Stories for the Seasons
24 tales of -- courage sacrifice compassion redemption resurrection
by
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"When she touched the baby, from deep within, some distant knowledge and far-away experiences meshed together. Kneeling down next to the manger, the little girl reached out a hand and touched one arm of the baby. Uttering the first words she had spoken in years, she sang in a soft, shaky voice, `Happy birthday to you; happy birthday to you; happy birthday, dear Jesus; happy birthday to you.' She leaned forward and kissed the baby on the forehead. It suddenly dawned on her that an outcast such as she did not belong here. Turning, she ran down the aisle, through the door, down the dark hall, and back out into the night.” from A Christmas Trinity
"He was there the evening Willie was out of town helping folks register to vote, the evening when a rougher group of men got liquored up and decided to pay Flavia a call. Dummy had left for his shack shortly after sharing supper with Flavia but had instinctively sat down in the shadows where the drive turned onto the road. He was still waiting when the men approached. The group had several lanterns with them. Their glow showed Dummy scrambling to his feet, holding a club fashioned from a tree branch. The men halted, surprised to see him. Dummy stood there holding his club. What they saw on his face would have been enough to make them leave but one troublemaker skulking at the back of the group egged them on.” from Dummy's 68-Year Valentine
"One day, Padre Roberto was strolling through these fields. The old friar was the only one remaining of the four Franciscan brothers who had once been assigned to the mission. Those were the days when Santa Maria was a growing and bustling town instead of the sleepy, fading village it had become. He came upon a group of children gathering flowers. In the middle of this group of laughing and shouting children were Carlitos and Estrella. On the little gray burro's back were several children. Walking alongside was a watchful Carlitos. Even Estrella seemed to be smiling. It was a scene to warm Padre Roberto's heart. It had been years since he had observed such laughter and gaiety in the village.” from El Burrito de la Navidad
"Memories of the old woman and the woodpile had haunted the traveler for a year. Now, he had returned to the Midsouth. His car bounced along the same dirt lane he had driven down twice the previous October - once by accident, the second time on purpose to see for himself what he found it difficult to believe. The ruts seemed deeper this time. Dead tree limbs littered the way, and vines snaked in from the undergrowth on either side of the lane. Overgrown bushes scraped against the sides of his car. The first two times, the going had been smoother, leaving him that much more unprepared for what he would find deep in this thick wood along the Loosahatchie River bottoms.” from The Specter by the Woodpile
"'I thank you, simple creatures, for your comfort and nourishment. And now I must be on my way. I have my father's work to continue.' He reached down to scratch Ezekiel behind the ears and ruffle the feathers around Rebecca's neck. `I think we will meet again,' he said. The man picked up a heavy tree branch that lay nearby, snapped off both ends as though they were mere twigs, and strolled off to the west. He turned once to wave goodbye to the two animals. Ezekiel stood on his hind feet and his nose twitched. Rebecca clucked and ruffled her feathers. The two friends watched until the man was out of sight, then talked excitedly about what had taken place. They both felt as though somehow their journey had reached a climax, and so it was time to return home.” from Why a Rabbit Delivers Easter Eggs
"Johnson had me driving that night. I was listening to the radio and clocking passing motorists when I heard a sob. I glanced over. The flickering red light of a nearby motel sign was shining on tears streaming down Johnson's face. He noticed me staring before I quick turned back to the road ahead. He reached for his handkerchief. He cursed quietly as he wiped his face, sighed deeply, and looked over at me. `It's not right, Wagner,' he said. `Things like that. They shouldn't happen. To adults, maybe. That's life. But not kids, not children.' His voice choked and he looked down the dark road. `Someday, he whispered, `someday …' Someday was two weeks later.” from The Policeman who Cried
"The king watched the falling snow and wondered still again how a rainbow could appear in the winter. The only multi-colored beams curving through the air he had ever seen had been in the sunshine following spring showers and summer thunderstorms. How, then, could a rainbow appear in the winter, and in what way did it tie in to a horse. Nevertheless, he had sent extra patrols throughout the countryside that morning and ordered his sergeants to ensure the castle's sentries were especially alert on this holiest of days.” from Rainbow Horse
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About the Book
Courage, compassion, sacrifice, redemption and resurrection are recurring themes in the 24 short stories that make up “Stories for the Seasons” -- tales that take place at Christmastime, Easter, Valentine's Day, Halloween, and during the days of summer.
Locales and time periods in these stories range from Southern California, the Middle East, ships at sea and Mexico to Biblical times, post-Civil War Missouri, medieval Europe and early 1900s small towns.
Facing the challenges life thrusts upon them are assorted protagonists, including a Mexican boy and a donkey he rescues from the desert, a quiet cowboy who shows hidden strengths among a group of strangers, a sailor whose love of music reaches across the Pacific Ocean, a former Confederate cavalryman forced to face his tragic past, a simple-minded field worker whose life is enriched by a friendship that lasts two-thirds of a century, a lonely widow victimized by Halloween pranksters, a sidewalk Santa Claus for whom Christmas takes on a new meaning, a European immigrant confronted by town bullies, an over-the-road truck driver who unexpectedly finds love, the shadowy resident of a mysterious mansion, an elderly school cook who offers an unexpected gift at a graduation ceremony, and a pair of animal friends that befriend a miraculous stranger.
The stories in which these characters and others appear were first published in a weekly newspaper column in
Discover the characters in “Stories for the Seasons” and rediscover within yourself the strengths they display: courage, compassion, sacrifice, redemption and resurrection.
About the Author
Chuck Warzyn has been a writer all of his professional career - as a ship's journalist and public affairs officer in the United States Navy, publications coordinator for a multi-state health care system, county 4-H program coordinator, and state case manager for foster parents. He has written numerous articles that have appeared in newspapers and magazines around the U.S. Other than a Navy cruise book, this is the first time his work has appeared in book form. In addition to drawing on his professional experiences, Mr. Warzyn has also obtained ideas for his writing from the world of music, and from volunteer activities, including being a foster parent for more than 60 children and fostering more than 100 dogs for humane societies over the years, assisting at animal shelters, and participating in nursing home pet therapy. Mr. Warzyn received his bachelor's degree in English from the University of Missouri in 1973. He attended the Defense Information School at Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indianapolis, where he completed programs in print, photo and broadcast journalism. He was born in Illinois, grew up in Missouri, and has lived in Indiana, California and Tennessee. He currently resides in Georgia. Mr. Warzyn is dedicating “Stories for the Seasons” to individuals and groups throughout the United States and around the world who are working to reduce the suffering of animals. He is donating 10 percent of his profits from this book to his local humane society, 10 percent will go to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and 10 percent will be donated to the World Society for the Protection of Animals. Mr. Warzyn's favorite Bible verse is Matthew 25:40 -- “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”