See below for the start of my next fiction book, “Cirus The Beggar.”

See below for the start of my next fiction book, “Cirus The Beggar.” As I have just begun the process of writing, look for this to be a new book out at the end of the year or the beginning part of 2027. In the meantime, you can check out my newest release, “Twisted Rabbit” at the following link: https://www.lulu.com/shop/kimberly-mckenzie-klemm/twisted-rabbit/paperback/product-rmrrgnj.html?q=Dr.+Kimberly+A.+McKenzie-Klemm&page=1&pageSize=4

“Cirus The Beggar”

Partial Chapter 1 (Rough Draft)

Perched in the dirt of an abandoned alley flanked by a wall covered in urine stains, Cirus patted the rags on his shoulders, rattling his tin can with its few pennies. A man with hair as ancient as the grey in Cirus’ beard walked past the alley on the sidewalk and stopped. The man turned and stared at the filthy heap of a human that was Cirus. He raised a hand in greeting.

“I won’t hurt you. Let me come near,” said the man. Cirus rattled his tin can and stared vacantly ahead. Taking a few steps toward Cirus, the man lifted his hands in front of him, shutting his eyes. “Jesus, in the name of the Holy Father God, I beseech you, heal this street creature and restore him to a man’s stature for the common good. Raise a beggar from rags to social propriety and give back to him a value for the sake of kindness. Amen.” The man departed.

Twisting his tangled, long, greasy grey hair around his fingers, Cirus continued to rattle his tin can. A dirty bluebird swooped into the alleyway from over the back wall. Landing next to a suspicious puddle formed at the end of a long, vertical drain pipe that was half-separated from one of the building walls bordering the alleyway, the bluebird pecked at invisible crumbs.

Glancing at the bird, Cirus imagined roasting it on a spit over a trashcan fire. He was too far away and too close to the ground to catch the bluebird, but Cirus’s empty stomach rumbled with the thought of something to eat. He shook his tin can hard, making a huge gesture with his arms, and screamed “Arrrrrggghhh.” Scaring off the bluebird was successful. Cirus bent his head as the bird flew past his head toward the street.

Sam sat at a table in the middle of the food court inside Harrytown Mall. As a middle-aged, single investment banker, he ate lunch out frequently in places conducive to meeting other people. Watching the foot traffic come and go from the surrounding stores while he picked over a Greek salad, Sam noticed two girls exit a store with their heads down and their purses clutched tight. One punched the other in the arm. Sam laughed out loud. “They must be related,” Sam thought to himself.

Finishing his salad while continuing to “people watch,” Sam nodded to the woman and child sitting at the table across from him and picked up his food court tray. He walked to the trash bins, dumped his tray’s trash, and put the tray in the tray holder on top. Patting his pants pocket, Sam suddenly panicked. His wallet was missing, but he still had his car keys. He searched his jacket, his pants, and his shirt and found nothing but a pen. Flagging down a security guard at the edge of the food court, Sam explained his wallet was missing and asked if the security guard had noticed anyone suspicious casing the food court.

Smiling and shrugging, the security guard told Sam that the food court was a usual target zone, and if he had lost his wallet recently, then Sam could check with the Harrytown Mall “lost and found” department in a few hours or tomorrow. Sam turned on his heel and strode off into the Harrytown Mall halls. Walking toward the Harrytown Mall entrance or exit doors, Sam noticed some of the stores were closed, and some of them were open. Although it was within normal Harrytown Mall operating hours, the empty storefronts showed the mall was not operating at full financial capacity.

“Hooligans and bums in the corners next,” Sam muttered under his breath. Entering the parking lot, Sam saw two squirrels chasing each other around the wheels of the automobiles sitting in the first painted slots. Crumbs littered the asphalt, and Sam squinted into the afternoon sun, searching for his car.