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Matter, Space, and Time
Atom Boy
Retired and rusticating Pete McLean, former policeman, sees something new in crime-fighting in a rural setting! short story
excerpt
My name's Pete McLean, and I’ve been mixed up in a few gunfights in my time as a member of the police force in a big city. But when a fellow gets to be seventy, even though he’s still hale and hearty, the idea of taking things easy is pretty attractive.
So I retired and brought my granddaughter Effie along to this quiet little Vermont place. Effie, who is twenty-three, was married at twenty, and after about a year she had to call it quits. After her divorce, she came back to me; so she was in the mood, too, for peace and quiet.
You can rusticate grand up here with the Green Mountains all around. If that’s what you want. It came hard for me, at first. You know, the captain of a precinct in a big city gets used to action.
The nearest village is Hewlett Corners, hidden from us behind a hill. There’s nothing here but woods, a field, a brook, and an undulating white stretch of highway with our little house beside it. It didn’t take me long to discover that farming wasn’t in my line. I had to do something, so this being one of the main highways through Rutland, I put in a little gas station. The new cars were all coming in now; there was quite a bit of traffic and I did nicely.
excerpt
My name's Pete McLean, and I’ve been mixed up in a few gunfights in my time as a member of the police force in a big city. But when a fellow gets to be seventy, even though he’s still hale and hearty, the idea of taking things easy is pretty attractive.
So I retired and brought my granddaughter Effie along to this quiet little Vermont place. Effie, who is twenty-three, was married at twenty, and after about a year she had to call it quits. After her divorce, she came back to me; so she was in the mood, too, for peace and quiet.
You can rusticate grand up here with the Green Mountains all around. If that’s what you want. It came hard for me, at first. You know, the captain of a precinct in a big city gets used to action.
The nearest village is Hewlett Corners, hidden from us behind a hill. There’s nothing here but woods, a field, a brook, and an undulating white stretch of highway with our little house beside it. It didn’t take me long to discover that farming wasn’t in my line. I had to do something, so this being one of the main highways through Rutland, I put in a little gas station. The new cars were all coming in now; there was quite a bit of traffic and I did nicely.
- GenresShort Stories
18 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 23, 2009
5 people want to read
About the author
Ray Cummings
333 books21 followersRaymond King Cummings. His career resulted in some 750 novels and short stories, using also the pen names Ray King, Gabrielle Cummings, and Gabriel Wilson.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 21, 2024
I went into this quick little story with no context of what I was getting myself into. And boy, was it fun! Really short, but really clever. A quick, one-sitting read with a tiny bit of mystery to it.
October 29, 2024
Rating: I didn't liked it
Format: Ebook
Boring
Format: Ebook
Boring
July 17, 2014
Boy considered nuts for his passion for chemistry. Outwits thieves with chemicals. Wins the hand of his girl.
Could have been the story of a Bollywood/Hollywood movie if the passion for chemistry was replaced by passion for music/dance/cars. Not an original plot,and the presentation is dull.
Could have been the story of a Bollywood/Hollywood movie if the passion for chemistry was replaced by passion for music/dance/cars. Not an original plot,and the presentation is dull.
February 21, 2016
Fun short story where the chemistry nerd saves the day with chemistry, and gets the girl too.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews