The Life and Writings of Barbara Nelson Blinn

The Stories

 

“I Didn’t Do It” is a wonderful story taken from yellowed, hand-written papers that Barbara wrote for extra credit in high school in 1958. Set in 1908, Barbara crafts the tale of Wes Rankin, a man who had the world by the tail until he was wrongly accused of a crime he did not commit. Without the benefit of proper legal representation, Rankin is convicted and sentenced to a length prison term. 

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Written five years before the US Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Gideon v. Wainwright, which held that the guarantee of counsel is a fundamental right to a fair trial, Barbara displayed a prescient understanding of justice, fairness, and fundamental civil rights.

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“The Fishhook That Turned to Gold” is about a lonely little boy who wandered into a country church to listen to a sermon. He seemingly had nothing to offer God, yet he taught a congregation of people the true meaning of giving.

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“Happiness at Last” is the story of little Bobbie Carter.  After tragically losing his parents in an auto accident at only five years old, he seems lost in the world.  Bobbie is sent to live with his Grandma Carter who has little time to spend with him. Bobbie is sad and lonely, having no friends to play with, until new neighbors move into the nearby previously-deserted house. Will Bobbie finally be happy again?

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“The Haunted House” is a tale about a group of young boys living in the town of Millsville. The old mansion in town has a reputation for being haunted. Terry wants to be a member of the boys’ play group, The Fearless Friends Club. His initiation task is to go in the house and shine a light out the third-story window. Is he brave enough to do it?

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“Inches Count” is the story of Johnny Sands, a young man who loves the game of basketball, but he is not growing as quickly as the other boys in his class. Johnny wants so badly to make the basketball team, but the coach will not play him until he grows taller. Johnny struggles with the unfairness of being unable to control his physical attributes and focuses on improving his basketball skills.

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“The Christmas Dolly” is about a young mother and her daughter struggling to make it on their own at Christmas time. Little Mary Ann Brown wants a Christmas dolly more than anything in the world. How will her mother ever afford one when she can barely provide the necessities?