Concord Writers’ Night Out 2019 An Anthology of Writers and Writing In conjunction with the New Hampshire Writers’ Project Concord Writers’ Night Out 2019 An Anthology of Writers and Writing in conjunction with the New Hampshire Writers’ Project The New Hampshire Writers’ Project (NHWP) supports the development of individual writers and encourages an audience for literature in our state. We are a nonprofit literary arts organization funded by our members as well as by organizations and businesses that support our region’s writers and literary heritage. On the web at nhwritersproject.org On Facebook at facebook.com/nhwritersproject On Twitter at twitter.com/nhwritersproject 2019 Concord Writers’ Night Out Anthology Committee Editor: Ian Rogers Coordinator: Piper Tallis Introduction: Cheryl Barnhart Layout: Maria Fowler Cover Photo: Valerie Carter Print ISBN: 978-0-359-94397-5 eBook ISBN: 978-0-359-94394-4 All pieces included in this anthology are copyright their respective creators/owners. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part without permission of the respective creator/owner. The editors of this publication have done their best to present correct informa- tion and the information in this publication is presented in good faith; however, no guarantees are given, and the editors disclaim any liability for unwanted results. Concord Writers’ Night Out 2019 An Anthology of Writers and Writing CPM Table of Contents A Few Notes vi Introduction vii November by Cindy Shea 1 Lost Gloves, Found Values by Jay Haines 3 from Pantheon: A Novel of the Greek Gods by Gary Devore 7 The Changeling by Piper Tallis 10 Reclamation by Wendy Jensen 31 from Jubilee by Patricia S. Wild 32 One of Us by Claudia Altemus 38 Tequila. Peyote. Coyote. by Sophia Eastley 41 The Tetrapods by Ian Rogers 54 Octopus and Honey Badger by Joe Panzica 59 Fences Are a Joke to The Three Amigos by Carole Soule 67 She Shook Me Cold by Ricky Mailhot 69 God Is...So Lonely by Lone Cypress Workshop 91 from Love on the Farside of Vegas by Daniel Ellison 95 The Beauty of Seasons by Cheryl Barnhart 106 The Hallway by Cheryl Barnhart 108 A Vicious Pixie by K. Dalton Barrett 110 Sycamore Strength by Valerie Carter 116 Contributors 119 Acknowledgments 123 A Few Notes he Concord Writers’ Night Out group is a loosely defined monthly meetup organized by the New Hampshire Writers’ Project and coordinated by NHWP trustee Gary Devore. We meet at 7:00 p.m. at the Concord Books-A-Million Ton the first Monday of every month, though if you’d like to drop by you might want to email first to make sure we’ll be there. See nhwritersproject.org/writers-night-out for more information. In cases where a work is excerpted from a longer, previously published work, informa- tion on where readers can find it is listed. Introduction ou may know that Concord is the capital of New Hampshire or that the four- teenth president of the United States, Franklin Pierce, lived here for part of his life. You might even know that the first American alarm clock was constructed Yin Concord in 1787 by Levi Hutchins (I’ll leave you to decide whether that last one is a good or a bad thing). But did you know that there is a diverse group of talented writers who meet regularly in Concord? It’s true! Once a month, this group comes together in conjunction with the New Hamp- shire Writers’ Project for Writer’s Night Out. Every meeting is a little different. We often share our knowledge of writing events and opportunities happening all over New Hampshire. We also learn each other’s unique perspectives and styles as we share the different projects we’re working on. As you meander through these pages you’ll see a reflection of the many styles that the Concord area writers bring to this anthology. Some works are nonfiction, and cap- ture the challenges and joys of everyday life. There are moments of clarity, and choices made. In the end, we have to live with the impact of those choices. Other authors use their unique imaginations to answer the question “What if?” They imagine whole worlds that lack the boundaries of ours. Their characters can do amazing things, yet they still have their own struggles and choices to make. Whichever genres you prefer—reality, fantasy, or something else—this anthology contains a little bit for everyone. The following pages contain a mere sample of our work, and additional author information appears at the end so readers can find more from their favorite writers. Concord has been a birthplace for so many great things. We hope you have fun imagining how it provided the seed of inspiration for the following works. Cheryl Barnhart November by Cindy Shea e live among rolling fields fenced by stone walls and old sugar maple trees. In October the air shimmers with misty hues of red, orange, and gold. The air is crisp and clear, but still retains a certain warmth. Old Wlogging roads and wooded paths beckon you along their winding way enticing you with what may be hidden just around the corner. Ducks and geese call to one another as they fly by on their way to warmer climates. Days are shorter and nights are cooler, making for perfect cooking weather, for this is harvest season and fresh food abounds. The day- light smells of fresh earth and dried leaves. In the evenings you may catch the hint of wood smoke in the air coming from a chimney or two as families sit by the fire chasing off the evening chill. Just one month later the vision is drastically different. November brings shorter days, cooler temperatures, and that hint of snow in the air. The only leaves left on the trees are brown and dried. Forests reveal hidden stories that were once concealed by fresh green leaves. The skies are a cold steel gray most of the time, but even the sunny days do not bring much warmth. The only sound you hear is the howl of the wind, which can bite right through you. If it wasn’t for Thanksgiving, November would be a very bleak month indeed. While it can snow here in November, it often just threatens to, spitting down a flake here or there almost as a tease to those hardy skiers. By now, most people have their homes winterized, wood stoves are going strong, and anything related to summer has been stowed away until next year. 2 What we eat and how we cook changes drastically. Outdoor grills are replaced with indoor crockpots. Fresh vine vegetables have been canned or frozen and replaced with heartier squashes and root vegetables. Hearty stews fill the home with savory scents that make the mouth water. The smell of fresh-baked bread brings memories of days gone by. Instead of meandering down wooded paths and taking in the beautiful scenery of October, we now stay indoors, watch football, and keep a lookout for that ever-prom- ised snow so winter sports can begin. Despite November’s dreary appeal, it has its place on the seasonal calendar. We become so enamored with October that we might well forget that winter is imminent. November is here to remind us. She is stern and unforgiving, raw and cold, but there is beauty in her starkness. Because of her, we give ourselves permission to stay indoors wrapped in a warm blanket with a good book and a hot beverage. As we come up to Thanksgiving and look for things to be thankful for, perhaps we should be thankful for the month of November. After a hectic summer cramming every outdoor activity possible into a few short months, November allows us to slow down, take a breath, and rest a while. It’s that deep inhale and exhale before the holiday season begins and the craziness jumps into full gear. This seasonal break between summer and holidays doesn’t last long up here in the north. Give yourself permission to take a few moments to just breathe. Now is a great time to refresh yourself. It is also a great time to look at the world around us and appreciate it for what it is. Without seeing her dressed in her seasonal best, we should accept nature at her worst when all her scars are bared to us and she prepares to blanket herself in snow. Lost Gloves, Found Values by Jay Haines tanding in a large alcove with my back to the street this cold November afternoon, I take in the evidence of the building’s earlier affluent life, its small black and white tiles covering the granite vestibule with geometric patterns. Just inside the Sdoorway are four old-fashioned mailboxes and a dozen new ones. Each original apart- ment has now become four. The door to the street-level store retains its original stencil- ing for Sarah’s Dressmaking Shop but now sells secondhand clothing and used furniture. I’m brought back to the present by the sudden screech of brakes announcing the arrival of my bus. I sprint across the sidewalk to the opening door and scramble aboard, grateful for its warmth. From a look out the window I’m shocked to see my gloves on the vacated doorstep. As the bus accelerates through the changing light I know it’s too late to get off. The gloves become progressively smaller and my emotions take over: Frustration, from momentary carelessness caused by the bus’s sudden arrival. Embar- rassment, because they are a recent gift from my parents.