RUBY'S PEARLS
                              VOLUME 13
                            INTRODUCTION



                        WHY "RUBY'S PEARLS?"
          I remember warm summer nights in the days when air
     conditioning was to be found at the drugstore, and windows
     were left open, with fans turned on high. I remember cold winter
     nights when a space heater warmed the house, and I ran to a
     cold bed to be followed by my parent, carrying a blanket warm
     from the heater, which was wrapped tightly around me. And I
     Remember drifting off to sleep to the radio sounds of Burns &
     Allen, Edgar Bergen & Charlie McCarthy, Fibber McGee & Molly,
     The Shadow, and, my all-time favorite, Amos 'N Andy.
          Either Amos or Andy was married to Saphire, (which was
     pronounced Saff-eye-uh). The other continually asked, (I assume
     referencing a former paramour), "Do de name Ruby Bee-goan-yuh
     strike a familiuh kaw-uhd?"
          Always, since first I can remember, I wrote, ...poems,
     short stories, articles, letters; never dreaming that one day I
     Would do it for money.
          When finally I broke into the field of journalism, I
     fell in love. I was extremely lucky, going from general
     Assignment, to business reporter, news editor, and then
     Publishing my own weekly, before striking out as a freelance
     writer. I used the two Florida Press Awards I was blessed to win
     Along the way to firmly launch my freelance writing career.
          Always, always, however, I dreamed of having my own
     Humor column. As news editor I had one, but I wanted one with a
     name.
          In my own weekly, I had one, and chose the name I'd decided
     on those long years ago, without even knowing I'd made a
     choice. The name, of course, was Ruby Begonia.
          Ruby Begonia. Something about the name *does* strike a
     familiuh kaw-uhd, and takes me on a journey into the past. It
     warms my heart, like that blanket warmed my toes. I can't explain
     It, I only know I feel it.
          When I closed my paper, I expected to never have
     another newspaper column. And perhaps that will be the case. So,
     when I decided to launch this electronic short fiction magazine,
     the name was never in question.
          So many have asked me about the unusual name of this
     elecmag. Why "Ruby's Pearls?" they ask, and this is why.
          I may never have that column again. But I'll always
     have "Ruby's Pearls."

          This brief collection of short stories is electronically
     published by A.C. Aarbus Publishing, Inc., for your reading
     pleasure. The contents are copyrighted, and may not be
     reproduced in forms other than electronically.
          Ruby's is dedicated to fiction short stories, and may
     frequently contain satirical spoofs, meant to amuse and
     entertain. No offense is intended to any individual, group or
     organization, and the broad spectrum of characterization is
     intended to be so outlandish as to obviously establish its
     humorous intent. Any resemblance to people, places or
     associations, living or dead, active or defunct, is purely
     coincidental. Aside, that is, from those real folk inhabiting the
     fictional Kent's Place, many of whom have been spotted, bellied
     up to the bar, wearing floppy hats and dark sunglasses, affecting
     foreign accents and general unfamiliarity with the native English
     language, and posturing under assumed names and bogus reputations
     in a supreme effort to protect the guilty and criminally insane.
     As a body, they are all pretty much drinking Staggering
     Highlander chased with a straight shot of lemon schnapps, which
     is probably directly related to the insanity.