Resolutions Go Better with Hot, Black Coffee

Made any New Year’s resolutions yet? I haven’t consciously made any. One reason I don’t is that it makes me feel like a failure if I break them. I guess my only resolution, actually, is to treasure each day, try to make the most of it, and live with joy. An unfailing depth of joy will get one across many hurdles.

Thinking my characters might have something to say about the New Year, I went to Levi, Oklahoma and then on across to Ednalee to ask a few of them if they had resolved to do or be anything noteworthy for 2018. Sitting across from them at the Hundred-year Old Table or at Grandy’s cafe with cups of hot, black coffee, I asked if they were heading into a new year with any firm resolve. Here are their answers:

Ned McNeil: My cell phone–I am going to try never to forget to have it with me when I leave the house. Of course, with the new phone scabbard from Cade, this is going to be a lot easier. Now, if I can just remember to wear that scabbard!

Cade Morris: The past is the past and that’s where it’s going to stay. No more guilt over Lena, no more looking back and feeling bad about my first marriage. And last, but not least, trying to convince Ned to let me handle the trouble that, for some reason, seems to center around that old house she lives in. I hope she resolves to keep her cell phone with her.

Ann Decker: I’m going to write my memoirs. Why not? Now that I think about it, I’ve had a pretty interesting life and I’m grateful to have survived all these many years. This old house is too big for me, all it has in it are memories and before I move out to a more comfortable little apartment, I must put down some of those memories on paper.

Darcy Campbell: I firmly resolve that I will not get involved in any more mysteries in Ventris County. When something unusual happens, I’ll just close my eyes and let Grant handle it. Or, at least, I will after I look into who might be leaving that single red rose atop my grandfather’s grave, and what could have happened to Burke’s chickens. He swears he has been hearing strange noises out in the woods behind his house but when he looks, nothing is there. An animal? A person? Burke’s imagination?

Flora Tucker: I learned a long time ago that resolutions are made to be broken, if they are yearly resolutions. I just try every morning when I get up to be thankful for the day and I ask the Lord to get me through it as He knows best. But I sure do wish I could convince my daughter that Grant Hendley would make a mighty fine son-in-law.

Grant Hendley: The only resolution I’m going to make is to try to keep Ventris County on an even keel. Maybe if kids had more to do after school, they wouldn’t be into trouble and if I can make it safe for law-abiding citizens and unsafe for the bad guys, that’ll suit me just fine. Oh–and convince Darcy to stay home and tend her herb garden.

Pat Harris: Every year, my resolution is the same–to keep a better eye on that son of mine. I try. Lord knows, I do try, but how do I keep him home when all he wants to do is roam through the woods and make friends out of the animals? And, I also firmly resolve to stay out of any mystery that Darcy Campbell happens to dig up.