Mark Stephen Poirot (3:02)

So, in 2011, when everything was going great on the West coast, in my carefree bachelor life, I had no children, never married or anything like that. And my brother called and said my mother was on her deathbed. So I flew back to New Jersey and it was, luckily it was, I think, a kind of a self determined. She was very unhappy in life. She just turned 89 and she just shut down. So there was no medical reason other than I think I'm not happy here right now. And she was in the home we grew up in, but we had some people in there that were kind of taking care of her and they did not get along. And I think my mom just said, if this is what it's going to be, I'm out of here. So we all came home. She had six children and we started taking care of her. And my younger sister and I hung out with hospice and learned all the tips and tricks because we didn't know how long mom was going to be with us. So we wanted to take care of her as much as we could. So I think that I have a chapter in the book called A Silent Scream. So I think it was a cry for help. She wanted her kids back, if not her kids, at least some love in the house. And so we provided that. And about three weeks later she kind of snapped out of it.

Renita Hora (4:06)

I see.

Mark Stephen Poirot (4:07)

And later in the year I decided that she deserved better. And so I moved back into my childhood home at 55. On a crisp, sunny spring morning, a merry band of well dressed young children parades down Emmett Place looking like they just escaped mass at Our lady of Mount Carmel. Some skip, few hopscotch, others weave, but most march in unison. The girls, hair and pigtails, ponytails or pixie cuts, wear frilly white dresses, white lace socks and patent leather shoes. All carry flowers, a single stamp or bouquet. The boys sport combed hair, dress pants, shiny black shoes and starched white shirts neatly tucked in. Neckties are the norm, but a couple flaunt their individuality with bow ties. Each clads a string anchoring a brightly colored balloon bobbing to and fro in the wind. The entire procession appears to be from an innocent time long past. As the parade rounds the cul de sac and approaches the second house in the inn, each child turns, smiles and waves towards the window on the first floor. Inside, beyond the billowy white curtains propped up in a hospital bed, sits a frail 92 year old Genevieve. Her kind eyes dance with delight as she waves to the children. It's uncertain whether she knows any of them, but that doesn't matter. What does is the long, absent and much needed joy these children seem to bring her. The last girl who, holding a single daisy, stops and beckons Genevieve to join the parade. Amused and tempted, Genevieve chuckles for a moment before a wave of sadness erases her smile. Her eyes drift to an old black and white photo hanging on the front wall. In it sits a girl with a soft brown bob that frames her cherubic face. She too wears a frilly white dress, white lace socks, patent leather shoes, and holds a posy daisies.

Renita Hora (6:04)

Lastly, here's my interview with Brian G. A talented author and entrepreneur based in San Diego. Brian has written four youth sports novels and recently ventured into adult fiction with his touching new book, Him, a story about a dog that will capture the hearts of all dog lovers, and I certainly am one of them too. We discuss Brian's journey as an author, the inspiration behind him, and what it's like to navigate the world of self publishing and marketing. You'll also hear an excerpt from the story following a dog who is determined to reunite with his former owner, but is faced with an obstacle they didn't expect.

Brian G. (6:50)

In my office I've got a whiteboard and this is again, maybe something for those of you who are, who are out there watching this, who are thinking, you know, how do I even get over the initial obstacle of getting started? And I'm a big believer in the subconscious. And I made up my mind a couple years ago, said, you know, I I still haven't written a novel. I still haven't written an adult fiction novel written as children novels, but I'd never written anything for adults. And up on my whiteboard in my office, I wrote the word novel. In between many of the other tasks and goals and aspirations I had, one of them I wrote, was novel. And so without me even realizing it, every day I was looking at that. Every day I was looking at what do I have to do, what's ahead, what are my plans? And I would just keep reinforcing subconsciously. Novel, novel. So I think that that helps, that that was on my mind, that I was going to write a novel. And so it was kind of like having kindling that just needed a spark to light it. One day I got an email from a colleague of mine who's an older retired gentleman and he lives alone. He said, I'm not going to be on our conference call today because I'm going to adopt my new best friend. And the poignancy of that just hit me. If he hadn't said best friend, if he had just said I'm going to Adopt a dog or something like that. It probably wouldn't even have of registered. But the fact that he said I'm not going to be on our conference call today because I'm going to go adopt my new best friend. And again, an older man lives alone, retired. And the idea completely formulated right there at the moment. And I had the idea from beginning to end at that moment what I was going to write.

Narrator (8:34)

Meet Christine. She loves shopping. And this is the sound of fashion overload. Too many fabulous things, not enough space. So Christine started selling with the RealReal.

Brian G. (8:46)

I've always loved collecting designer pieces, Gucci bags, Prada heels. But my style keeps evolving. Selling with the RealReal game changer.

Mark Stephen Poirot (8:55)

I earn more.

Brian G. (8:56)

And they do everything.

Narrator (8:57)

Seriously. Just drop off your items or schedule a pickup. We handle the photos, descriptions, pricing, even shipping. You just sit back and watch your items sell fast to our 38 million members.

Mark Stephen Poirot (9:09)

And I get peace of mind knowing.

Brian G. (9:10)

I earn more selling with the RealReal than anywhere else.

Narrator (9:13)

Exactly this. That's the sound of your closet working for you. The RealReal. Earn more, save time, sell fast. And right now you can get an extra $100 site credit when you sell for the first time. Go to therealreal.com to get your extra hundred dollars. Therealreal.com that's therealreal.com.

Brian G. (9:38)

I can barely remember his smell anymore. When I used to be able to pick his voice out of a pack. Now I hear voices everywhere that sound like they might be him. I have to get out and find him before he gives up and stops looking or forgets what I smell like. I know it would be difficult when the other walkers take me out. They never let go of my leash and they're big and strong, so I don't believe I can lunge it out of their hands. My best chance was going to be if Zoe brought me out again and decided to lie in the grass and let me walk around. I had many walks that were not with her. I used those to look around and figure where I would run if I got the chance. If a person took me out when it was raining, I got excited, hoping we would go on a long rain walk like I used to with him. But as soon as I went potty, they pulled me back to my house, rubbed a blanket quickly across my fur and left. The air was cold and I was wet. It is not fun to have wet fur when the air is cold. But I've learned that no matter how wet my fur gets, it always dries. When I heard my door open and it was her. I was crazy happy. I ran around her feet, jumped up on her. She said, no jumping. I barked and whined and wiggled and wagged. I'm sure she thought it was because I was happy to see her. Really it was because I was about to escape. It might have been partly because I was happy to see her too. She took me out, was making sounds as we walked. Little did she know this would be the last time she would see me. I would miss her. But once I found him, I would forget all about this place. Like I forgot bad dreams when I wake and know he's asleep in his bed. Actually, I would probably still remember her. But everything else could go away. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw it. The moon. What was it doing up there next to the sun? Well, for one thing, it was looking right at me. I bumped into her leg because I was looking up instead of where I was going. She said, ding, ding, Scout. Every step we took, the moon followed us, staring at me. This might affect my strategy. I hadn't planned on the moon hindering my escape. I stayed right next to her where I knew I was safe. She said, ding, ding, scout. Every step we took, I was looking at that round menace. Its expression never changed, nor did it ever look away. She gazed up to the sky and put her hand above her eyes. Then she looked down at me. Oh, Scout, she said, ding, ding mong. Come here, you little baby. She knelt and squeezed me with her arms. Scout, ding ding long. That's what the woman who walks with bears said. I stood next to her. She unclipped my leash and let it fall on the grass. She laid herself down on her back, closing her eyes, letting the sun warm her face. I think the moon is cold and the sun is warm. And if it's a contest between the two, the warm wins. I was free. It would be so easy to run and run. I did not know which direction to go, but was sure if I got outside and barked a few times, he would would find me like he did when I was lost. But I didn't run. Imagine being out there alone, not knowing which way to go and the moon watching you. That's exactly what the moon wants. I stayed by her side, and the next thing I knew, I was lying next to her on the grass. Forgetting about my worries and only listening to her breathing. She put her hand in my fur and stroked back and forth. With the sun warming me, I almost felt like I was back in the big yard. When I looked up again, the moon was running away. Okay, Scout, ding ding, she said. She picked up my leash. I looked past her. If I bolted now, she would never catch me. I heard the clip of the leash when I got back to my house. After she had bent over, wiggled both my ears with her small hands, and pushed her lips deep into the fur above my eyes, I asked myself, why had he gone when I had the chance? The only answer I could come up with was that she trusted me. When someone trusts you, if you run away, no one can ever trust you again. And when someone trusts you, you should trust them back. It wasn't because I was afraid of the moon.

Renita Hora (13:52)

I hope you enjoyed this look back at the episodes of Stories with Messages of Hope, Loyalty and Love, all from Season six of the True Fiction Project. I'm your host, Rinita Hora. Here at the True Fiction Project, we are always looking for great stories that make for compelling fiction. So if you have a great story or know somebody who does, or if you are a writer who would like to contribute, then please do get in touch with us@renita.com contact.

Brian G. (14:32)

Thank you for listening to the True Fiction Project with Renita Hora. Be sure to subscribe to the newsletter to receive more inspiring stories showing how fiction is born from our everyday experiences. For more information, visit www.TrueFictionProject.com.