Tenderfoot by Mary Trimble

Author:Mary Trimble
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romance, drama, horses, washington, cattle, ranching, mount st helens, northwest
Publisher: Mary Trimble

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Corrie was to be at the school no later than eight o’clock. Her talk would start the Young Writers’ Week Conference. She had given thought to how she would dress, something appealing to young teens, but still professional.

Her stomach fluttered and she couldn’t eat much breakfast, but she knew her material and from previous experience knew she would relax as soon as she stood in front of her audience.

Arriving at the school, she introduced herself to the principal who showed her the auditorium where she would speak. A bell rang and kids started to pour into the large room. She stood to one side and watched their funny mannerisms The boys ogled the girls, the girls giggled. There were a few loners, a few with strange hair. She spotted Gretchen who showed surprise at seeing her, stopping in the aisle before getting a shove from a kid behind her. Corrie smiled briefly, continuing to watch the noisy kids, vying for seats next to their friends.

The principal walked onto the stage and the din diminished quickly. He made a few announcements, then turned the conference over to the chairperson, an English teacher. When she introduced Corrie, her words were so flattering Corrie wondered if she were the one being introduced. She hadn’t thought of herself as a “popular northwest writer” or how lucky they were “to have such prominence in their midst.”

She took her place at center stage and launched into her talk, finding her audience attentive and absorbed. When she told about being mistaken for an in-coming patient when she went to the hospital to do research, her audience laughed. When she mentioned that the little girl about whom the story centered died, many eyes glistened with tears. She told them of the hours she’d spent at the University of Washington medical library studying this particular type of cancer.

After her talk the kids attended various writing workshops that covered creative writing, poetry, science fiction and research. Corrie had been asked to attend the entire day. They had set up a table for her with her books. At noon she autographed books for several parents who had stopped by to purchase copies. This was an annual event that the community welcomed.

After lunch, Corrie gave another informal talk in a classroom. She discussed the art of using strong verbs, delighting the teacher.

The conference ended at two-thirty. As Corrie gathered her materials, Gretchen appeared, girlfriend in tow. “Corrie, this is my friend Pam. She wants to be a writer.”

“I’m happy to meet you, Pam.” Corrie and Pam launched into writers’ talk with Gretchen looking from one to the other, beaming.

Corrie realized that she’d never met a writer when she was a teen. That would have been a thrill. She tried to give the young writer suggestions, but most of all, hope.

As she left, Corrie smiled at Gretchen. “I’ll see you later.”

Gretchen grinned. “Okay.”

Driving home from the school Corrie’s spirits soared. She’d scored on several counts. She knew the talk went well, she could feel it in her audience.

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