As kids, my brother and I were very close. He was my best friend, the only one I played with since we didn’t live in a neighborhood, and there were no other kids on our road. For years our house was surrounded by nothing but open fields on each side, the closest house visible as a pale green dot. That eventually changed, when apartments were built in one of those fields, but in those early days, it was us, our dog Star, and wide open space. We spent our days outside, building a tree house (like Dixie and her brother) fashioned a fort out of cement cylinders and some wood from behind the garage, explored the woods and tributary, picked blackberries, rode our bikes, and generally goofed off. Summer time especially, was our time. Growing up, I looked up to my big brother like a hero. He knew how to fix my bike, he drew a funny picture on my cast when I broke my arm, and he was always by my side, like a protector.
Dixie’s brother, AJ, is older by two years, making him thirteen. Their relationship is a lot like the one I had with my brother. I found this picture which is close enough to how I pictured him in my head. Yes, my own brother is blonde haired and blue eyed too.
CHAPTER TWENTY THREE
AJ was back on good terms with Uncle Ray.
***I’m using #FirstSentenceFridays on Twitter and tagging @Kensington Publishing Corporation. Follow along and tweet out/share if you’d like!***
Congratulations on the Indie Next Listing! What a fun event over on Janet Reid’s blog in honor of your Dixie! You could call this #HonorsFriday!
Thank you, Sherry. I should call it that, shouldn’t I? I’m still recovering over that Next Indie Pick…and honor is the right word!
Ohhhhh YOU! I haven’t even read the first sentence yet. Had to skip straight down to the comment section just to say “WHOOOOOOOAAAAAAAA. What a Friday you’re having!” I gotta go get me some Contest Pie ingredients and whoop up a tasty one. This contest is ON!
All kinds of goodies today, which definitely makes it a GREAT Friday, and I am pretty doggone happy!
I can’t wait to see what you come up with!
So cool that your book has been selected for the Indie Next list, Donna! And what an honor Janet created a contest to celebrate it!
P.S. I bet it’s tough on Dixie that AJ is back on good terms with Uncle Ray. <3 <3 <3
Thank you, Lilac – it’s been a great day!
And yes, you’re right about Dixie’s thoughts on AJ and good ole Uncle Ray! <3 <3 <3
So happy for you, Donna, to get the nod from Next Indie Pick. I can’t imagine the excitement going through your head right now. Is it hard to sleep?! Gotta be, in a good way.
Thank you for that John (ms) Frain. It is surreal. It is more than exciting. The idiotic grin has set up camp on my face. Actually, I sleep well. It’s when I wake up and remember – and it hits me. Back comes the idiotic grin. 😉
Woooohoooooo on the Next Indie Pick!!! I haven’t done a flash fiction contest in ages but feel like I have to this week. 🙂
And the sentences are killing me, as usual. Now I just have to wait for my (pre-ordered!) book to arrive …
Thank you Lucie – the head spins just thinking about it! Hey, if you win, you’ll have one to give away! 🙂