Congratulations !
You have been awarded points.
Thank you for !
- Story Listed as: Fiction For Adults
- Theme: Love stories / Romance
- Subject: Love / Romance / Dating
- Published: 02/03/2021
Love is in the Air
Born 1944, F, from Melbourne, FL, United States![Love is in the Air](/storage/story/BCBBCD5B-1FD0-1E74-BAE4-99426E42D2DC_1612365769-image(180x285-crop).jpeg)
Love Is In the Air
by
Valerie Allen
“What's that smell?” Mattie asked. She wrinkled her nose and took a few tentative sniffs.
“It's Howey burning the food to death, as usual,” Alice said. She tossed a dish cloth onto the stained countertop and rubbed it over a sticky mess of butter, jelly, and toast crumbs.
Mattie dropped her car keys into her pocket and lifted her yellow "Chew and Chow" apron from the hook next to the time clock. She pulled the bib apron over her head and smoothed it across the front of her faded blue uniform. In one sweep, she grabbed the long strings that dangled at her sides, pulled them across her lower back, and brought them forward, where she twisted them together in a bow at her waist. “Wow! He's really taken a turn for the worse,” she said.
“He's cooking the heck out of the sausage, that's for sure.”
“Smells like he's melting them into charcoal,” Mattie said.
“Beware! The man is just a little cranky this morning.”
“What's his problem?” Mattie asked.
“He doesn't need a problem. He was born cantankerous.”
Mattie peered into the kitchen. “What's his gripe today?”
“Easter.”
“What's wrong with Easter?”
“All those bunny shaped pancakes,” Alice said.
“What's wrong with that? I think they're cute,” Mattie said.
Howey says putting those big ears on all those pancakes has slowed him down.”
“Is he kidding? Howey's been slowed down ever since I've known him and I've been working here five years,” Mattie said.
“Wow, has it been that long?” Alice asked.
“Oh yeah, and I've loved every minute of it.” Mattie rolled her eyes.
Alice wagged her finger. “Something tells me you're exaggerating.”
“Ya think?” Mattie asked.
“I think you're a good friend and I'm gonna miss you when you graduate and move up and on to bigger and better things.”
Mattie lifted her arms above her head, curled her fingers into little balls, and did a happy dance. “Yes! The end is in sight.”
“When's the big day?”
“May 27th. Just one more month! I can't wait.”
Howey poked his head around the corner. His double chin boasted graying stubble. “You girls think you might start waitin' on the customers anytime soon?” He growled as he slammed two plates onto the small pass-through window.
“Sure, Howey—just sharing the love,” Alice said.
“Yeah, yeah, and all that,” he said and turned away, mumbling under his breath.
“Oh Howey, you're such a charmer,” Mattie said.
Howey called over his shoulder. “Ya want charm, go to Hollywood. Find one of those lover-boy types with a fancy car and a big bank account. Meanwhile, get these stupid lookin' pancakes out to those bratty kids at Table #3 before they break the place apart.”
Mattie raised her eyebrows and leaned toward Alice. “You're right, he is cranky.”
“Just his usual ol' self. Nothing to do with Easter. He's like that on Valentine's Day, Fourth of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. He's just a miserable kind of guy,” Alice said.
“Aren't they all?” Mattie asked.
“Woe—who's cranky now?”
“I'm just done with men. I've had it!” Mattie said. She grabbed a stack of paper napkins and tossed them on the countertop. She lifted a rack of silverware and slammed it down next to the napkins. She rolled a fork, a knife, and a spoon inside of each napkin.
“Really?” Alice laughed. “You goin' the other way?”
Mattie glared at Alice. “Very funny.”
“Stranger things have been known to happen,” Alice said. “I thought you were all about Pauly?”
“So did I, but now I realize Pauly is a pig.”
“A fall from grace. What'd he do to deserve that title?” Alice lifted a handful of the wrapped silverware and slid them into a basket under the counter.
“He's a slob—and a lazy slob at that.”
“Lost another job, did he?” Alice asked.
“Yes. Again. I'm so tired of hearing how the world does him wrong,” Mattie said.
“So did you dump him?”
“I did. I told him we're done. I un-friended him online. I blocked his calls and texts. I boxed up his stuff and put it by the curb. I reminded him Tuesday is garbage day, so he better move fast.”
“Sounds final to me. Isn't that how it ended with Ralphy?”
“Ugh! Ralphy the Rat? Don't remind me of him,” Mattie said.
“I think you've got this thing about men and animals. Not confused, are you?”
“Ralphy wouldn't let me order anything but water when we ate out—good health and all that. Truth was, he didn't want to spend money on a real drink—not soda, beer, wine or coffee. What a cheapskate! He'd tell me not to have dessert, we'd stop somewhere on the way home and pick up something. He'd find a drive-through doughnut joint and pull out a two-for-one coupon.”
“Frugal guy,” Alice said.
“Cheapskate!” Mattie said and tossed a towel onto her shoulder.
“I don't believe you're done with men,” Alice said. “You're too young! You'll get over the heart-break-hotel thing and be singing a different song before you know it.”
“No, I will not!” Mattie said. “I swear I'm done with guys who think they can just sweet talk you into anything.”
Alice lowered her voice. “Well, this dive isn't exactly the best place to find the man of your dreams.”
“You got that right. I'm done. My search for Mr. Wonderful is over.” Mattie sighed. “I'm looking forward to spinsterhood.”
“Awww—that's too bad, 'cause that big hunk of handsome just pulled into Table #7.”
Mattie glanced toward the tables near the front window. She stared at the man in a gray Tee shirt and a bright orange safety vest. He wore a Stetson dipped low over his eyes. “I've never noticed him before.”
“That's because you only had eyes for Pauly,” Alice said. “Before that, you only had eyes for Ralphy.”
Mattie sized up the man seated at Table #7. “I guess you're right,” she said.
“Well, that fella's noticed you, that's for sure. He's been here before and he keeps comin' back. He might be a Mr. Wonderful candidate.”
“Hmm. Nope, I'm done with all that.” Mattie looked at her reflection in the stainless steel panel behind the coffee makers. She touched her finger to the lipstick at the corners of her mouth and ran her tongue across her lips. She glanced at the tables as they filled with customers and then twisted a loose strand of hair and tucked it behind her ear.
“That guy's a real looker, if you ask me,” Alice said.
“No one is asking you, but if you're that interested you can have Table #7 and I'll switch it out for Table #4,” Mattie said.
“Oh, no. I'm expecting my usual guy at #4. Besides #7 isn't my type. I'm all about short, beer-belled, hairy-chested kinda guys.”
Mattie glanced again at the man seated at #7. “You're right, he doesn't seem to match your preferred profile.”
“No, he doesn't,” Alice said. “I already checked him out.”
“I thought I had Table #7?” Mattie asked.
“You do, but I had to give the poor guy a menu, didn't I? Just offering him some good customer service is all.”
Mattie studied the man at Table #7. “Sure. So what else did you happen to notice while you were offering him such good service?”
“Not one tattoo—at least none showing. His legs are so long, I had to move one of the chairs aside so he could stretch them out under the table,” Alice said. “He's got a job with the county—he does some kind of water analysis thing.”
“How do you know that?” Mattie asked.
“I saw him get out of his utility vehicle.”
“So, he's clean-shaven, tall, and has no gang associations,” Mattie said.
“Don't forget, he's a man with a job,” Alice said.
Mattie shook her head. “His resume is looking better all the time.”
Alice smiled. “He smells manly with an overlay of some $20.00-per-ounce cologne.”
“My, oh my, you really did check him out,” Mattie said.
Alice smiled. “I prefer my men to have a faint smell of sawdust and sheet rock. You know, that construction worker smell to them.”
Mattie looked at her friend. “Alice, this is why you'll still be here long after I'm gone. You're looking for all the wrong men in all the wrong places.”
Alice sighed. “It's all okay with me.”
“To each his own, but I'm over the guy thing,” Mattie said. “I've totally sworn off men now and forever.”
Alice lifted her chin. “Better see what Mr. Wonderful wants for breakfast and try to remember you're all done with men, Honey.”
Mattie grabbed her order pad, pulled the pencil from behind her ear, and approached Table #7. “What can I get for you, Sir?”
He looked up from the menu and smiled. He took off his Stetson, set it on the chair next to him and ran his fingers through his hair. “Good mornin'. How're you doin' today?”
She looked into his hazel eyes. “Great, just great. Are you ready to order?”
“Yep, I sure am.” He looked at her small round face, the hair curling behind her ear, and noticed the dimple in her chin.
“Do you know what you want?” she asked.
“Absolutely.”
“What would that be?”
“Something special.”
“How about the Big Boy Breakfast? Folks say that's pretty good,” Mattie said.
“Perfect,” he said. “The Big Boy Breakfast with eggs over easy, whole wheat toast, light on the butter, crispy bacon, and an extra-large black coffee.”
“Got it.” She smiled at him. “Sounds like you do know what you want.”
“Each time I come here, it gets easier and easier for me to figure that out.”
She stared at him. “I don't remember seeing you in here before,” Mattie said.
“I sure remember seein' you,” he said and winked.
“Well, you won't be seeing me here much longer.” Her lips turned up into a broad smile.
He sat up straight. “Why is that?”
“I'm leaving this place to find a better job,” Mattie said.
He frowned, a deep crease formed between his eyebrows. “Sorry to hear that. I love comin' here.”
“You do?” she asked. “Why is that?”
He offered a sly smile. “'Cause the food is good, and the price is right.”
She looked over her shoulder toward Alice. “How about the service?” she asked.
Slowly, he nodded. “Not bad. Not bad at all.”
Mattie nodded. “Working here was just a stop along the way for me. I'll have my college degree soon.”
He sat back and straightened his shoulders. “Wow, beauty and brains! Hard for a man to resist qualities like that in a woman.”
She laughed. “Thanks, Cowboy, so nice to hear your kind words, but flattery won't get you anywhere with me.”
He grinned and looked up at her. “So, what would get me somewhere with you?”
She stared deep into eyes and a smile tugged at her lips. She pushed a strand of hair back from her face, smoothed it with her fingers, and patted it in place. “Well, I'll have to give that some thought and let you know,” she said softly.
A broad smile crossed his face. He scribbled his number on a napkin and tucked it into her pocket. “I'll be waiting by the phone,” he said.
# # #
Thank you for taking the time to read "Love Is In The Air".
If you enjoyed it, please consider telling your friends and posting a
review on Amazon.com or other online sites.
Word-of-mouth referrals are an author's best friend and much
appreciated.
~ ~ ~
Love Is In the Air
by
Valerie Allen
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are
either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or events, is entirely coincidental.
Printed in the United States of America. All rights reserved. No part of
this story may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval
system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic,
mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior
written permission of the author.
For more information please contact:
ValerieAllenWriter.com
VAllenWriter@gmail.com
Amazon.com/author/valerieallen
Copyright 2017 by Valerie Allen
Amazon.com/dp/B01MS7E5FO
Short Stories
by
Valerie Allen
A Good Thing on a Bad Day
A License to Practice
A Marriage of Convenience
A Mother's Love
A Tooth for a Tooth
A True Miracle
Ad Hoc Committee
Best Wishes
Brotherly Love
Conditional Love
Doggie Tales
Fathers Day
Fire Engine Red
Fireworks on the 4th
First Love
Fit for Life
Future Plans
Holiday Traditions
Home for the Holidays
Holiday House Rules
I Remember Momma
Just Be Cos
Ladies in Waiting
Leisureville
Love is in the Air
Match-maker
Mother Knows Best
No Goin' Home
Potty Talk
Puppy Love
Queen for a Day
Second Chance
Small Steps
Split Second Timing
Thank You, Mr. Jackson!
The Big Winner!
The Garden of Love
The Lonely Life of Amanda Miller
The Penalty Box
Valentine's Day
Visiting Day
Words of Wisdom
~ ~ ~
Love is in the Air(Valerie Allen)
Love Is In the Air
by
Valerie Allen
“What's that smell?” Mattie asked. She wrinkled her nose and took a few tentative sniffs.
“It's Howey burning the food to death, as usual,” Alice said. She tossed a dish cloth onto the stained countertop and rubbed it over a sticky mess of butter, jelly, and toast crumbs.
Mattie dropped her car keys into her pocket and lifted her yellow "Chew and Chow" apron from the hook next to the time clock. She pulled the bib apron over her head and smoothed it across the front of her faded blue uniform. In one sweep, she grabbed the long strings that dangled at her sides, pulled them across her lower back, and brought them forward, where she twisted them together in a bow at her waist. “Wow! He's really taken a turn for the worse,” she said.
“He's cooking the heck out of the sausage, that's for sure.”
“Smells like he's melting them into charcoal,” Mattie said.
“Beware! The man is just a little cranky this morning.”
“What's his problem?” Mattie asked.
“He doesn't need a problem. He was born cantankerous.”
Mattie peered into the kitchen. “What's his gripe today?”
“Easter.”
“What's wrong with Easter?”
“All those bunny shaped pancakes,” Alice said.
“What's wrong with that? I think they're cute,” Mattie said.
Howey says putting those big ears on all those pancakes has slowed him down.”
“Is he kidding? Howey's been slowed down ever since I've known him and I've been working here five years,” Mattie said.
“Wow, has it been that long?” Alice asked.
“Oh yeah, and I've loved every minute of it.” Mattie rolled her eyes.
Alice wagged her finger. “Something tells me you're exaggerating.”
“Ya think?” Mattie asked.
“I think you're a good friend and I'm gonna miss you when you graduate and move up and on to bigger and better things.”
Mattie lifted her arms above her head, curled her fingers into little balls, and did a happy dance. “Yes! The end is in sight.”
“When's the big day?”
“May 27th. Just one more month! I can't wait.”
Howey poked his head around the corner. His double chin boasted graying stubble. “You girls think you might start waitin' on the customers anytime soon?” He growled as he slammed two plates onto the small pass-through window.
“Sure, Howey—just sharing the love,” Alice said.
“Yeah, yeah, and all that,” he said and turned away, mumbling under his breath.
“Oh Howey, you're such a charmer,” Mattie said.
Howey called over his shoulder. “Ya want charm, go to Hollywood. Find one of those lover-boy types with a fancy car and a big bank account. Meanwhile, get these stupid lookin' pancakes out to those bratty kids at Table #3 before they break the place apart.”
Mattie raised her eyebrows and leaned toward Alice. “You're right, he is cranky.”
“Just his usual ol' self. Nothing to do with Easter. He's like that on Valentine's Day, Fourth of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. He's just a miserable kind of guy,” Alice said.
“Aren't they all?” Mattie asked.
“Woe—who's cranky now?”
“I'm just done with men. I've had it!” Mattie said. She grabbed a stack of paper napkins and tossed them on the countertop. She lifted a rack of silverware and slammed it down next to the napkins. She rolled a fork, a knife, and a spoon inside of each napkin.
“Really?” Alice laughed. “You goin' the other way?”
Mattie glared at Alice. “Very funny.”
“Stranger things have been known to happen,” Alice said. “I thought you were all about Pauly?”
“So did I, but now I realize Pauly is a pig.”
“A fall from grace. What'd he do to deserve that title?” Alice lifted a handful of the wrapped silverware and slid them into a basket under the counter.
“He's a slob—and a lazy slob at that.”
“Lost another job, did he?” Alice asked.
“Yes. Again. I'm so tired of hearing how the world does him wrong,” Mattie said.
“So did you dump him?”
“I did. I told him we're done. I un-friended him online. I blocked his calls and texts. I boxed up his stuff and put it by the curb. I reminded him Tuesday is garbage day, so he better move fast.”
“Sounds final to me. Isn't that how it ended with Ralphy?”
“Ugh! Ralphy the Rat? Don't remind me of him,” Mattie said.
“I think you've got this thing about men and animals. Not confused, are you?”
“Ralphy wouldn't let me order anything but water when we ate out—good health and all that. Truth was, he didn't want to spend money on a real drink—not soda, beer, wine or coffee. What a cheapskate! He'd tell me not to have dessert, we'd stop somewhere on the way home and pick up something. He'd find a drive-through doughnut joint and pull out a two-for-one coupon.”
“Frugal guy,” Alice said.
“Cheapskate!” Mattie said and tossed a towel onto her shoulder.
“I don't believe you're done with men,” Alice said. “You're too young! You'll get over the heart-break-hotel thing and be singing a different song before you know it.”
“No, I will not!” Mattie said. “I swear I'm done with guys who think they can just sweet talk you into anything.”
Alice lowered her voice. “Well, this dive isn't exactly the best place to find the man of your dreams.”
“You got that right. I'm done. My search for Mr. Wonderful is over.” Mattie sighed. “I'm looking forward to spinsterhood.”
“Awww—that's too bad, 'cause that big hunk of handsome just pulled into Table #7.”
Mattie glanced toward the tables near the front window. She stared at the man in a gray Tee shirt and a bright orange safety vest. He wore a Stetson dipped low over his eyes. “I've never noticed him before.”
“That's because you only had eyes for Pauly,” Alice said. “Before that, you only had eyes for Ralphy.”
Mattie sized up the man seated at Table #7. “I guess you're right,” she said.
“Well, that fella's noticed you, that's for sure. He's been here before and he keeps comin' back. He might be a Mr. Wonderful candidate.”
“Hmm. Nope, I'm done with all that.” Mattie looked at her reflection in the stainless steel panel behind the coffee makers. She touched her finger to the lipstick at the corners of her mouth and ran her tongue across her lips. She glanced at the tables as they filled with customers and then twisted a loose strand of hair and tucked it behind her ear.
“That guy's a real looker, if you ask me,” Alice said.
“No one is asking you, but if you're that interested you can have Table #7 and I'll switch it out for Table #4,” Mattie said.
“Oh, no. I'm expecting my usual guy at #4. Besides #7 isn't my type. I'm all about short, beer-belled, hairy-chested kinda guys.”
Mattie glanced again at the man seated at #7. “You're right, he doesn't seem to match your preferred profile.”
“No, he doesn't,” Alice said. “I already checked him out.”
“I thought I had Table #7?” Mattie asked.
“You do, but I had to give the poor guy a menu, didn't I? Just offering him some good customer service is all.”
Mattie studied the man at Table #7. “Sure. So what else did you happen to notice while you were offering him such good service?”
“Not one tattoo—at least none showing. His legs are so long, I had to move one of the chairs aside so he could stretch them out under the table,” Alice said. “He's got a job with the county—he does some kind of water analysis thing.”
“How do you know that?” Mattie asked.
“I saw him get out of his utility vehicle.”
“So, he's clean-shaven, tall, and has no gang associations,” Mattie said.
“Don't forget, he's a man with a job,” Alice said.
Mattie shook her head. “His resume is looking better all the time.”
Alice smiled. “He smells manly with an overlay of some $20.00-per-ounce cologne.”
“My, oh my, you really did check him out,” Mattie said.
Alice smiled. “I prefer my men to have a faint smell of sawdust and sheet rock. You know, that construction worker smell to them.”
Mattie looked at her friend. “Alice, this is why you'll still be here long after I'm gone. You're looking for all the wrong men in all the wrong places.”
Alice sighed. “It's all okay with me.”
“To each his own, but I'm over the guy thing,” Mattie said. “I've totally sworn off men now and forever.”
Alice lifted her chin. “Better see what Mr. Wonderful wants for breakfast and try to remember you're all done with men, Honey.”
Mattie grabbed her order pad, pulled the pencil from behind her ear, and approached Table #7. “What can I get for you, Sir?”
He looked up from the menu and smiled. He took off his Stetson, set it on the chair next to him and ran his fingers through his hair. “Good mornin'. How're you doin' today?”
She looked into his hazel eyes. “Great, just great. Are you ready to order?”
“Yep, I sure am.” He looked at her small round face, the hair curling behind her ear, and noticed the dimple in her chin.
“Do you know what you want?” she asked.
“Absolutely.”
“What would that be?”
“Something special.”
“How about the Big Boy Breakfast? Folks say that's pretty good,” Mattie said.
“Perfect,” he said. “The Big Boy Breakfast with eggs over easy, whole wheat toast, light on the butter, crispy bacon, and an extra-large black coffee.”
“Got it.” She smiled at him. “Sounds like you do know what you want.”
“Each time I come here, it gets easier and easier for me to figure that out.”
She stared at him. “I don't remember seeing you in here before,” Mattie said.
“I sure remember seein' you,” he said and winked.
“Well, you won't be seeing me here much longer.” Her lips turned up into a broad smile.
He sat up straight. “Why is that?”
“I'm leaving this place to find a better job,” Mattie said.
He frowned, a deep crease formed between his eyebrows. “Sorry to hear that. I love comin' here.”
“You do?” she asked. “Why is that?”
He offered a sly smile. “'Cause the food is good, and the price is right.”
She looked over her shoulder toward Alice. “How about the service?” she asked.
Slowly, he nodded. “Not bad. Not bad at all.”
Mattie nodded. “Working here was just a stop along the way for me. I'll have my college degree soon.”
He sat back and straightened his shoulders. “Wow, beauty and brains! Hard for a man to resist qualities like that in a woman.”
She laughed. “Thanks, Cowboy, so nice to hear your kind words, but flattery won't get you anywhere with me.”
He grinned and looked up at her. “So, what would get me somewhere with you?”
She stared deep into eyes and a smile tugged at her lips. She pushed a strand of hair back from her face, smoothed it with her fingers, and patted it in place. “Well, I'll have to give that some thought and let you know,” she said softly.
A broad smile crossed his face. He scribbled his number on a napkin and tucked it into her pocket. “I'll be waiting by the phone,” he said.
# # #
Thank you for taking the time to read "Love Is In The Air".
If you enjoyed it, please consider telling your friends and posting a
review on Amazon.com or other online sites.
Word-of-mouth referrals are an author's best friend and much
appreciated.
~ ~ ~
Love Is In the Air
by
Valerie Allen
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are
either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or events, is entirely coincidental.
Printed in the United States of America. All rights reserved. No part of
this story may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval
system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic,
mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior
written permission of the author.
For more information please contact:
ValerieAllenWriter.com
VAllenWriter@gmail.com
Amazon.com/author/valerieallen
Copyright 2017 by Valerie Allen
Amazon.com/dp/B01MS7E5FO
Short Stories
by
Valerie Allen
A Good Thing on a Bad Day
A License to Practice
A Marriage of Convenience
A Mother's Love
A Tooth for a Tooth
A True Miracle
Ad Hoc Committee
Best Wishes
Brotherly Love
Conditional Love
Doggie Tales
Fathers Day
Fire Engine Red
Fireworks on the 4th
First Love
Fit for Life
Future Plans
Holiday Traditions
Home for the Holidays
Holiday House Rules
I Remember Momma
Just Be Cos
Ladies in Waiting
Leisureville
Love is in the Air
Match-maker
Mother Knows Best
No Goin' Home
Potty Talk
Puppy Love
Queen for a Day
Second Chance
Small Steps
Split Second Timing
Thank You, Mr. Jackson!
The Big Winner!
The Garden of Love
The Lonely Life of Amanda Miller
The Penalty Box
Valentine's Day
Visiting Day
Words of Wisdom
~ ~ ~
- Share this story on
- 7
![](/storage/users/5D6F2FE0-9A36-13EC-B5E1-A8ED29BAC015_1632285588-image(212x212-crop).jpeg)
Lillian Kazmierczak
02/17/2023Valerie, I am a sucker for a good romance. This story checked all the boxes and left the hope that Mattie calls him. Fingers crossed you will grace us with a sequel!
ReplyHelp Us Understand What's Happening
![](/storage/users/71580669-4B57-F26C-31B2-087F5CFB48C1_1609353837-image(212x212-crop).jpeg)
Gerald R Gioglio
05/02/2021Nicely done, Valerie. Yep, ain't it the way..... Congrats on StoryStar recognition. GRG
ReplyHelp Us Understand What's Happening
![](/storage/users/5409FB9C-B08D-404A-AEB5-1656E97B7D38_1544319328-image(212x212-crop).jpeg)
Help Us Understand What's Happening
![some-data...](/storage/users/A4543371-1E62-2385-EF62-EC1DC894E054_1692316512-image(212x212-crop).jpeg)
Valerie Allen
04/26/2021JD - thank you once again for this honor. I love to brag about my short stories and StoryStar ~
Help Us Understand What's Happening
![](/storage/users/A4543371-1E62-2385-EF62-EC1DC894E054_1692316512-image(212x212-crop).jpeg)
Valerie Allen
02/11/2021Syliva ~
Glad you enjoyed this "love story." Just shows how our intentions go astray when faced with temptation! Thank you for your interest in my work. I write fiction, nonfiction, short stories, and kid's books. You can find my books at Amazon.com/author/valerieallen.
Help Us Understand What's Happening
![some-data...](/storage/users/default-image(212x212-crop).png)
Sylvia Maclagan
02/12/2021Valerie, I'll take a look at your stories on Amazon. The trouble is that our Argentine peso is so devalued that anything in dollars is beyond our reach. Do you have them as e-books?
Help Us Understand What's Happening
![](/storage/users/default-image(212x212-crop).png)
Sylvia Maclagan
02/11/2021Enjoyed reading your story. I see it's been Star of the Day and it well deserves it. You are an accomplished author with so many books or stories already published. I'll take a look on Amazon.
The dialogue between the main characters is sweet, I bet she's not going anywhere soon. Although if I were Mattie I'd go to college, not be ordered around by any cowboy with a Stetson hat!
I see you've been Star of the Day, congratulations! But I'm not surprised. I'll be looking out for your other stories.
Help Us Understand What's Happening
![some-data...](/storage/users/5409FB9C-B08D-404A-AEB5-1656E97B7D38_1544319328-image(212x212-crop).jpeg)
JD
02/11/2021Hi Sylvia,
Valerie responded to you outside this comment thread, which you will not receive a notification about, so I'm copy/pasting her comment here so you'll know:
Syliva ~
Glad you enjoyed this "love story." Just shows how our intentions go astray when faced with temptation! Thank you for your interest in my work. I write fiction, nonfiction, short stories, and kid's books. You can find my books at Amazon.com/author/valerieallen.
Help Us Understand What's Happening
![](/storage/users/8A3A1A19-584F-75B9-8CD9-9451592DFEED_1609972506-image(212x212-crop).jpeg)
Help Us Understand What's Happening
![some-data...](/storage/users/A4543371-1E62-2385-EF62-EC1DC894E054_1692316512-image(212x212-crop).jpeg)
Valerie Allen
02/11/2021Bill, thanks for reading my short story. My strength seems to be in writing dialogue. I am able to carry the story as I listen to their conversation inside my head. I do what seems to work best for me ~
Help Us Understand What's Happening
![](/storage/users/5409FB9C-B08D-404A-AEB5-1656E97B7D38_1544319328-image(212x212-crop).jpeg)
JD
02/11/2021Nicely done, Valerie. Loved the way you slowly wound up to making your grumpy down on men main character give it another thought.... Beautiful! Thanks for sharing another of your outstanding short stories on Storystar. Happy short story STAR of the day! :-)
ReplyHelp Us Understand What's Happening
![some-data...](/storage/users/5409FB9C-B08D-404A-AEB5-1656E97B7D38_1544319328-image(212x212-crop).jpeg)
Help Us Understand What's Happening
![some-data...](/storage/users/A4543371-1E62-2385-EF62-EC1DC894E054_1692316512-image(212x212-crop).jpeg)
Valerie Allen
02/11/2021JD - thanks for reading my stories and your comments. Always enjoy the honor of being StoryStar of the Day ~
Help Us Understand What's Happening
![](/storage/users/default-image(212x212-crop).png)
BEN BROWN
02/10/2021BEN BROWN
I really enjoyed reading Love is in the Air as much as First Love. Well done.
Help Us Understand What's Happening
![some-data...](/storage/users/A4543371-1E62-2385-EF62-EC1DC894E054_1692316512-image(212x212-crop).jpeg)
Valerie Allen
02/11/2021Ben - glad you enjoyed my "love stories" for February. Thanks for your feed back ~
COMMENTS (8)