Amazon.com link to Sharon A.’s short story collection

There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.

–          Maya Angelou

Bast Overture is still missing. His fraternal twin Dana Bowman is determined to find him. She has decided to interview everyone Bast interviewed from some of the short stories in Beyond the Tripping Point by Sharon A. Crawford (Blue Denim Press, Oct. 2012). Today she is talking to Chrissie, the main character in “Missing in Action” to see if she can get some answers.

Dana: Thanks for coming in.

Chrissie: No problem. I know what it’s like to have a missing family member.

Dana: Yeah, your cousin Robbie. I understand he frequently disappeared.

Chrissie: Yes, but he always returned at some point – usually when someone in the family died.

Dana: Well, my brother never disappears. This is the first time and it happened after he interviewed Detective Larry Hutchinson who was the investigating officer in “Missing in Action.” Now, I’ve talked to Detective Hutchinson and he was shall we say not forthcoming and told me to talk to Detective Fielding who was handling Bast’s disappearance. I’ve done that and he’s no help either. So, I need your help.

Chrissie (shrugging): Not sure what I can do…

Dana: Well, Bast interviewed all the main living characters in “Missing in Action” and I’ve gone over and over these interviews. So, going back to yours…

Dana hits the play button on the tape recorder:

Bast: Whatever are you looking at?

Chrissie: Don’t you see her? Over there?

Bast: Who do you see?

Chrissie: You mean you can’t see anyone?

Bast: No. Only you and I are in this room.

Chrissie: No. No. If you can’t see her then we can’t communicate.

Bast: Fine. Then tell me who you see so I can at least look harder.

Chrissie: Never mind. You can’t see her, then you can’t see her.

Dana hits the stop button.

Dana: What was all that about? Who were you looking at?

Chrissie shrugs her shoulders.

Dana: Chrissie…answer me. Who were you looking at?

Chrissie: No one.

Dana: Come on. Who were you looking at?

Chrissie: All right, all right. I was looking at that picture on the far wall.

Dana (looking to the end of the room): You mean that abstract painting?

Chrissie: What abstract painting?

Dana: The one at the other end of the room, straight ahead. It’s the only painting on the wall.

Chrissie: Not sure what an abstract painting is, but that’s not what I’m seeing.

Dana: Fine. Then what are you seeing?

Chrissie: She’s there. She’s staring right at us…

Dana: Who’s staring at us?

Chrissie: Can’t you see her? Oh, she looks very angry. Oh… (She stands up abruptly). Gotta go.

Dana: Wait Chrissie. What is it?

Chrissie runs out of the room as if the hounds of hell are on her back.

Dana looks over at the far wall.

Dana: It’s just an abstract painting. I don’t see any woman.

Dana gets up and walks to the end of the room. She stares at the painting – the reds and creams and browns and a hint of a green triangle in the centre. She shakes her head.

Dana: What the hell was Chrissie seeing?

She decides she will have to call Detective Hutchinson back in.

Dana: And he better talk.

Dana smiles. She’s thought of a way to do just that.

Yu can read more about the characters and their stories in from Beyond the Tripping Point (Blue Denim Press, 2012). Click on the book at the top and it takes you to my profile – including book reviews – at www.amazon.com. The book is available there in print and Kindle. For Kobo e-book  go to http://store.kobobooks.com/en-CA/ebook/beyond-the-tripping-point or go to any bricks and mortar store and order in a print copy.

See Sharon A.’s Upcoming Gigs, workshops, etc. at http://www.samcraw.com/Articles/BeyondtheTrippingPoint.html