Here are a cutout of a book I am working on on and off... Would LOVE LOVE LOVE any input you might have. Thank you sincerely to anyone why actually reads it 
It is a sad fact of life that the older we get, the more the state of loneliness possess our lives. Our family and friends die away, children and grandchildren no longer find time to visit and the days slowly become more and more quiet and each minute seems to last an hour.
This was the case for Margaret Downey. Once upon a time she was referred to as a social butterfly, turning down invitations to dinner parties and tea parties almost every day. Now, at seventy-seven years of age Margaret Downey was alone. Every day she got dressed at 6 am, she carefully chose her dress and jewelry, and in the firm belief that someone would come to take tea with her she set the table with her best china and waited for her guests.
As Margaret Downey sat in her chair, by her perfectly set table in her parlor, stirring her tea for exactly 3 minutes to make time pass; Daniel Thomas tied his shoes and put the leash on his dog to go for his daily walk like he did every day, summer like winter and crossed his porch onto the grass. His dog, Bear walked close to his right leg, like always. Together they walked the same path as they did every day, taking them exactly three hours on the dot. Not because it was a particularly long walk, but because Daniel was old and he walked slowly. He crossed the path that surrounded his garden, and continued into the forest as he did every day. Who needs company other than you, Bear? he grunted, and in a way, he meant it.
In many ways, Daniel had been blessed in his life; He had nieces and nephews, all visiting him on the rare occasion when they had the chance, though not often; it still let him know that they cared for him. He had a home that he was fond of; a little house with a garden around, he was still as strong as one can expect from a man of seventy-eight. He had great memories of thousands of days lived, but most importantly: He had as a young man given his heart completely, and he was given the heart of another in return.
Margaret finished her cup of tea, and walked slowly down the path into the garden. The leaves on the threes had turned yellow little by little each day for weeks now, and Margaret wondered to herself if her noticing these small changes in her garden each day was a blessing, or merely a sign that she was allowing the last precious days of her life go to waste.
Daniel had finished his walk, now sitting down in his worn-down chair by the fire and stroking Bears head. The soft coat between the dogs ears had become coarser with years passed and grey hairs had slowly but surely taken over the solid black spot that covered the entire front-part of the dogs body.
Bear had been a present given to Daniel by his nephew Robert almost twelve years ago. Bear was a puppy, and Robert felt his uncle was too lonely for his own good. Daniel had been less than thrilled at having this small, clumsy thing around his feet, leaving puddles on the floor and chewing on the furniture and he remembered being rather hard on Bear back then. But slowly he began to care for the thing. He knew it first one night when Bear had gotten out after dark and seemed lost. Daniel had searched for hours upon end in the forest, calling Bears name and eventually the puppy had emerged from the dark, utterly filthy and overjoyed to see Daniel. He told Bear off, wrapped him in a towel and brought him home. But after that night he always remembered how empty the house had been without Bear, and at least to himself he admitted his affection for the dog.
Daniel knew in his heart that Bears days would soon be over. He used to be off leash, chasing far ahead of Daniel on their walks, running across the path again and again until Daniel would laugh and say Bears walk had been a hundred times as long as his own. Now he would walk at Daniels heal or behind him. Occasionally stopping to rest; sometimes even sitting down and panting heavily. Perhaps a set of legs only have a certain number of strides in them Bear, and youve used yours up. The thought made him disrupted, and for a moment he wondered what he would do without Bear, he could no longer stand the idea at being alone. The thought of a new dog had crossed his mind, but there was something in Bear that could not be replaced. Perhaps the strong determination to have Daniel as his master even against Daniels own will. Two stubborn souls meant for each other.
Daniel was expecting guests later that afternoon and so he let Bear rest his old legs by the fire while he prepared some coffee and laid out some biscuits on a platter. He was all but done when Robert arrived. Robert was 32, and Daniels younger brothers son. He had always been fond of his uncle, despite Daniels less than pleasurable demeanor and visited as often as he could. His father was a lawyer and worked a great deal so when Robert was little Daniel had acted as a substitute father-figure, teaching him how to chop wood, shoot rifles and gut fish. To most people Daniels brother would appear the more successful of the two, he was a lawyer and Daniel was sometimes a fisherman, sometimes a logger and sometimes nothing at all. But to Robert he had been the ultimate role model. Daniel had relished the time when Robert was a boy. He would follow him everywhere trying to do everything Daniel did. This must be what its like to have a son, He had thought on more than one occasion, but even though the thought was pleasant, and he loved Robert as a son it was also saddening because he knew that he wasnt his son and that he would probably never have one.
Robert had promised to bring his daughter with him to visit Daniel. Her name was Iris and she was one of the few things in this world that brought more than a glimmer of a smile to Daniels face. She was three, and watching her explore the wonders of the world for the first time made Daniel see it through her eyes and marvel at small things such as butterflies and flowers and Bears great, big teeth.
But Iris was not with him.
Anna refused to let me take her, uncle. Robert said. I told her you were expecting to see her, but she insisted that Saturday was her day and she couldnt be persuaded. This divorce will be the end of me. How am I supposed to see my only child once a week and every other weekend? She is doing this to punish me.
Do you deserve it, you think? Daniel muttered, while pouring milk into his cup.
No I know shes mad about my affair, but honestly. Iris is mine too! Im hoping Anna will cool off in time and see that what shes doing is not in proportion to my crimes.
Daniel nodded. Let us hope so. That child needs her father to be around. A girls father is her anchor until she marries that is, if her husband is the sort that is to be relied upon. He said the last part with a smirk on his face, letting Robert know he was teasing. He wouldnt have done so if he had known it would prompt Roberts next question.
Why is it that you never married, uncle He said.
Women! Daniel answered bitterly, They only make your life harder. You ought to know that, being divorced yourself.
Separated, Uncle. I guess Anna and I just werent right for each other, he replied, we wanted different things out of life. And then I met Melissa, and before I knew it He paused. Dad told me, a long time ago, that you were engaged at one point. Who was she?
Maggie-Rose His had not heard her name spoken aloud for so long that the sound of it made his heart jump.
What happened? Robert had wanted to ask his uncle that question for a long time, the thought of this grumpy old man as young and in love was almost impossible to imagine, and feeling the answer within his grasp he was almost scared to breathe, thinking itd make Daniel change his mind in telling him.
Daniel scratched Bears head, trying to decide if he should tell Daniel about Maggie-Rose or not. He finally sat up, fixed his eyes on Roberts like he always did when he was about to say something of great importance; and started telling him, for the first time, about Maggie-Rose.
She was never supposed to be my wife, Daniel. She was a snobbish, brattish little thing, always complaining when we took walks about how her feet got wet and that she was too cold, too hot, too tired couldnt cook to save her life. But she had this laugh, you know? She could whine and argue all she wanted, and Id still walk through fire for that laugh. He smiled.
A MEETING OF LOVERS.
When I was 18 I worked at my parents bakery every summer, making deliveries to the homes near the shop. It was a hot morning, and I had just dropped off stacks of pastry for a garden party when I spotted her behind the house. She was lying in the hammock, in a night-dress with a sash thrown across her body, sucking the life out of a cigarette while reading something I later discovered was Shakespeare.
Daniel stopped scratching Bear for a minute, and closed his eyes, as if to relive that moment in the garden, and Robert suspected he had done so a hundred-thousand times before.
She tilted her body, and the sash slid off her, and she lied like that in the ni
It is a sad fact of life that the older we get, the more the state of loneliness possess our lives. Our family and friends die away, children and grandchildren no longer find time to visit and the days slowly become more and more quiet and each minute seems to last an hour.
This was the case for Margaret Downey. Once upon a time she was referred to as a social butterfly, turning down invitations to dinner parties and tea parties almost every day. Now, at seventy-seven years of age Margaret Downey was alone. Every day she got dressed at 6 am, she carefully chose her dress and jewelry, and in the firm belief that someone would come to take tea with her she set the table with her best china and waited for her guests.
As Margaret Downey sat in her chair, by her perfectly set table in her parlor, stirring her tea for exactly 3 minutes to make time pass; Daniel Thomas tied his shoes and put the leash on his dog to go for his daily walk like he did every day, summer like winter and crossed his porch onto the grass. His dog, Bear walked close to his right leg, like always. Together they walked the same path as they did every day, taking them exactly three hours on the dot. Not because it was a particularly long walk, but because Daniel was old and he walked slowly. He crossed the path that surrounded his garden, and continued into the forest as he did every day. Who needs company other than you, Bear? he grunted, and in a way, he meant it.
In many ways, Daniel had been blessed in his life; He had nieces and nephews, all visiting him on the rare occasion when they had the chance, though not often; it still let him know that they cared for him. He had a home that he was fond of; a little house with a garden around, he was still as strong as one can expect from a man of seventy-eight. He had great memories of thousands of days lived, but most importantly: He had as a young man given his heart completely, and he was given the heart of another in return.
Margaret finished her cup of tea, and walked slowly down the path into the garden. The leaves on the threes had turned yellow little by little each day for weeks now, and Margaret wondered to herself if her noticing these small changes in her garden each day was a blessing, or merely a sign that she was allowing the last precious days of her life go to waste.
Daniel had finished his walk, now sitting down in his worn-down chair by the fire and stroking Bears head. The soft coat between the dogs ears had become coarser with years passed and grey hairs had slowly but surely taken over the solid black spot that covered the entire front-part of the dogs body.
Bear had been a present given to Daniel by his nephew Robert almost twelve years ago. Bear was a puppy, and Robert felt his uncle was too lonely for his own good. Daniel had been less than thrilled at having this small, clumsy thing around his feet, leaving puddles on the floor and chewing on the furniture and he remembered being rather hard on Bear back then. But slowly he began to care for the thing. He knew it first one night when Bear had gotten out after dark and seemed lost. Daniel had searched for hours upon end in the forest, calling Bears name and eventually the puppy had emerged from the dark, utterly filthy and overjoyed to see Daniel. He told Bear off, wrapped him in a towel and brought him home. But after that night he always remembered how empty the house had been without Bear, and at least to himself he admitted his affection for the dog.
Daniel knew in his heart that Bears days would soon be over. He used to be off leash, chasing far ahead of Daniel on their walks, running across the path again and again until Daniel would laugh and say Bears walk had been a hundred times as long as his own. Now he would walk at Daniels heal or behind him. Occasionally stopping to rest; sometimes even sitting down and panting heavily. Perhaps a set of legs only have a certain number of strides in them Bear, and youve used yours up. The thought made him disrupted, and for a moment he wondered what he would do without Bear, he could no longer stand the idea at being alone. The thought of a new dog had crossed his mind, but there was something in Bear that could not be replaced. Perhaps the strong determination to have Daniel as his master even against Daniels own will. Two stubborn souls meant for each other.
Daniel was expecting guests later that afternoon and so he let Bear rest his old legs by the fire while he prepared some coffee and laid out some biscuits on a platter. He was all but done when Robert arrived. Robert was 32, and Daniels younger brothers son. He had always been fond of his uncle, despite Daniels less than pleasurable demeanor and visited as often as he could. His father was a lawyer and worked a great deal so when Robert was little Daniel had acted as a substitute father-figure, teaching him how to chop wood, shoot rifles and gut fish. To most people Daniels brother would appear the more successful of the two, he was a lawyer and Daniel was sometimes a fisherman, sometimes a logger and sometimes nothing at all. But to Robert he had been the ultimate role model. Daniel had relished the time when Robert was a boy. He would follow him everywhere trying to do everything Daniel did. This must be what its like to have a son, He had thought on more than one occasion, but even though the thought was pleasant, and he loved Robert as a son it was also saddening because he knew that he wasnt his son and that he would probably never have one.
Robert had promised to bring his daughter with him to visit Daniel. Her name was Iris and she was one of the few things in this world that brought more than a glimmer of a smile to Daniels face. She was three, and watching her explore the wonders of the world for the first time made Daniel see it through her eyes and marvel at small things such as butterflies and flowers and Bears great, big teeth.
But Iris was not with him.
Anna refused to let me take her, uncle. Robert said. I told her you were expecting to see her, but she insisted that Saturday was her day and she couldnt be persuaded. This divorce will be the end of me. How am I supposed to see my only child once a week and every other weekend? She is doing this to punish me.
Do you deserve it, you think? Daniel muttered, while pouring milk into his cup.
No I know shes mad about my affair, but honestly. Iris is mine too! Im hoping Anna will cool off in time and see that what shes doing is not in proportion to my crimes.
Daniel nodded. Let us hope so. That child needs her father to be around. A girls father is her anchor until she marries that is, if her husband is the sort that is to be relied upon. He said the last part with a smirk on his face, letting Robert know he was teasing. He wouldnt have done so if he had known it would prompt Roberts next question.
Why is it that you never married, uncle He said.
Women! Daniel answered bitterly, They only make your life harder. You ought to know that, being divorced yourself.
Separated, Uncle. I guess Anna and I just werent right for each other, he replied, we wanted different things out of life. And then I met Melissa, and before I knew it He paused. Dad told me, a long time ago, that you were engaged at one point. Who was she?
Maggie-Rose His had not heard her name spoken aloud for so long that the sound of it made his heart jump.
What happened? Robert had wanted to ask his uncle that question for a long time, the thought of this grumpy old man as young and in love was almost impossible to imagine, and feeling the answer within his grasp he was almost scared to breathe, thinking itd make Daniel change his mind in telling him.
Daniel scratched Bears head, trying to decide if he should tell Daniel about Maggie-Rose or not. He finally sat up, fixed his eyes on Roberts like he always did when he was about to say something of great importance; and started telling him, for the first time, about Maggie-Rose.
She was never supposed to be my wife, Daniel. She was a snobbish, brattish little thing, always complaining when we took walks about how her feet got wet and that she was too cold, too hot, too tired couldnt cook to save her life. But she had this laugh, you know? She could whine and argue all she wanted, and Id still walk through fire for that laugh. He smiled.
A MEETING OF LOVERS.
When I was 18 I worked at my parents bakery every summer, making deliveries to the homes near the shop. It was a hot morning, and I had just dropped off stacks of pastry for a garden party when I spotted her behind the house. She was lying in the hammock, in a night-dress with a sash thrown across her body, sucking the life out of a cigarette while reading something I later discovered was Shakespeare.
Daniel stopped scratching Bear for a minute, and closed his eyes, as if to relive that moment in the garden, and Robert suspected he had done so a hundred-thousand times before.
She tilted her body, and the sash slid off her, and she lied like that in the ni
I really appreciate your feedback and reading it.
Very happy to read about such a nice plot-designed story, I love the reunion, well in fact I prefer to stories with happy ending, but it seems that an end with some suspense can bring the story more surprise, sincerely expecting to read more about your stories!!