, adding colorful details.
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December 20, 2015What a wonderful story. I can see how it won a contest. As usual, the author builds lovable characters who come across as real.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews