Sarge
()
About this ebook
"Sarge" tells the story of man's best friend in a deadly scenario. This short novelette carries as many twists and turns as a typical novel as the reader realizes the full story and import of one dog's survival leaves the reader guessing and second-guessing through the very last word of the sentence. This story is free to read by downloading the free sample of 100%. Should you decide to support the author at a later time, you may come back and purchase it at the lowest price allowed by Smashwords. Like many works by this author, he blends the playfulness of O. Henry with the gravity of Poe and the import of Vonnegut.
Oren Hammerquist
Oren Hammerquist's work has recently appeared in the Fabula Argentea eZine available for free online, in the Soldier Story anthology available at Amazon in print or digital copy, and in eRomance Magazine, available for subscription at Barnes and Noble, or as back issues on the publisher's site. Oren has been in the Army for seven years, and served in Afghanistan. He is originally from the Seattle area, and is married with three children. In his spare time, Oren is completing his bachelor's degree in criminal justice and paralegal studies.http://www.orenhammerquist.com/#!bio/ct47
Read more from Oren Hammerquist
Murphy's Second Death Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLogiblas Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Man with Three Names and other stories Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related to Sarge
Related ebooks
Homeless #4 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Fairy in the Hotpot Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMark of Ravage and Ruin Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPoison Candy (Behind Closed Doors - Book 2) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCurves For Her Bears: BBW Shifter Erotic Romance, #1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTangled in His Embrace Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsOnce Upon a Tale Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsJade Crew: Hunted Bear: Ridgeback Bears, #6 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBlood Moon Over a Lone Wolf: Lone Wolf, #3 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsScent Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsProphecy Passed Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsQuid Pro Quo/The Requirement for an Unleveled Playing Field Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDate Night: Pack Mates Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Cherished by the Alpha: Death is the Stalker, #5 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsStar Trek: New Frontier: Being Human Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Cerulean Secret Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Forever A Kingpin's Wife Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRedman Winds Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAlexi (Book 3): Malchov Mob, #3 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Rejected Luna's Second Chance Mate Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Supposed to Be: An Alternative Version of Secret Love (4ever Series) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDemon Divided Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Soldier's Redemption Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsIllicit Activity Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Blackbirch: The Dark Half Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBad Blood Part 1: Harry Watt, #3 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTwo Babies, a Cowboy and Sara Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBetter Living Through GRAVY and Other Oddities Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHaunted Deliverance Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHealing Her Heart Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Literary Fiction For You
Little Birds: Erotica Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Tattooist of Auschwitz: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Handmaid's Tale Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Ocean at the End of the Lane: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Flowers for Algernon Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Sympathizer: A Novel (Pulitzer Prize for Fiction) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Demon Copperhead: A Pulitzer Prize Winner Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Covenant of Water (Oprah's Book Club) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Life of Pi: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5East of Eden Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Annihilation: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I Who Have Never Known Men Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5All the Ugly and Wonderful Things: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Piranesi Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Old Man and the Sea: The Hemingway Library Edition Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Silmarillion Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Catch-22: 50th Anniversary Edition Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Only Woman in the Room: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Queen's Gambit Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I'm Thinking of Ending Things: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Cloud Cuckoo Land: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Farewell to Arms Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Tender Is the Flesh Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Salvage the Bones: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Poisonwood Bible: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Pride and Prejudice: Bestsellers and famous Books Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Reviews for Sarge
0 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
Sarge - Oren Hammerquist
Sarge
by
Oren Hammerquist
a novelette
Copyright 2018 by Oren Hammerquist
Published at Smashwords
You are free to download and read this free and to share with others. An optional price is set should you wish to support the author at a later time.
Table of Contents
(This is provided to aid navigation only. These divisions have are not related to the story flow.)
Section 1
Section 2
Section 3
Section 4
Section 5
Section 6
Section 7
She’s asleep.
Cassie sighed as she sank into the padded chair beside her daughter’s bed. Like she had been holding her breath when she walked in, and maybe she had. Their daughter’s injuries were minor, and Cassie’s helicopter-parenting (not for the first time) annoyed George. They argued yesterday in hushed tones until it threatened to grow too loud. Then they argued in the hallway until they drew too much attention. Then they argued in the stairwell until they grew too tired. They hadn’t spoken since yesterday afternoon. One would have to be wrong to break the silence. Anything less than surrender would simply start the argument once again.
Never surrender: that’s what Sarge would say if he could talk. And dammit, someone had to speak for him.
George stared from the window resolutely, obstinate that he would not turn and surrender. But the silence became too much. Cassie, unable to get time off on such short notice, had spent the day at work. She had spent the entire day distracted and worrying about her daughter; how could she do anything else? George had spent the day here – time off being easier to come by for him – and he had been distracted and worried about their daughter.
He could see Cassie’s reflection in the window as he looked at the city below the fifth floor of the hospital. She slid down so her head could rest against the back of the chair. He eyes were open, staring at the blank ceiling. He left hand rested on the bar of the hospital bed. She’d been on a kick with Hallie telling her sit up, don’t slouch.
Well, that’s what moms did after all. The rules went out the window when your daughter was in the hospital.
Tough day?
George asked without turning.
Cassie laughed once, puffing air through her nose. She twisted her head quickly toward her daughter and back before answering. I’ve had worse.
Like most couples on the outskirts of a fight, everything became a code. This meant: I haven’t forgotten about yesterday.
Cassie reached across the sling on Hallie’s left arm and touched the stitches on Hallie’s face. Fifteen.
Leave her alone,
George said, turning for the first time. You’ll wake her up.
Code: I don’t want to talk about this right now.
Did the doctor say anything?
Code: I do.
They plan to release her today.
Code: It’s not as big a deal as you’re making it.
So, is she going to have a scar?
Code: Stop trying to pretend this is okay.
"Maybe,