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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2020
BARROW NEWS-JOURNAL
PAGE 3B
Social
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Bethlehem author Bobby Nash has been awarded the New Pulp Fiction Award by
the. Sangria Summit Society for his literary work, specifically Snow Falls, the first
book in his Snow series of novellas published by BEN Books.
Bethlehem man wins
award for new novel
Remembering the
best Christmas gifts
Local author Bobby Nash of Bethlehem
has been awarded the New Pulp Fiction
Award by the Sangria Summit Society for
his literary work, specifically Snow Falls,
the first book in his Snow series of novel
las published by BEN Books.
“It is our hope that these awards will
further our goal to create a larger audi
ence for authors within the military com
munity,” organization leaders said in a
news release.
“I am equal parts shocked, thrilled
and humbled to learn that I have been
awarded the New Pulp Fiction Award by
the Sangria Summit Society,” said Nash
shortly after the announcement. “In what
is sure to be a surprise to anyone who
knows me, I’m at a bit of a loss as I try the
find correct words to convey how it feels
to be recognized by your peers, fans, and
friends for your work, in this case, Snow
Falls. The only thing I can think to say is
thank you. I’m honored.”
Nash has written several novels, comic
books and short fiction pieces and been
an extra in a handful of movies and TV
shows, including scenes in “Ozark” and
“The Outsider” that were filmed locally.
He has also collected a handful of previ
ous awards for his writing and characters
that he created.
Learn more about the SNOW series
at www.abrahamsnow.com. Learn more
about Snow Falls at https://www.amazon.
com/SNOW-FALLS-Bobby-Nash-ebook/
dp/BOlNAOHSTR. The book is available
in paperback, eBook and audio and can be
read for free with Kindle Unlimited.
Learn more about Nash at www.bobby-
nash.com.
There he was, every day, standing
outside his special learning class,
watching as high school teenagers
streamed the hall into our fourth-pe
riod classes.
He was on the smallish side for a
junior high student. His orange-red
hair was thick and freckles cov
ered his face. His green
eyes were serious, almost
mournful. He rarely smiled
and spoke even less.
Ricky, as I learned was
his name, was in the class
room across from my 10th-
grade home economics
class. He always leaned
against a locker, studying
the other kids who were
laughing, joking, and hur
rying. Something about
him softened my heart to its
very core so I stopped daily to speak
to him, trying for conversation.
He would shyly drop his head and
murmur a word or two. I thought I
was getting nowhere with him but
still, I persisted. Especially when I
noticed his solemn eyes flashed a bit
of light when he saw me coming and
he’d smile slightly.
Still, I didn’t know how Ricky felt
about me until the last day before
Christmas break that year. When I
sauntered down the hall, toting my
books, I didn’t see him. That was
unusual. I went into class and set
my things on one of the long tables
where six of us sat. I picked up my
knitting supplies and prepared for
class to start.
My friend, Lisa, nudged me and
gestured toward the door. There
stood shy Ricky, grinning broad
ly, and searching the room. I have
thought often of the courage it took
for him to come to that classroom
of giggling girls. He was dressed in
jeans and a red, flannel shirt. When
he saw me, his smile spread wider.
He hurried over and thrust toward
me a rumpled, small, brown paper
bag.
Puzzled, I looked at him, not un
derstanding. Finally, he burst out
with “Merry Christmas!”
“Ricky!” I exclaimed. “Is this for
me?”
had been colored in uneven scrib-
blings of green crayon. I didn’t un
derstand.
“It’s a frog,” Ricky announced joy
fully. “I made it for you.”
My eyes filled with tears and I
hugged the little boy, thanking him
profusely for the gift. He was so
proud and, from that day
forward, there was no
doubt that we had a friend
ship. I was, in fact, his only
friend among the 800 stu
dents scattered between the
six grades.
To this day, it remains
my favorite Christmas gift.
Every year when I think I
about it, I shed a few emo
tional tears and wonder
where Ricky is and hope
that he is doing okay.
I try to remind myself that this is
the real spirit of Christmas — the
simple gifts that come from the
heart.
Another story I always remem
ber was the year that I was ten and
we were practicing for the church
Christmas pageant.
Normally, through the year, we
only had about 15 kids in our tiny
church but this expanded at Christ
mas when kids came to be in the pro
gram and to get a gift off the Christ
mas tree.
Regina was, Mama said, being
“raised by the hair of her head” by
her grandmother. She was wear
ing black patent loafers with a gold
chain across the top. I thought they
were the most beautiful shoes I’d
ever seen.
Mama was sewing for me a red
velvet skirt and vest to be my Christ
mas outfit. I begged for a pair of
shoes like Regina’s.
“They’re so poor,” Mama replied.
“There’s no tellin’ where them shoes
come from.”
She managed to find a pair simi
lar though not as pretty. Regina was
very proud that someone had copied
her.
These two stories always remind
me how much we all truly have in
common.
Athens on Ice held through Jan. 31
Athens on Ice is current
ly under way at the outdoor
440 Foundry Pavilion in
Athens.
Extra precautions have
been added to this event in
cluding:
•Masks required at all
times.
•Signed health affidavits
required for entry.
• Mobile tickets only. Ca
pacity is limited and attend
ees are encouraged to pur
chase tickets in advance.
•Box office is closed.
Mobile ticket confirma
tions will be scanned at 440
Foundry Pavilion entry.
•All outdoor access. The
facility is closed to through
traffic.
• Guests encouraged to
enter parking deck from
Foundry Street entrance.
Proceed to level 2 for easy
stroll down Foundry Street.
Purchase tickets online
at ClassicCenter.com/Ath-
ensOnlce. The rink is open
through January 31.
Skate sessions are 75
minutes at $15 per ticket.
Groups of 10 or more are
eligible for $12 tickets.
Season passes are avail
able online for $120. Fre
quent Skaters Club cards
are also available at the
rink to earn a free session
after 10 punches. All tick
ets include skate rental for
the session.
Nonprofit organizations
can sign up for dates to vol-
Considering
((TM*R) )) buying or
selling?
770-867-9026
www.maynardrealty.com
unteer through The Classic more information on how
Center Cultural Founda- to be involved,
tion. Email Foundation®) Dates and times are sub-
ClassicCenter.com for ject to change.
His glee grew and he nodded his
head. My heart melted. I opened the
bag and reached in to pull out a rock
about three inches in diameter that
Ronda Rich is the best-selling au
thor of Let Me Tell You Something.
Visit www.rondarich.com to sign up
for her weekly newsletter.
December 23, 2020 ~ Crossword Puzzle
Across
1.
Narrow gash
5.
Toe the line
9.
Piglet’s mother
12.
Thin strip
13.
Skin opening
14.
Night before a holiday
15.
Cake decorator
16.
Roofing material
18.
Short reminder
19.
in the bag!
20.
Fonda or Russell
21.
Curve
23.
Golf goal
24.
Alternately
28.
Extremely annoyed
31.
Fish’s wing
32.
Honolulu greeting
34.
_ good to be true
35.
Tolerate
37.
Blame
39.
Child’s treasure
40.
Pull or haul
41.
Agreement
43.
Little one
45.
Other than
49.
Sticky substance
51.
ma, no hands!
52.
Bee’s follower
53.
Native metals
54.
Mineral deposit
55.
Letter before tee
56.
Boldly forward
57.
Workout centers
Down
1. Thin
2. Doily fabric
3. Newsy bit
4. Tonsils’ site
5. Kind of illusion
6. Ferry, e.g.
7. Goes astray
8. Slangy affirmative
9. Keep apart
10. Cooking chamber
11. Used to be
17. Slightly closed
22. Prepared
23. Baby grand, e.g.
24. No , ands, or buts
25. Young louse
26. Grabs
27. Sawbones
29. Actor Cruise
30. Chunk of eternity
33. Spiciest
36. Written message
38. Lives
41. Step
42. Summer
beverages
43. Become weary
44. “ the Rainbow”
46. Coil
47. Root beer, e.g.
48. out (barely
manages)
50. Soak
1
2
3
n
12
15
18
j
41
42
49
52
55
1
9
10
11
14
17
20
29
30
■
34
38
45
46
47
48
r
54
57
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