Rudy's Red Nose, my short story which is part of Silver's Dreaming of a White Christmas release for December is releasing today! I'm so excited! I hope you all enjoy it!
Wishing you Love and Butterflies,
Sui Lynn~~
Blurb:
Austrian exchange student Rudolph Stroh is spending his first Christmas abroad inMissoula , Montana Montana State University
Benjamin Tinge is a nineteen year old college dropout. A family tragedy left him and his little brother, Tommy, homeless and living in a tent in the park, struggling just to stay warm. Keeping Tommy alive as a blizzard rolls in is all Benji wants for Christmas.
When Rudy discovers the brothers huddled in their tent behind a holiday display, he offers to help. Benji is wary, afraid to trust. Can the two mend each other's hearts as Christmas Eve draws near?
Excerpt:
"I know, Mama, I wish I could come home, too..."
"We miss you so much. Did you get the Christmas package I sent? I never know what will arrive without being broken."
"Yes, I got your care package and the cookies arrived--intact for the most part. Danke."
"Oh good. I wish I could have sent more, but well... with your father's health failing..."
"How's Papa?"
"Growly as ever, I guess he's feeling better, he's back complaining as usual. Doctors say shouldn't work so hard, but you know him." Emily Stroh chuckled, her voice getting a bit wistful. "That old mule won't stop until he finally drops. He's out in the barn with your brother working on some fool project."
"Tell him to slow down. I want him to still be around when I'm able to come home and visit. That stubborn ol' man will..."
"Rudolph Stroh, I won't have you talking like that about you father. Just because you're in American doesn't mean you can say whatever you want."
"Sorry, Mama. I wasn't being disrespectful. Just..."
"I know you're worried. We are too. We miss you and love you so much!" Emily paused, Rudy heard a stifled sob. "You work hard and get good grades. We are so proud of you."
"I love you too. Say hi to Victor for me. I sure wish he was here, but with papa sick, I'm glad he's with you."
"Victor misses you too. We'll all be so glad to see you when you come home to visit. Work hard, auf wiedersehen."
"Okay, auf wiedersehen." Rudy Stroh sighed dejectedly. He always missed his family. Talking to them on the phone and receiving their care packages in the mail just didn't stave off the homesickness when the holidays rolled around. Rudy sat in his apartment in Missoula, Montana, moping around, nursing his loneliness. He was an adult, twenty-two years old, for god's sakes; shouldn't he be beyond the age of homesickness? Rudy ran a hand through his blond hair. It was early afternoon, just enough time to get over to the coffee shop for a sandwich and then a walk through the park as the decorations were lit. He needed to catch the bus to make it before the shop closed, but he could take his time walking home.
His friends had all abandoned him for the holidays. Not that he could blame them--he wanted to go home too. He'd also lost his roommate. Danny had completed his program and returned home... permanently. At least having Danny's things around during previous holidays had helped to stave off the loneliness with the appearance of others being around. Now Rudy had no such illusions. He was utterly alone.
Unfortunately, as a foreign exchange student, his options were limited. It was expensive to travel back and forth from the US to Austria. He'd expected to be on his own from time to time, but the Christmas semester break was three weeks long, not including the two weeks of finals he didn't have to take because he'd maintained a 4.0 GPA. He had five weeks of being alone ahead of him, during the most love-filled time of the year, and he didn't relish the thought.
Rudy shrugged on his heavy, navy blue, down-filled winter coat, slid his hands into his knit mittens, and wrapped a matching scarf about his head, then headed out the door. He'd found the quaint coffee and sandwich shop in the neighborhood where his apartment was located shortly after his arrival. During the semester, he'd spent many hours studying there while imbibing cup after cup of coffee. The Daily Grind catered to university students, being close enough to the campus for them to be able to run in and grab a quick coffee to go first thing in the morning and still make classes.
Rudy rushed to the corner and climbed into the bus. He showed the driver his student pass then took a seat. He hated being so homesick. This wouldn't be happening if his brother hadn't been such an idiot. Victor had let his grades slip the last semester. He was supposed to be in the US attending classes too. But with his grades not making the cut, he hadn't been allowed to become an exchange student. Rudy was on his own with an apartment leased for two. Now, with too much time on his hands and five weeks left 'til the new semester began, he was reduced to sullenness and self-pity.
The bus pulled to a stop. Rudy got off, heading down the street to The Daily Grind. He'd found himself spending more time downtown at the coffee shop, trying to stave off his loneliness by surrounding himself with people, watching as they went about their holiday preparations.
He took a seat in one of the booths beside the windows, watching the passersby scurry about, laden with packages. From his vantage point, he could vicariously enjoy the hustle and bustle of the families--the smiles on the faces of the children, so full of excitement and hope in eager anticipation of the big day, and the knowing glances of parents who understood and thrilled to their joy. He missed it all so very much. His chest tightened with thoughts of his mother doing her Christmas baking, and oh, the wonderful aromas that must be filling the house even now. He sighed, glancing up to find a waiter standing beside his table.
"We miss you so much. Did you get the Christmas package I sent? I never know what will arrive without being broken."
"Yes, I got your care package and the cookies arrived--intact for the most part. Danke."
"Oh good. I wish I could have sent more, but well... with your father's health failing..."
"How's Papa?"
"Growly as ever, I guess he's feeling better, he's back complaining as usual. Doctors say shouldn't work so hard, but you know him." Emily Stroh chuckled, her voice getting a bit wistful. "That old mule won't stop until he finally drops. He's out in the barn with your brother working on some fool project."
"Tell him to slow down. I want him to still be around when I'm able to come home and visit. That stubborn ol' man will..."
"Rudolph Stroh, I won't have you talking like that about you father. Just because you're in American doesn't mean you can say whatever you want."
"Sorry, Mama. I wasn't being disrespectful. Just..."
"I know you're worried. We are too. We miss you and love you so much!" Emily paused, Rudy heard a stifled sob. "You work hard and get good grades. We are so proud of you."
"I love you too. Say hi to Victor for me. I sure wish he was here, but with papa sick, I'm glad he's with you."
"Victor misses you too. We'll all be so glad to see you when you come home to visit. Work hard, auf wiedersehen."
"Okay, auf wiedersehen." Rudy Stroh sighed dejectedly. He always missed his family. Talking to them on the phone and receiving their care packages in the mail just didn't stave off the homesickness when the holidays rolled around. Rudy sat in his apartment in Missoula, Montana, moping around, nursing his loneliness. He was an adult, twenty-two years old, for god's sakes; shouldn't he be beyond the age of homesickness? Rudy ran a hand through his blond hair. It was early afternoon, just enough time to get over to the coffee shop for a sandwich and then a walk through the park as the decorations were lit. He needed to catch the bus to make it before the shop closed, but he could take his time walking home.
His friends had all abandoned him for the holidays. Not that he could blame them--he wanted to go home too. He'd also lost his roommate. Danny had completed his program and returned home... permanently. At least having Danny's things around during previous holidays had helped to stave off the loneliness with the appearance of others being around. Now Rudy had no such illusions. He was utterly alone.
Unfortunately, as a foreign exchange student, his options were limited. It was expensive to travel back and forth from the US to Austria. He'd expected to be on his own from time to time, but the Christmas semester break was three weeks long, not including the two weeks of finals he didn't have to take because he'd maintained a 4.0 GPA. He had five weeks of being alone ahead of him, during the most love-filled time of the year, and he didn't relish the thought.
Rudy shrugged on his heavy, navy blue, down-filled winter coat, slid his hands into his knit mittens, and wrapped a matching scarf about his head, then headed out the door. He'd found the quaint coffee and sandwich shop in the neighborhood where his apartment was located shortly after his arrival. During the semester, he'd spent many hours studying there while imbibing cup after cup of coffee. The Daily Grind catered to university students, being close enough to the campus for them to be able to run in and grab a quick coffee to go first thing in the morning and still make classes.
Rudy rushed to the corner and climbed into the bus. He showed the driver his student pass then took a seat. He hated being so homesick. This wouldn't be happening if his brother hadn't been such an idiot. Victor had let his grades slip the last semester. He was supposed to be in the US attending classes too. But with his grades not making the cut, he hadn't been allowed to become an exchange student. Rudy was on his own with an apartment leased for two. Now, with too much time on his hands and five weeks left 'til the new semester began, he was reduced to sullenness and self-pity.
The bus pulled to a stop. Rudy got off, heading down the street to The Daily Grind. He'd found himself spending more time downtown at the coffee shop, trying to stave off his loneliness by surrounding himself with people, watching as they went about their holiday preparations.
He took a seat in one of the booths beside the windows, watching the passersby scurry about, laden with packages. From his vantage point, he could vicariously enjoy the hustle and bustle of the families--the smiles on the faces of the children, so full of excitement and hope in eager anticipation of the big day, and the knowing glances of parents who understood and thrilled to their joy. He missed it all so very much. His chest tightened with thoughts of his mother doing her Christmas baking, and oh, the wonderful aromas that must be filling the house even now. He sighed, glancing up to find a waiter standing beside his table.
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