Ambassador Chapter 16

Ben, a pale redhead, was Doug’s best friend. They both studied to become mechanics, they liked to drink beer, and they liked to drive fast. The next day at lunch Doug told the story of what he and Ben had done the night before. “Ben was driving up Broadway last night, and all of a … More Ambassador Chapter 16

Ambassador Chapter 15

It was a warm September afternoon several years later when the green 1962 Cadillac entered our driveway for the first time. The white convertible top was down, and Doug’s long brown hair waved in the breeze.  I met Doug in the lunchroom of high school while I was dating one of his friends. His friend … More Ambassador Chapter 15

Ambassador Chapter 12

In eighth grade, Donna Barrletter and I passed notes back and forth during class, and chatted on the phone after school for hours. We talked about boys, hairstyles and clothes. One evening while we were talking on the phone, I realized my parents’ liquor was out in the open, the bottles sitting on a small … More Ambassador Chapter 12

Does Money Cry?

James 5:4 Indeed, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out: And the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. (Lord of hosts) The wages cry out. The next sentence says that the reapers, the ones doing the work also … More Does Money Cry?

Ambassador Chapter 7

Nana Hardy lived next door to the graveyard; its stonewall boundary spilled rocks onto her property creating steps to enter the other side. This entrance was too tempting for us to ignore.  Margie, Johnny and I climbed up the steps into a century-old world. The faded white tombstones filled the cemetery in rows.  “Look. How … More Ambassador Chapter 7

Ambassador Chapter 6

Later that evening, we watched, “It’s the great pumpkin Charlie Brown.” Halloween was next week. What a great holiday. Dressing up and going door-to-door and getting candy. It was every kid’s dream. The next day when I arrived in Mrs. Whitlock’s classroom, I noticed a bunch of kids over by Dave. He was making Snoopy … More Ambassador Chapter 6

Buying oil at midnight?

I’ve read this parable a million times, but today, something jumped off the page at me. The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins 25 “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 Those who were foolish took their … More Buying oil at midnight?

Ambassador Chapter 5

A few days later at school, I noticed that stinky Charles was not in front of me in line. He was absent from school that day. That afternoon, before the buses arrived, Mrs. Whitlock canceled our scheduled ‘boring reading book time’ to talk about Charles. “You may have noticed that Charles is not in school … More Ambassador Chapter 5

Ambassador Chapter 3

I walked towards my fifth grade classroom in 1970-something, where an elderly woman stood in the doorway. She wore an old-fashioned dress which hung almost to her ankles. “What’s your name?” she asked. “Bridget Hardy.” “Are you related to Jim Hardy?” Her pale blue eyes widened behind her cat-eye glasses. “He’s my uncle, but we … More Ambassador Chapter 3

Ambassador Chapter 2

Summer turned into autumn, and the months turned into years.  Margie and I were watching Gigantor cartoons on the large black-and-white television after school. At 5:45 pm, we heard the footsteps at the back entrance. Father was home from work. “I can’t believe that bastard Larry, my boss,” Father’s voice thundered. “What happened?” Mother asked. … More Ambassador Chapter 2

Ambassador Chapter 1

A Novel I was four years old the first time I saw a swastika. As Father unlocked the door of our new house, I noticed a strange symbol embedded in the concrete surface next to the steps. It looked like a twisted cross made out of bricks. “What’s that?” I whispered to Mother. “That’s a … More Ambassador Chapter 1