HIGH STAKES by Ann Durand
I bet on a lot of stuff, but this one’s a loser. She’s a loser,
that’s why. Loses everything: her things, her head, her temper. Man! That temper! If any voice can
make walls feel thin, it’s hers. Comes right through your hand on the wall; even your feet hum with
those vibrations. She’s gone in the head most of the time, too. Yesterday, I saw her lift the TV remote
and click in the direction of the front door. And now, believe it or not, they’ve given her a job helping out
at the local elementary school. I can bet on her losing that job. Three days, I give her three days--
providing she can find her way there and back again.
She’s stoked, though. She broke out the champagne, but I didn’t have any. It's okay--she’ll drink
enough for both of us. She starts out real happy when she drinks, but she doesn’t stay that way...as
soon as she comes down off the high, woohoo, boy howdie, get out of the way! Ever seen a piranha
attack a piece of raw meat? Well, neither have I, but I bet it looks a lot like her when she’s mad.
I give her two days, tops, at the school.
So why do I stick around? I can leave, sure, but I have this little side bet going on. And I just have to
see how it turns out. You see, she’s never figured out that I can’t hear her. Yep. Stone deaf. Started
losing it three years ago, when I was twenty-eight, but she’s so gone in her little world, she hasn't even
noticed. I can read lips though, hers especially. And if I miss something, I just keep nodding, and she
thinks I got it.
Two years. I give her two years before she figures it out. That's when I’ll tell her how long I've been
deaf. She'll know, then, what a complete idiot she is. That's when I’ll tell her good-bye.
Yep. Then, I’m out of here. I’ll be history, man. Two years. Maybe three, tops. After all, a man can’t stay
with his mother forever.
END
that’s why. Loses everything: her things, her head, her temper. Man! That temper! If any voice can
make walls feel thin, it’s hers. Comes right through your hand on the wall; even your feet hum with
those vibrations. She’s gone in the head most of the time, too. Yesterday, I saw her lift the TV remote
and click in the direction of the front door. And now, believe it or not, they’ve given her a job helping out
at the local elementary school. I can bet on her losing that job. Three days, I give her three days--
providing she can find her way there and back again.
She’s stoked, though. She broke out the champagne, but I didn’t have any. It's okay--she’ll drink
enough for both of us. She starts out real happy when she drinks, but she doesn’t stay that way...as
soon as she comes down off the high, woohoo, boy howdie, get out of the way! Ever seen a piranha
attack a piece of raw meat? Well, neither have I, but I bet it looks a lot like her when she’s mad.
I give her two days, tops, at the school.
So why do I stick around? I can leave, sure, but I have this little side bet going on. And I just have to
see how it turns out. You see, she’s never figured out that I can’t hear her. Yep. Stone deaf. Started
losing it three years ago, when I was twenty-eight, but she’s so gone in her little world, she hasn't even
noticed. I can read lips though, hers especially. And if I miss something, I just keep nodding, and she
thinks I got it.
Two years. I give her two years before she figures it out. That's when I’ll tell her how long I've been
deaf. She'll know, then, what a complete idiot she is. That's when I’ll tell her good-bye.
Yep. Then, I’m out of here. I’ll be history, man. Two years. Maybe three, tops. After all, a man can’t stay
with his mother forever.
END
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____________________________________________________________________
The Muse On Writing, Edited by Lea Schizas
Kathe Gogolewski wrote the chapter on
Finding Your Voice in Writing
CLICK ON COVER TO ORDER
Kathe Gogolewski wrote the chapter on
Finding Your Voice in Writing
CLICK ON COVER TO ORDER
____________________________________________________________________
BIO - Ann Durand has written three books: A Promise to Keep, a romantic suspense, was released
from Double Dragon Publishing in February, 2005. The other, TATO, is a fantasy adventure for middle
grade readers, and is available from Wings Press under her real name, Kathe Gogolewski. She also
wrote a sci fi with romantic elements due from Double Dragon Publishing in December, 2006. Ann is
also the Romance Editor for the ezine for writers, The Muse Marquee, and heads up the column, Heart
Beat.
Writing under her real name, Kathe Gogolewski, Ann has won contests for her short stories with
Storyteller Magazine and The Writer’s Journal, The Complete Writer’s Magazine. She has also won
awards from Preditors and Editors for her children's story, Tato, and her adult fiction, A Promise to
Keep. Her short stories and poems have been published by Penwomanship, JacoByte Books, and
Long Story Short.
.
She has contributed to two anthologies: One, The Muse on Writing, is due for release from Double
Dragon Publishing in 2006. She wrote the chapter Finding and Writing in Your Own Voice. She also
wrote a chapter for the anthology Spiritual Visitations due from Zumaya Publications in 2008.
copyright TRI Studio LLC 2005
A Promise to Keep
a suspense with romantic elements
by Ann Durand
CLICK ON COVER TO ORDER
a suspense with romantic elements
by Ann Durand
CLICK ON COVER TO ORDER
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| HIGH STAKES by Ann Durand TRI STUDIO BOOKS LLC |
