Synopsis

Sherry and Zeke are two at risk teenagers who meet in their high school chemistry class and develop a bond over their shared love of science. In this follow up to Periodic Stories and Periodic Stories Volume Two, Jim takes us on another entertaining ride. This time, he uses elements sixty-four through seventy-seven of the periodic table as the basis for his engaging stories. He also adds a new twist; he has woven recurring characters throughout this collection to make it read as a novel. These stories will captivate and engage you, and the dramatic conclusion will surprise you. Like with his other two collections, this one deals with the complexities of love and human relations, both individually and with others. Oh, yes, sometimes science is involved.

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Excerpt

I reached for my paper and showed her. “It’s a report for science. Mr. Jordan’s class.”

“Your favorite teacher, right?”

“Yes,” I said perking up. I felt some energy running through me. Just talking about science made me happy. “I’m excited about it.”

Mom hooked a loose strain of hair around my ear. Her touch felt nice. “What’s the report on?”

“One of the elements on the periodic table. Number sixty-four. Gadolinium.”

“Never heard of it. It’s an odd name.”

I smiled. “It is. It’s named after the mineral gadolinite which was named after the Finnish chemist and geologist, Johan Gadolin.”

“Interesting. What’s it used for?”

I turned to Mom. It felt good to talk to her. “Remember after the accident, and I had those horrible headaches? They put me in that MRI. That magnetic resonance imaging machine?”

Mom brushed my cheek with the back of her hand and said, “I do remember that, sweetheart. That was a tough time.” She paused and clasped her hands, kneading them in her lap before adding, “For both of us.”

I reached out and hugged her. “I know Mom. I know.”

“But we’re strong women, aren’t we? We’re doing okay, right?”

I grinned. “Right, mom.”

I’d read enough about psychology to know that parents were supposed to say those things. But, still…mom was right. We were strong women. And that counted for something. It counted for a lot.

“Well,” I continued, “gadolinium is used in those MRI’s. It’s kind of like a magnet and helps make the image.”

Mom grinned. “I never would have guessed. You are so smart.”

Which made me blush. “Mom….”

She pointed at the report. “If you’d like, you can read it to me.”

“Really?”

“Sure. I’ve always wondered about gadolinkenfelter or whatever you call it.”

I laughed, which felt good. I have to tell you, sometimes Mom knew just the right thing to say. “Sure, I’d love that,” I told her. “That’d be great.” I picked up my report.

One thing was true, I liked science, and I loved chemistry. I liked its predictability. And I liked its mystery. Leslie didn’t like school so much, but she tolerated my passion for learning. We were good for each other that way. Her outgoing personality and love of art and poetry balanced my withdrawn, analytical side. Like I said, we made a pretty good team.

I flipped through a few pages of my report. “It’s not too long,” I said.

“I don’t care how long it is.” Mom smiled and stood up. She reached out and took my hand. “Let’s go down to the kitchen and fix some hot chocolate. Then you can read it to me. Deal?”

I smiled, “Deal.” Then I had a thought. “Oh, Mom?”

“Yes, dear?”

“Can Leslie come with? I think she’d like some hot chocolate, too.”

Mom smiled and hugged me. “Sure,” she said. “Absolutely.”

Mom led us out of my bedroom. I turned to Leslie and gave her the thumbs up sign. She winked, gave it back to me, and we followed Mom downstairs to the kitchen.

Me and Leslie, best friends for life.

About the Author

Jim’s stories and poems have appeared in nearly five hundred online and print publications. His collection of short stories, Resilience, is published by Bridge House Publishing. Short Stuff, a collection of flash fiction and drabbles is published by Chapeltown Books. Periodic Stories, Periodic Stories Volume Two, Periodic Stories Volume Three – A Novel, and Periodic Stories Volume Four are published by Impspired. Dreamers, a collection of short stories, is published by Clarendon House Publishing. Something Better, a dystopian adventure novella, and the novel, The Alien of Orchard Lake, are published by Dark Myth Publications. In the fall of 2022, his collection entitled Holiday Stories was published by Impspired as was his collection of poetry, Haiku Seasons. In February 2023, Periodic Stories Volume IV was published, as was his collection of poems, The Alchemy of Then, both by Impspired. In June 2023, a collection of flash fiction, Dancing With Butterflies, was published by Impspired.In July 2023, his YA novella The Battle of Marvel Wood was published by Impspired. His short story “Aliens” was nominated by The Zodiac Press for the 2020 Pushcart Prize. His story “The Maple Leaf” was voted 2021 Story of the Year for Spillwords. He was voted December 2022 Author of the Month for Spillwords. He also reads his stories for Talking Stories Radio and for Jim’s Storytime on his website. He lives in a small town west of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

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