The Story Teller: Tale or True

The

Story Teller

(Tale or True)

Lita T. Cruz

The Story Teller: Tale or True

@Copyright 2018 by Lita T. Cruz.

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any way by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the author except as provided by USA copyright law.

This novel is composed of combined stories and experiences of some people who had been victims of discrimination and bullying. Names, descriptions, entities, and incidents included in the story have been slightly changed by the author to safeguard the identity of the characters who want to remain anonymous. Any resemblance to actual persons, events, and entities is entirely coincidental.

Published in the United States of America

Nonfiction > Family & Relationships > Fancy

Juvenile Fiction > Love & Romance

Contents

Prologue

Recognitions...............................................i

Preface

Story One:  Spirit Necklace

Story Two:  Happy Seniors Club.............31

Story Three: Endless Road......................62

Story Four:  The Diary of a Disgruntled Author............. 85

Story Five:  Little Bow and Little Beep 114

Story Six:  You Are Beautiful!...........174

About the Author  and Composer...........221

Prologue

People clearly view the dawn and the sunset every day; they see everyone to anywhere and everywhere they go. This is the way of life!

We call them humanity, who are the major character; places, where the characters move; incidents, that create the story... and the suspense.... The major part of our story telling.... the focal point of the fairy tale or the true story.... filled with suspense and adventure.  

Short stories and fairy tales are partly based on true experience, but quite a few are mostly created by the incredible and theatrical imagination of individuals who are born dreamers, writers, composers or story tellers.

For every thousand babies born every second, there are several different stories that can be written.

Story Tellers can write a story about a person they just met, or of someone whom they have been with for few weeks, months or several years. Their imagination work for every beautiful place they see, their hands can’t help but write once their imagination start wondering.

Remember, we ... writers are story tellers!

Recognitions

As God is the source of my strength, faith and energy ... my children and their family are my inspiration.

To Jojo Reyes, his wife Corazon, daughter, Jean Reyes Poblete (hubby, Christiane and son, JT); Joel Reyes and wife, Geline; Joey Reyes; Jonnie Reyes and wife May (children Jmee. JenJen and JM); Jovie Reyes and wife Ludy (sons, Lyndon, Lemuel, Leonard); Joygi Reyes and wife, Vicky; daughter Joanne R. Murphy and hubby Bryan (children Cadence and Mikey); daughter Jeanne Reyes Geary and hubby, Thomas (children PJ, Mikayla and Caleb).

To all my friends, members of the Cruz, Tumang and Principe clan, my love to all and sincere prayers for everyone.

Preface

The six stories in this book, are either fruits of imagination or facts narrated to the author. It challenges the capability of the reader to judge, which is true and which one is a tale. Issues to ponder below.

Are you a ghost believer? Have you ever seen or felt any supernatural incident around you or any occurrence in your life which you can consider unusual?

Life has several stages: From newborn to toddlers... from teenage to adults... from parents to elders, who tag themselves as happy seniors in this story. What is the secret of their happiness?

A lie is like a winding road that has a beginning but has no end. It’s so hard to tell a lie, but at times, someone has to, to protect a loved one!

Writers and songwriters look up on publishers as their dream provider, only to end up disgusted when they end up getting rob in broad daylight!

Love, not only provides peace and contentment! True love can also save a life through a miracle.

Beauty is not based on the how a person looks like, but more on how the person glows inside and out!

iv

Spirit Necklace

Story One

Spirit Necklace

The huge palatial home of the Romano’s was lighted to the max and its gleaming light could be seen several streets away. The music was not too loud but it could be heard within the neighborhood.

The owner of the house, Howell Romano was aware, the no one in the vicinity would complain. He was much respected by these people who approach him each time they needed help. The Romano family could very much afford the luxury of living in Hollywood, but they chose to stay in a vicinity within Los Angeles, California.

They no longer enjoy the limelight they had for so many years. What they wish was to have peace of mind, contentment and happiness.

Howell Romano and his wife, Marielle Wright Romano were in their mid-forties, but they looked fresh and much younger than their age. The couple were both gifted with charm and good looks... Howell being a descendant of Spanish and American clan, and Marielle born from a Caucasian and Swedish family.

They were the heirs of one of the biggest jewelry businessman located in London, with several branches in the United States.

The couple and the entire household were busy. They were preparing a grand birthday celebration for their only daughter, Rosalie Wright Romano, who turned eighteen.

Their dream to hold it at the biggest hotel in Hollywood did not materialize, as their only child thwarted the idea. Rich but simple minded, she wanted to have it instead in their own palatial home, where she was born.

The ballroom, where the music was coming from, was right beside their living room.

The huge dance floor which was surrounded by thirty round chairs had ten seats each. Each table was covered with white floor length linen cloth with pink silk liner at the center. White flower bases with pink roses were on top of each table.

The chairs were likewise wrapped with plain white linen cloth decorated with satin pink ribbon at the back.

A built-in stage with space on both sides for a band of ten members and a music booth for a disc jockey had been set up for nonstop alternate music.

On all corners, crystal cocktail glasses, different kinds of wine, beverages and chasers were accessible, as several waiters were ready to walk around the tables with trays checking if the guests ran out of drink. 

The guests started coming in as early as six in the evening. Soft music was played as Marielle and Howell welcomed their guests. They were assisted by their parents, who were taking their guests to their assigned seats.

Their only daughter, Rosalie, was in her room, being attended to by a professional make-up artist, assisted by her best friend, Ruthie Miller.  Her private nanny, Lucy, who took care of her since she was a baby was also with them. Rosalie was so precious to her.

Gee, my best friend is so beautiful. Ruthie exclaimed as soon as the beautician was done, both hands were clasping her cheeks with amazement. It was the first time, she saw her best friend on a make-up. She was stunning .... So pretty!

Can you please stop flattering me, Ruthie! Replied Rosalie with a wide grin. Her best friend really knew how to boost her ego. She was aware that she was not as pretty as her mother, but she was not ugly either.

But it is true, BFF! Ruthie exclaimed! Wait until Rainier sees you, she added with a giggle.

Just see his reaction! Ruthie added when she saw the frown on her best friend’s face.  Rosalie was blushing. She would not admit to anyone that she had a crush on that guy! She just turned eighteen and she promised herself that she would enjoy her adolescence. No boyfriend.

Rosalie decided to change the subject. She turned to Lucy and requested mildly, Nanny Lucy, can you please get my pink long gown from my locker? She looked at her best friend and added, and also the other gown beside it?

Lucy went in a haste to the locker to pick up the gowns.  She loved these two ladies who grew up together under her care. Ruthie spent so much time with Rosalie since they were toddlers, her parents being close friends with the Romano’s.

Rosalie took the two gowns from Lucy, got the pink one for herself, and handed the light blue to Ruthie.

Wow! Thank you for this awesome gown. I love it. Very timely! You bought me this attire so I will quit mentioning Rainier, isn’t it? Ruthie continued teasing her. She loved to see her blushing each time she mentioned the name of their classmate, whom she knew had a crush on Rosalie.

Excuse me, what has Rainier to do with what we are currently doing? Rosalie followed up, as she started putting on the gown with the help of Lucy.

Well, well, well, someone sounds so very defensive! Just look at how he would look at you tonight! Ruthie continued to tease while putting on the gown given to her Rosalie. The gown was well fit, it looked so elegant. 

Now, Miss Debutant, are you ready? Your lady in waiting is all set! Ruthie pretended to look formal.

I think I am! Responded the debutante and she jokingly did a royal bow.

Oh wait, you don’t have any trinkets yet. Lucy reminded her in a haste.

You know and everybody knows that I am not fond of jewelry, Rosalie complained. They were in the jewelry business, but she disliked these expensive ornaments. She was not comfortable wearing them. She didn’t want to get attention and she was scared of misplacing those expensive stuff.

Gee, how can you look like a royal highness without any jewelry on you? Duh! Ruthie looked up and rolled her eyes, pretending to look deeply disappointed! And here I am, your lady in waiting, decorated with so many trinkets!

Best friend, you know pretty well that I hate jewelries since childhood! Rosalie tried to briefly explain. Remember, I was brought to the hospital, when I got itchy after wearing a set of them?

Yeah right! What I recall was what the doctor told us after the test! You were not allergic to anything. It was your imagination which had an allergy to anything expensive! C’mon, learn to like wearing trinkets. Soon, you will manage your family’s jewelry business! How could you promote something you are not fond and proud of? Ruthie was just repeating what Marielle had told her daughter several times!

Ok! Stop talking like my mother! I will wear some jewels tonight! Rosalie promised with her two hands up.

Rosalie can’t help but recall the repartee that she overheard from her mom and dad, after she told them she was allergic to wearing any embellishment.

Honey, was it possible that Rosalie has viewed so many jewelries dangling around you that made her itch and allergic? Howell teasingly commented to his wife.

‘Darling, that is so unfair! Marielle burst into laughter as she chased her husband who was running around the living room to avoid being pinched. You have to acknowledge, that yours truly.... your beloved wife, is the model of our products. The jewelries I wear are the best seller in our company." She commented haughtily.

The couple however, accepted the reality that their daughter didn’t like jewelry but they came into a truce with her, to wear some jewelries on particular and special occasions. The eighteenth birthday celebration was definitely a special one.  

It was time for them to initiate the opening of the program. Marielle went to her daughter’s bedroom to check if she was ready.

She was amazed at how beautiful her daughter and her friend were!

Wow! You two ladies, are so beautiful! She looked at her daughter and her best friend fully impressed.

Honey, you really have a wondrous taste. You are so glamorous on your gown! The mother was like a number one fan eyeing the only apple of her eyes.

Thanks mama! Rosalie said with appreciation.

The gown you picked for Ruthie is stunning. She looks so beautiful! She added smiling.

Thank you, ma’am Rosalie! Ruthie replied looking happily at herself!

Can you please wear the jewelries I inherited from my grandmother? Just for tonight, will you? Marielle was intently waiting for her reply.

Sure mommy, just for tonight, I will! Rosalie nodded. She was a good child, but wearing jewelries for her ...are great favor she had to do for her mother.

Marielle rushed to her room and came back with a jewelry set. It was indeed a set of elegant tiny diamond studded necklace with matching earrings.

To please her mother, Rosalie took the set without any trace of objection. Her face was glowing. For the first time, she seemed to be highly attracted.

Rosalie herself could not believe that she felt some strange warm feeling the moment she touched the jewelries. She felt as if those jewelries belong to her. As if she had seen them before! As if... Oh ...she better stopped those creeping ifs.

Howell came up to tell them that the music for their introductory entrance was ready. Nana Lucy and Ruthie Miller went down using the back porch and mingled with the excited guests.

As the orchestra played, the proud couple, Howell and Marielle went down the grand winding stairs, step by step. Between them, was their lovely and only child, Rosalie Wright Romano, the debutante.

All eyes were on the sophisticated trio, but mostly at the lovely and blooming eighteen-year lady, who was glowing and sparkling like a gem. Her gown, her make-up, her jewelries all together added up to her elegance and natural beauty.

Rosalie, the aloof debutante was introduced to society for the first time on her eighteen years of being a Romano.

Howell, her proud father and her first dance was so proud of his daughter. She had everything that any young lady would crave for.... She was intelligent, pretty, kindhearted, humble and the only heir of the Romano’s. She was not a spoiled brat like