Monterey Shorts 2: More on the Line

Edited by Chris Kemp, Byron Merritt and Ken Jones
FWOMP Publishers (2005)
ISBN 0976009609
Reviewed by Ellen Hogan for Reader Views (10/06)

This book is a compilation of stories by Fiction Writers of the Monterey Peninsula. Some of the stories are connected and others stand alone. There is some history in some of the stories which was very interesting.

Some of my favorite stories are:

“Finding Anna” by Byron Merritt

Anna Wooley is a ten year old fighting cancer. She is always cheerful when going for her chemo treatments. One day her father asked the doctor if the treatments were doing any good. He said that he was not sure since Anna didn't have any of the usual side effects of chemo and radiation. Her brother Bruce treated her like any older brother would a younger sister, with the usual arguments and name calling. Bruce wanted to enter a surfing contest, and Anna told her father it was to get a girl's attention. While she was at the beach watching Bruce, Anna saw a man that she knew instinctively was death watching her. She got very upset and told her brother not to let him take her. Bruce asks her who and she tells him the man in the dark clothes. Their father gets upset when he finds out that Anna was out in the water. He tells her that she can't do that anymore. The day of the competition Bruce was nervous until it was his time to go out with the waves. Finally his group was called and they no sooner got out there but the surf changed and the bell was rung for them to come back in. Bruce was not among the surfers who returned. Anna knew her brother was in trouble and went out to help him. Anna was caught in a riptide just as she reached her brother. She could not fight it off. Anna did not recover from that trip to the beach. She did meet the man in the dark clothes though and he told her he was there to help her with her transition. She had woken up as a fairy. He tells her there is a meadow and someone waiting for her. As she approaches she sees her mother waiting.

“Donya's Spices” by Shaheen Schmidt

Donya grew up in Iran, and she loved using the spices of her country in her cooking. Her son Raha had married an American girl and they had a daughter named Christine. Donya's daughter-in-law and she did not have much to do with each other. Stella had been trying to Americanize Raha and to strip him of his heritage. One day Raha asked Donya to keep Christine for them. Stella sent what she was to eat that day as she did not approve of the meals that Donya enjoyed. Raha smelled his mother's cooking and told her Khoresht Sabzee, his favorite. Donya tells him that she will save him some for his supper. Christy tells her grandmother that she has brought movies to watch. But, Donya says they should go outside and see what's in the garden. When they once again are in the house Christy asks her grandmother if she is a witch. Donya asks why she would ask that and Christy said that her mother said she was a witch because of all the bottles she had around her kitchen. Donya explains to Christy that they are just spices and not witches brew. When it came time to eat, Christy asks if she can try what her grandmother cooked. Donya is delighted. Before she leaves Christy asks Donya if she is going to be at her birthday party. Donya says of course. The party is mostly adult friends of Christy's parents. The guests question Donya about her heritage and she answers their questions. When Stella seeks her out she tells her that it is a nice party. Then Donya tells her that she is going to have stomach trouble after she eats the food from the party. Stella just sloughs it off and says she will be fine. Sure enough Raha calls his mother and asks what Stella can have to stop her from throwing up. Donya tells him to give her strong mint tea with sugar. The next morning Stella calls Donya and thanks her for the remedy and tells her it kind of worked. Donya feels that a little piece of Stella's heart has melted and is pleased.

“Canned Hunt” by Ken Jones

Clarence Woodall worked as docent of the Point Pinos Lighthouse in Pacific Grove. All of his friends called him Woody. One day Woody took a break and was seated on a bench looking out at the golf course. He overhears two men talking; really they are arguing about some cargo on a ship that one of the men threatens to dump over the side of the ship. They notice Woody sitting there and decide that he is harmless. Woody tells his wife when he gets home that he overheard the two men talking and it bothered him. After supper Woody sees a copy of Newsweek and one of the men is staring back at him. He asks one of his friends about the man in the magazine and is told that he has animal heads displayed in his home. Not just any animals but tigers. Then the friend tells Woody about the canned hunts. The next day when Woody arrives at work the other docent tells him that there had been a big commotion on the docks. They had found a man's body in the harbor. Woody finally calls Fish and Game and tells an agent what he suspects. The officer tells him that there is not much they can do until the law is actually broken. She tells him that they will take over. Woody can't let go though and decides that he will go Carmel Valley and take pictures for evidence to give to Officer Baker-Harris. His wife Helen makes him take his phone with him. When he arrives he sees trucks with crates on them and observes what's happening. Meanwhile Officer Baker-Harris calls Woody's house and asks his wife where Woody is. She tells her that he has gone investigating. The officer tells Woody's wife to call him and tell him to back off. Well, the phone rings and alerts the animals and the hunters that someone is watching them. Just in the nick of time
Fish and Game arrive and get the situation under control.

You can find just about anything you want to read about in this book. There is murder, family problems, greed, perseverance and vampires. Truly there is something for everyone in this book.

The stories of “Monterey Shorts 2” are all well written and draw you in and stay with you when you are done. Any reader would find favorites among these stories of the Monterey Peninsula.

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