Story Fifteen

When the five Gelbach sisters became aware of the abuse that Della Mae, 

a young neighbor, was suffering at the hands of her guardian uncle, Calen Larnach, 

one collective nod sealed their unspoken plan. 

In their Sunday finest, they walked down the street with Edna, the oldest, 

leading the way as she carried the family shotgun. 

Without knocking, the sisters entered the Larnach house. 

Edna announced that Della Mae would now be living at the Gelbach house as she leveled the shotgun, 
aiming at Calen’s chest. 

Della Mae thrived under the care of the sisters, 

eventually becoming a surgical nurse at the county hospital. 

Although the sisters had been prepared to do battle against any townsperson who might challenge their unorthodox adoption, 

no objections were ever made public. 

The Gelbach sisters better understood how their lives could have been 
if they had been rescued from their own childhood.

Story Fourteen

Doris Jean’s parents became concerned when she formed an unusual bond with the new farm dog.

 Doris Jean named him Tip and acted like they were siblings,
spending all waking hours together with animated, one-sided conversations.  

They gave the dog to an acquaintance in the neighboring county only to find Tip back at their home three days later.  

When Doris Jean fell through the ice of the pond, 

it was Tip who alerted the family. 

After the pond incident, Tip was allowed to stay in the house as a beloved family member 

until he passed shortly after Doris Jean’s eighteenth birthday.

Story Thirteen

As a little girl, 
Emma knew that she wanted to be a dancer. 

Her parents encouraged her with enthusiasm and worked extra jobs to pay for lessons and costumes. 

After graduating from high school, she immediately left for New York City to begin her dancing career. 

Her first audition was a brutal awakening to the fact that she had very limited skills and could never compete as a professional. 

Shame prevented her from returning home. 

She remained in the city and struggled as a clerical worker but wrote weekly letters to her parents,
richly detailing the life she dreamed of living. 

She wished someone had been honest with her when her younger heart might have been more buoyant.