Monday, February 17, 2014

Jocie Shares a Scene from Summer of Joy


February 17, 1965

Jocie Brooke here reporting from Hollyhill, Kentucky three days after Valentine's Day. It's been snowing and snowing. That's given me lots of time to think about all the different kinds of love and back to some of the things that happened in those Heart of Hollyhill books I'm in. 
 
You know it's funny that last Hollyhill book is named Summer of Joy because most of it happened in the winter time. We had a bunch of snow then too. And during one of those snows, Robert showed up out of nowhere. I didn't like him much. You know how I love Wes. I mean, Wes is my best friend and my grandfather all wrapped up in one. But he's not really my grandfather, not in any kind of real family kin. He's from Jupiter. I know. He's not really from Jupiter. I've known that forever, but that's what he's always told me. Then Robert shows up - his real grandson in the family kin way. That sort of worried me. I was afraid Wes wouldn't love me the same if he had Robert to love. Here's the scene out of the book where I go out to walk in the snow to think that through, and Robert hunts me down to talk about Wes.

    We walked along without talking for a little ways. I was thinking about claiming I was cold and saying we needed to go back to the house when Robert said, "Your father told me you and my grandfather are real close."
    I wasn't sure what he wanted me to say to that, so I just nodded a little and kept walking. We were almost to the end of the apple orchard, but Mr. Crutcher doesn't mind me walking in his pasture fields next door. Dad walks there all the time when he's praying through something for a sermon or whatever. 
    I thought maybe I should be praying through something. I just wasn't sure what. I wasn't sure why I had that spider crawly feeling inside and tears in my eyes that weren't there just because of the cold wind blowing in my face. Just because proof that Wes wasn't from Jupiter was walking along beside me didn't mean Wes had to stop telling me Jupiter stories. And even if he did, so what? I was too old for Jupiter stories anyway.
     "Tell me about him," Robert said.
     "What about him?"
     "I don't know. Tell me why you love him."
    "Why do you want to know that?"
    "So I can love him the way you do. Like a real grandson would."
    It seemed only fair, so I told him about the spaceship from Jupiter. And about the motorcycle and how Wes talked to the press to keep it running. I told him about the tornado and the tree falling on Wes. I didn't tell him why we were out in the tornado. I figured that would just confuse things. Last I told him about Wes being baptized in the river even though it almost made his ears freeze and fall off. We both laughed about that.
    By the time we walked back to the house, I'd passed some of my love for Wes over to Robert, but the funny thing was I didn't have a bit less inside me. Maybe love really is like a candle flame that keeps burning just as brightly no matter how many other candles are lit from the flame.

Is that how you think love is? 


By the way, I've heard there are some giveaways going on. You can check it out here. And there's a Goodreads giveaway too. Leave a comment here and be in a special drawing for a copy of one of the Heart of Hollyhill books. That sounds like fun, doesn't it?

  

12 comments:

  1. That was a fantastic post. I loved reading about Jocie sharing stories with Robert. This book sounds so good. I would love to win a copy of one of the Heart of Hollyhill books. Yes, it does sound like fun!

    Blessings!
    Judy B
    judyjohn2004(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. Jocie here - Oh thank you so much, Judy. Robert and I are great friends now, but I still think Wes loves me best. Guess I shouldn't say that, should I? Dad would give me a talking to if he heard that, so don't tell him. Maybe I should just say I got a head start on loving Wes myself. There, that sounds better. I'll throw your name in the drawing hat. Come back any time.

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  2. As always it's good to hear from you Jocie! Jealousy is a funny thing, it causes you to doubt but I know from personal experience that there is room to love a lot of people in one's heart. I know I have a special place in my husband's heart, my mom's heart, my nephew & nieces hearts (plus others) that no one can take...it's my special place & I know that's how it is with Wes! You will always have that special place no one can take! Like Judy above would love to win a copy of one of the Heart of Hollyhill books...anything Ann writes is great! Thanks...Linda

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    1. Jocie here - So glad you came over, Linda. I try really hard not to be jealous of anybody, but sometimes it's hard at school. Of course, I haven't gotten struck on any boys like some of my friends, so I don't have to worry about that kind of jealous. Sometimes they get so mad if they think their boyfriends are flirting with other girls. I like the way you talk about those special places in our hearts. I know you're right. Wes does have a special place for me in his heart - a granddaddy kind of place and he has plenty of room for Robert too. Don't read what I said to Judy. I shouldn't have said that!

      I'll add your name to the drawing hat for the book. If you win, you can pick whichever one you want most.

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  3. Ann, I am excited about your new book. It was wonderful to meet you when you came to visit our Pulaski Writers Alliance. You inspire women writers! Always a fan, Sandi Keaton-Wilson.... sandi_keaton-wilson@hotmail.com I would love to win this book!

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    1. Jocie here. I'll give Ann the message, Sandi. She lets me handle the writing on this blog. Well, most of the time. Sometimes Dad or Wes fill in for me and once Zella did. That was interesting to say the least!! I'll add your name to the hat to maybe win one of the books. Come see me anytime.

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  4. I really enjoyed meeting Jocie and her family and friends in Hollyhill in the book, Scent of Lilacs. I'm glad I found this blog and this chance to win the third book. I hope to sometime own all three.

    pmk56[at]sbcglobal[dot]net

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    1. Jocie here - So glad you found me over here too, Pam. It's more fun to play around with words when somebody is reading them. I want to be a writer when I grow up. I just don't know whether I want to be a reporter for a newspaper or write stories. Dad says I don't have to decide right away. That I can write anything. Well, anything as long as it's something decent.

      I found out a lot about me in all the things that happened in Scent of Lilacs. I guess you did too, huh? Anyway, I've got your name in the hat, so good luck.

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  5. I enjoy Ann Gabhart's books very much and would like to win Summer of Joy. sharon
    wileygreen1(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. Jocie here. That's neat, Sharon. I know Ann will be happy to hear that and I think it's great that you'd like to win my story. I always complain about nothing ever happening in Hollyhill, but boy, was it happening there last year!!

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  6. wonderful post and wonderful book it seems! would love to win it! thanks! Rhonda
    rhonda_nash_hall@comcast.net

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    1. Jocie here. So great that you came over to visit here in Hollyhill, Rhonda. Dad says I don't have enough girlfriends so now I can tell him I've got new friends. Thanks. Glad you enjoyed my scene with Robert.

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Jocie loves to know what you're thinking about your visits to Hollyhill.