Second Collection of Short Stories Book 2 of The Soul Series
Fictional Humor Short Stories
Date Published: 01-25-2023
Publisher: Magic Zoe Publishing
One Soul’s Journey is an eclectic and extraordinary collection of short
stories.
The ingredients: imagination, a dash of real life, inspiration, and lots of
love. If you’ve read and loved her first collection, “For the
Soul,” this book will delight you.
Praise for The Soul Series
5.0 out of 5 stars
“Delightfully charming short stories”
“Excellent book. A must-read”
EXCERPT
A CHILD’S MUSINGS ON AN UNJUST WORLD
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
Martin Luther King
As a young child, I was taught early on the difference between right and wrong, injustice, and rude behavior. Those were lessons that followed me to this day.
Several times around the age of twelve, we rode the rail transportation of the Rock Island Lines to ferry us four kids back home from Illinois to Colorado after summer vacations. My parents would drive us to my grandparents’ home, and then they would send us back on the train.
At that time, my grandfather would find a porter. His instructions were to watch over us. He was to supply us with blankets and pillows and ensure we were well taken care of during our trip.
Gramps told me, being the eldest, that ‘George’ would be nearby to help us if we needed anything. George did an excellent job of treating us like family. I always hoped my grandfather paid the kind, Black man for his services, but, in later years, I pondered whether that would have been a custom of the times. I learned that all porters were called George as it was easier for ‘White folks’ to remember one name for all people with darker skin color. Even at my young age, I found that preposterous. How disrespectful was it not to use a person’s real name?
Recalling an earlier event, before these rail trips took place, our family took a trip to Arkansas to visit my mother’s brother. I was seven years old. This was before we moved away to Colorado. I remember how hot and sticky it was in that summer heat. Illinois could be humid but nothing like this. The trip was miserable.
I recalled that my uncle owned a rather large home compared to our small one, where we all shared bedrooms. What struck me as odd was the large dining room table where we sat for our lunch. Fancy dishes and glasses were set out for this noontime meal or maybe to show off. The oddest of all was a Black lady in a black dress with a white apron who served our food. My uncle would tell her what to do and say “that will be all” while we all sat there. Even at a young age, I thought this was rude. Didn’t these people have manners? Why would anyone treat another person this way? My mom would have paddled me for sure if I spoke to anyone like that.
After lunch, we strolled around the town square to buy ice cream. Of course, I could read, and for the life of me, I could not figure out why the printed water fountain sign said, ‘for white use only.’ What did that mean?
Then there were signs in the window which read ‘coloreds served in the rear.’ Finally, my questions were answered, first by people-watching and then by explanations from my parents. This was the way of life here. I was so shocked that I had no words. To me, people were people. There should be no difference. How in the world could people do that to each other?
1957-1962 true story.
And my thoughts are still the same.
About the Author
Barbara Daniels Dena is an American best-selling author and influential
writer of her eclectic short stories in ‘The Soul Series.’
The author’s stories are almost a memoir and are a unique collection of
inspiring short stories of ‘good ole fashioned living,’ along with many past
and present memories and life experiences that tug on the heart, warming
stories, and fictional tall tales and doggie tails delighting readers
worldwide. The books are available on Amazon Books, Kindle, and many fine
online book sites.
Barbara began writing at an early age as a lover of
“Make-Believe.” Today, her writing has developed from memories of
family experiences, various compilations of events in her life, and her love
of animals. She is willing to admit that her vivid imagination plays a role
in her stories. The author is an Illinois native who has lived in many
places; as Barb says, like a free-spirited “Gypsy,” she has lived
and worked in Illinois, Washington, Idaho, and Georgia, but Ultimately,
comes home settling back in the Quad Cities area of Illinois.
She is a proud mother of two grown children. She was a business owner, ran
a Temp Agency, transitioned into her passion for floral design, and opened,
owned, and ran several floral shops. Her favorite flower is the
“Casablanca Lily.” Her favorite color is Red, and when she isn’t
writing, Barbara spends her free time oil painting and enjoys quilting,
knitting, and reading.
Her favorite book is “Death Be Not Proud” by John J. Gunther. Her
first love will always be playing with her fur baby; a little Yorkie named
Zoe. She continues to write from her cozy nook as she gazes over a pond full
of geese and ducks. On many days it is more gazing than writing.
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