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Ladybug Boy
Librarian's note: This is an Alternate Cover Edition for ASIN: B00WZIUOQK.
Thirteen-year-old Lola Grimes' parents are out of town and her twin brother, Nicky, has decided to take advantage of the situation and have a sleepover. Among the boys he invites is Claude Bonhomme, aka The Ladybug Boy. Lola has a crush on Claude, even though they've never spoken. While the boys play Dungeons and Dragons, Lola's night is filled with one frustrating attempt after another to get Claude's attention. But, just around midnight, during a game of Truth or Dare, she just might have a chance to really be noticed. Set in 1985, this short story explores the pain, the glory, the humor and the tragedy of growing up.
Thirteen-year-old Lola Grimes' parents are out of town and her twin brother, Nicky, has decided to take advantage of the situation and have a sleepover. Among the boys he invites is Claude Bonhomme, aka The Ladybug Boy. Lola has a crush on Claude, even though they've never spoken. While the boys play Dungeons and Dragons, Lola's night is filled with one frustrating attempt after another to get Claude's attention. But, just around midnight, during a game of Truth or Dare, she just might have a chance to really be noticed. Set in 1985, this short story explores the pain, the glory, the humor and the tragedy of growing up.
35 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 30, 2015
About the author
Dwayne Fry
62 books133 followersI was reading some time before other children my age. My dad helped to teach me and some of my reading skills were self-taught. I was reading books on my own before I entered Kindergarten. A severe underachiever in so many other academics, literature and language always came so easy to me.
Most people have a funny bone, even if modern science still can’t tell us where it’s located. I believe I have three. I always sought out books that were funny or whimsical. When I was eleven years old, I took it upon myself to write a novel that would be funnier than anything I’d ever read. Okay, full disclosure, I wrote it with a friend and his parts were funnier than mine. The book as a whole was pretty awful, though.
I have written numerous books over the years that were far too good for public consumption and they’ll never see the light of day. That’s the lie I tell myself, anyway. The truth is, I never tried to publish back then because I felt my work was a little too out there and most publishers would pass on it. Whether that’s reality or if I was just lazy, I’ll never tell. These days I self publish.
Most of what I offer are short stories and novellas, but I do have a novel in there called Rave On, about a rockabilly singer who falls for a magician with a strange secret. My second novel, Suckers & Rogues, is a coming-of-age tragedy about a group of teenagers working in the corn fields of Iowa in the mid-eighties. My third should be out soon. It’s called Survival of the Funnest and it’s the wacky story about a man who travels to Africa for a reality TV competition, and what happens to him and his family after returning home.
Most people have a funny bone, even if modern science still can’t tell us where it’s located. I believe I have three. I always sought out books that were funny or whimsical. When I was eleven years old, I took it upon myself to write a novel that would be funnier than anything I’d ever read. Okay, full disclosure, I wrote it with a friend and his parts were funnier than mine. The book as a whole was pretty awful, though.
I have written numerous books over the years that were far too good for public consumption and they’ll never see the light of day. That’s the lie I tell myself, anyway. The truth is, I never tried to publish back then because I felt my work was a little too out there and most publishers would pass on it. Whether that’s reality or if I was just lazy, I’ll never tell. These days I self publish.
Most of what I offer are short stories and novellas, but I do have a novel in there called Rave On, about a rockabilly singer who falls for a magician with a strange secret. My second novel, Suckers & Rogues, is a coming-of-age tragedy about a group of teenagers working in the corn fields of Iowa in the mid-eighties. My third should be out soon. It’s called Survival of the Funnest and it’s the wacky story about a man who travels to Africa for a reality TV competition, and what happens to him and his family after returning home.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 26, 2015
This is the third short story I read from this author. While I'm not a fan of short stories in general, I find his work enjoyable so I seem to always come back for more.
In this one, we follow a young group of friends doing a sleep over while their parents are out for the weekend. Mr. Fry's teens are convincing, acting like true teenagers/pre-teens. I'd really have to wonder if this was not the result of a hidden camera. I could totally see this being true. The part where they played Dungeons & Dragons made me smile as it brought back memories of a game I loved to hate or hated to love, depending on the days.
The story was cute and a perfect read to relax between two longer novels.
In this one, we follow a young group of friends doing a sleep over while their parents are out for the weekend. Mr. Fry's teens are convincing, acting like true teenagers/pre-teens. I'd really have to wonder if this was not the result of a hidden camera. I could totally see this being true. The part where they played Dungeons & Dragons made me smile as it brought back memories of a game I loved to hate or hated to love, depending on the days.
The story was cute and a perfect read to relax between two longer novels.
July 19, 2015
This might be the sweetest story I've read by Mr. Fry. I may be slightly biased because my own awkward teen years fell right around the same time as Lola's and I'm sure that I too was prone to fits of melodrama. Aside from the semi-awkward nostalgia, the story is well written and highly enjoyable. Though it is short, we get a pretty well rounded view of the individual personalities of each of the characters. I'm looking forward to seeing more of these kids.
January 28, 2017
Sweet Nostalgia
Welcome to 12 years old again. It's 1985 and the boys are playing D & D in the basement. The parents are on a trip, and you, the only girl, are having a bit of serious adolescent angst, heightened by having your crush, Ladybug Boy, in the house with your brother's other friends, and not noticing you at all.
This little tale is well worth reading. Very real. I feel like I just remembered something.
Welcome to 12 years old again. It's 1985 and the boys are playing D & D in the basement. The parents are on a trip, and you, the only girl, are having a bit of serious adolescent angst, heightened by having your crush, Ladybug Boy, in the house with your brother's other friends, and not noticing you at all.
This little tale is well worth reading. Very real. I feel like I just remembered something.
April 5, 2017
Entertaining and funny short-story. I laughed a lot about the boys playing Dungeons and Dragons and enjoyed the sweet romance as well.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews