キャミー・タング著「戌年」連載小説 プロのドッグトレーナーであるマリ・ムトウは、厄年を迎えている。 犬小屋と訓練所の改築をしながら、いつも不服そうにしている家族と同居することになった。母と姉に言わせれば、犬の毛とよだれかけにまみれる仕事は、家族にとって恥ずべきものだという。彼女は元カレを説得し、数ヶ月間犬を預かってもらうことにした。しかし、彼の兄は、数週間前に彼女が誤って車に追突した、怒り狂ったセキュリティ専門家であることが判明する。 アシュウィン・ケイトウは十分な問題を抱えている。叔母が玄関先に現れ、同居を希望している。彼は彼女にすべてを借りているので、断ることができません。母親が家を出て行った後、ネルおばさんはアシュウィンと弟を引き取り、愛のあるキリスト教の家庭で育てた。しかも、弟のダスティもアパートを追い出され、居場所を求めている。しかし、彼は犬を飼っている。そして、その犬の飼い主は誰だと思いますか？ しかし、旧友でオアフ島のノースショアでデイスパを経営する私立探偵のエディサ・ゲレロから依頼を受ける。マリの施設で奇妙な破壊行為があり、3年前に失踪したエディサの妹の財布を発見する。エディサはマリが危険な目に遭っているのではと心配する。警備の専門家であるアシュウィンがすでにマリを知っていることを知ったエディサは、忙しい若い女性を密かに監視することを彼に依頼する。 アシュウィンは、活発でのんびりとしたドッグトレーナーに不本意ながら惹かれていく。彼女は、幸せそうな母親を思い出させる。その母親の裏切りによって、彼は人と距離を置くようになったのだ。マリは、アシュウィンの冷たい外見を見抜き、彼が家族に忠実な男であることを認める。彼は、彼女のキャリア選択を批判するだけの母親や姉とは違う。 マリのバラバラな家庭とアシュウィンのバラバラな家庭の中で、過去を隠そうとする人たちから、彼らの周りに危険が迫ってくるようになる。彼らは、影で動く秘密に光を当てることができるのか？ 過去に発表されたパートへのリンクはこちら。 *** 第8章 - 恐ろしくも真っ白な不動産書類 『みんな仲良くできないのかな？』 マリは無用に力を込めて箱に本を投げ入れた。最近、なぜ彼女は人生の中で全員と言い争いをしているのだろう？もしかすると、これは本当に悪いアイデア
Captain's Log, Stardate 03.22.2006
Blog Book giveaway:
My Thursday book giveaway (DIE BEFORE NIGHTFALL) is here.
My Monday book giveaway (QUEEN ESTHER AND THE SECOND GRADERS OF DOOM) is here.
You can still enter both of them. Just post a comment on those blog posts.
On Thursday, I'll draw the winner for DIE BEFORE NIGHTFALL and post the title for another book I'm giving away. Stay tuned.
MARY G!!!: Am I totally cool or what? Mary Griffith agreed to do a guest blog post! I didn’t even have to bribe her with chocolate. Can I hear ya say Yeeeeeaaaaahhhhhhh!
During the month of March, I’m giving away a copy of her latest book, PINK. Go to my website to sign up for the giveaway!
Here’s Mary!
Pink. It's the title of my latest book and often the hue of my faith. Bright and bold and sometimes a little hard on the eyes (ears). Like the character in the book, I spent the first few years of my Christian life trying to beige myself down, trying to cultivate that meek and quiet spirit I so longed for.
It was at a women's conference with 1000 women that I realized, every shade of faith is necessary and "quiet" looks different on different people. I spent the ride to the hotel concentrating on being quiet. (I still do this. If you're ever at a conference with me, you'll see my little warning notecards. They never work, but making them is fun). The facilitator told us to break into our discussion groups and go over what the speaker had said in the morning session. Elisabeth Eliot was the speaker so I had quite a bit to say, but I sat there quiet and quaking like a pressure cooker, waiting for someone to say something.
Not even a hello. Not a sigh. Nothing. Women looked at one another and turned away with coy smiles all while I'm seconds from spontaneous combustion. Would we ever meet one another again? What if God wanted to heal someone's heart? Touch someone's body? Were we all just going to sit here and be quiet after a teaching like that?
Nope. We weren't, not if my inner pink could help it. Like a balloon hit with a dart, I broke my silence.
"Can I at least pray for somebody or something? This is killing me!"
Across the table, another woman slumped to the table in relief. "Please, go ahead. Start the questions. I was about to pass out over here. I so wanted to discuss this, but I'm so afraid to talk in front of people. At my father's funeral, I almost had to be revived after speaking."
I looked at her in shock. Not want to talk? My family started demanding speeches of its members as soon as a person could speak. Being the life of the party and the leader of the band were expected. Did this dear lady really feel that nervous about talking? Her flushed cheeks and sweaty palms as we opened with prayer told me yes. It was also the beginning of God showing me that He needs Christ reflected in every shade. So I laugh loud and wear sparkly shoes. I love Jesus and He loves me back.
And He loves you too, whether your personality is fierce and fuschia or gentle and jade. Whatever shade your style is, the world is waiting for it.
:)
Camy here: Thanks, Mary! Okay, people, what's your shade?
Blog Book giveaway:
My Thursday book giveaway (DIE BEFORE NIGHTFALL) is here.
My Monday book giveaway (QUEEN ESTHER AND THE SECOND GRADERS OF DOOM) is here.
You can still enter both of them. Just post a comment on those blog posts.
On Thursday, I'll draw the winner for DIE BEFORE NIGHTFALL and post the title for another book I'm giving away. Stay tuned.
MARY G!!!: Am I totally cool or what? Mary Griffith agreed to do a guest blog post! I didn’t even have to bribe her with chocolate. Can I hear ya say Yeeeeeaaaaahhhhhhh!During the month of March, I’m giving away a copy of her latest book, PINK. Go to my website to sign up for the giveaway!
Here’s Mary!
Pink. It's the title of my latest book and often the hue of my faith. Bright and bold and sometimes a little hard on the eyes (ears). Like the character in the book, I spent the first few years of my Christian life trying to beige myself down, trying to cultivate that meek and quiet spirit I so longed for.
It was at a women's conference with 1000 women that I realized, every shade of faith is necessary and "quiet" looks different on different people. I spent the ride to the hotel concentrating on being quiet. (I still do this. If you're ever at a conference with me, you'll see my little warning notecards. They never work, but making them is fun). The facilitator told us to break into our discussion groups and go over what the speaker had said in the morning session. Elisabeth Eliot was the speaker so I had quite a bit to say, but I sat there quiet and quaking like a pressure cooker, waiting for someone to say something.
Not even a hello. Not a sigh. Nothing. Women looked at one another and turned away with coy smiles all while I'm seconds from spontaneous combustion. Would we ever meet one another again? What if God wanted to heal someone's heart? Touch someone's body? Were we all just going to sit here and be quiet after a teaching like that?
Nope. We weren't, not if my inner pink could help it. Like a balloon hit with a dart, I broke my silence.
"Can I at least pray for somebody or something? This is killing me!"
Across the table, another woman slumped to the table in relief. "Please, go ahead. Start the questions. I was about to pass out over here. I so wanted to discuss this, but I'm so afraid to talk in front of people. At my father's funeral, I almost had to be revived after speaking."
I looked at her in shock. Not want to talk? My family started demanding speeches of its members as soon as a person could speak. Being the life of the party and the leader of the band were expected. Did this dear lady really feel that nervous about talking? Her flushed cheeks and sweaty palms as we opened with prayer told me yes. It was also the beginning of God showing me that He needs Christ reflected in every shade. So I laugh loud and wear sparkly shoes. I love Jesus and He loves me back.
And He loves you too, whether your personality is fierce and fuschia or gentle and jade. Whatever shade your style is, the world is waiting for it.
:)
Camy here: Thanks, Mary! Okay, people, what's your shade?
Comments
And Mary, this subject (what is our color) has always been my favorite topic. I have to say I'd never thought about being 'pink' or 'organge' or whatever until that famed Denver conference when all our colors just seemed to mesh to form the most beautiful picture. It changed my thinking...
Love ya,
Staci
Although I like wearing red, which is not exactly a quiet color either, in my personality I'm more an olive green or dark brown like my favorite colors.
Like Staci above, I've never thought of my personality in terms of color but the theory is definitely workable and for me definitely goes with the colors I like to actually wear. Parts of me are bold red or orange or bright green, others more muted though I can definitely say that I'm not a lover of pastels.
I'd have loved to hear Elisabeth Eliot. I have all her earlier books, the ones she wrote after her first husband and several other missionaries were murdered by the Auca Indians. I can still remember when we first heard about the tragedy. And what a testimony those deaths were and then her own in going back to minister to these people. A remarkable Christian woman and writer. She must be getting on in years now too.
Thanks, Mary. That was very thought-provoking. You must have put the blog on when I'd finally given up on seeing one there yesterday. I'm on EST.
I have to say that I'm a red who has been playing it safe in pinks lately. I want to live life with a passion as I used to, but fear what may happen. I'm starting to get my red ways back though. Slowly. But the red is starting to show through.
By the way, I read "Pink" and loved it. It was a great read, a lot more grittier (in my opinion)than "Made of Honor" which I also loved. You also touched on the whole issue of chastity/purity which is important to me. I want to write a story about trying to stay pure in a dirty world, but haven't come up with the characters to carry it off yet. You gave me something to think about...
God is finally stripping my mask and letting my bright and bold color shine forth again. Wooohooo!!!
If you think about decorating or accessorizing, it is always a success to put a bright, bold pattern or color against a softer, quieter shade. We truly do need all shades of spiritual/personality color don't we? :)
Now that I see that God does need all shades, I may be in the sparkly shoe department with you, if you don't mind. And maybe by the conference, I'll know what shade I am, but I'm leaning towards royal purple because God has given me a vibrant amount of faith.
Thank you for stopping by, Mary. It's always a blessing to read your words.
Hugs!