August Light: The Saga of Simon Aten

The amber light of the August sunrise peaks slowly over the eastern horizon. The train’s lumbering, methodical rocking over the west-central Illinois landscape drew the carriage close. The steam engine puffed, billowing smoke from the coal-fired boiler. Simon had always liked the morning light in August; it speaks to him of hope. Something good could be just around the bend. Would it be a spectacular fall, a glorious Indian Summer, or a crisp icy winter with the soft purple light and the promise of a green spring?” Rushnell is an utterly unremarkable place. Absolutely nothing would recommend this town to anyone. Simon had always felt trapped in this small town. He had a taste of the big city and a life which was wholly his own, Now he travels back, in his mind to a happier place. Read more