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SUMMARY: One of them is dying, and wants to say goodbye first. A man returns from a long absence and his
explanation is not what the lady expects to hear. The President gets a phone call that comes from a very
unlikely source. A man is given the ultimatum to get rid of the urns or lose his wife. A young would-be thief
finds himself dead and in the most unlikely place he ever imagined--the neighborhood of the local cemetery,
complete with some very interesting characters.
What do you think? Illusion? Or Reality?
A short story collection by J. W. Coffey that includes a little something for everyone--romance, horror, humor,
and drama.
explanation is not what the lady expects to hear. The President gets a phone call that comes from a very
unlikely source. A man is given the ultimatum to get rid of the urns or lose his wife. A young would-be thief
finds himself dead and in the most unlikely place he ever imagined--the neighborhood of the local cemetery,
complete with some very interesting characters.
What do you think? Illusion? Or Reality?
A short story collection by J. W. Coffey that includes a little something for everyone--romance, horror, humor,
and drama.
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Illusions & Reality
Illusions & Reality
Author: J. W. Coffey
Edition: Reprint
Copyright: July 3, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-4524-5670-6
Published by: Edin Road Press
Format: Ebook
Available through:
Smashwords.com
Genre: Fiction, Anthologies, Short Stories
Author: J. W. Coffey
Edition: Reprint
Copyright: July 3, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-4524-5670-6
Published by: Edin Road Press
Format: Ebook
Available through:
Smashwords.com
Genre: Fiction, Anthologies, Short Stories
Book Excerpt:“I was scared, Wyler, more afraid than you will ever know. But you are home now. You are
here.” She kissed the fingers of both of his hands. “First, you will have a bath and wash away the dust and
grit. Come, into the tub with you. You are here now and I am with you.”
She helped him out of the doeskin trews and saffron shirt, laying them on the bed to fold after he was in the
tub. She caught her breath seeing the criss-cross of barely healed welts on his back. His strong back that
had not seen the sun for some time, his back was still showing bruises and those whip marks. She turned
back to the cauldron and began pouring the hot water into the cold, heating it until it was steaming. He
stepped into the tub, settling gingerly as she poured the last of the hot water. From a box, she pulled a ball
of sweet soap wrapped in a piece of oil cloth.
“Now, we shall see if that handsome face is still under that dirt. But first, your hair needs attention, sir.”
She pushed his head forward and dutifully, he bent it. She took an old pitcher and poured the water over the
blue-black locks. With the ball of soap, she began to work his tresses into a lather.
“Molly?”
“Yes, my love?”
He gave a heavy sigh, almost as if it came from his toes. His lips parted several times, as if he wasn’t sure
what to say or how to say it. She said nothing, only working the soap through his hair with her fingers and
gently teasing out the tangles. It was some time before he did speak. She waited patiently.
“How can one man be so cruel to another? All for . . . words.” He gave another heartfelt sigh. “I know, I
know. You have often cautioned me to watch my tongue. You have counseled me much for the control of it.”
“Have I, my love?”
“I could not see the injustice and let it go unnoticed. I could not.”
She took the pitcher and rinsed the soap from his hair. “What did you see, my love?”
“I saw a man beaten so that another could have his land. I saw the fatted lord of the shire laughing as it
happened. Too many suffer for greed, Molly. Too many cry from hunger and disease and it would seem
there are none who care.”
He pushed the wet hair from his eyes and sat back as she soaped the cloth. He closed them while she
cleaned the dust from his face and rinsed it. He kept his lids shut as she began to gently scrub his arms
and chest. But he talked on.
here.” She kissed the fingers of both of his hands. “First, you will have a bath and wash away the dust and
grit. Come, into the tub with you. You are here now and I am with you.”
She helped him out of the doeskin trews and saffron shirt, laying them on the bed to fold after he was in the
tub. She caught her breath seeing the criss-cross of barely healed welts on his back. His strong back that
had not seen the sun for some time, his back was still showing bruises and those whip marks. She turned
back to the cauldron and began pouring the hot water into the cold, heating it until it was steaming. He
stepped into the tub, settling gingerly as she poured the last of the hot water. From a box, she pulled a ball
of sweet soap wrapped in a piece of oil cloth.
“Now, we shall see if that handsome face is still under that dirt. But first, your hair needs attention, sir.”
She pushed his head forward and dutifully, he bent it. She took an old pitcher and poured the water over the
blue-black locks. With the ball of soap, she began to work his tresses into a lather.
“Molly?”
“Yes, my love?”
He gave a heavy sigh, almost as if it came from his toes. His lips parted several times, as if he wasn’t sure
what to say or how to say it. She said nothing, only working the soap through his hair with her fingers and
gently teasing out the tangles. It was some time before he did speak. She waited patiently.
“How can one man be so cruel to another? All for . . . words.” He gave another heartfelt sigh. “I know, I
know. You have often cautioned me to watch my tongue. You have counseled me much for the control of it.”
“Have I, my love?”
“I could not see the injustice and let it go unnoticed. I could not.”
She took the pitcher and rinsed the soap from his hair. “What did you see, my love?”
“I saw a man beaten so that another could have his land. I saw the fatted lord of the shire laughing as it
happened. Too many suffer for greed, Molly. Too many cry from hunger and disease and it would seem
there are none who care.”
He pushed the wet hair from his eyes and sat back as she soaped the cloth. He closed them while she
cleaned the dust from his face and rinsed it. He kept his lids shut as she began to gently scrub his arms
and chest. But he talked on.
