Terry Persun's Magical Realism Collection

by Persun, Terry

  The family and close friends met at their house after the graveside ceremony. Brad and Susan stood close by Becky the whole time.

  In her mind, Becky relived, over and over again, their last romantic night together. No one knew what she felt, but there was a lightness to her that she couldn’t explain… even to herself. He had said he’d be glad to see Connie once again. That he missed her. And Becky was happy for him, now, that he could be with her. They could look after one another.

  Brad took Becky’s arm and walked her into the kitchen. “Mom, Dad didn’t go. He didn’t die. He just stepped into another room.”

  Becky smiled. She understood what he was trying to say and appreciated it. “That sounds just like something your father would say.”

  “Oops.” He smiled shyly, returning her sense of happiness, even though, under the circumstances, it felt odd.

  “You’re a lot like him.” She felt satisfied with that thought. “But I don’t want to go from room to room looking for him.”

  “I didn’t mean that, Mom,” he began to protest, saw it was unnecessary. “But you’re right. You’ll need to go on.”

  “He’s everywhere now anyway.” Only she knew what she meant. Brad couldn’t possibly know what she felt, thought, knew, inside.

  “I’m sorry about all the hard times, Mom.”

  “You misunderstood me, Honey. I want him to be everywhere. I’ll miss him for a long time, but he’ll be here also.” She quietly cried and leaned her head onto Brad’s shoulder. She hadn’t noticed before, but his back felt just like Jim’s. Becky sensed certain happiness for Susan then, and reminded herself to talk to her daughter-in-law about it. Maybe she could give something to Susan, something from herself. Giving is taking, she thought. That’s something Jim would have pulled from the idea. But for him it wouldn’t have rested there, it would be shifted by his continual need to better understand it. Even if it came around to the same thing in the end, he’d move it through a variety of changes, look at it from all angles. “I miss him and I’m glad he’s gone on,” Becky said. She could tell from Brad’s face, he had no idea what she meant and didn’t know how to respond. “He’s safe where he is,” she told him as an explanation. “And he’s where he should be. Just as we are.” She kissed Brad lightly on the forehead.

  Susan walked into the kitchen. “I’m sorry, did I interrupt?”

  “Not at all,” Becky said. “Not at all. You came in at just the right time.”

  ALSO BY TERRY PERSUN

  Cathedral of Dreams (Science Fiction) A compelling tale of a dystopian future and personal heroism, pitting the outsiders against the mind-control machine of New City.

  Hear No Evil (Science Fiction) A colony of scientists, a megalomaniac, an alien race…which will prevail?

  Revision 7: DNA (Science Fiction) Time traveling robots, a walking medical experiment turned detective genius, and a kidnapped psychic combine in a story that will tear at your heart and get your adrenaline pumping.

  Backyard Aliens (Science Fiction) A pair of intriguing aliens pull at the hearts and minds of Neil and Mavra while the government is bent on research and analysis.

  Deception Creek (Coming-of-age novel) Secrets from the past overtake a man who never knew his father. Will old wrongs destroy him, or will he rebuild his life?

  Doublesight (Fantasy) In a world where shape shifters are feared, and murder appears to be the way to eliminate them, finding and destroying the source of the fear is all the doublesight can do.

  Sweet Song (Historical Fiction) This tale of a mixed-race man passing as white in post-Civil-War America speaks from the heart about where we’ve come from and who we are.

  MORE GREAT READS FROM BOOKTROPE

  Dead of Knight by Nicole J. Persun (Fantasy) King Orson and King Odell are power-stricken, grieving, and mad. As they wage war against a rebel army led by Elise des Eresther, it appears as though they’re merely in it for the glory. But their struggles are deeper and darker.

  Spirit Warriors: The Concealing by D.E.L. Connor (Fiction) Suspenseful, romantic, and awash in Native American magic, Spirit Warriors captures the tragic enchantment of the American West—and confirms the power of friendship.

  The Water Sign by C.S. Samulski (Science Fiction) In the post-diluvian world of the future many children find themselves lost in the fog of war.

  Flipka by JT Twissel (Mystery) A story of secrets and the search for truth.

  Revontuli by Andrew Eddy (Historical Fiction) Inspired by true events, Revontuli depicts one of the last untold stories of World War II: the burning of the Finnmark. Marit, a strong-willed Sami, comes of age and shares a forbidden romance with the German soldier occupying her home.

  Discover more books and learn about our new approach to publishing at www.Booktrope.com