General

"The Fact of the Matter" - Free Short Story

Free
Enjoy this free short story from award-winning author Madeleine L'Engle's newest book, The Moment of Tenderness, a collection of 18 short stories, some never before published. It was a frigid winter day when Old Mrs. Campbell stormed into the Franklins' general store, decrying the devilish nature of her daughter-in-law-a... Read More

Digital books are available immediately after purchase! Please download our Booksio Reader App and log in to begin reading! Booksio digital books are not compatible with Kindle, Apple Books, or other proprietary devices.

Format eBook

eBook

Free

Secure Checkout

payment method
Description
Detail
description
Enjoy this free short story from award-winning author Madeleine L'Engle's newest book, The Moment of Tenderness, a collection of 18 short stories, some never before published.

It was a frigid winter day when Old Mrs. Campbell stormed into the Franklins' general store, decrying the devilish nature of her daughter-in-law-a sentiment that deeply disturbed Mrs. Franklin, considering the woman in question, Alicia, was oft described as "saintly" by everyone around her.

When she leaves the store in a huff, Mrs. Franklin thinks she's done with Mrs. Campbell's ravings for the day-until the woman calls her late in the night, urgently demanding to see her.

Blending elements of fantasy and horror, what transpires between the two women over the course of the evening will test the boundaries of reason, faith, and family-and prove that, in times of great danger, even strangers can come together to help one another in need.

For more stories by Madeleine L'Engle, read The Moment of Tenderness, available now.

DETAILS
More Information
Publisher Grand Central Publishing
ISBN-13 9781538754337
Author Madeleine L'Engle
Language Code eng
Publication Date Apr 20, 2020

Choose Your Cause

If there’s a cause or charity you feel strongly about, we can make it happen! Just visit your account profile and pick one that is on our approved list!

Make a Difference

We’ll automatically donate 10% of your purchase each month to the cause or charity we are raising money for that month, and all you have to do is shop.

Read Together

Join readers passionate about inspiring change. We’re connecting readers around the world through amazing stories that make a difference.

Good Business, Great Cause

Booksio is one of the few online retailers that I feel good about shopping with. I picked up a book I’d been meaning to read and found something new while supporting a cause I care about. My books arrived on time and in good shape. I’ll definitely be shopping with Booksio again.

— Kurt P.

Confidence in the Mission

Shopping with Booksio exposes me to new causes with monthly supporting literature. I can choose to read what I want and know that way more than 0.5% of the purchase is going to a good cause that has been vetted.

— Alanna J.

Browse Our Collection

Search for a book or browse through categories to find over 15 million titles of books.

Purchase Your Books

Create an account and complete your purchase, we’ll ship your books within 3-4 business days.

Read With A Purpose

10% of all of your purchases will go towards the charity you choose. Support a good cause and read at the same time!

Making A Difference

HOW BOOKSIO WORKS

It’s possible to purchase books at almost any store, so why Booksio? With every book you buy from us, we donate 10% of the total cost to charity. Every month, we pick a new charitable cause for which you can receive literary support with your purchase. And we’re not just about selling books - we’re about reading and storytelling that makes a difference in this world.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

We’re so sorry this happened! Don’t hesitate to get in touch with our customer care team on this page within two weeks of delivery to describe what you received. Please include your order number (it looks like “BOOK-############” and was included in your confirmation email) and email address used for the purchase. A photo of the product in question is helpful too! We’ll work with you to resolve the problem as soon as possible.

PRODUCT REVIEW

SUBSCRIBE NEWSLETTER

Sign Up for Special Promotions

Have you signed up yet? Subscribe to our newsletter and we’ll keep you up-to-date on all of your favorite

authors, charities, books and more. So don’t wait, sign up today!