Set in 1930-1932, “The Seeker” is about two brothers who join the hobos after their father permanently kicks them off the farm. Joining the hobos was a common option during the Great Depression when so many men and teenage boys were destitute. Albert (age 19) takes on the hobo monicker, ‘Farmer Al’ and Henry (age 14) becomes ‘Illinois Smarty.’
On the first day of their journey, Albert is captured by railroad police for illegally riding a train. He is sent to jail for a month. Henry travels on with the villain of the story, Nebraska Nick.
Once Albert gets out of jail, he devotes himself to finding Henry. He has a friend, Ike, his jail cellmate, who wants to help him look for Henry. Ike’s hobo monicker is Missionary Ike.’ He believes God has called him to tell ‘Road Kids’ about Jesus. Road Kids are the young hobos, fifteen and under, who number in the hundreds of thousands. Ike sees finding Heny an extension of his calling from God. But when God seemingly has other plans for Ike, Albert continues his search alone.
Along the way, Albert realizes he is not only searching for Henry, but for God. It takes him a long time to understand he’s been looking in all the wrong places.
MISTAKES AND SECOND CHANCES
This second story starts in 1933 and goes to 1943. It is about Henry, the lost brother in Book One. It is also about Henry’s girlfriend, Caroline.
When the two of them watch a general store for a day, they are robbed by two thieves. When Henry refuses to hand over the money, the older thief shoots him in the left arm. News spreads like wildfire when it becomes apparent that Henry and Caroline were robbed by Bonnie and Clyde.
Henry’s arm gets infected. Gangrene sets in, and to save his life, a surgeon performs an amputation. Caroline stays by Henry’s side, encouraging him to use his right hand to pursue his desire to become a syndicated cartoonist.
Caroline has a lot on her plate. She has a beloved brother who is dying with a terrible disease. Her family struggles to make ends meet. Yet, she seems quite capable of handling about anything except the death of her brother. She fears his death will tear her apart, and she’ll never recover. She will need Henry more than ever. Later, when Henry leaves home to pursue his dream of cartoon syndication, Caroline again supports and encourages him. But, when Caroline needs Henry because her brother dies, he lets her down, refusing to come home for the funeral.
After that, their relationship falls apart. The hard knocks of life interrupt their dreams.
Their relationship will not be renewed unless both can forgive and mature. World War II provides a catalyst for that to happen, but will their stubbornness prevail?
ONE OF A KIND- a book of short stories
I wrote this book as an honorarium to the childhood memories that stick around in our heads without any real relevance to anyone or anything. The stories also show a time in history when things were slower and freer. As well, the stories in my book reveal my love of history.
The book has eight short stories, six of which are historical and set in Illinois. The last two are contemporary, and, in my mind, were set in Buffalo, New York, my home for twenty-eight years. Arguably, the last two stories could have been set anywhere.
After each story, I share a memory from my past that sparked the story. It was a fun little trip, one that might spark you, the reader, to realize you too could write short stories.
The stories appear in chronological order from 1865 to 2012.
‘One of a Kind’ will very soon be available to purchase as a Kindle eBook, or a paperback, on Amazon. Look for it under my name, Kay Learned.
kaylearned.com 