Authors Note: An ACROSTIC STORY is arranged alphabetically with twenty-six sentences. Starting the story with the letter A, each sentence progresses through the alphabet ending with the letter Z. Using this method, the author must tell a complete story.
AWAKENED BY SILENCE
by Patricia L. Atchison (From archives 10/2/2003)
Awakened by silence, Jodie wondered why the television was quiet. By now she should have been warned by the automatic alarm. Calmly she reached for her cane.
“Dusty, where are you boy?”
Edging off the recliner, Jodie moved the cane from side to side and crossed the living room. Fear was something she wouldn’t give into until she heard a noise that made her catch her breath.
Growling from the hallway meant Dusty was on guard duty.
“Hey boy, what is it?”
Intense images floated across her mind like a slide show. Jodie swallowed, afraid of becoming another statistic like the stories you hear on the news.
Knocking her cane against opposite walls, Jodie made her way toward the dog. Leopard-like she moved cautiously, careful not to trip over Dusty, even though she knew he’d have moved long before she was ever in any danger.
Maybe it’s nothing, the common sense side of her brain kicked into overtime, thinking logically. Needless worry, that’s all. Overconfident now, she stopped at the front door. Patting the air around her thighs, she made contact with her canine companion and tugged his collar.
“Quiet Dusty!”
Reacting to the command, the dog wined and became silent. Seizing courage, Jodie asked if anyone was there.
“Thank God you’re alright. Undo the lock Jodie and let your dear Mother in, as I bet you didn’t even know there was a power outage in this area.”
Various thoughts passed through Jodie’s mind, while she unlatched the door and opened it.
“Wipe that look off your face and let me pass. X-ray vision is what that dog needs instead of snorting behind the door. You should have heard him growl at me as if I were a total stranger.”
Zany with emotion, Jodie dropped to her knees and whispered into Dusty’s ear, “You should’ve bitten her when you had the chance.” ~ The End ~
When we settle a ghost of the past
The families of the troops relied heavily on letters and communication from their loved ones during the war, and Queenie was no different. From 1914 to 1918, postcards were sent throughout the world and had worldwide popularity. Families and soldiers avidly sent and collected these small non-descript notes from home and cherished them with love. Canadian soldiers waited over three weeks to a month for news from home, as the mail was processed through England first. 
It took me a long time to learn gratitude. True, all my life I’ve been grateful. Thanking people when a ‘thank you’ was due — receiving gifts with a smile. Merely being a nice, ‘thank you,’ kind of person. Until I learned what being grateful was all about, I realized that those times in my life while I was thankful for the gifts I received, I don’t think I felt gratitude deep within my heart.