A Snippit Shared

Today I wanted to share a snippit from my novel, With A Name Like Love.

a bit of background: Ollie is the MC, 13 and the oldest of five girls. This scene takes place after a gruesome act is perpetrated on her best friend's frogs. The sisters are Ollie, Martha, Gwen, Camille and Ellen. The intent of this scene is to have the previously fractured family come together after a difficult experience

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Ollie sat on the Chevy’s tailgate, away from the people gathering and gossiping and glancing over towards Jimmy sitting with her daddy. She swung her legs and looked up to heaven. She bit her lip and held back the tears that wanted to spill out all over her face. She controlled her anger and told herself it would do no good to cause a scene.

Gwen wandered over to where she was sitting and leaned up against the side of the truck bed. “You alright?” she asked.

Ollie nodded.

Gwen was twisting a piece of grass in her hands. “Jimmy’ll be okay. Daddy’s with him. He has that special way with people when they’re low.” She looked up. “It’s a gift how he can lift people’s spirits.” Ollie couldn’t help but think that Gwen had the same gift, coming over with her soothing words. “I’m not saying it’s easy,” Gwen went on, “but he’ll work through it. You’ll see.”

Camille came over to the truck and joined her sisters. She climbed up on the tailgate next to Ollie, slid over real close, and leaned her head onto Ollie’s shoulder without a single word. Gwen stepped over and jumped up onto the tailgate as well.

Martha came next, Ellen at her side. “Scoot over,” she said, all curt, acting like she was doing them a big favor. Ollie could see right through her fake huff and scooted over to let her sit. Ellen stood at Ollie’s swinging feet until Ollie reached her hands out and pulled her baby sister onto her lap.

There they sat, all five sisters, crammed onto a single Chevy tailgate, swinging legs and staring off across the fields and saying nothing, but feeling everything. Then Martha reached into her dress pocket and pulled out her harmonica. She held it to her lips, drew in a slow breath, and began playing Rock of Ages.

Gwen sang, just above a whisper, Rock of Ages, cleft for me. Let me hide myself in thee.

And, while she sang, Ollie let her tears fall.

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Who else will share a piece of their novel? Really, I'd love to see what you're working on... let me know if you decide to post a Teaser Tuesday, WIP Wed or whatever you want to call it. Happy, Happy Friday!