Miss Daisy

This "long" short story or Novelette (13,100 words) is about an attractive middle-aged woman living in a mid-western state who had fallen in love in her youth but lost her one and only love. She had become despondent and had given up all hope of finding what she once had. As she wonders about town the town's people refer to her as "Miss Daisy." A hardened newspaper reporter from New York happened to be dispatched to her small town to cover a story about a young upstart politician. While there, this younger reporter encounters the woman and her unhappiness. Through his persistent efforts, she regains happiness and love. The events related to his helping her changes him significantly. He develops a new sense of compassion and understanding that was foreign to his earlier nature. Miss Daisy is forever grateful to the reporter for restoring her happiness.