Thanksgiving Disaster - a short story

In honor of Thanksgiving, here is a short story that was so much fun to pen. Happy Thanksgiving!

Copyright 2018 Andrea Renee Cox. All rights reserved.

Thanksgiving Disaster

a short story

by Andrea Renee Cox

Smoke billowed from the open oven and filled the matchbox, galley-style kitchen. With a growl, Sarah swept a cookie sheet swiftly through the air around the raging fire alarm. She’d already turned off the appliance, but she couldn’t find her broom to nudge the battery out of the alarm. If she didn’t get it shut up soon—

Bang! Bang! Bang!

She jumped, dropping the cookie sheet with a clatter. Her poor attempt at a grand jeté didn’t produce anything close to the splits she’d seen the ballerina do in that ballet she’d seen last month, but it did get her over the pan and into the living room. When she flung open the door, she stumbled backward.

This is the Day - a short story

Here's another short story that's inspired by YOU, my faithful readers. (See this article for the contest and entry that inspired this particular story.)

Copyright 2018 by Andrea Renee Cox. This story may not be copied or reprinted without prior written consent.

This is the Day

inspired by Caitlyn Santi

“… and that little monster bit me when I was trying to take his vitals.”

Lena slammed the first of two doors on her coworker’s grumbling. She’d had just as rough a time as he—though, she hadn’t been on the receiving end of a teeth chomping—during the work at an apartment-building fire. At least they’d finally been released to come back to the station, where they’d been for the last hour, sanitizing and restocking the bus.

She angled an irritated gaze his direction. “Mark, I get it. You got bitten, it hurt. Move on.”

“I don’t think you’re getting it.”

The next door banged shut even louder. “I get it just fine. We both had a rough day. If you don’t mind, I’d like to go clock out and enjoy what’s left of the waning daylight.”

“Want to go to dinner?”

A skeptical look shot to her face before she could halt it. “That’s, what? The fiftieth time you’ve asked me out this year?”

“Oh, at least.”

A Perfect (for me) Stay-cation!

Summer is practically upon us, as thermometers and The Weather Channel folks have been telling us. What are your plans? Are you getting ready for a vacation?

Or how about a stay-cation?

That's what I'm doing right now!

I have two weeks off from my copyediting and tutoring jobs but no money to travel this time. So, I've decided a stay-cation is the perfect vacation for me. How am I spending it?

Catching up on household chores, for one thing, but that sounds like too much work to focus on for long.


The fun stuff includes:

Roman Holiday

by Andrea Renee Cox

Did you know your local movie theater might show a classic film every now and then?

A couple of weeks ago I discovered that the theater I frequent was planning on featuring Roman Holiday, my favorite Audrey Hepburn film. Of course I had to see it! And, thankfully, one of the showtimes was on a Sunday afternoon, a time at which I could attend.

I was the first one in the theater, and chills washed over me as I thought of what seeing this film must have been like for the moviegoers of the early 1950s (the movie originally released in 1953). As I sat there waiting for the movie to begin, I realized again just how much the movie experience had changed over the years (not that I was there for all of the changes, considering I was born in the late 1980s). Though I won't go into the details today, here's a neat article about some of the differences.

From the Start by Melissa Tagg

by Andrea Renee Cox

“What was a girl supposed to do after her heart dried up and took her creative spark with it?” Kate Walker wonders if she’ll ever write something meaningful or even find another dose of passion for her career.

Colton Greene’s NFL career ended abruptly due to an on-the-field injury. Now his agent is pushing him to rejuvenate his career by looking at new options.

When Colton and Kate both head to Maple Valley, Iowa to help clean up in the aftermath of a natural disaster, they decide to help each other with their individual problems. But they sure didn’t bargain on a whole new set of issues cropping up! What will they do when they don’t see eye to eye?

A November Bride

By Andrea Renee Cox

A November Bride

About the book:

Even though Sadie enjoys her job as a private chef, she dreams of one day having her own cooking show. Uncertain she’ll make it big any day now, she soaks up the encouragement of her best friend, a guy she met in middle school. But Erik’s got a different plan for Sadie. Though he agrees her goal is admirable—and he’d love for that dream to come true for her!—he wants to slip past the “best friend” title and see what else God has in store for them. Will he find the answer he’s looking for, or will he crash and burn? And will Sadie learn to trust God through the uncertainties of life?

My Review:

A November Bride is one novella I was super excited to get an early copy of. I’m so thankful to Beth Vogt and her publisher for allowing me to read it before its release date, via netgalley.com. This is my honest review.

A November Bride is the final installment of the first Year of Brides novella series. It’s the only one I’ve been able to read so far, but after LOVING it, I guarantee you I’ll be finding a copy of the others when my budget permits. Fun, spunky, creative, and hilarious all describe Beth K. Vogt’s witty tale of romance that includes one of her “favorite” things: doors marked NEVER. I’m sure Sadie and Erik thought a romance was behind a NEVER-type door. But if you pick up a copy of A November Bride for yourself, you’ll see just how wrong they were. Their journey from best friends to territory neither expected to test out is one exciting ride that kept me laughing from beginning to end.

I was already a fan of Beth’s (since her very first fictional novel, Wish You Were Here, which is still my favorite), but this one, though much shorter than her others, brought something new to the table. It held more of a lighthearted tone throughout, whereas her others tend to touch on very deep topics at times—another reason I love her! She challenges you to dig deep along with the characters, pushing you to grow as a person as they do as characters. Even in this light romance, though, I found myself catching glimpses of a deeper and wider truth, that, even when life doesn’t seem to be happening any way I thought it would, I can still hold on to hope in Jesus Christ. He knows exactly where He’s leading me, and if I grasp the hope He’s offering and cling to Him, He will bless me in ways I could never have imagined on my own. His dreams for me are much greater than the ones I’ve made for myself. All I have to do is hold tight to Him in prayer and wait for that divine timing of His. Sound easy? Not so much. But the best things in life are worth fighting—and waiting—for.

Beth K. Vogt

To tell you the complete and honest truth, I’ve been struggling with waiting for God’s timing. It’s hard to be patient when you feel like He’s taking His sweet time and dragging it out. The thing is, though, that He knows where I’m at and where He’s leading me. Holding on to hope in the dark days is the toughest thing I’ve ever done, and I really wanted to give up today. But I can’t give up. It’s not in my character. I may cry about the situation I’m in, and that's okay because He will lend me His shoulder. I may be on the verge of giving in to the “quitter” bug that tries to niggle its way in. But, when push comes to shove, God knows I will never quit or give up or stop believing in Him and His promises. Why? Because He loves me too much to let my dark days last forever. God is still God, and God is still good. Even just typing up this review tonight has been an encouragement to me, and I praise God’s name for that. He always knows exactly what I need, and He provides. Always.

May the God of Heaven bless you, one and all.

Readers, how has God encouraged you recently? Did you have a happy Thanksgiving? What was your favorite part of the holiday?

Thanks for stopping by today! I look forward to hearing your thoughts in the comment section below. And don’t forget to drop by next Monday for my latest article.

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August 2014 Movie Wrap-Up

By Andrea Renee Cox

Another celebration this month, readers. I turned a year older late this month. Will I ever look my age? I’m not sure. I may be in my late twenties now, but lots of people still think I look young enough to be in high school. I’m chuckling as I type this up. Honestly, who knew having a baby face would hold out so long? It’s kind of nice appearing to be a decade younger than my age. That shocked look on people’s faces when I tell them how old I am never gets old. Makes me laugh every time.

Here’s the lineup of a few of the movies I watched this month. Have you seen any of them?

Now Showing In THEATERS:

THE HUNDRED-FOOT JOURNEY

What happens when a family from India opens a restaurant across the street from the best restaurant in a French town? Lots of competition and laughs. The Hundred-Foot Journey is a new favorite of mine. It’s only rated PG, which is quite refreshing these days. Wish there were more with that label. Such sweetness throughout the film, and the acting is superb. This one is definitely on my keeper list.

During the movie, one of the characters says, “Food is memories.” That’s true for me as well. When I make sweet potato casserole, I remember past Thanksgivings. Queso and chips reminds me of homeschool parties with the kids my mom has taught over the years. Cocoa cookies means Christmas (although they’re really good any time of the year).

What memories are attached to your favorite foods?

Available to Own:

LETTERS TO JULIET

There’s a tradition in Verona, Italy, that is quite unique. People come from all over the world to write a letter to Shakespeare’s Juliet. When aspiring writer Sophie assists the Secretaries of Juliet in gathering these letters, she discovers a 50-year-old letter tucked behind a brick in the wall the letters are stuck into. Of course she feels prompted to answer the letter, which launches her on a journey that could jumpstart her writing career. As the letter’s author, Claire, searches for her long-lost love, will Sophie find that romance and love come in a different form than she previously thought?

As soon as I saw Letters to Juliet in theaters, it became a favorite. It’s so sweet and romantic. Amanda Seyfried, Vanessa Redgrave, and Christopher Egan (who plays Claire’s grandson) have such great chemistry and play off of each other so well. I never tire of watching this one and recommend it very highly.

At one point, Claire claims that “life is the messy bits.” Another bit of truth for me. When I make mistakes or misunderstand what someone says or struggle to break a bad habit, the lessons I learn in the growing up and overcoming of these things are priceless and will stay with me for my entire life. Those difficult times are what bring me closer to the people around me. Those moments bring me to my knees where I find yet another level of God’s grace, mercy, and love.

How do the messy bits of life affect you? Do you see them as positive things to learn from and bond you closer to the people around you? Or do you just see them as something to overcome and get rid of?

RIO BRAVO

I’ve enjoyed a lot of classic movies this month, thanks to Turner Classic Movies (TCM) and their “Summer Under the Stars” where they show 24 hours of one classic movie star each day in August. Although John Wayne was not one of the stars featured this month, I found a copy of my favorite Duke movie when my family went to dinner at Cracker Barrel.

Rio Bravo tells the story of a sheriff (John Wayne) who enlists the help of his two deputies (Dean Martin and Walter Brennan), a woman with a past (Angie Dickinson), and a trigger-happy youngster (Ricky Nelson) to keep paid gunmen from springing a murderer from jail.

One reason I enjoy this film so much is because each character has their own story going on within the larger picture. It’s more of a collaboration than a one-man show. It’s a great one to watch if you’re an aspiring writer (of screenplays or manuscripts) as it shows wonderful character growth, pacing, and theme. Now that I own a copy of it, I’m sure I’ll be watching … er, analyzing it many times over the next few years.

What movies do you watch over and over and over … and why? Is it to learn more about writing? Or simply to enjoy a great story? Or some other reason altogether?

ROMAN HOLIDAY

One of the greatest classic films of all time (in my humble opinion) is Roman Holiday. Not only did it launch Audrey Hepburn’s career, but it has definitely stood the test of time. This romantic picture is about a princess (of an unnamed country) who, overwhelmed with all of her responsibilities, runs away and spends a day with an American journalist in the city of Rome, Italy. As they travel around the city doing all the things Princess Ann has always wanted—but wasn’t permitted—to do, she and journalist Joe Bradley discover there may be more to their escapade than just a little holiday.

When you watch this one, pay attention to Audrey’s reaction at the “Mouth of Truth”. Gregory Peck pulled a prank (which was left in the film) on Audrey during the scene, and it went smashingly well, I think. But hey, don’t take my word for it. Judge the scene (and Audrey’s reaction) for yourself.

This movie is the reason I fell in love with black-and-white films. The romance behind it and the bittersweetness of it all … it’s quite timeless. It speaks of a different era, and yet resounds with each generation. Then again, maybe that’s just the matchup of Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck.

What do you think makes a classic film classic?

Readers, instead of leaving one question at the end, today I’ve scattered several throughout this article. Please drop me a note in the comment section sharing your thoughts on any or all of them. I love hearing from you guys!

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Here to Stay

By Andrea Renee Cox

Coming soon (as in tomorrow!) to a book store near you is Melissa Tagg’s sophomore novel, Here to Stay. It’s laugh-out-loud funny and a wonderful sequel to her debut book, Made to Last. The characters are heartwarming, the story easy to connect with, and the small-town family rivalries familiar to us all in some fashion.

Blake Hunziker plays the prodigal son as he returns from wandering the world after a tragedy changed his life forever. He hopes to find forgiveness and closure but doesn’t expect to find it in the father who’s always held him to high standards. When he receives a job offer, he realizes he’ll need help from one of his family’s rivals to pull off Whisper Shore’s annual Christmas festival.

Autumn Kingsley has been stuck in Whisper Shore her whole life and dreams of traveling across the globe. Before she gets the chance to chase her dreams, she must restore her family’s inn to its former glory. Despite the fact that the Hunzikers and Kingsleys have been rivals for decades, she needs Blake’s help to make the necessary repairs to her inn.

Will they put their differences aside long enough to help one another during this holiday season? Or will they allow their families to ruin any chance of bringing success to their little town? Will their different dreams collide somewhere along the way?

Many parts of Here to Stay had the laughter pouring out of me. Among them were a wasp attack, roof prank, and Melissa Tagg’s unique writer’s voice. Believe me, this story will have your giggle box turned on from the get-go. Not only did Melissa write a hilarious story, but she also knew precisely when to turn the tone more serious. Her timing is impeccable. The plot perfectly planned out. The build-up and ending fit together in a greatly satisfying way.

I can’t say enough good things about this story. You’ll just have to read it for yourself and form your own opinion. Here are a few of my favorite lines to pique your interest:

This one made me chuckle.

“Jamie, I’ve already grouched at you this morning. I have no desire to add to that by scaring you with my morning hair.” ~Autumn Kingsley; Chapter Four

After reading this one, I found myself reprimanding Autumn. There’s always reason to pray, girl!

“What was there to pray about? When your dream finally hit the ‘come true’ part, you ran with it, didn’t you?” ~Autumn Kingsley; Chapter Two

This one I found swoon-worthy. Tell me if it doesn’t make you sigh happily.

“Because I think you, my dear, might be my open door.” ~Blake Hunziker; Chapter Six

Here to Stay swiftly leapt up my favorites list. It’s standing firmly in my top three. That’s a tricky spot to earn, but Melissa Tagg did it with flair. Must say, I’m looking forward to more from this author. This one beat her first one, in my opinion, and I’m anxious to see if she can do it again. Come on, girl. You’ve got this!

Thank you to Melissa Tagg and her publisher, Bethany House, for a complimentary copy of Here to Stay in exchange for my honest review. It’s been a blast being a part of your influencer team. Thanks for allowing me to be a part of spreading the word about your first two books. With such great writing, you make my job so easy.

Readers, when was the last time a book made you laugh out loud? Was there a specific character that tickled your funny bone? Do you like it when books make you laugh?

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