The Red Umbrella: A Short Story

By Jessica Baverstock

Paulie dreams of traveling the world, and with her red umbrella by her side she is ready to tackle anything. But when she loses her umbrella on the Paris Metro, Paulie must face the city’s streets without her trusted companion.

An eventful day and a chance encounter with a wise new friend teach Paulie what it truly means to be a world nomad.

In this exquisite and sensitive tale, Baverstock captures a young person’s wonder and embarrassment in a new country, deftly weaving humour, wisdom and a celebration of life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jessica Baverstock
• Release date: May 17, 2016
• ISBN: 9781310180262

Jessica Baverstock

Jessica Baverstock has been a storyteller since she learned how to talk, and dreamed of becoming a writer from the day she first saw a typewriter at age 3. She writes an eclectic mix of endearing stories, crossing from science-fiction to historical fiction and everything in between.She is an Australian author and blogger. In her early twenties she moved to China. Now she lives in the South West of Australia with her husband and a modest book collection. When she's not busy working on her next story or globetrotting across oceans, she's usually curled up watching a good movie.

Book preview

The Red Umbrella

Copyright 2014 Jessica Baverstock

Published by Jessica Baverstock at Smashwords

Cover design © Jessica Baverstock

Cover art © cranach/Shutterstock

Smashwords Edition License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your enjoyment only, then please return to Smashwords.com or your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Table of Contents

The Red Umbrella

About the Author

Other books by Jessica Baverstock

The Red Umbrella

Paulie dashed down the hallway to the coat rack and cupboard by the door.

Scarf.

Coat.

Shoes.

Or boots?

Shoes were more comfortable, but boots were warmer.

Nannette would have told her – and have predicted the weather just by glancing out the window – but for this week Paulie was on her own.

Shoes.

No, boots.

Paulie stopped herself and took a deep breath.

Stop rushing. She could do this. For crying out loud, she wasn’t a little girl any more. Just because her roommate had gone away for a few days didn’t mean her life was going to fall apart. Goodness, she was now a university student, beginning her life of world travels. She didn’t need someone holding her hand. The country outside her front door was home – at least for the next year – and she was going to conquer it.

Boots.

She straightened. Her long brown hair was caught in her scarf, but that was easily fixed with a flick of her hand.

Okay. She was set.

She picked up her bag, slung it over her shoulder, then reached for her umbrella.

She smiled. Her red umbrella always made her smile.

She picked it up and ran her finger along the curved plastic handle. Where would I be without you?

Last-minute