Tales from Oakboro: A Collection of Short Stories

Janet the widow

Summary
|Janet had always been a strong woman, but after her husband passed away a few years ago, she had been struggling to find her place in the world. They had been married for over 40 years and shared a deep love for each other that only comes with time.

Now in her sixties, Janet moved to the small country town of Oakboro, hoping for a fresh start and a new beginning. She had been living there for almost 7 years now and though she had managed to make friends, she still felt as if she was missing something.

One night, while walking around the town, Janet decided to take a detour and found herself in the downtown area. She knew that it was the heart of the town and it provided a much needed reminder that life could still be full of joy and new beginnings.

As she walked around admiring the quaint stores and eateries, she noticed a volunteer sign up sheet for a charity. It was for an animal shelter and it was exactly the kind of thing she had always been interested in.

Janet decided to volunteer, and found that she not only had a passion for helping the animals, but she also was able to provide a listening ear to many of the staff members who were struggling with their own personal problems. Janet found a deep satisfaction in being able to offer a listening ear and some wisdom whenever it was needed. |
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"OW!" Janet jumped back she burnt herself on the stove again she stared at the burn for a second before turning off the stove and get in the first aid kit rubbing some cream on the burn she was a gentle older woman widowed but still with a kind heart she put the first aid kit away and walked to the window she could see the oakboro sign from her house she moved here not long after her husband's death it was a nice breath of fresh air as she was a woman who used to live in the city she was close friends with the neighbor across the street Michael he was a kind old man widowed as well the two enjoyed to Garden together Janet was reminiscing on the past when she looked out the window before she took a deep breath and brushed her floral dress off with her hands walk into the door and slip it on her shoes grabbing her old leather purse as she decided to go for a walk the empty feeling in her chest has always been there she stopped searching for something to fill it but she thought she might as well enjoy her life.

Janet smiled as the sun set and she can no longer see her Shadow as she walked through the quiet town kids who were playing were hustled inside by their mothers and or fathers or even grandmothers Janet herself never had kids she wasn't able to but oh did she enjoy the company that children that explains why she was a kindergarten teacher before she retired she looked up at the night sky the city still active as she walked she chose to take a detour this Time explore more of the place that she's lived she's lived here for 7 years but never moved far she took a new road that she wasn't familiar with she was admiring everything she saw the flowers the trees the birds the dogs until she noticed she made it to the downtown area

There was kids laughing and running around the downtown area different stores were still open it almost looked like a festival even with her poor eyes she admired all of the things around her but her eyes soon got caught by a beautiful pink sign up the street "Paw worlds" she almost chuckled at the name it was an animal shelter she watched closer in dogs and cats started to jump on the window at her

She walked in and was immediately greeted by a young face of a blonde woman "hello! I'm Martha it's wonderful to meet you welcome to our animal shelter if you are looking to volunteer there's a sign up sheet or if you want to adopt one of our strays just come up to the counter!" The woman she now knew as Martha smiled brightly "thank you I'll look around" Janet's voice was soft but the woman can still hear her and smiled walking away Janet's interest was taken by the volunteer sheets she grabbed one and started to read through it she leaned on a desk and a puppy jumped up at her causing her to jump back but giggle she picked up the puppy and it started licking her she put it down and it followed her around the shop as she played and laughed with the other animals

Her heart felt warm and she knew then what she should do she asked to borrow a pen from one of the workers and immediately signed up to be a volunteer she gave it to Martha and the woman smiled Janet walked over and picked up the puppy that was following her it was a small golden retriever it started licking her face it reminded her so much of her husband and made her feel just as loved as he made her feel she looked over at the counter holding the puppy in hand and walked over "I can buy some dog treats tomorrow and I'll come in but for now I think I might take this little guy home" she pet the dog's head and the man behind the counter smiled "of course just sign this paper and he's all yours" she quickly signed the documents and smiled as she took her puppy in hand walk in out of the shop and taking the long way home so she can make sure point out everything to her new companion her little golden pup....