Rainy Day Writers

Rainy Day Writers Rainy Day Writers includes published authors, journalists, and those who write both life experiences and fictional stories for personal fulfillment.

They publish a book each year and contribute regularly to Crossroads magazine and YourRadioPlace.

John Anderson tells about how some young girls figured out a way to correct their error. You'll have to pick up a July C...
07/11/2026

John Anderson tells about how some young girls figured out a way to correct their error. You'll have to pick up a July Crossroads magazine ...for the rest of the story!

07/09/2026

Martha Jamail reminisces about listening to summer sounds with her brother long ago. Read about the red-winged blackbird they discovered. Find more Rainy Day Writers stories on Your Radio Place and in Guernsey News.

A Summer Evening Birdwatch by Martha Jamail

It was a pleasant summer evening as my brother and I sat on the front porch swing listening to the sounds of nature around us. As dusk approached, the rise and fall of the crickets’ hum grew louder. It was a soothing sound, but we both knew that crickets heralded the end of summer, and the start of the school year. Neither of us was ready yet. Suddenly, we heard the unique call of the red-winged blackbird. I had never seen the bird, but my brother said he knew just where it might be. There was a marshy pond behind our neighbor’s house at the end of the block, and my brother jumped off the swing and yelled for me to follow him. He ran so fast I could hardly keep up with him.

When we reached the marsh, my brother shushed me, and we crept quietly to the tall grasses. Lily pads floated languidly over the water, while the tall marsh grasses reflected mirror-like in the pond. My brother tapped my shoulder and pointed to the female black-bird perched on a folded stalk of grass. She was studiously looking up at something. We looked in that direction, and that’s when we saw the blackbird with the beautiful red and yellow badge on its wing. Soon it called again, a unique and beautiful sound, and the female bird flew off with the red-winged male following her. Soon it would be nesting season. My brother said we would come back again to look at their nest eggs. Their eggs, he said, were very colorful – much like decorated Easter eggs. I could hardly wait to see them and hear the beautiful bird call again. Summer is filled with so many special moments… especially when they begin from a comfortable porch swing.

Rick Booth tells the story of story of Pennyroyal - the herb, reunion, and today's Pennyroyal Opera House. Find the whol...
07/07/2026

Rick Booth tells the story of story of Pennyroyal - the herb, reunion, and today's Pennyroyal Opera House. Find the whole story in July's Crossroads magazine.

07/02/2026

Betsy Taylor explores the history of the cash register from its beginning until how she experiences it today. Read more Rainy Day Writer stories on Your Radio Place and in Guernsey News.

An Honest Cashier by Betsy Taylor

During our open season (May 1 – Oct 31), I work at the National Road/Zane Grey Museum, where I cashier two days a week. Before working there, I’d never even stood on the sales side of the cash register. Although I was intimately acquainted with the workings of a calculator through the process of figuring student grades, a machine that managed money was a mystery to me. I hoped that the cash register was smarter than I am.

A cash register is a machine. If it’s in working order, only the law of GIGO (garbage in, garbage out) applies. Today’s cash registers do most of the work. If you press the right keys, the buyer and cashier can both see the amount of purchase, the amount tendered, and the assigned amount of sales tax on a small screen. Then it spits out the items’ total cost. The customer hands over money and the register reveals the amount of change. Finally, the only thing the cashier must do is count the correct change. Simple. No questions.

At the end of the day, the cash register even reveals how much money was collected and the amount of sales tax paid. Again, the only thing the cashier must do is count the money in the register and be certain that amount balances with the machine’s total. The whole process makes selling and rendering money to the employer transparent.

But imagine a time during the 1870s before the invention of the keep-you-honest computer on the counter when clerks and bartenders could easily withdraw handfuls of currency from cash drawers. Even if they kept a running paper tally of money transacted, the amounts could be falsified, and nobody could prove maleficence. Suspicion aside, many business owners had given up keeping track of what their businesses earned.

One business owner, James Ritty, who owed the Empire Saloon in Dayton, realized that that he was being swindled by his sales staff. His saloon boasted a huge number of daily customers, but the revenue didn’t support the income he should have realized. Ritty was aware of machines that could count regular occurrences like the number of revolutions of a wheel. He had an idea that a machine could be constructed to count the number of money transactions during a day. So, he turned to his brother, John who was a mechanic. The two went through a series of experiments until they applied for and received a patent in 1879. The road to a workable product was long with so many trials and bumps that the brothers could easily have given up. But in 1880 they had developed a working cash register and decided to manufacture the machine full-time. They set up a factory above the saloon and managed both businesses for a time until they realized that juggling both concerns was impossible. In 1881, they sold the cash register factory to an investment group. The group improved the register’s mechanism and developed it until it approximated the device with which we are familiar today. Along the way the investment group evolved into today’s National Cash Register Company.

Over time, cash registers became ornate. Etched tiers including drawers and window frames that display merchandise costs, amounts tendered, and amounts of change became works of art. Manufacturers outdid each other as they varied sizes along with sophisticated carvings ranging from Romanesque to Art Deco.

While cash registers are currently found in nearly every business establishment, credit card machines as small as a smart phone equipped with a card reader can replace them. Small business owners who accept only credit/debit cards swipe the card through a reader and immediately email a reciept to the customer’s phone. The transaction is completed with no need to physically transfer money. Future generations may see cash registers become as obsolete as the abacus. Then the only way to see these marvelous machines will be to visit them in a museum like Dayton’s History Carillon Historical Park.

Betsy Taylor tells the story of Annie Oakley and how she became an inspiration to women and young girls. Read the entire...
06/27/2026

Betsy Taylor tells the story of Annie Oakley and how she became an inspiration to women and young girls. Read the entire story in June's Crossroads magazine.

06/25/2026

Mark Cooper writes about the birthday of our country and how time flies by very quickly. Read more Rainy Day Writers stories on Your Radio Place and in Guernsey News.

An American Birthday Story by Mark Cooper

“Poppa, can I open yours next?”

Martin smiled as he looked at his ten-year-old grandson’s pleading eyes. “Why not? But please be careful.” He handed the heavy package to Andrew.

Taking the gift from his granddad, and in typical boy style, Andrew ripped away the wrapping paper, uncovering a hand-crafted oak box with dovetail corners and brass hardware. An exquisite, inlaid American flag adorned the lid. Skillfully painted numbers, “1776-1976,” labeled the box front.

“Wow! An ‘America’ box! Did you make it Poppa?” Andrew’s eyes were big.

“I did. It’s a birthday box for you and for America, since both of you were born on July 4th.”

“Yes, my school teacher said America is 200 years old this year. When I told her that my birthday is also July 4, some of the other kids thought that meant I was 200 years old, same age as our country!”

His grandson’s words prompted a chuckle from Martin as he watched Andrew open the box.

First, Andrew discovered a cloth bag containing a shiny quarter, a fifty-cent piece, and the biggest coin he’d ever seen. “Is this one real?” he held it up.

“Yes, it is worth a dollar. These are bicentennial coins made to honor America’s 200th birthday. Can you tell what makes them different from other coins?”

Andrew intently examined each, discovering the special designs portraying the drummer, Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell and the moon.

“There’s more in the box,” Martin hinted.

His grandson pulled out a framed black and white picture of a uniformed young man. “Who’s this Poppa?”

“That’s me. You know I was in the army don’t you? That I wanted to help protect our country?”

“Yes, mom said you fought in World War Two. But this one isn’t you, is it?” he asked as he pulled out another picture of yet another uniformed young man.

“No,” Martin’s voice grew soft. “That’s your great-grandpa, my dad, when he went off to World War I, what was called the Great War for many years. He didn’t get to come home. I was too young to remember him.”

Andrew pondered the two pictures, “You mean he died there, right? Both you and great-grandpa were in world wars. You both helped our country.”

Martin was glad to hear the somber respect in his grandson’s voice.

“Think about this Andrew. In 1926, when our country was 150 years old, I turned ten, just like you are today. And I was proud to know that our country was having its birthday because of men like your great-grandpa, who did what they could to for America.”

“And Poppa, you fought to help make sure America could turn 200 this year.”

“I tried to do my part, Andrew.”

“Do you think I’ll ever have to fight for our country?”

Martin looked into his grandson’s earnest young eyes. “I hope you never have to go to war, like your great-grandpa and I did. No matter what, you can be a good and honest boy and man. Be that kind of citizen and you will do your part to make sure America has its 250th birthday.”

“When will that be Poppa?” Andrew asked.

“In 2026.”

“Wow!” the boy exclaimed, “That’s forever from now.”

“No, it’s not,” Martin silently mused. “No, it’s not.”

Beverly Kerr writes about her visit to The Farm at Old World Garden in the June issue of Crossroads magazine. You'll wan...
06/18/2026

Beverly Kerr writes about her visit to The Farm at Old World Garden in the June issue of Crossroads magazine. You'll want to stop by for a visit, too.

Jeff Minosky loves his hometown of Caldwell and enjoys keeping its history alive. I enjoyed visiting with him and learni...
06/06/2026

Jeff Minosky loves his hometown of Caldwell and enjoys keeping its history alive. I enjoyed visiting with him and learning about his life. Read all about his adventures in the June issue of Crossroads magazine.

Rick Booth explains how Salt Fork State Park began with reasons why it was felt needed. Many families lost their home as...
06/04/2026

Rick Booth explains how Salt Fork State Park began with reasons why it was felt needed. Many families lost their home as a result. Find the entire interesting story in June's Crossroads magazine.

Beverly Kerr thought it fitting to have a little story about the Hot Air Balloon Festival that happens this weekend in C...
06/03/2026

Beverly Kerr thought it fitting to have a little story about the Hot Air Balloon Festival that happens this weekend in Coshocton...June 4-6. It's a beautiful experience!

Hot Air Balloon Ride by Beverly Kerr

Soaring over the hills of southeastern Ohio in the basket of a hot air balloon may be one of the freest feelings in the world. Just drift with the wind at an altitude low enough to see the earth below clearly.

Get a taste of the hot air balloon feeling at Coshocton Hot Air Balloon Festival on June 4-6 at Coshocton Fairgrounds. Admission and parking are free for this fun family experience started back in 1981. During the weekend, they have early evening balloon launches nightly (weather dependent).

When ten-year-old Sandy saw the pictures of the colorful hot air balloons, she begged her parents, “Could we please take a ride? That looks like so much fun.”

“I'm not sure if they are giving rides this year,” her dad responded, “but we can certainly go over to Coshocton and watch the balloons go into the air.”

“But I want to ride!” Sally stomped her foot and jumped up and down.

“We'll see,” Dad told her.

They headed to Coshocton to the fairgrounds where the balloons were spread out in the field waiting for the scheduled time for life-off. As they walked among them, Sally kept asking people if they would give her a ride.

One man told her, “You can't free fly here but we are doing tethered rides. That's where we keep the balloon tied to the ground so you don't blow away. Want to get in the basket?”

“Can we Dad. Please.”

Dad got out his billfold and gave the man a contribution so he and Sally could take a short ride. Sally could hardly stand still.

She watched as the man blew cold air into the balloon to give it shape. Then he turned on the propane burner to heat the air and make the balloon get ready for lift off. Once the balloon is filled with hot air, it's time to step into the basket.

Dad helped Sally into the basket and then climbed in himself. The tethered ride was just a few minutes, but you had the feeling of drifting in the air.

“Oh, Dad, this is so much fun. I feel like I'm floating! Can I stay here?”

“No, I'm afraid these are short rides just to let you know what it feels like.”

“I'm so happy we came here today. I'll remember this forever. When I grow up, I want to go for a long ride.”

Of course, they stayed for the evening Night Glow, where the big balloons in all their beautiful colors were blown up all over the fairgrounds. They all had interesting names like Moonshine, Mountain Mama, and Skyberry. It was indeed a colorful sight to see them actually glow against the evening sky.

It probably won't surprise you that about ten years later, Susan went to the big Albuquerque Balloon Festival and flew above the earth for over an hour with great views of Route 66 and the Rocky Mountains.
Up, up, and away
In my beautiful balloon.

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