conversations.from: human
conversations.value: What is a description for a book titled The Christmas Bus about Charlotte, Author, N.C with the genre: Children's Books, Growing Up & Facts of Life? Start with the sentence 'Author the author is an accomplished novelist, screenwriter, essayist, songwriter, and playwright'.
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: Author the author is an accomplished novelist, screenwriter, essayist, songwriter, and playwright. A longtime television newscaster in Charlotte, N.C., he lives now in Charlotte and Boone.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: What is a description for a book titled The Christmas Bus about FLAP, Christmas, Collin with the genre: Christian Books & Bibles, Christian Living?
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: FRONT FLAP Amy skimmed the brochure. "It sounds like the town decided to capitalize on its name-Christmas Valley-and turned into a tourist town where everything is about Christmas." She looked out at the pine trees. "I guess it does look kind of Christmassy up here. Look, Collin! It's really snowing." Collin just muttered, "Uh-huh." He didn't know a lot about engines or mechanical things, but he knew they weren't going to make it over the mountain pass tonight. "Maybe we should check out this town," he said. "Could we?" she exclaimed. "Why not?" And so it was that a rather large and brightly painted bus rolled into the quiet little hamlet of Christmas Valley. BACK FLAP the author is the prolific author of more than 150 books for women, teens, and children. the author's work has been awarded the ECPA Gold Medallion and the prestigious Rita Award, among others. She lives in Sisters, Oregon.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: What is the first five paragraphs for this book?
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: The Christmas Bus
  Stay on good terms with each other, held together by love. Be ready with a meal or a bed when it's needed. Why, some have extended hospitality to angels without ever knowing it!
  At the beginning of their cross-country trip, they had christened their revamped school bus the "Queen Mary" but had since shortened it to "Queenie." The name worked since the makeshift motor home was as big as a ship and probably used about as much fuel too. Collin hadn't told Amy that they were almost out of money, due to the recently inflated gas prices, or that he was worried about Queenie's transmission going out before they reached their final destination in San Diego.
  Collin just muttered, "Uh-huh," and tried to shift into a lower gear. He didn't know a lot about engines or mechanical things, but he knew that the grinding sounds coming out of Queenie seemed to be getting worse and worse. He also knew that they were probably not going to make it over the mountain pass tonight.
  And so it was that a rather large and brightly painted bus rolled into the quiet little hamlet of Christmas Valley.
  Collin parked on the main street, right in front of the diner, and they both got out and looked up and down the mostly deserted street. The snow was falling harder now, but Amy seemed happier than she'd been for the entire trip as she pointed out all the various Christmas decorations and shops. It was as if she were her old happy self again, and Collin decided to make the best of it.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Delete the last sentence.
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: The Christmas Bus
  Stay on good terms with each other, held together by love. Be ready with a meal or a bed when it's needed. Why, some have extended hospitality to angels without ever knowing it!
  At the beginning of their cross-country trip, they had christened their revamped school bus the "Queen Mary" but had since shortened it to "Queenie." The name worked since the makeshift motor home was as big as a ship and probably used about as much fuel too. Collin hadn't told Amy that they were almost out of money, due to the recently inflated gas prices, or that he was worried about Queenie's transmission going out before they reached their final destination in San Diego.
  Collin just muttered, "Uh-huh," and tried to shift into a lower gear. He didn't know a lot about engines or mechanical things, but he knew that the grinding sounds coming out of Queenie seemed to be getting worse and worse. He also knew that they were probably not going to make it over the mountain pass tonight.
  And so it was that a rather large and brightly painted bus rolled into the quiet little hamlet of Christmas Valley.
  Collin parked on the main street, right in front of the diner, and they both got out and looked up and down the mostly deserted street. The snow was falling harder now, but Amy seemed happier than she'd been for the entire trip as she pointed out all the various Christmas decorations and shops.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: What is five more paragraphs?
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: And as it turned out, Edith was right. Not only were they willing, but the young couple was happy to come to church with her.
  It was after seven when Edith walked across the freshly plowed street to the church. She knew she was running late, but there'd been so many distractions at the inn this afternoon. Mainly because of Myrtle. It seemed that woman had gotten some kind of a bee in her bonnet about poor Albert Benson. But Edith wasn't sure what her real motives were—was she flirting with the old man or just trying to drive him batty? Edith finally had to plead with Charles to step in and intervene. Fortunately, Mr. Benson seemed to appreciate this, and he didn't even mind heading over to the church thirty minutes early so that he could help Charles with a stubborn lock, since they'd just learned that Mr. Benson was a retired locksmith.
  Of course, this left Myrtle at loose ends again, and as a result she had started offering "marriage counseling" tips to the Fieldses. Not that they didn't need some help in that regard, for it was plain to see that this couple had some real issues. But Myrtle hardly seemed the answer. Finally Edith persuaded Myrtle to head over to church herself, and after the meddling old woman was gone, Edith tried to smooth things over with the feuding Fieldses.
  And on they went until the rest of the guests quietly slipped away, either to church or to the Christmas play that the town was putting on tonight. Finally, Edith excused herself too. And consequently, she was late to church.
  When she got to church, Edith wasn't terribly surprised to see that Myrtle was, once again, in her seat. And since she was late, Edith decided to sit in the back. Sure it felt strange, but in light of everything else it seemed fitting. It was as if her world were getting turned upside down, or perhaps tilting sideways. Hopefully, things would improve by Christmas. The idea of having a houseful of bickering guests over the holidays made Edith want to run away from home.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Delete the first sentence.
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: Not only were they willing, but the young couple was happy to come to church with her.
  It was after seven when Edith walked across the freshly plowed street to the church. She knew she was running late, but there'd been so many distractions at the inn this afternoon. Mainly because of Myrtle. It seemed that woman had gotten some kind of a bee in her bonnet about poor Albert Benson. But Edith wasn't sure what her real motives were—was she flirting with the old man or just trying to drive him batty? Edith finally had to plead with Charles to step in and intervene. Fortunately, Mr. Benson seemed to appreciate this, and he didn't even mind heading over to the church thirty minutes early so that he could help Charles with a stubborn lock, since they'd just learned that Mr. Benson was a retired locksmith.
  Of course, this left Myrtle at loose ends again, and as a result she had started offering "marriage counseling" tips to the Fieldses. Not that they didn't need some help in that regard, for it was plain to see that this couple had some real issues. But Myrtle hardly seemed the answer. Finally Edith persuaded Myrtle to head over to church herself, and after the meddling old woman was gone, Edith tried to smooth things over with the feuding Fieldses.
  And on they went until the rest of the guests quietly slipped away, either to church or to the Christmas play that the town was putting on tonight. Finally, Edith excused herself too. And consequently, she was late to church.
  When she got to church, Edith wasn't terribly surprised to see that Myrtle was, once again, in her seat. And since she was late, Edith decided to sit in the back. Sure it felt strange, but in light of everything else it seemed fitting. It was as if her world were getting turned upside down, or perhaps tilting sideways. Hopefully, things would improve by Christmas. The idea of having a houseful of bickering guests over the holidays made Edith want to run away from home.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: What is the last five paragraphs?
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: Amy smiled. "Angela is for Collin's grandmother. Myrtle is for the kind woman who allowed us to stay in this amazing room." She looked around the room, with its soothing green colors and peaceful pastoral pictures adorning the walls, and smiled. "I feel like I'm in heaven right now. I never dreamed I'd have my baby in such a beautiful place."
  Somehow the turkey and dressing and all the rest of the Christmas dinner made its way to the big dining room table on time. And as Charles and Edith and all their houseguests, minus the new little family upstairs and plus Helen and Clarence and Peter, gathered together, Charles invited them to all bow their heads in a Christmas blessing. Before Charles said "amen," he specifically thanked God for sending them Myrtle.
  That's when everyone at the table began to share their own personal experiences and exchanges with the peculiar woman. And most had to agree that Myrtle had indeed rubbed them wrongly, at least to begin with, but at the same time she had touched them at some level—some deep level where they all needed a touch.
  Certainly, not everyone was convinced that Myrtle had literally been sent by God via a direct route from heaven. But some weren't so sure she hadn't.
  But Edith felt certain that Myrtle was indeed an angel. Only, like her husband, she wished that she'd come to this realization sooner. She also wished that she'd treated Myrtle with a bit more love and respect. Although that might've spoiled things for the strange old woman, blowing her cover, so to speak—because, Edith suspected, Myrtle's mission may not have been accomplished if she hadn't performed it incognito.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Swap the first and the last sentence.
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: Although that might've spoiled things for the strange old woman, blowing her cover, so to speak—because, Edith suspected, Myrtle's mission may not have been accomplished if she hadn't performed it incognito. "Angela is for Collin's grandmother. Myrtle is for the kind woman who allowed us to stay in this amazing room." She looked around the room, with its soothing green colors and peaceful pastoral pictures adorning the walls, and smiled. "I feel like I'm in heaven right now. I never dreamed I'd have my baby in such a beautiful place."
  Somehow the turkey and dressing and all the rest of the Christmas dinner made its way to the big dining room table on time. And as Charles and Edith and all their houseguests, minus the new little family upstairs and plus Helen and Clarence and Peter, gathered together, Charles invited them to all bow their heads in a Christmas blessing. Before Charles said "amen," he specifically thanked God for sending them Myrtle.
  That's when everyone at the table began to share their own personal experiences and exchanges with the peculiar woman. And most had to agree that Myrtle had indeed rubbed them wrongly, at least to begin with, but at the same time she had touched them at some level—some deep level where they all needed a touch.
  Certainly, not everyone was convinced that Myrtle had literally been sent by God via a direct route from heaven. But some weren't so sure she hadn't.
  But Edith felt certain that Myrtle was indeed an angel. Only, like her husband, she wished that she'd come to this realization sooner. She also wished that she'd treated Myrtle with a bit more love and respect.Amy smiled.