Youth Yarns
A Collection of Short Youth Stories
by Linda Rigsbee
Under the Palo Verde Tree
Four children have used their imagination to find entertainment in the Arizona desert. Their dispute over who has rights to the shady area under a large Palo Verde tree turns into a lesson about the benefits of sharing.
Cross That Bridge When You Get To It
A thirteen-year-old boy wants to look brave in front of his uncle, but he has a phobia about heights. He didn't know about the bridge over the canyon until they got there. It was obviously a test of courage, but he wasn't going to be pushed into anything. If and when he crossed that bridge, it would be for some other reason than proving it to his uncle.
Mystery of the Brass Hook
Two teen-age boys seek out the mysterious sounds of an apparent peg-legged ghost. One is logical, the other spiritual, but together they make a great team.
A Christmas Scare
Chad is a 16-year-old student who has been grounded for poor grades. When a mountain man interrupts his sleep, he is unsure what is real and what is merely a nightmare. His experience gives him a new perspective on the meaning of Christmas.
My Friend, the Geek
A popular boy on the basketball team is befriended by a new student. At first he is embarrassed by the clumsy boy, but "the Geek" has some redeeming qualities.
No One Knows
A 10-year-old girl knows that she can't have everything she wants, but the right kind of shoes for school were practically a necessity. Her mother's decision to buy her a bicycle for her birthday instead of shoes is baffling until she discovers the reason.
The Haunted House
Two young trick-or-treaters are lured into an old house that is reputed to be haunted. A strange girl is stranded on the roof and it is getting dark. Surprises and questions lurk in the house, and for years afterward.
The Sourpuss
When a 12-year-old boy has only a 75-year-old woman for a companion, he makes the best of it. But when that woman is like Mrs Carlson, it can be an educational adventure.
To Grandpa, From Christopher
10-year-old Christopher is horrified when his mother buys a goat for their cattle ranch. His letters to Grandpa reveal a fickle heart.
