SHELLY GAIL MORRIS
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MAE'S OPEN ARMS
At seventeen years old Amanda Moore has given up on life. With her father's desertion and her mother's depression, it's difficult to get through each day. She turns to drugs and adventurous friends, yet is still unable to find happiness. While she is high a neighbor takes her to a nonjudgmental, elderly, Christian woman named Mae. Mae welcomes her into her home and into her life. She quotes scripture, bakes fried pies and points out the miracles of everyday life. For the first time in many months, Amanda sees the world with new hope. She desperately wants to redeem herself, and she longs to know the Lord as Mae does. She rediscovers her joy of dancing. With an open heart and clearer mind, Amanda struggles to undo all the damage she has caused and to rectify as many of her mistakes as she possibly can. But change is never easy, and with a school full of drama and peer pressure it’s a page-turning challenge.
Every mother would want her daughter to read this fictional story about rising above mistakes, doing the right thing and in the end, helping others as well. The teenage years are the most confusing and good decisions are never obvious. My story is poignant for all women from age thirteen to one-hundred and thirteen.
ISBN# 978-1-60290-282-4
SNEAK PREVIEW:
"So, just help goody-goody wash his car. That kid is always out doing chores. He’ll appreciate the help. I’ll be back before you know it."
"And you think he’s not going to notice that I’m trippin’?"
"I’ll tell him we smoked a joint and that you’re a little buzzed."
Amanda hung her head, and Derek gathered her into his arms. "It’ll be okay. He’s not going to change your life or anything." A voice in her unconscious or maybe the voice of the wind seemed to whisper, Go to Jered. Chills crept down her spine and goose bumps rose on her arms. Now she was really losing it. She was actually hearing voices. Nothing in her life was ever easy. Why should this day be any different? Then the voice said softly, Trust me.
Her lower lip puckered and her hands trembled. "You go ask him if it’s all right," she barked and crossed her arms.
"Awesome," he began. "Now chill out." He hurried across the street and struck up a conversation with Jered.
She tucked her messy, chin-length brown hair behind her ears. How humiliating. She reached underneath the lounge chair and grabbed her designer purse. As she straightened up, her head spun and she plummeted back into the rickety chair. Why? Why was summer almost over? Where had the time gone?
She hadn’t seen any of her old girlfriends. She really hadn’t had any good times either: no picnics, no trips to the lake, no watermelon, no rollercoasters. Each day just seemed like a burden. And her dad was still gone, and her mother was still devastated. She had no clue where to find happiness or how to make things right. She was ashamed of the lethargy that had settled in her heart. Summer—what a joke. Nothing had changed. Her junior year looked bleak at best.Derek dashed to her. "He’s cool with it. I gave him twenty bucks too, if you feel like eating."
"Babysitting money. Ugh," Amanda groaned. "My stomach is so tight it’s almost painful. I can’t seem to unclench it."
He took her hand and helped her stand. "I’ll call you on your cell in a few."
Amanda looked across the street at Jered, who was holding a wet rag, his eyes compassionate as he watched her. "We were friends in elementary school," she commented. "He brought me a sunflower one Valentine’s Day in third or maybe fourth grade. He played the guitar in the elementary school talent show. But I haven’t had a class with him since I started Spring Hill High. It’s been forever since I’ve even spoken to him."
"Perfect. Now go catch up," Derek encouraged.
Buy it now!
In Mae's Open Arms you'll get to know Amanda, Lou Ann, Mrs. Karen, Jered, Derek and all the troubled teens at Spring Hill High. There's also Freckles, Sugar, Maggie Doodle and the one and only Mae, a non-judgemental friend to everyone. Watch as the characters grow. See them find their joy!
The real Maggie Doodle and Mr. Duke
NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR--In Mae’s Open Arms, my main character, Amanda, and all of her friends, struggle with teenage life and all of its pressures and demands. Doing the right thing is never clear. Amanda found someone to talk to and I suggest you do the same. However, if you are looking for immediate help and advice, I wanted to provide you with several hotlines and online sites that can possibly assist in your unique situation! Start your healing right now! Shelly Gail
Teen Hotlines
General Teen Help (any subject/crisis)
Community Outreach, Orlando, FL
424 E. Central Blvd. #636
Addiction Center 1-800-586-9670
24-Hour National Crisis Hotline: 1-800-448-3000
Covenant House Nineline: 1-800-999-9999
Abuse / Violence Child Protective Services: 1-810-412-6109
Family Violence Helpline: 1-800-996-6228
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 or website
National Referral Network for Kids and Adolescents In Crisis: 1-800-543-7283
Alcohol / Drugs
Alateen/Al-Anon for the friends/family of alcoholics: 1-800-813-3105 or 1-800-356-9996
Alcohol and Drug Helpline: 1-800-821-4357
National Council on Alcoholism amp;& Drug Dependancy Hope Line: 1-800-622-2255
Marijuana Anonymous: 1-800-766-6779
American Council for Drug Education: 1-800-488-3784
Anorexia / Bulimia / Eating Disorders
Eating Disorders Information and Referral Line: 1-800-931-2237
National Crisis Line - Anorexia and Bulimia: 1-800-233-4357
Overeaters Abuse Hotline: 1-800-888-4680
National Eating Disorder Hotline: 1-800-248-3285
Food Addiction Hotline: 1-800-872-0088
Cancer
American Cancer Society: 1-800-ACS-2345
American Lung Association: 1-800-586-4872
Cutting / Self-Harm
Hotline for Teens who Cut: 1-800-366-8288
Depression / Grief / Loss of a Loved One
National Depression Association: 1-800-826-3632
Divorce - Dealing with Your Parents' Divorce
Boys Town Hotline (for Girls AND Boys): 1-800-448-3000
Gay / Lesbian
Gay and Lesbian Hotline: 1-888-843-4564
National Hotline for Gay, Lesbian, Bi and Transgendered Youth: 1-800-347-8336
PRIDE Institute for Lesbian and Gay Mental Health: 1-800-547-7433)
Mental Illness
National Alliance for Mentally Ill: 1-800-950-6264
Pregnancy / Birth Control / STDs
Planned Parenthood (connects you with your local clinic): 1-800-230-7526
Emergency Birth Control: 1-800-584-9911
National STD Hotline: 1-800-1-227-8922
Sexually Transmitted Diseases Clinic: 1-810-573-2090
AIDS Hotline: 1-800-872-2497
Rape / Sexual Assault
NO MEANS NO: 1-877-666-3267
RAINN - The Rape Abuse & Incest National Network: 1-800-656-4673
Runaway Services / Shelter
Family Youth Interventions: 1-810-758-7040
Runaway RAP Line: 1-800-292-4517
Suicide Prevention
National Youth Crisis Helpline: 1-800-999-9999
National Adolescent Suicide Hotline: 1-800-621-4000
Teen Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-949-0057
A FEW WEB SITES THAT MIGHT ASSIST YOU AS WELL!
This wonderful group reached out to me and asked to be added--GOOD PEOPLE
http://drugabuse.com/usa/drug-abuse/tennessee/
http://www.treatment4addiction.com/rehab/tennessee/
www.helpme.com
www.dailylife.com
www.angelfire.com/co/links4teens/links.html
www.depressiontreatmenthelp101.com
www.eating-disorders-treatment.com
LIFE IS A BEAUTIFUL THING. FIND YOUR JOY.
DISCLAIMER--This website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide specific parenting advice about problems with troubled teens. It is provided to you solely for your own personal, non-commercial use. Use at your own risk. We have tried to obtain accurate and timely information. Accordingly, we do not guarantee the accuracy, timeliness, reliability or completeness of any of the information provided by this website. Shelly Gail Morris shall not be responsible for any problems or technical malfunction of any telephone network or lines, computer on-line systems, servers, Internet access providers, computer equipment, software, or any combination thereof including any injury or damage to your or any other person's computer as a result of using this website..As a visitor to our website, you acknowledge and agree that any reliance on or use by you of any information available on this website shall be entirely at your own risk. In no event shall Shelly Gail Morris be liable for any direct, indirect, consequential, physical or exemplary damages arising from the use of listed help sites, hotlines or web sites.
