Book Teaser

For those of you who’ve been around and for those of you who are new, thank you for reading my words. In preparation for something wonderful just around the corner, here is a little teaser from an original historical fiction manuscript I’ve been working on. Enjoy!

The summer that Jiri was just shy of eighteen, he provoked Papa daily. He would say things to Mama and me, in earshot of Papa, just to stir up a reaction. Papa would only squeeze his eyes and tense his jaw. Jiri used his bike-fixing money to get city papers delivered to the house by post. And he talked about Western philosophies like he knew how to run a country.

One day, I was lounging in the sunshine of the yard, nestled in the grass and reading a fashion magazine Katerina had given me, when Jiri's shadow cast over my face.

"Pav, want to make a bet? I bet you two hundred fifty koruna I can get to the mail before you can."

"That isn't fair. You will make it there before me because you are faster."

"OK then, I will make it even. I will give you a head start. But to win, the person who gets the mail must pluck a plum from the highest branch of Mama's best tree."

Jiri knew how much I loved to ascend branches high into the blue washbasin of the sky. I was the best climber in the whole village; my wispy body and fearless attitude launched me higher than all the boys and girls. All except Jiri. He could perch on any branch in the valley. But it had been a while since my brother was interested in climbing trees with me. This was my opportunity to best him at one thing in my life.

"I get ten seconds’ head start. Go!" My heart was pounding as I clawed my way from the ground, kicking off my clogs to propel myself down the path to our mailbox. I aimed one of my shoes at Jiri's chest to distract him so I could have more of a winning advantage.

"You think you are so clever, little sister, but don’t forget I taught you all your tricks." The chase was on. Jiri started striding behind me.

I tucked my head down and pushed each muscle in my legs to make me fly. I would have raced him to climb the tree even without the money wager. I wanted to beat my brother because I had to believe when he was gone to school, I could survive without his wings over me.

The mail ripped from the box, I curved down the hill to our little orchard and garden. The plum tree was off limits to every living thing. Mama was known for camping beneath the branches overnight at the end of the season to deter any rats or birds from getting her harvest. Her plum cognac sauce made her the most desirable house wife every year at the summer festival. I would get the whipping of my life if she knew I was headed straight for the low branch to launch my body high into her tree.

Jiri was catching up to me and I could see the closed gate ahead. My brother was tall enough to leap over the fence, but I still had to climb the slats to get over. He would beat me to the branch if I stopped to unlatch the gate. I needed to try to hop the fence to win. Clipping the mail in my teeth, I propelled my body forward to springboard over the top slat.

"Pavla, careful!"

My misplaced palm slipped, hooking my arm in the fence. My body slingshotted ahead, bending my elbow in the wrong direction. The crack of bone reverberated in my ears. I became so tangled in the fence slats that my face slammed into the weathered boards, shoving splinters into my cheek. The crooked bone of my mangled arm brought black stars twinkling into my vision. Everything else faded away.

Jiri admitted to vomiting three times as he untwisted my arm like barbed wire. He told the story to every visitor who came to my bedside. The impact of the fall broke my elbow in many places and dislocated my shoulder so badly I cracked my collar bone. My face also looked as miserable as I felt. I knew Jiri blamed himself; he would not stop doting on me. He brought me sweets and magazines and told all my school friends to come visit me.

I even overheard him from the kitchen telling Mama and Papa he would wait to go to college until my arm was healed. They scoffed at him; it was only a childhood injury. I would recover. But Jiri was more concerned than anyone else. I relished in his affections, though.

One night, he snuck into my room with hot chocolate. It was so bitter I could not help scrunching up my face.

"Mama does not like me spoiling you. I had to make it myself. Must’ve forgotten the sugar." Jiri grinned wide, flashing all his teeth. "Mama and Papa do not know I dared you to climb the plum tree." 

He poked my leg., "Or that you were going to do it! I promise I won’t tell. "

His jesting always lifted any mood I was in. I smiled and shifted my body around to ease the aching in my shoulder.

"I think I earned punishment enough."

As we whispered in the dark, passing secrets only siblings can share back and forth, I dared to probe my brother for information. Something had been on my mind in the days following my accident on the fence. Why had Jiri wanted us to race that afternoon?

"Jiri, what came for you in the mail?"

I adjusted against my pillow so I could look him in the eyes better. My brother studied me, emotion and trust swirling in his muddy eyes. I would always be the little sister he would watch after, and yet I longed to be his friend, too.

"I can keep a secret."

I did my best to hide any whine or pleading in my voice lest he change his mind. His face melted into another sappy smile reserved for his kid sister. He leaned his body to the side, tugged at his shirt, then pulled a crumpled-up flyer from his back pocket. The paper was extended to me face down so all I saw was a blank sheet. I was so stunned and elated by his approval that I jerked my bad right arm out to grab it, momentarily forgetting my condition. A wave of nausea passed over, and Jiri saw it breach my face. He stood up, worry causing him to look forty years old.

"Take it easy, girl. Jeez, what are you thinking?"

He pulled the blanket up to my chin in an attempt to ease my pain and coddle himself for the massive guilt on his conscience.

"I am fine. It only hurts a little. Come on, give it to me," I begged, batting away the covers from my chin.

"I think you should get some rest now. You have had a lot of excitement, and Mama is probably not far down the hall to shoo me out of here."

There was nothing I could say to change his mind. Jiri always had the final word. My body slumped back against my pillows in defeat. If my shoulder did not hurt so bad, I would have pounded my mattress in frustration. Jiri was keeping a secret from me, from everyone, and I had been seconds away from being the only one to know what was on his mind. He was even carrying it around in his pocket with him. His face had changed in the brief moment when he decided to share that small part of himself with me.

"Get some sleep, Pav. I love you."