February. I love this month of my birth. Thanks to my dearly departed parents for giving me the creative talents and health to survive all the years of my sweet and sometimes, not so sweet, life.
This week is the last snippet from Reconstructing Charlie, a story written two years ago and continues to haunt me. Here’s an intro to the scene. Picture this, dear readers.
Dear old Dad lies deceased in the kitchen, struck down from a tire iron wielded by fifteen year old Charlie. Mom is busy packing an old suitcase with Charlie’s clothes. Where is she going with her terrible secret? Mom pulled a box out from a drawer in her small desk and opened it. Fancy stationery paper, the old fashioned kind with the scent of flowers. Taking a deep breath, Mom wrote in her perfect handwriting. Charlie always believed Mom had a lot of secrets. Now she got a peek at some just before she was leaving. Not fair and felt like her little sisters when they stamped their feet against the world. She didn’t want to leave. Mom said, “Don’t let her turn you away. She’s my older sister. She hated your father.” Charlie never saw her cry before and when tears fell, Mom brushed them away. Panic set in and Charlie said, “What if she’s not there?” Mom almost laughed. “She’ll be there.”
Excerpt in eight:
Wrapped in a towel, I watched Mom empty my clothes into her suitcase and I couldn’t move for a minute; he’s dead in the house and she packed my clothes for what? I went into action and pried up the board in the closet, removed my money, and secured it into a money belt I’d bought in a second hand shop.
Unfastening a gold locket on a long chain Mom wore around her neck, she said, “Hold up your hair, my girl” and we stood face to face, her hazel eyes looking into mine. I heard a tiny click when the clasp was in place around my neck then she kissed the locket and let it slide under my shirt.
“What’s in the locket, Mom?”
“Two sisters, my dear Charlie, one wise, one foolish, yes, I have a sister, your aunt Eleanor, Mrs. Stuart Alfred 1125 Lake Shore Drive Chicago, it’s on this envelope, so listen hard; money and education are most important and one more thing, precious girl, don’t let boys catch your scent, keep clean because that’s something I forgot.”
She wrote a letter and slid it into an envelope and handed it to me, “Don’t lose this, Charlie, it’s your passport to a new life.”
“Charlie,” Mom looked in my eyes so deep as if she was taking a picture, “Don’t call, I’ll call you when I have something to say; now hurry, it’s not too late to catch the bus.”
Mom hugged me and I ran. 
for more snippets from talented writers:
I’ve opened a new FB page and need LIKES, my friends. In appreciation of your support all year, I’m opening a promo op to you from any Tuesday to Friday where you can post a pic plus blurb and links. No comments or critique. This has nothing to do with WEWRIWA. It’s just my way of giving back to our community of writers.
Author Charmaine Gordon 
Wow, another emotional eight. Passport to a new life–sounds so frightening and yet almost liberating at the same time. Great work, Charmaine!
Liberating but Charlie doesn’t want to leave. What lies ahead is another life for her. Thanks, Evelyn.
Really like the setup for this story.
And the story begins. But this is the last snippet from Reconstructing Charlie. Next week I’m introducing my latest release, She Didn’t Say No. Thanks for your support, Eleri.
And she’s off! Can’t wait to read about her new found independence! Great writing..
Gemma, you’re a sweetie. Next week I’ll share my latest book. Reconstructing Charlie is available in all formats.
This is so good, Charmaine. I’ve got it on my TBR list. Thank you for sharing your gifts each week and have a happy birthday month. 🙂
as, I like TBR and soon, I hope. And thanks for B’day good wishes with enough candles to light up the Super Bowl.
All so tense and happening to Charlie so fast…ok, must go off and buy the book, clearly! another excellent excerpt!
OMG! Thanks for you interest in Charlie and my story. A terrific compliment coming from you, Veronica.
Interested to see where she goes from here!
Keep the interest going, Marcia. Thanks.
This scene has both a sadness and a hope driven into it. well done.
I appreciate your comment, Ms. Kane.
I like the visual quality of your writing, Charmaine. It is tense and dramatic, but there is this great sense of hope. Although something is ending, I’m certain Charlie’s adventure just started. 🙂
You nailed it, Dana. Charlie’s adventure has just begun and what a ride for this marvelous girl.
Powerful. Great kick off to what promises to be quite the adventure.
Hi, Alexiss. Thanks for stopping by. You’re catching the last snippet of Reconstructing Charlie today. She moves into a completely different world and fits it always aware of the terrible secret she carries.
What an emotional snippet! Great 8!
Hi Karen. Thanks for your support.
Both still in shock but somehow thinking through it. I’ll have to check this out.
Hi Sueann. I do hope you read Reconstructing Charlie and leave a review. Are we having fun or what, I ask you, my friend across the miles.
That was a fantastic snippet! There’s a terrible sadness in it, but also a ray of hope, of a new life for Charlie.
Elyzabeth, your words are music to my ears. Thank you.
Wow. Powerful snippet Charmaine. Now on my to read list. Excellent job!
The Murders of Polly Frisch
Thanks a bunch, Cindy. Let me know when you’ve read Reconstructing Charlie, please. And thanks for your wonderful comments each week.
Wow. I like it! Nice job.
I aim to please, Cara. Happy you like.
Poor Charlie. This scene is so full of emotion. Charlie must be feeling shock, yet she puts one foot in front of the other and moves on. I felt bad for her mom when I read it. I’ll stop there. No spoilers. 😉 Great 8, Charmaine!
That’s me. Survive and thrive-move on-just do it. You don’t get to be my age with enough candles to light up the Super Bowl by saying Boo Hoo, Woe is me. Right, Teresa?
What a year. You and Dana and Admins have made all this possible. New friends and enough heat to curl our socks. Thank you from the depths of my big heart. Love, Charmaine
I like how the roles have switched, she took care of her mother and defended her, and now her mother is taking care of her.
For the moment, yes. “Don’t call,” Mom says. Spooky, huh? Thanks, Chelle.
Oh wow, Poor Charlie! So much going on here…I hope this girl’s life gets better at her Aunts.
Life’s about to change for the better yet Charlie will always be alone with her terrible secret.
Somehow I don’t think she can start her new life and forget her old one so easily. Though we can hope! Her mom is definitely quick on her feet–I wonder if she’d been planning for this escape?
(Happy birth month!)
Caitlin, you’ve done it again. Thanks for the good wishes and I do appreciate your perceptive mind.
Sometimes you just have to know when to take it on the lam. North Lake Shore Drive are nice digs for a hideout too. But does preparedness bring pre meditation into play in jurisprudence land?
Nicely phrased, my friend. As for Chicago, my hometown, what a town! I can recall the rat-a-tat of tommy guns now called machine guns.
Such vivid emotions here. Great details too. I bet this was sooo difficult for the mom…having to send her son away. Great 8.
Karen. Charlie’s her daughter but thanks for your comment. It’s always good to hear from you.