Wiki Wednesday - Who is Sheila?

Wiki Wednesday

Who is Sheila?

Last week's Wiki Wednesday introduced you to a business from the Oak Springs Directory in the 1996 novel in the series. Today, we look at a Character File at the Wiki.

On Hometown Monday this week, we shared an excerpt from early in the "Back to the Homeplace" novel that was dated in February, 1987. In the excerpt you met Sheila, Melanie, Donnie and Christopher.

Today, I'm sending you to the Wiki Character File information on "Sheila"  - a central if not major family character in "The Homeplace Series" family saga. Here you learn a little more of her background.

I encourage you to 'read the book' to see what her 'central role' is in this series of family stores.

Is her "little Honda" a good symbol for Sheila?

*****

"May each of us have a Homeplace to hold onto, if only in our minds."

Bill ;-)

[Image credit: http://www.hemmings.com]

Hometown Monday - Sheila first meets Donnie and Christopher

Hometown Monday

Sheila first meets Donnie and Christopher

[Sheila drove a convertible like this up from Mississippi]

This is the second of an expected irregular series of posts of excerpts from the novels, novellas, and short stories of "The Homeplace Series" Family Saga story-telling, to provide an insight into the story lines that may not be clear from other promotional pieces about "The Homeplace Series." These will also be coordinated with the content of the developmental Wiki, "Beyond the Books" - to expand the information available there, as well.

The following excerpt from "Back to the Homeplace" is from Tuesday, February 17, 1987:

            "I was really surprised when someone said there is a McDonald's in Oak Springs. I thought this would really be the “sticks”… with a McDonalds here, I may survive!"

            "The town has changed a lot recently. I hear Daddy talk about the industrial park and the college. New people are showing up all the time now."

            Sheila waited for the car coming out of the drive to clear then turned into the McDonalds's parking lot. "Here we are."

            "We're right on time," Melanie checked her wristwatch as they got out of the car, "Donnie should be here any minute. His last class at O.C.C. gets out at four. It's about a twenty minute drive."

            "What's O.C.C. stand for?"

            "Ozark Community College. It's out west of town. The campus is built on a farm that was donated several years ago. Daddy was involved with it somehow. A lot of people wondered if it would work having a college out in the middle of the country."

            Sheila walked up to the counter, and to the clerk said, "One large diet coke and a regular fry. What about you, Melanie?" She glanced at the taller, honey-blond haired girl standing next to her.

            "Just a small coke, I'll pay for it." Melanie was digging in her purse.

            "I've got it this time, Melanie. I still owe you one for steering me to Carla's Beauty Salon.  It felt almost like home in there."

"That's probably because Carla came up here from Mississippi about three years ago."  They took their food to a booth facing the street. "Mom wasn't too happy when I started going there, but it has worked out just fine. My mother still thinks old Eva Hobson out on the east edge of town is the only person who can do hair right. Her place looks like an antique store to me. I'll take the modern look at Carla's."

            "Is that Donnie in the black pickup? Someone is with him." Sheila had shifted her attention out the window. She watched two young men get out of the truck and stride toward the door. Maybe this visit will be more worthwhile than I thought, Sheila mused. Donnie is a hunk and this blond friend of his may be even more delicious.

            "That is just my brother, Christopher. He and Donnie seem like two peas in a pod, sometimes. They hunt together, they play sports together; they even watch sports together. Since Donnie has been at O.C.C. it has gotten even harder for me to find time with him." Melanie waved to let the guys know where they were sitting. Donnie waved back and proceeded to the counter.

            As they stood at the counter with their backs to the girls, Sheila noticed how similar the two young men were built. They could easily pass for brothers.  Donnie had darker brown hair and appeared to be a little older. Their broad shoulders and slim hips brought to mind a pair of halfbacks lined up ready to take a football hand-off from the quarterback. I look forward to experiencing some of their moves, Sheila pondered. 

*****

For 'the rest of the story' read the book:

"May each of us have a Homeplace to hold onto, if only in our minds."

Bill  ;-)

[Image credit: http://www.hemmings.com]

Tuesday Profiles - Bart Bevins

15 August 1996 Profile

Bart Bevins

54 years old

This Profile is the second of a series of weekly profiles of major characters in the "Back to the Homeplace" novel that also appear in "The Homeplace Revisited," as of the beginning of the second novel, 15 Aug 1996.

Bart Bevins was born May 13, 1942, to Frank and Mildred (McDonald) Bevins, at the Oak Springs hospital; the family lived at the Homeplace farmhouse near Oak Springs, Missouri. 

He attended Oak Creek School #4, a one-room school near the Homeplace, from kindergarten through the 8th grade, when he went to town for high school.

He graduated from Oak Springs High School in the Class of 1960.

(Diane Spencer and Linda Winters were classmates in high school.) All three went to Southwest Missouri State University in Springfield. Bart and Diane graduated in 1964; Linda graduated a year later.

Bart received his B.S. degree in Business Administration; Diane in Secondary Education - English; Linda started in Theater Arts but graduated in General Studies.

Bart Bevins and Diane Spencer were married on June 15, 1960, at the First United Methodist Church in Oak Springs. Bart joined Oak Springs Realty and Diane had accepted a position as High School English teacher at Oak Springs High School. Linda Winters joined Oak Springs Realty in the summer of 1965.

Children born to Bart and Diane in Oak Springs:

Donnie, born in 1968, died in 1987 

Jennifer, born August 3, 1971, 25 in 1996

Bart worked at Oak Springs Reality from the summer of 1965 until the summer of 1978 when his mother asked him to take over the farm operation after his father, Frank, died in the late spring. Bart and Diane build their new home shortly thereafter. He has continued with farm operations responsibilities to this date; working through the Bevins Trust since 1987.