Hidden Manuscripts

Almost a year ago I began cleaning out the clutter in my house and downsizing. In the process I gave my PC tower to my father. His neighbor is a computer wizard and I knew he could clear it, put a new Microsoft program in for Dad and give him more memory and faster uploads.

It was no big deal. I've been using a laptop for at least seven years. Much of my writing is backed up on flash drives. Yes, I have to go through each one to find what I am looking for, but I manage.

The computer tower has set idle in my parents family room. I cannot remember which box I packed the original disk in for the Microsoft program I have. If I hadn't packed it, I'd know right where it is. However, it is a box labeled desk stuff. I must have two or three. It is packed as is much of my house so I can sell it and relocate.

I had spent the day with my mom a week ago. When I got home I called to let her know I was home. She told me she had a CD for me as the neighbor found some files he was sure I'd want. I told her I'd stop on Monday after my dental appointment. She put it on the cupboard where she keeps things of us.

Monday, I went to the dentist, on to my daughter's dropped off birthday gifts for my granddaughter, picked up tax papers from my daughter to drop off at my sister's, then headed to my parents. There I got the CD and a gas coupon.

For the life of me I couldn't think of anything on that computer I'd want. I had dinner with Mom and Dad, then drove home. By the time I arrived back home, it was after nine o'clock. I let everyone know I was safely at home, Changed into comfy clothes, booted up my computer, and opened my mail. It was not until I was ready to shut the computer down I remembered the CD.

There were many things I the disk I no longer need, lesson plans, tests and answer keys, miscellaneous items I did at home and sent to my computer at school. I'm no longer teaching so most of these could have been deleted. My parents' neighbor would have no way fo know this.

Then as I was scrolling through, I found a children's book I had started writing. Then I found a YA... young adult novel I was working on. A third novel appeared and then a fourth. They all have sound beginnings. They all have good foundations. I need to work on them. I was thrilled.

It's not like I have nothing to do. I am working on a childrens' anthology of poetry, flash ficion, and short stories. I am about twenty-four of one hundred pages into it. I need to get busy. I also am 22% of the way throug book four in the Macy series. I am working with two other authors ot get their books read for fall printing. I am about to re-release Out of the Flames. I have a short story, Broken Chains coming out soon in ebook format. Do I really need four new novels to work on? Probably not; however one of them was not written down or saved anywhere else. Two would have been totally forgotten. I need them in my active file, so when I have down time I can go to work on them.

Am I going to do something nice for the neighbor? You bet I am. Not sure what yet, but I will think of something. This has been a remarkable find. Including some research I did on a hidden assassination. I wanted to work it into an international thriller. It's nice to have it at my fingertips again.