Pearls...

Half-TitleFull-TitleContentsCopyright PagePrefaceOther Novels And Works By E. Hughes:I - Pearls...II - Pearls Of WisdomIII - You Can’T Take It With YouAbout The Author Guide Cover Table Of Contents Title Page 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Pearls...
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Pearls...
 
 E. Hughes
 
 
 
 Love-LovePublishing
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Contents
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Copyright Page
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Preface
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Other novels and works by E. Hughes:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 I
 
 
 
 Pearls...
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 II
 
 
 
 Pearls of Wisdom
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 III
 
 
 
 You Can’t Take It with You
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 About the Author
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Copyright Page
 © 2023 E. Hughes.
 All rights reserved.
 No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the author.
 Love-Love Publishing – Madison, WI
 Paperback ISBN: 978-0997320046
 Hardcover ISBN: 978-0997320022
 eBook ISBN: 9781733445450
 Title: Pearls... | E. Hughes
 Digital distribution, 2023
 Paperback edition, 2023
 Hardcover edition 2023
 Third edition
 This book is a work of fiction. Places, events, and situations in this story are purely fictional. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Preface
 
 “Pearls...” is a collection of stories about a handful of women, the karmic sum of their actions, and the Seven Deadly Sins of Life.
 - E. Hughes
 
 Pearls... was written when I was in college in 1999. The stories won first place in the college's first annual English Writing Contest. That year, I was inspired by Maya Angelou, who was the keynote speaker at Chicago State University's annual writer's conference on October 23, 1999 in Chicago, IL where I also attended the event. I also saw the great Gwendolyn Brooks that day, and many other noted literary writers of that time. Inspired by some of the great literary authors and speakers in attendance, my writings would soon evolve that year from screenplays and poetry, to short stories, and less than a decade later, to fiction novels and eventually non-fiction and children's books. Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoy Pearls....
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Other novels and works by E. Hughes:
 Fiction:
 Sixth Iteration
 Disappear, Love
 Business as Usual 
 A Mediterranean Romance: The Capa Royals
 The Sapphire Chronicles: Broken Lair (as Sophia Lace)
 Infatuation
 Beyond the Plain (Poetry)
 
 Children’s Books:
 Penelope Helps Mom and Dad
 Penelope: Be Kind to Animals
 Penelope: Super Duper Spectacular Princess Ballerina
 Penelope: Don’t be Afraid
 Penelope: Holiday Cheer
 Garden of Secrets
 
 Nonfiction
 Time and the Multi-Universe: A philosophy of time and time travel
 Starting Your First Patio Garden: A Coffee Book
 Family in a Time of Covid-19: The Truth about Coronavirus, How to Protect Yourself and Prepare
 
 
 
 
 
 I
 
 Pearls...
 When his hand slapped my face it felt like I had been hit with a hot shovel. I saw a blinding light. I fell to my knees and looked up at him. He faded in. A towering menace glowering down at me, staring into my eyes as if I had just opened Pandora's Box and was the reason his life and the rest of the world was so miserable. I knew instinctively what to do next.
 With my shoulders slumped over, I slid as gracefully as I could to my knee. It was hard trying to get back on my feet without stumbling in three inch heels. But I needed to look graceful. He would have mercy on me then.
 The steak was medium rare, the way he usually took it. But tonight he wanted it well done. A friend at work told him he could get some disease from uncooked meat. When he cut into his steak and saw red juices spilling from the center, without any warning he hit me hard. He hit me so hard I tasted blood at the back of my mouth. I swallowed it.
 I walked to the kitchen sink. My vision was still trying to get back to normal. "-I, -I'll put this back in the oven," I stammered.
 "Never mind." He cut into the steak like it was the best thing he ever ate, only seconds after hitting me across the face and accusing me of trying to kill him with it. Meanwhile, I pretended the fight never happened.
 "Sit down," he demanded while staring at me.
 I sat in the seat opposite of him and cut into my steak. It was well done just the way I liked it.
 He stared at me as I cut the meat into neat little squares. "I see you got yours nice and done."
 I smiled, pretending we were having a normal husband-wife conversation. He cut me down with one look. Inside my stomach lurched as I prepared myself for what might be another blow. But instead of hitting me, he pushed his plate over to my side of the table then snatched mine from in front of me.
 "Eat it."
 I was confused. I stared at the medium- rare steak. He didn't cut his into neat little pieces like I did. He picked the entire thing up with his fork and bit into it with his teeth and ripped it apart like a lion stripping away the legs of a gazelle with its teeth. The edges of his steak looked well chewed. I could also see bits of rice stuck to it… rice from unbrushed teeth.
 "I didn't hear you," I stammered, unsure of how