Laments
Michael Embry
Regrets often happen too late and sometimes our actions do
not speak louder than words that often create situations that will come back
and haunt us forever. Michael Embry presents a collection of short stories that
will teach every reader many lessons in life and hopefully awaken you to the
harsh realities of what happens when greed, lack of thought, regrets that are
too late and rationalizing our wrong doings and lack of forethought will change
the course of your life and others. Laments a book that will definitely give
everyone much pause for thought.
Story One: A Brother’s Lament:
Families often go through difficult situations and when
financial aid or help is needed some try to assist while others do not. Jack
and Arnie were brothers. Arnie for some reason could not get a job nor keep
one. Jack, being his brother, bailed him out when things got really tough.
Arnie appreciated the help but when you hear this story and you learn what
happens you might wonder if he didn’t have too many excuses not to forge ahead
with this goal and get a job. As Jack bailed him out with 1000 dollars his
friend Burl asked him to place a bet on the horses. But, Arnie did not think of
the consequences involved of placing bets with money that his brother gave him
to pay his bills and expecting it back from a friend that used him for his own
financial purposes. When the debt was not paid and the bets were placed Burl
made excuse after excuse to not pay him back. But, Arnie, in his own way, not
really thinking, maybe somewhat too naïve pressed the issue and then made the
biggest mistake of his life by going along with a scheme to get money that
would change everything. Would you rob a bank to get money to pay your debts?
Would you go along with a friend who never plans anything out and never really
considers the end result?
When his brother gets him a job as a roofer, why does he
forge ahead with Burl’s plan? When things get out of hand you won’t believe the
end result and who winds up losing the most and how? Sometimes being in the
wrong place at the wrong time can be costly. Sometimes listening to the wrong
person can cost you more. Author Michael Embry presents the reader with a moral
issue as to how this all might play out. When things went haywire one man left
and the other went back to learn the truth about what really happened. Would
you rob a bank to pay your bills? What would you do if you were Arnie once you
learn the outcome of what he will be lamenting about for the rest of his life?
A Coach’s Lament
Some people are not cut out to work with kids while others
are more understanding. Tommy is the captain of the basketball team and works
really hard to do his best at every practice. So, why does the coach literally
do a number on him during every practice that makes him rethink whether he wants
to be on the team anymore? Running the practices like an army drill camp or
boot camp can definitely dissuade anyone from wanting to continue working with
that coach. Each time Tommy does his best and each time he thinks he is
succeeding the coach not only criticizes him but puts him down in front of the
rest of the team and claims if he cannot do better how will his teammates
respect him. Even the assistant coach feels the strain and questions how Tommy
is being treated.
Tommy decides to handle the situation head on and approaches
the coach and asks to speak with him. But, this man shows his own bravado and
depends he speaks in front of the team which proves to be a mistake for Tommy.
With his mother on his side and definitely understanding the problem Tommy
decides to quit the team and avoid the stress. What the end result is you will
have to learn for yourself as Tommy and his mother decide to move to another
town and live near her parents. What happens when the coach tracks him down and
the end result will let the reader know that sometimes your treatment of others
comes back to haunt you when you least expect it. Does the coach learn a lesson
when Tommy’s decision is final? Will he ever understand that playing basketball
is not army drills? Read story two: A Coach’s Lament and find out what this man
will be thinking about for a long time.
A Dad’s Lament opens with a father telling his son that he
should not allow another child to pick on him and he should stand his ground.
There are many kids that would prefer backing away from a fight and others who
will handle the situation head on. Doug is a really level headed 16 year old
teen that would prefer not fighting but his father seems to feel that giving it
back to the teen that is picking on him is the only way to prove he’s not a
wimp. Asking for help and hoping his parents can come up with a better solution
he learns that what you hope for is not what you always get. His father seems
to brow beat him and comes down on him and the end result will not be what
anyone expects or wants. As Doug goes to the park and sits on a swing and
laments in his own way to solve the problem is mother approaches his father
with other solutions that he would not consider. When things heat up in his own
mind the solution will change not only his life but that of the bully too? Read
this story and find out what happens when a teen has nowhere to turn and the
end result is a Father who will do more than just lament over the bad choices
made.
The stories in this book teach many lessons that adults and
parents can learn. Money is something that can cause people to do things that
are not smart. Bullying in school is wrong and handling a fight with a fight
equally as wrong and parents need to listen to their kids when they ask for
help. Coaches need to know that playing on a team can be competitive but
basically kids should be having fun. When the element of fun turns into the
element of disgrace and fear find out what one wise young man does. An ending
that will certainly bring chills down your spine and a father that will never
be the same. Pressuring young children/teens into using their hands inside of
their minds and intelligence to deal with a bullying can sometimes being
catastrophic results.
A Drinker’s Lament is next as we meet a group of friends that
are drinking in a local bar and concerned over one friend named Dylan that had
too much. Leaving the bar he gets into his car and speeds down the freeway not
really focused. Traveling at a high speed another car comes around and he winds
up flipped over and the car bursts into flames. The following morning Dylan
goes to check on his friend Marty to learn that he died in a crash the night
before. Not really focused on what happened and hoping to learn more he
questions his friends and they await Marty’s parents. But, what happens next
will surprise you as Dylan handles the situation, learns more about the
accident and someone notices his car and what they realize you will have to
learn for yourself. Dylan’s lesson in life might be short lived and those that
might discover the truth will have to decide how to deal with it. Will they
figure it out? Read A Drinker’s Lament and find out that will be thinking about
what and why?
When someone expresses grief for or about something they
lament. In the first story the brother will lament what happens to someone he
cared about and was always there for him. In this last story when they realize
the truth many will deplore or lament the senseless act that caused a young
man’s death and in the Dad’s lament the father laments his grievous act towards
his son and the sorrow he expresses and regret will linger on with him forever.
The next story is a Father’s Lament. Not everyone is cut out to do every job.
But, Jake is 22 and seems to be floundering and his father comes down hard and
wants him to become responsible and a man. Thinking about his many options and
not really finding anything he decides to join the military. The branch of
choice the National Guard and that is where the rest of the story begins.
Training camp goes well and then his unit is called up. His father is concerned
about the bills, Jake helping his family with their expenses and never realizes
the gravity of his decision. Jake is sent overseas and what happens will definitely
make a father think about what he asked his son to do and the choices that some
young men make at their own expense. Just what will be this man’s final lament
find out when you read this story.
A Friend’s Lament is truly a heartbreaking story that will
give readers much pause for thought as we meet Esther and Lorraine two best
friends. Lorraine lives alone in a neighborhood that Esther thinks is
dangerous. Geraldine, Lorraine’s daughter agrees and together they try and
convince her to move. But, no one realizes that she is happy there and her life
with her late husband was there and all of the memories too. When Esther
decides to present Lorraine with something she hopes will keep her safe she
never expects the outcome that will teach many a long and hard lesson. What
happens next will definitely bring tears to your eyes and the end result might
not be what it seems or appears to be. One woman just wants to live her life
where she wants another thought she was being a friend. Find out the end result
when you read this story and decide who should be lamenting and why.
A Grandpa’s Lament follows and the story focuses on smoking
and a young child who emulates him. The next is a Husband’s Lament focusing on
a family who seems to go out of their way ignoring each other and not really
caring about the needs of anyone but themselves. The father seems preoccupied
with his job, the mother with her new focus on losing weight and her children
into their own things. When the father requests his son turn down the music or
else find out what the response is and find out what happens when parents do
not pay attention to their children or each other. The next story focuses on
teenage pregnancy and what happens when one young teen tries to talk to her
mother who seems unyielding in many respects. Wanting to make her parents
understand that she would like to be allowed to take birth control pills,
Becky’s argument for the most part is on deaf ears. With a father who seems to
understand her and a mother who rarely listens except to her own side, the end
result is definitely not uncommon but with one twist. Some girls in order to please
a boyfriend give in to their wishes and demands. Becky is not different and she
and she alone suffers more than just the consequences of her actions. When her
parents learn the truth what happens will definitely not endear you one of them
and harden you to the cold facts that some parents need to lift the barriers
and really listen to their children when they speak. This is a story that should
teach parents and teens some very important lessons. As the book closes with A
Sister’s Lament. Hannah and Mildred are sisters and live together. Mildred
seems self-centered and Hannah lets her know it. What happens between them is
not uncommon as they bicker, yell and scream and one sister goes about her
business and the other eats a sandwich. The end result of this simple act will
surprise the reader and the final outcome will leave one sister thinking about
her last words before learning the truth.
Each story is unique unto itself and each teaches a simple
lesson in life yet one that many never realize needs to be learned. Read
Laments and hopefully you will come away with the lessons imparted by the
author and learn from the mistakes of those that lived them.
Fran Lewis: Reviewer
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