Excerpt from Velvet Undertow
Mary Coe Bauer reached into the pocket of her formerly crisp white pinafore and closed her hand around something. When she pulled it out, she waved her fist about, smiling. "What cha got there, girlie girl?" her papa asked. "It's a secret." She hesitated, but it was clear she wanted to share that secret. "Well, Sadie, you know her. She lives across the street from the bandstand. She's my best friend this week. Me and she was – " "She and I were," corrected her mother. "Right. She and I were playing a fast game of Kick the Can along with Rudy, Andy, Bobby, Betsy, and Rosemary. My team won. Anyhow, when I went to put on my sweater to come home, I found a surprise under it. It's the prettiest thing I've ever seen. There's a note with it that says it's called a Secret Pebble™. Sadie gave it to me so I can remember the fun times at the swimmin' hole last summer and such. Once, I hid her clothes. She looked so funny when she thought she'd have to go home buck-naked and ..." Mary stopped suddenly, not wanting to reveal too much or her mother would call her a dickens and tell her how that wasn't something young ladies should be doing. "So," Mary explained, "every time I look at my secret pebble, it'll remind me how lucky I am to have Sadie as a friend. She said I can keep it or give it to someone else I've shared a memory with or somebody I love. All I know is it made me feel special, and I like feeling special. I might never give it away. Wanta see it?" "Sure," Papa told her. Mary opened her hand flat. Lying across her dirty palm was a small glass stone with a hand painted flower upon it. "You're right, child," Papa said. "That is pretty. Though not quite as pretty as you are." "Oh Daddy, you're always saying stuff like that." She carefully placed the pebble in the center of her mother's hand. Mama held it to the light. "It almost looks like it's lit from within. You're so right. It is a special treasure filled with wonderful memories for a special girl. What a lovely thing it is." Mary took the pebble and slipped it back into her pocket. "I'll never lose it!" |
Tell someone they're special with Yellow Flower Secret Pebble™ shown larger than actual size From Gracious Jane Marie
Family and Friends Holidays Holiday Books ▼Scroll
to the bottom of this page for a list of contents . "Your pebbles are beautiful and meaningful!" Sally H. .
no reason or any reason
. "Thank you, thank you, thank
you! I got them [Secret Pebbles™] and they are perfect. Thanks. I think
I'll just put them on the girls' pillows and sneak away. I love the fact
that they can be given again and not have the guilty feeling that you are
giving away a gift given to you. You know what I mean ... any way I gotta
run ...just wanted to say, THANK YOU." LY Pat, Wichita, KS |
a Velvet Undertow favorite
