dawn of a new day

We stopped to see our friend Dawn at her coffee shop, dawn of a new day.  I asked her if I could use her coffee shop in my new book she graciously gave permission to do so.

Here are a few pictures of the chic coffee shop in downtown Saginaw. This building originally was the office of Lumber Barron, Arthur Hill.

Click here to go to the coffee shop Facebook page.

Beginning a New Book

When I joined Weight Watchers in May of last year, I decided to spend the year reading and responding to the Weight Watcher social media, Connect.  It really helped me to stay motivated by helping others by answering posts. Well, my first year is done -85 pounds and I am ready to begin my new book.  And the words are just tumbling out of my heart.  Say a prayer for me that the words weave a wonderful story.

I don't have a name for the book yet, but here is the first draft of the prologue:

PROGLOGUE

The child hid behind the putrid trash can. Crouching even lower, she silently put one foot behind the other inching farther back towards the cold brick wall. She shivered with fear, as much as from the cold and when her tummy rumbled loudly, she was terrified it could be heard.  She hadn't had anything to eat since yesterday morning. This afternoon her mother had ordered her to stay hidden in the dark alley until she returned with food, but that was a long time ago.

Now there was someone with a flashlight at the end of the alley searching for something. As he pulled boxes away from the building the beam of light jerked back and forth on the wall creating monster shadows. She squeezed her eyes shut hoping if she couldn't see him then maybe he wouldn't see her. 

When the trash can in front of her was pulled away she screamed and tried to push past the man. She stumbled over his feet as the laser flashlight momentarily blinded her. She felt his huge hands grab the back of her jacket lifting her off the ground. Just as her Mom had taught her she kicked her feet and swatted the air with her hands and tried to bite the stranger when she heard him say, "It's okay your mom sent me to find you."

She dropped her hands and made her body go limp in his arms. Constantly warned not to trust strangers, especially strangers saying she had sent them, the child tried this last maneuver her mom had taught her to use in a bad situation. The man assumed the little girl was going to give up and set her on her feet as he pressed the radio button attached to his coat announcing, "This is 134. Found her, heading back to the station."

Now that she could see again she shuddered as her worst nightmare unfolded in the dark alley. It was a Policeman!  When he let go of her hand to put the flashlight back in his belt she bolted. The police officer shouted with terrifying authority, "Get back here, now!" 

She ran as fast as her little legs could carry her, but it wasn't fast enough. This time when he lifted her off the ground he carried her under his arm to the police car, deposited her in the backseat and shut the door. When he walked around the car to get in the driver side she reached to open the door to run again. She screamed in frustration when she realized there was no handle on the inside of the door; no way out. Tears ran down her cheeks faster than her filthy hands could brush them away leaving streaks of dirt on her face. The officer got in the car and looked in the review mirror at the little girl.  He knew without a doubt this would be a night he would never forget.