Fireflies
A Collection of Short Stories, Poems, and Essays
by
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Gus chuckled softly as his five-year-old grabbed air, trying to catch a firefly. Sarah had been tracking a high flier for some time, waiting for it to get within her reach. “Lookit this one, Daddy. It doesn’t blink its lights like the other ones.” Gus eyed the bug, noticing that what she had said proved true. A continuous oval-shaped glow, brighter than that of the other fireflies, pulsated from the insect’s body. “Let’s see what we’ve got here, Sarah.” He hauled it in so she could hold the bug. But as he lowered his hand to meet his daughter’s, he screamed in excruciating pain. Sarah shrieked too, alerting her mother, Rachel. Terrified, Rachel dropped her garden hoe and ran toward Gus. “What’s wrong?” she cried. “I dunno,” he gasped, holding his right hand. Sarah desperately clung to her mother, sniffling, “I didn’t do it, Mommy,” she blubbered. “It’s my hand,” Gus said. “Something happened. I think it bit me. I’ve gotta get into the house.” He whirled out of his chair, spilling his beer on the grass. He stumbled through the garage into the kitchen, letting the screen door slam in Rachel’s face. At the sink, Gus ran cold water over his aching hand. He stood horrified; he could see the sink through the hole in his palm. “My hand! Look at it!” Mesmerized, Rachel remained in a complete stupor. Gus stared at his trembling hand. Surprisingly, it did not bleed. The wound appeared to be cauterized by some unknown searing force. Something had burned a hole the size of an M&M candy through Gus’s right hand.
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About the Book
Fireflies offers its readers a smorgasbord of literary bites, mouthfuls, and sometimes whole meals to digest in the order that they so desire. The book includes short stories that cover a wide gamut from science fiction to humor and from action/adventure to children’s literature. The poetry ranges from serious verse to light verse. The essays are based primarily on the author’s past experiences, but a few involve scholarly critical analysis of famous works. Hopefully, readers will find something to suit their literary tastes.
About the Author
Allan Ede (rhymes with weed) was born in 1939 in Dubuque, Iowa. He attended St. Raphael’s Grade School and Loras Academy High School (R.O.T.C.). He received a B.A. and an M.A. in English from Loras College. He taught high school English, including creative writing (3 years at Don Bosco in Gilbertville, Iowa, and 33 years at Western Dubuque in Epworth, Iowa, and composition and literature 4 years at Northeastern Iowa Community College). He coached basketball for 6 years on a freshman-sophomore level. He is the father of five daughters and one son. Ede has had a variety of work experiences, including jobs in factories, construction, railroad, landscaping, painting, and selling Fuller Brush products from door to door in California. His hobbies include reading, writing, dancing, camping, and playing and watching most sports. Ede has attended many writing conferences and workshops throughout the Midwest. He participated in a Novel Writing class, taught by a published author, for ten years. Ede's credits include poems, articles, novels, and short stories. “Fireflies” won 1st place in the Sinipee Writers’ Short Story Contest (1993) and “Teach Them Yourself” won 1st place (2007). He has also co-authored The History of Epworth, Iowa. He has published Rosalund’s Raiders—a Young Adult novel about teen-age gangs and Blood Island an Adult Action/Adventure novel involving mayhem, murder, and vengeance in the Boundary Waters between the U.S. and Canada. He is currently at work on his fourth book.