Rave Reviews Book Club. One of the objectives of the club is to recognize outstanding talent in its membership. A literary group has been established within RRBC named Rave Writers – International Society of Authors (RWISA). This month the club is featuring these authors on a tour. I will be hosting them throughout the month and I hope you enjoy being introduced to some excellent writing.
Jan Sikes
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
By Jan Sikes
Henry Jacobsen ran gnarled fingers through 84 years of living and swatted at a fly that buzzed around his head. The sun warmed his old bones and he turned to face his longtime friend. “You know, Aaron, what the world needs now, is for people to show a little more respect to each other. Back in my day, if I acted or talked disrespectful, I got my hide tanned.”
The wooden boards underneath Aaron’s rocker creaked in syncopated rhythm with his movement. “Yep, Henry. Times are different nowadays.”
Henry timed his chair rhythm with Aaron’s. “Before I came to stay here, I had a house over on Boulder Street. There was a family a few doors down that was always borrowing things from me, but somehow they never remembered to return any of them.”
Aaron nodded. “I’ve had it happen to me many times.”
“I pulled into the driveway one day just in time to see the oldest kid unscrewing my water hose. By the time I parked the car and got out, he had it slung over his shoulder.” Henry’s frown deepened. “It’s frustrating when you can’t move like you used to.”
He gazed across the green manicured lawn of the Post Oaks Retirement Center as if viewing some long-ago forgotten scene.
“Well?” Aaron prodded. “What did you do?”
“I hollered at him and asked what in the world he thought he was doing. And you know what he had the nerve to say to me?” Henry screwed up his face.
“Nope.”
“He said that he was taking my water hose so he could wash his motorcycle.”
“Don’t that beat all? Aaron clicked his tongue. “Didn’t even bother to ask you.”
“I saw red. I lit into him like nobody’s business,” he growled. “The nerve. Take a man’s things like they meant nothing.”
Aaron shifted to take the weight off his bad hip. “There was a day when I would’ve jumped a guy for pulling a stunt like that. But those times are over for me. At this point, I’m doin’ good just to make it from the bed to the bathroom without embarrassing myself.”
“Yeah, me too. But, I tell you, I didn’t take it lying down. I told him what a rotten, no good, worthless human being he was and that he’d better put the water hose down or I’d call the cops and turn him in for stealing.”
“What did he do then?”
“He laughed in my face…told me I was too old to use the damn water hose anyway and he needed it.”
“Why, the nerve!”
“I marched myself inside and called the cops. When they came, I gave them a list of everything they had so-called borrowed and said I wanted it all back.”
“Did you get it?”
“Yeah. In pieces. The weed eater was battered and wouldn’t start. My shovel was broken in half. The water hose was split in two pieces. All of it was in shambles. Just no respect. That’s what the world has come to.”
Silence spun a web between the two old-timers who’d seen more than a lifetime of battles.
“I remember when I was in the Army. Nobody ever pilfered in someone else’s belongings. I did two tours overseas, fighting for this country and now I have to wonder what for.” Henry’s voice trembled. “The way folks carry on is a shame. Just no regard for one another.”
Aaron halted the rocker and leaned forward. “You’re right, Henry. The mess things are in is downright disgraceful. Take for instance the presidential election. Now, I can’t say I agree with the candidate who won, but for people to go out and tear stuff up, turn on friends and family who voted for him, and get consumed with hatred is ridiculous. No one is willing to bend.”
“Never saw anything like it,” Henry agreed. “I remember when John F. Kennedy won the election in 1960. People spoke out against him because he was catholic. But, they weren’t filled with the kind of hatred they are today. It pains me to think about what kind of society our grandkids are growing up in. For old geezers like ourselves, it don’t really matter all that much. We’re on our way out.”
“Dinosaurs. Men like us with backbone and decency are disappearing just like those prehistoric creatures did. I’d sure like to see something that would give me hope for the future. Hope for our country.” Aaron’s rheumy eyes glistened.
Henry pushed up from the rocker and stretched. It troubled him more than he could say that his grandchildren were growing up in these unstable times. A tired old man needs salve for his weary soul.
Just as he was about to shuffle inside, he saw his grandson, Micah, bounding across the lawn.
Micah waved. “Hi, Grandpa.”
Henry waved back.
Breathless, Micah reached the two men. “Hey, Gramps, look at this beautiful spring day. How about I bust you out of here and we go fishing?”
Henry chuckled. “That’s the best idea I’ve heard in a long time.” He turned to Aaron and winked. “There’s our hope. This young man knows how to respect his elders.”
With that, he joined his grandson. It didn’t escape his notice that Micah slowed his steps to match his grandfather’s or that he held the door while they went inside.
Respect. That’s what Micah demonstrated.
And, it’s precisely the healing the world now needs.
Thank you for supporting this member along the WATCH “RWISA” WRITE Showcase Tour today! We ask that if you have enjoyed this member’s writing, to please visit their Author Page on the RWISA site, where you can find more of their writing, along with their contact and social media links, if they’ve turned you into a fan. WE ask that you also check out their books in the RWISA or RRBC catalogs. Thanks, again for your support and we hope that you will follow each member along this amazing tour of talent! Don’t forget to click the link below to learn more about this author:
Jan Sikes RWISA Author Page
Fiction Favorites 
Jan’s story is both insightful and timely…beautiful! Thank you for hosting her today, John.
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Thank you, Gwen. It is both. 🙂
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Thank you, Gwen. I appreciate the comment. And, thank you for hosting me today, John!
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My pleasure, of course.
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Reblogged this on Legends of Windemere.
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Thank you so much, Charles.
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Thank you, Charles!
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A well-written story about a common problem in our world today. Thank you for hosting, John.
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Thanks for the visit, Karen
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Thanks, Karen. I appreciate you stopping by.
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Such a timely piece. Nicely done, Jan. Thanks for sharing, John.
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Thank you, Jill.
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Nice piece, Jan. Lots of truth there.
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Thanks, Craig.
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Woot! Good luck to Jan. Thanks for sharing, John. Have a marvelous Monday.
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You as well, Teagan. Thanks.
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Thank you, Teagan. I appreciate you taking the time to comment.
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Great writing and subject is so true Jan! Thanks for introducing us to Jan!
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Thank you, Elizabeth.
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Thank you, houstonphotojourney, for taking the time to read my story and comment. Much appreciated!
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A beautifully written reflection on today’s world. There is a lot of ugliness in our world, but there is still beauty and kindness in equal abundance.
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It is Michelle. Thanks for the visit.
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Thank you for taking to read my story and comment, macjam47!
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I echo the thoughts of others here. This is a wonderful story that touches on a subject that resonates with many of us. As long as there are “Micah’s” in the world, decency and respect remain.
Thanks for hosting today, John.
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My pleasure Mae. Jan has a lot to say.
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Thanks, Mae, for taking the time to read my story. I agree. As long as there is still a Micah in the world, there is hope!
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This was so good! I love the line she started out with: Henry Jacobsen ran gnarled fingers through 84 years of living…
I’m lucky enough to have a grandson like Micah, irreverent and respectful at the same time. He keeps me young 🙂
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Oh, thanks so much, Jacquie Biggar, for the kind words!
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Thank you, Jacquie for the super comment.
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Reblogged this on Writing and Music and commented:
It is my day on this #RWISA Spotlight Author blog tour. I hope you enjoy my story!
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Thank you for picking me for your post.
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What a lovely and heartfelt story. My eyes ‘glistened’ a little as I read it. Thanks so much for sharing, Jan. And thank you, John, for hosting. Hugs to both of you ♥♥
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Thanks for the visit, Tina.
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You’re welcome, John xx
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🙂
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Beautiful writing, Jan with a much needed moral. Sometimes I think we’ve given our kids and grand kids too much material things without letting them learn life lessons by working for things. And yet, they are still not happy over all. We need to put back what they needed most—family love.
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Thank you, Micki.
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This story makes me want to scream it to the world. Great story.
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Yes, Jan is terrific.
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