Grateful for Gladys’s Guidance

The July summer heat does not bother Ricky the lad from Otter Lake. The young man is bothered by something else. When insecurities about his recent weight gain start to bubble to the surface, the lucky fellow is fortunate to receive help, advice, and support from a respected, treasured, and much-loved woman. The guidance and roadmap bestowed upon him by this teacher of life lessons are something Ricky will cherish for the rest of his life. Aunt Gladys offers love, wisdom, and lived experience to provide Ricky with a renewed sense of self-worth. Join Ricky in his continuing journey of discovery, learning, and growth during his teen years in becoming a fine young man! Otter Lake, Quebec is a hidden jewel, a small village in northwestern Quebec. It is the beloved hometown of Little Ricky. Ricky is growing up, and the solid life footings he received in Otter Lake, at home and at St. Mary’s Elementary school have prepared him well to take on the confusing and yet exciting times of teen life. During his adventures of the late 1970s, he will explore the joys, fears, and triumphs during the awkwardness of adolescent life. Thankfully, the early values and teachings given to Ricky by amazing people all around him enable him to succeed, despite tough growing pains. Little Ricky has become the lad from Otter Lake, and he continues to champion happiness, love, understanding, forgiveness, and growth. The twelve short stories in this new collection, as were those in “Little Ricky the Boy from Otter Lake” are works of historical fiction. The plots and the majority of characters in these stories are fictional, however the details and the descriptions of the tales and individuals are based upon the author’s most cherished memories of special times and special people in his life. The short stories in this book explore the complexities and challenges, and loves and fears of teenage experiences including: classroom antics and school studies; finding love; dating, bullying; teen pregnancy; mental health; sexuality; gender; body image and weight gain/loss; death; addiction; and suicide. However, though tough teen subjects, each are told in the most loving, kind, understanding, forgiving, and heartwarming ways that is best known as the Little Ricky way.