Welcome, I’m Mary Louisa Locke, the author of the USA Today best-selling Victorian San Francisco Mystery series and the Caelestis Science Fiction series. In this daily newsletter, I reflect on my life as an indie author trying to age gracefully, including my struggles to maintain a balanced life, what I listen to, read, and watch for entertainment, and occasional bits of information I’ve gleaned from doing the research for my novels.
In addition, now and again I will provide some of my fiction to read, for free, on this newsletter. Everything is available to anyone who subscribes, but I am always pleased when someone shows their appreciation for the newsletter by upgrading to paid.
Daily Diary, Day 1319:
Brief check-in: As anticipated, didn’t get any more writing done yesterday, but did pretty much clear the decks of other tasks so that I could get back to work today. As promised, the weather is cooler today (got up to 70 yesterday), with fog again that was thick enough to leave the streets wet this morning and I appreciated wearing a jacket on top of my sweat shirt on my first walk. Here’s rose bloom from yesterday when it was still sunny!
Now for the next short story scene.
Dandy Detects: A Victorian San Francisco Story
By M. Louisa Locke, copyright, 2010
Scene 3:
The next day, Barbara found herself again wondering about Mrs. Francis when her thoughts were interrupted by Dandy, who was barking in great indignation at an emaciated hound who was tied to the hitching post outside the Ellis Street butcher shop. Saturday mornings she walked Dandy while Jamie made spending money by doing errands for Mrs. O'Rourke. This Saturday, despite the continued heat, she had extended her usual route so that she could go past the Francis house.
Barbara had some vague idea that she might stop in the store and, if Mrs. Francis was alone, strike up a conversation. But she had forgotten the butcher's dog, which always sent Dandy into a frenzy. Dandy was still a pup and didn't weigh more than fifteen pounds, so she wasn't worried he would get away from her, but he was creating a good deal of commotion on the crowded sidewalk.
She scooped Dandy up in her arms, immediately subjecting herself to several swift doggy kisses on her nose, and she laughed, saying, "Oh, you rascal. Proud of yourself, aren't you? Defended me against that ruffian. Now settle down."
Having made it safely past the butcher shop, Barbara put the wiggling dog down at her feet, just in time for him to begin straining at the leash again. Looking up, she saw the object of his excitement was a short, boxy black dog with a shaggy coat that was pulling his mistress towards them with equal fervor.
"Oh, Mrs. Francis. That is your name, isn't it? I have so wanted to meet you," Barbara exclaimed when she noticed that the slender blonde in front of her was her back alley neighbor. Before the woman had a chance to respond, she went on. "My name is Mrs. Barbara Hewitt. I live just over on O'Farrell Street, and I wanted to tell you how much I have enjoyed hearing you play the piano these warm evenings. You are quite accomplished."
Heavens above, I sound like an idiot, accosting a stranger on the street this way, she thought. Embarrassed, Barbara looked down at the two dogs who were enthusiastically trying to sniff each other's rears, which, because they were about the same length, meant they were going around and around in a tight circle, completely entangling their leashes.
"Oh, dear," she said. "They are getting tied up!" She looked up and saw that the other woman was awkwardly trying to control her dog with her right hand while she used her left to hold the half veil of her hat down over the left side of her face.
I wonder what she is trying to hide? Barbara’s heart squeezed painfully as she remembered her own fearful attempts to hide the cuts and bruises that bloomed periodically on her face after her husband's rages. Not wanting the woman to catch her staring, Barbara again looked down at the dogs at her feet and said, "Oh, what a splendid dog you have. What kind is he?"
"He is a Scottish terrier," a soft voice replied. "I call him Gordie. He seems to like your dog. What breed is he?"
"Oh, I think he is some sort of mixture. Jamie, that's my son, found him on the street being tormented by some boys. We call him Dandy. There, I think we have them untangled," Barbara added.
The other woman pulled her dog to her side, letting her full skirts separate the dogs. She then nodded politely and began to move past Barbara.
"Oh, Mrs. Francis, before you go. You must think me daft. But I particularly wanted to meet you because I wondered if you ever gave piano lessons. I would like my son, he is eight, to learn. I wouldn't be able to pay much, but...."
"Oh my, no," the woman said. "I don't think that would be possible. My husband wouldn't let…I mean, a small boy in the house…I don't think he...."
Barbara broke into the woman's protestations. "You have misunderstood me. I live at Mrs. Fuller's boarding house on O'Farrell, and she has an upright in the parlor that she lets the boarders use. I thought you might be able to teach him there."
Seeing that the woman was shaking her head and uttering more disjointed phrases, Barbara continued, "Please, just think about it. Now I must let you go on your way. It was a pleasure to meet you."
As she moved past, she thought she heard Mrs. Francis reply faintly, "So kind of you.”
Perhaps she is just shy, Barbara thought as she moved on. I could stop by and visit her next week, bring Jamie with me; nobody withstands his charm.
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I have Dandy Detects in my Kindle library which I read when I first got it and marked on your survey that I probably would not read it again. But, wouldn't you know, I got hooked when you posted that first short chapter on your email and I'm enjoying it once again. Thank you!