Larry D. Krohn/Author and President CHILDREN’S BOOKS, SHORT STORIES, POEMS, PLAYS CHILDREN’S BOOKS PATTER THE PADUCAH MOUSE FINDS CHRISTMAS- Patter explores his new home, teases the little white dog, and then when everyone is away finds Christmas in his very own way. The reader learns about the true meaning of Christmas. PATTER THE PADUCAH MOUSE VISITS THE QUILT SHOW- Patter teases the little white dog and then leaves the house. He finds himself in a large room filled with quilts. The reader learns that just because you aren’t first doesn’t mean that others don’t like what you did. PATTER THE PADUCAH MOUSE SEES THE SHOW- Patter teases the little white dog and then finds himself transported to the Badgett Playhouse where he explores the theatre, teases the little white dog, and sings along with the show. The reader learns about the theatre both on stage and back stage. PATTER THE PACUCAH MOUSE GOES CAMPING- Patter teases the little white dog and finds himself on the way to the Land-Between-The-Lakes. The reader learns a lesson about not straying from the adults in charge. SHORT STORIES FROM “THE CHRISTMAS I LEARNED ABOUT GIVING” (Unpublished)      My Mama and Papa had left Germany to find a new life in America. When they stepped from the ship in New York, they made a bargain with a man that led them to Gary, Indiana. Coming from peasant families they were searching for a better life in the New World. In Gary, Papa found only hard work in the steel mill, for Gary was the steel mill. Everyone’s life revolved around the mill’s schedule, its accidents, and its power. Because of this, our life experiences were tied to it. The Christmas I learned about giving was a result of what happened one night in the steel mill.      We were waiting for Papa to get home from the work. It seemed we were always waiting for Papa to get home from the mill. He shoveled limestone into the number One Hearth twelve hours a day. We waited supper for Papa every night but tonight was special. It was special because it was Christmas Eve and we had to eat in a hurry so we could go to church. Papa got off work at seven o’clock, the man he called his “buddy” was there to relieve him. In the mill Christmas was like any other day when it came to work. When Papa got off work, he would walk down Broadway, across the tracks, continue another eight blocks, and then turn right for another four blocks to our home.      The day was bitter cold, with the wind blowing directly from the West. If it had been blowing from the North off Lake Michigan, which we just called the Lake, it would have been warmer for the great Lake had not yet lost all its summer warmth. Our three room apartment was in a six-room building that wasn’t much more than a shack. The wind rattled the windows and the cold came into the room as if there weren’t any walls at all. The only warmth was the coal-cooking stove in the kitchen. Here we huddled. Karl and Friedrich, my brothers, as well as my sisters, Anna and Liesel, and myself crowded as near the stove as Mama would allow. This was the only room with heat, so when not asleep, we huddled together here on cold winter days. Anna and Liesel slept in the kitchen. Karl, Friedrich, and I slept on the floor of the living room. Mama and Papa slept in the bedroom.      In the corner of the kitchen, opposite the door, we made room for a small Christmas tree. It wasn’t much of a tree. It had a few branches and the needles were falling off but we decorated it with shapes carved from wood that Mama said she had from Germany. Papa always talked about the magnificent trees they always had in Germany. They were very poor but lived near the forest and cut their own tree each year. Pine trees didn’t grow well in the sand dunes around Gary, so we were lucky to have a tree at all. POEMS FROM “ANNOYING TALK” (Unpublished) I once dated a girl when I was young And she was cute as she could be She had a fine figure With a kind of ample bottom. I’d slide my hand down her back And rest it on that roundness, But I could never be sure If the chills down my spine Were from my excitement] Or just the way she hit me. We got along pretty good for a while But there was one thing that bothered me, She would talk, and talk, and talk, and... Well, it got to botherin’ me. Now talkin’s not so troublesome ‘Cept it was always the same old thing About her work and the people there. Seemed to me the same old story Over, and over, and over, and... Well, it got to botherin’ me. So one night, I thought I’d be sly We pulled up in her drive And we sat there while I listened. Then I leaned way over And gave her the very best kiss I knew I had. Now I like a woman’s lips movin’ against mine It’s kind of warm and sexy and nice, But.......... FROM “OPEN CIRCLE” (Unpublished) You said you would be there In the passing of five “Let’s do a big one For our big four-oh And I’ll be there,” That’s what you said. You were wearing a wig When you said it, Your chest was blackened Fresh from your last treatment. The big”C” You had it licked. But.......... PLAYS FROM “OBIE CITIE AND THE BODY DETECTIVES” A RADIO PLAY FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL HEALTH (Unpublished) Narrator:   We join Obie sitting in his chair eating after school. Two strangers enter the room and stand behind him. Obie can’t see who it is because he is watching Scooby Do on the Cartoon Channel. Detective Red:   Obie this room is a mess. Obie:   Leave me alone. I’ll clean it up tomorrow. Detective Red:   Look at you. Your body is a mess. You have let things go for too long. You need to exercise. Obie:   Get off my back, Mom! Detective Red:   I’m not your mom! Narrator:   Obie turns around in his chair. Obie:   Who are you? Detective Red:   I’m one of your red blood cells. You can call me Detective Red. Detective White:   And I’m a white blood cell. You can call me Detective white. Obie:   Why Detective? Detective Red:   Because we have been investigating your body and now feel it is time to show you what we found. Obie:   I don’t know what you are talking about. Detective White:   Your inactivity, lack of exercise, and overeating are causing harm to your body. Since you won’t listen to anyone else, we are going to show you. Obie:   And just how are you going to do that? Detective Red:   MAGIC! Push 00 on your remote. Narrator:   Obie Citie pushes 00 on his TV remote control and “zap”, Obie and the Detectives are inside Obie’s body.        How can this happen?        We told you – it’s magic. Obie:   Like, where am I? Detective White:   Inside your own body. Obie:   So, like, how did I get here? Detective Red:   Didn’t you listen to the narrator? It was magic! Obie:   Wow, cool! Can you show me how to do that? Detective White:   Give it up, Fatso! Just follow us. BIOGRAPHY      Larry Krohn grew up in Northwest Indiana and attended Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana where he obtained a BS and MS in Physical Education. He was a teacher and coach for 21 years before taking the position of general manager for a golf ball recycling company. Writing was important to him at an early age and as a teacher of science and health he assigned poems and essays for his students to complete. He and his wife, Martha, have two grown children who have left the cave. He and Martha live in Southwest Indiana. -------------------------------------------------------- The author may be contacted at: l.krohn@insightbb.com -------------------------------------------------------- Return to Midwest Writers Guild --------------------------------------------------------