Month: March 2024

The primary aim of the "Novel Excerpts" blog category is to showcase my creative writing, specifically from the novels I've written. Hopefully, these posts will provide a glimpse into my storytelling style, themes, and narrative skills. It's an opportunity to share my artistic expressions and the worlds I've created through my novels.

The Boaz Stenographer, written in 2018, is my fourth novel. I'll post a chapter a day over the next few weeks.

Book Blurb

Walt Shepherd, a 35 year veteran of the White House’s stenographic team, is fired by President Andrew Kane for refusing to lie.

Walt returns to his hometown of Boaz, Alabama and renews his relationship with Regina Gillan, his high school sweetheart, who he had ditched right before graduation to marry the daughter of a prominent local businessman.  Regina has recently moved back to Boaz after forty years in Chicago working at the Tribune.  She is now editor of the Sand Mountain Reporter, a local newspaper.

Walt and Regina’s relationship transforms into a once in life love at the same time they are being immersed in a growing local and national divide between Democrats and traditional Republicans, and extremist Republicans (known as Kanites) who are becoming more dogmatic about the revolution that began during President Kanes campaign.

Walt accepts two part-time jobs.  One as a stenography instructor at Snead State Community College in Boaz, and one as an itinerant stenographer with Rains & Associates out of Birmingham.

Walt later learns the owner of Rains & Associates  is also one of five men who created the Constitution Foundation and is involved in a sinister plot to destroy President Kane, but is using an unorthodox method to achieve its objective.  The Foundation is doing everything it can to prevent President Kane from being reelected in 2020, and is scheming to initiate a civil war that will hopefully restore allegiance to the U.S. Constitution.

While Walt is writing a book, The Coming Civil War, he is, unwittingly, gathering key information for the Constitution Foundation.

Will Walt discover a connection between the Foundation  and the deaths of three U.S. Congressmen in time to save his relationship with Regina, prevent President Kane from being reelected as the defacto head of a Christian theocracy, and the eruption of a civil war that could destroy the Nation ?

Chapter 29

Tuesday morning, the nation was still reeling from the Alt-Right White Supremacists march and rioting that took place in Charlottesville,

Virginia over the weekend.  It seemed everyone, except the Alt-Right and President Kane, had condemned the violence that had erupted killing one girl.  Everyone else, except Pastor Warren Tillman.

I hadn’t heard about the Sunday night service at First Baptist Church of Christ until Vann called me this morning just as I was getting out of bed.

“I called you four times yesterday.”

“I was in hiding.”

“Where?”

“A secret spot.  I may want to reuse it.”  I said. In the few months I had lived at Shepherd’s Cove I had learned that if I wanted to be alone without threat of a surprise visit, especially from Vann, I had to find a secret spot or two.  It was a small library in a neighboring town that I’ll keep secret for now.

“Whatever.  I called to tell you about what Pastor Warren said

Sunday night.”

“Okay, I’m listening.”

“I had thought Sunday morning during worship hour that he might have mentioned President Kane’s sleepover the night before.  He didn’t, although at the end of the service, he did call for continued prayer for the President and his administration.  Sunday night was different.  Pretty much the entire service was dedicated to encouraging everyone to support the President.  Warren even insisted we skip the song service. 

That rarely happens.”

“So, what did the Pastor have up his sleeve?”

“First, a little background.  You remember the Flaming Five, don’t you?”

“Of course, the best basketball team in Boaz history, maybe Alabama history.”  I said wondering where Vann was heading.

“You’re correct.  Originally, that phrase referred to five guys, our high school classmates: Wade Tillman, Fred Billingsley, Randall Radford, James Adams, and John Ericson.  Over the years the Flaming Five has expanded its meaning.  Now, it refers simply to those five families.  I guess both ancestors and all future generations.”

“What does this have to do with what Pastor Warren said Sunday night?”  I asked.

“Hold on, be patient.  The Flaming Five, these five families, have all, historically, been deep-tied to the Republican Party.  And, it seems, that Party has been good to them.  It’s been pretty much an equal exchange of favors.  The Flaming Five contribute boat loads of money to local, state, and even at times, national candidates.  Someway, the money produces an excellent return—favors flow forward to Boaz, anything from prosecutors and judges suddenly retiring or moving, or, most recently, the President of the United States coming to Boaz, Alabama and spending the night with a local pastor.”

“So, Pastor Warren is a diehard Republican?  Or, better said, a diehard Kane Republican?”

“Now, you’re getting with the program.  Warren started his sermon, I’ll call it that for want of a better term, with the phrase,

‘desperate times call for desperate measures.’”

“I’ve heard it originated with a saying Hippocrates, the ancient

Greek physician. He wrote in, I can’t think of the book’s title.” “Amorphisms.”  Vann interjected.

“That might be right.  Anyway, he wrote: “For extreme diseases, extreme methods of cure, as to restriction, are most suitable.”

“Pastor Warren spent the next twenty to thirty minutes detailing his version of the desperate situation American finds itself.  He argued that God had been merciful to have President Kane elected.  Warren said that, now, it is clear why God did this.  Business as usual wouldn’t get it done.  He referenced President George Bush as an example.  Warren said that he was light-years better than Clinton but still fit the mold of a career politician, thus unable to clearly see the seriousness of our national condition.  Warren touted Kane as a man, although rather crude at times, who was the farthermost thing from a politician that clearly saw the only solution to turn our nation back to God and our founding principles was to ‘drain the swamp,’ quoting Kane’s phrase.”

“I understand you so far.  Warren had two points: America is headed off the rails, but God gifted us President Kane, a savior.”  I said, tiring of our conversation.

“Right so far but listen to this.  He called for the entire church body to pledge activism.  Warren said that the heart of the situation, the desperate situation that we find ourselves, is not simply a political one, but a spiritual battle.  He said that we must unite behind Kane.  Warren compared our President to Moses in the Old Testament.  He was not sent by God to make friends and bring peace.  Moses was commissioned by God to lead a revolution and to wipe out every enemy that stood in opposition.”

“I thought it was Joshua that was the master warrior.”  I said, confused.

“Warren talked about him too.  The important part was Warren incited the full membership to virtually a no–holds–barred activism contest.  He even appointed a committee to research and recommend specific activities for the church to pursue.”  Vann said.

“Anything else? I’ve got things to do.”

“No.  The service ended with an altar prayer for Kane, and for mercy for Wade and James.”

“I hear they, for the first time, are truly caught in the cross-hairs, but I don’t want to get into that.”

“Okay, we can talk later, maybe breakfast soon.” “Sounds good.”  I said as I ended the call. 

Chapter 29 (apparently, I have two chapters numbered 29)

Wednesday and Thursday, I had back-to-back depositions in Birmingham.  The last one ended at 3:30. I was hungry and had decided to stop at Johnny Ray’s BBQ at the Colonnade on the way home.  As I was leaving the law offices of Riley and Jackson my phone vibrated.  It was Ginger from Rains & Associates.

“Hello.”

“Three-thirty is a lot better than six-thirty.” The woman’s voice said without introducing herself.  But, I already knew who she was.

“Maybe, sometimes, often not.”  I said, trying to be as aloof as she was.

“Walt, I need to see you if possible.  Can you drop by the office before you head back to Boaz?  Zel is here and we really would love to meet and run something by you.”

“What’s it about?”  

“Trust me.  You’ll find it interesting to say the least.  But, I’d rather not talk on a cell phone.”  Ginger said, instructing someone in the background to change it, whatever it was, to next Wednesday.

“I guess I can.  I was about to go eat some BBQ.  Here’s the deal. 

If you will come, Rains & Associates will buy your dinner.” “Supper.”  I said to correct her English.

“Or supper if you prefer.”

“I’ll be there shortly.”

Zel and Ginger were waiting in the same conference room we had met in when I came for my interview. She had Rita bring me a cup of coffee.

“Sorry you had to endure the stupidity of President Kane last Saturday night.  I can’t imagine how difficult that was.”  Zel said after hardly any chitchat.

“I’ll live.  And, maybe live to see truth and honor whip his you know what.”

“Perfect.  I agree totally.  I would just add that it is my deep-felt opinion that each of us, every freedom-loving American, must act to see, like you say, ‘truth and honor whip his ass.’  There, I said it.”  Ginger said, sipping on a Ginger Ale.

“Walt, Ginger and I have talked a lot about you ever since you came on board.  We believe you are the perfect man for a special assignment.  Can I take a few minutes and give you a little more background on Rains & Associates and an organization known as the

Constitution Foundation?”

“Sure, you’ve got me here.  I might as well learn something.”  I said, feeling my stomach growing hungry.  I wished now I hadn’t skipped lunch.

“Thanks.  Rains & Associates is the creation of Thaddeus

Colburn, a Chicago attorney.  He is also a professor of Constitutional Law at the University of Chicago.  Rains is pretty much what we have told you it is, a multi-state court-reporting service.  Thad started The Constitution Foundation back in 2000 because of the election debacle that put George W. Bush in the Whitehouse.  The Foundation’s purpose or mission is simple, to restore America to its Constitutional roots.  At the same time Thad established the Foundation he also created a public interest law firm to litigate selected Constitutional issues around the nation.  I was lead counsel with the firm for fifteen years.  When Kane was elected, Thad asked me to join him and three of his fellow law professors at the Foundation.  Our current project, and it is a big one, is to stop Kane, to get rid of this demon.”  Zel stopped when Ginger held up a hand.

“Zel, take a breath and let Walt ask a question or two if he wants to.”  Ginger injected.

“Nothing really, other than, what does this have to do with me?”

Ginger motioned to my coffee cup and I shook my head. “Let me go a little deeper into the ‘why’ the Foundation believes it imperative to stop Kane.”

“Please do.”  Zel said.

“Walt, I know you are very intelligent and well-read.  This means you know as well as any American what could happen if the growing divide between liberals and conservatives isn’t peacefully resolved.  Zel failed to tell you that I also work for the Foundation.  We believe, and we have some solid evidence to support this, that Russia put Kane into the White House.  In other words, he would not be there if it weren’t for their involvement.  But, we can talk about that another time.  Their end game, and certainly that of Kane’s, is to amend the U.S. Constitution and create either a family-style oligarchy or a monarchy like England’s.  There probably wouldn’t be much difference.” Ginger said.

“That seems a stretch, a mighty big one at that.”  I said.

“But, not impossible.  Question: the day before the Presidential election, did you honestly believe that Kane would be elected?”  Zel asked.

“No.  Truly, I thought there was no way in hell that America could elect such an idiot.”  

“Well, they didn’t.  Again, it was Russia’s meddling that got it done.”  Ginger said.

“If Kane had a two-thirds majority in the U.S. Congress, or the same with the States, then it could happen.  There is a fairly simple process, two options, to amend our Constitution.  I agree, on the surface, it seems far-fetched.  But, it’s really not.”  Zel said.

Ginger walked over to a large credenza by the windows and poured her another cup of coffee.  “The horrible mess we find ourselves in is not simply a political problem.  At its heart, is a religious problem.  I must agree with the late Christopher Hitchens.  He said, ‘religion poisons everything.’  I would simply clarify or refine what he said, Christianity poisons everything in America.  Of course, I’m referring to the current version.  You know that religion, including Christianity, is a product of evolution.  It has evolved since Jesus, if there ever was a Jesus who walked the dusty Galilean trails.”

“I’m not sure I’m following you here.”  I said.

“Let me give it a go.” Zel said, standing up and walking over and closing the conference room’s door.  “Walt, you grew up in a Southern

Baptist Church, didn’t you?”

“I did, First Baptist Church of Christ in Boaz.”

“Then, I think you will agree.  On the basis of what you learned growing up, it seemed rather odd, shocking really, that Andrew Kane could have garnered such a high percentage of the Christian vote.  I know one reason was that they simply hated Hillary Clinton, but a much stronger reason is that Christians want a theocracy.  And, now we know, they will get in bed with Satan himself for that to happen.  Thus, what we have on our hands is, I’ll put it bluntly, a form that only unbelievers like the three of us would appreciate.  What we have is the greatest myth of all time driving the greatest nation on earth, over the cliff.  Christians are so brainwashed by what the Bible says, or, at least, what they think it says, they will do anything to control every branch of the U.S.

government.”

“My stomach can’t take much more of this.  It was hungry when I arrived, now it’s getting nauseous.”  I said.

“Let’s get to the main reason we asked you here.”  Ginger said, looking at Zel.

Zel picked up on her cue and said, “we have just touched the surface of what the Foundation has dubbed, the Cane Kane project.  Thad and the rest of us want you to work undercover.  We failed to mention there is a connection between an organization called Club Eden and the President, a connection that is pivotal to the success or failure of his plans.  And, the plans of Russia, I might add.  Therefore, you are the perfect candidate.”

“What would I be expected to do?”

“Gather information.  It’s that simple.  Find a way, or ways, to infiltrate Club Eden and the Kane Tribe.  The two are obviously connected.  We know that a Frankie Olinger is simply a stooge for Club Eden, but he is dangerous as an instigator.  Well, until he was arrested.  But, we have reason to believe that he did not kill U.S. Representative Kip Brewer.”  Zel said.

“Walt, we’ve kept you long enough.  Think about it.  By the way, we know about your personal desire to impede the President, and your desire to publish a book before the 2020 campaign cycle.  Think of your undercover work as simply research, a way to gather critical information.”

“How did you know about my book desire?”  I asked.

“Regina mentioned it the first time I saw her in Guntersville.  When I asked her if she knew someone who might want a part-time stenographer’s job, she mentioned you, but corrected herself by saying that you might not have time since you were wanting to write a book.” “Okay, she’s right.  Ever since I was fired from the White House I’ve been thinking about what the most powerful way for me would be to oppose the worst President in American history.”

“Walt, thanks so much for coming in.  Here’s my card.  Call me if you have any questions.  Of course, you can also call Ginger.  I have a call to make, please drive carefully.” Zel said.

“I’ll walk you out.”  Ginger said coming over and taking my arm.

I bought two bags of chips, a Snickers candy bar, and a Coke in the Harbert Square Gift Shop on the ground floor.  As I drove home, I fought a two-sided battle.  First, I was the warrior, wanting to take up my sword and cut off Goliath’s head, also known as President Kane.  But then, I was a weak little coward, wanting to race home, pack my bags, go pick-up Regina, and drive as far away from my life as possible, maybe even leaving the country and fleeing to a remote cabin in Canada where there was no contact with the outside world.  The battle waged.  Neither side won. 

 

The primary aim of the "Novel Excerpts" blog category is to showcase my creative writing, specifically from the novels I've written. Hopefully, these posts will provide a glimpse into my storytelling style, themes, and narrative skills. It's an opportunity to share my artistic expressions and the worlds I've created through my novels.

The Boaz Stenographer, written in 2018, is my fourth novel. I'll post a chapter a day over the next few weeks.

Book Blurb

Walt Shepherd, a 35 year veteran of the White House’s stenographic team, is fired by President Andrew Kane for refusing to lie.

Walt returns to his hometown of Boaz, Alabama and renews his relationship with Regina Gillan, his high school sweetheart, who he had ditched right before graduation to marry the daughter of a prominent local businessman.  Regina has recently moved back to Boaz after forty years in Chicago working at the Tribune.  She is now editor of the Sand Mountain Reporter, a local newspaper.

Walt and Regina’s relationship transforms into a once in life love at the same time they are being immersed in a growing local and national divide between Democrats and traditional Republicans, and extremist Republicans (known as Kanites) who are becoming more dogmatic about the revolution that began during President Kanes campaign.

Walt accepts two part-time jobs.  One as a stenography instructor at Snead State Community College in Boaz, and one as an itinerant stenographer with Rains & Associates out of Birmingham.

Walt later learns the owner of Rains & Associates  is also one of five men who created the Constitution Foundation and is involved in a sinister plot to destroy President Kane, but is using an unorthodox method to achieve its objective.  The Foundation is doing everything it can to prevent President Kane from being reelected in 2020, and is scheming to initiate a civil war that will hopefully restore allegiance to the U.S. Constitution.

While Walt is writing a book, The Coming Civil War, he is, unwittingly, gathering key information for the Constitution Foundation.

Will Walt discover a connection between the Foundation  and the deaths of three U.S. Congressmen in time to save his relationship with Regina, prevent President Kane from being reelected as the defacto head of a Christian theocracy, and the eruption of a civil war that could destroy the Nation ?

Chapter 28

I had spent all day Monday secluded.  I never left the house and didn’t even speak with Regina, other than by text.  I even thought about canceling my Steno class but wasn’t yet that far gone.  I had always prided myself on being responsible and always keeping my commitments.  My promise to Dean Naylor and Snead College wasn’t simply a duty, it was as important to me as eating and breathing.  Teaching is what I had always wanted to do.  Not only did I need this, but I felt my students needed me as well.

As always, I left Shepherd’s Cove at 4:40 p.m. and drove to the College, arriving in my classroom at exactly 5:00.  Even though I was fully prepared when I arrived, I always liked to be an hour early.  Mainly, to have the opportunity to talk with students in the unlikely event one or more of them showed up early.

Tonight, I hadn’t fully unpacked my brief case when Felicia Shea walked in.  Even though the two of us had spoken privately a couple of times, it was always after class.  I wouldn’t say that we had a budding relationship.  For the past two weeks she had seemed troubled and distracted.  All she wanted to talk about after class was how she felt incapable of helping her mother cope with her step-father’s incarceration.  I had tried to encourage her to have faith in the criminal justice system to sort things out.  I told her I believed she could have confidence in the system.  I don’t think she believed me.

“Good evening Felicia.”  I said, as she walked past me to the back corner beside the windows, bumping two desks as she walked by. 

No doubt she was frustrated.

She gave me a quick glance but didn’t say a word.  I walked back to her desk and said, “are you okay, you look a little flush, maybe have a fever?”

“Hell no, I don’t have a fever.”

“Sorry, would you like to talk?”  I said.

“No.”

I turned and started walking back to my desk at the front of the room when she said, “I’m sorry.  I never curse.  Please forgive me for saying that.”

I walked back to her and leaned against the closest window.  “Felicia, I meant what I said at the beginning, the first class we had together.  You can talk to me about anything, at any time.  I’m here for you, not only as your teacher, but also as a friend.”

“I remember, and I’m thankful for that, but there’s some things that no one can help.”

“Why not try me.”

“It’s funny what you just said.  You used the ‘faith’ word, didn’t you?”  Felicia said.  Before I answered I looked at her and for the first time noticed how much she favored Regina.  She was more like her than her mother, Belinda.  Even though Regina and Belinda were twins, they were not identical twins.  They were both attractive, many would say that Belinda was beautiful, especially when she was younger, but Regina was stunning.  I had worn out the word gorgeous, but she was that and then some.  Felicia was much closer in looks to Regina, including the deep blue eyes.

“Yes, I did ask you to have faith in the criminal justice system.”

“Then, why does Roger and his friends make fun of me for having faith in God?”  I could see she was deeply troubled.  She used a Kleenex to wipe her eyes.

“Well, I don’t know why anyone does what they do, what’s their motivation.  I do know there is a difference between the two types of faith.”  I said, turning a student’s desk around to face Felicia.

“Faith is belief in something you cannot see.  Right?”

“Yes, I suppose that’s a decent definition.  But, isn’t it a little easier to understand, maybe measure, the criminal justice system.  It is made of actual written laws, judges, police officers, district attorneys, and juries.  Where faith in God is much more remote.  I know there is the Bible but most folks know it is full of contradictions.”  I said.

“The Bible is true.  It is without error.  All my life I’ve believed in

God.  Now, it seems the world is rejecting God’s Holy Word.”

“It may just be that you are more aware of the rejecting.  Social media and the Internet have certainly brought people closer.  A person’s ideas and beliefs now are just a click away.”

Felicia got up, straightened her blouse and walked over to the windows behind me.  “Just because you cannot see me now doesn’t mean I don’t exist.”

“I agree.  I don’t need to see you because I just saw you walk over there behind me.  Felicia, that’s not a very good argument.”

“I know.  Some days I just want to run away, all by myself.  The reasons I used to use with my friends don’t seem to work anymore.  I grew up hearing, ‘you just have to have faith.’  It was almost a badge of honor, especially the year after high school I was on mission, to have faith even when things were going bad, even when it seemed God had abandoned us, like when there was a hurricane that killed so many in

Haiti.”

“Could it be that you believe, have faith in God, because that’s what you’ve always done.  I assume you grew up in church?”

“Oh yes, I cannot remember a time that I wasn’t at First Baptist Church of Christ right here in Boaz.”  Felicia said, now back seated in front of me.

“My story is similar.  But, I was lucky to have a high school Biology teacher that took an interest in me and exposed me to what I’ll call, ‘the other side.’  I started reading outside the Bible.  I don’t have time right now to go into that but by the time I finished high school, I was pretty sure there wasn’t any type god.”

“I know it’s nearly time for class, but can I ask you one question?”

“Anything at any time.  Remember?”  I said.

“How can you be happy and find meaning in life if you don’t believe in God and in Heaven?”  Felicia asked, sitting up straight and boring her blue eyes into mine.

“I know this is the only life I will ever have.  I focus on it and don’t give death a second thought.  When I die, I die, and that’s it.  It’s over.  I like what Mark Twain said, ‘I do not fear death. I had been dead for billions and billions of years before I was born and had not suffered the slightest inconvenience from it.’  Felicia, you must create your own meaning.  I suspect, and don’t think I’m disrespecting you, but, I suspect you are feeling the way you do right now because you believe your life has been dictated to you so far.  Start exploring the world.  I suggest you start looking at the other side.  I can help you with that if you want.”

“I’ll think about it.  I’m sorry to burden you with this.  I know I should have taken my questions to Pastor Warren.”  Felicia said and all five of her classmates came through the doorway.

“Felicia, I’m available for you.  Talk to the pastor if you want, but I urge you to seek out the full story.”

“Okay, I guess we better move to the front.”

 

The primary aim of the "Novel Excerpts" blog category is to showcase my creative writing, specifically from the novels I've written. Hopefully, these posts will provide a glimpse into my storytelling style, themes, and narrative skills. It's an opportunity to share my artistic expressions and the worlds I've created through my novels.

The Boaz Stenographer, written in 2018, is my fourth novel. I'll post a chapter a day over the next few weeks.

Book Blurb

Walt Shepherd, a 35 year veteran of the White House’s stenographic team, is fired by President Andrew Kane for refusing to lie.

Walt returns to his hometown of Boaz, Alabama and renews his relationship with Regina Gillan, his high school sweetheart, who he had ditched right before graduation to marry the daughter of a prominent local businessman.  Regina has recently moved back to Boaz after forty years in Chicago working at the Tribune.  She is now editor of the Sand Mountain Reporter, a local newspaper.

Walt and Regina’s relationship transforms into a once in life love at the same time they are being immersed in a growing local and national divide between Democrats and traditional Republicans, and extremist Republicans (known as Kanites) who are becoming more dogmatic about the revolution that began during President Kanes campaign.

Walt accepts two part-time jobs.  One as a stenography instructor at Snead State Community College in Boaz, and one as an itinerant stenographer with Rains & Associates out of Birmingham.

Walt later learns the owner of Rains & Associates  is also one of five men who created the Constitution Foundation and is involved in a sinister plot to destroy President Kane, but is using an unorthodox method to achieve its objective.  The Foundation is doing everything it can to prevent President Kane from being reelected in 2020, and is scheming to initiate a civil war that will hopefully restore allegiance to the U.S. Constitution.

While Walt is writing a book, The Coming Civil War, he is, unwittingly, gathering key information for the Constitution Foundation.

Will Walt discover a connection between the Foundation  and the deaths of three U.S. Congressmen in time to save his relationship with Regina, prevent President Kane from being reelected as the defacto head of a Christian theocracy, and the eruption of a civil war that could destroy the Nation ?

Chapter 27

After lunch we changed clothes, although I had another suggestion.  We also changed our conversation.  It seemed it was always difficult for Regina to stray too long and far from her work life.   “I’ve been thinking.  I want you and Vann to team up and write a weekly column.  It will be the Reporter’s response to The Boaz Stenographer. 

You two are the perfect duo, both of you have extensive knowledge of American history, and you both have a fully-developed political philosophy.  Of course, yours is more liberal and Vann’s is more conservative.”

“I guess my outburst last week over the million comments, all touting Kane’s tweeting about how he may burn-up North Korea, tickled your ear?”  I said as I grabbed our fishing gear from the back porch and we headed to the pond. 

She opted for the pier, I wandered toward the shallow end hoping to land a bass slithering through the watery grass.  We didn’t talk for thirty minutes.  Neither of us caught a fish, but that wasn’t a huge priority.

I walked back to the pier and over to Regina who by now was sitting in one of the two heavy wooden chairs my Dad had built out of black locust.  They were as stout as ever. “Have I told you lately.”  I said and intentionally stopped.

“That’s a song, or in a song.  Or, is it a poem?”  Regina said taking off her shoes.  

“It may be but for sure it is an introductory statement.”

“To what.  What have you told me lately?”

“Oh, you’ll have to wait.  You know it drives me crazy how you introduce a subject, one that has a little built-in drama, and then you walk off.”  I said, sitting beside her and reaching over to hold her left hand.

“I love driving you crazy.  That’s why I do it.”

“I figured I’d lose this little skirmish.  Back to your idea.  It seems to me you are laying my neck in a guillotine.  I’m already the town’s punching bag and you want to put me inside the boxing ring?”

“Dialoging is one of the best ways to learn.  I figure what you and Vann have to say will be refreshing to the local citizens, all who are ultrarational, educated, and open-minded.”

“What have you been smoking?  Don’t you realize that my positions will likely be directly opposite of what most folks around here believe?”  I said casting my line in the direction of Regina’s float that hadn’t moved.

“That’s what makes my idea perfect.  Two sides warring it out.” “I’ll think about it.”

“Look her Mr. Walt.  You can be so blind.  Do I have to draw you a map?  I’m giving you an opportunity to cut-short your book research by a dozen years, at least.”

“What?” I said, even more confused.

“You keep talking about the two goals you had when you returned from D.C.  One, you seemed to have sewed up well.  You know, rekindling the flame with that awesome high school girlfriend.  And, the second was to write a book, one that would be read by every American and sway their opinion about President Kane.  You still have that goal, don’t you?” Regina said, standing and reeling in her line.

“I do.  But, what does your weekly column idea have to do with my book?”

“Dimwit, you will learn what makes Kane Tribe tick.  That’s tongue tying.  That’s five t’s. Six.”

“Maybe you’re right.  Again, I’ll think about it.  Now, let’s walk to the creek.”

“I don’t go into the woods with a strange man.”

“It’s a forest and the trees are imaginary.  And, I’m no man.  I’m a god.”

“Finally, I agree.  All gods are imaginary.”

Regina and I walked across the pasture and into the woods and to the spring that fed the pond.  We sat on the big granite rocks my grandfather had used to protect the cold and bubbling fountainhead nearly a hundred years ago.  We spent an hour reminiscing about the time we hiked here in April of our junior year.  We did it on a dare, not sure who’s.  We had been sitting in the barn loft.  It was already late, but it was a Friday night.  We had grabbed a flashlight and set off.  The dare wasn’t simply to walk to the spring, but to come here and explore the waters, naked.  Our first and only skinny-dipping adventure.  It nearly killed us both.  

The water was like being enclosed inside a deep freezer.  Naked.  I did like the naked part.  It was the only time I have ever been naked with my gorgeously sexy Regina.  When we arrived, she had insisted I turn off the flashlight.  Now, I remember, she had posed the dare.  She had not planned that the clouds would drift away, and the moon appear.  That didn’t happen until we had arrived, and the flashlight was off, and we had stripped and stepped into the icy pool.  The moonlight was just enough for me to make out the contours of her body.  The water wasn’t deep, just midway up our thighs.  I got excited.  Then, embarrassed.  We waded around, her on one side ten feet away, and me on the other.  For maybe two minutes.  The water was simply too cold.  I fought the urge to walk over and embrace Regina, excited as I was, but a competing force of nature forced us to scurry out.  We were both thankful we had brought two thick towels.  I will never forget what she said as we stood and shivered, “I’m glad to see the god is wonderfully endowed, although I’m sure it’s imaginary.” 

Now, after laughing our heads off at what Regina had said, I got to do what I had wanted to do over fifty years ago.  I held Regina and told her, several times, how thankful I was that she was my steady, and that she had made me the happiest man in the world.  We swayed as the wind picked up.  We kissed, and we kissed, until I tried to sing to her the

Rod Stewart song, ‘Have I told you lately how much I love you.”

Finally, we walked back to the house and Regina left.  I tried my best to get her to stay but I was no match for her Sunday afternoon Reporter ritual.  When she took over as chief editor she had imposed on herself the mandate to have, by 9:00 p.m. Sunday night, a solid first draft of Tuesday’s Sand Mountain Reporter.  Walking back beside the pond and grabbing our fishing gear, I had hoped that today could have been different.  I had never wanted to make love with Regina Gillan more than I did as I trailed her off the pier.  All I could do was think, “Walt, you are one lucky man to have a woman, a 63-year-old woman, with a figure like that.”  I almost got excited.

 

The primary aim of the "Novel Excerpts" blog category is to showcase my creative writing, specifically from the novels I've written. Hopefully, these posts will provide a glimpse into my storytelling style, themes, and narrative skills. It's an opportunity to share my artistic expressions and the worlds I've created through my novels.

The Boaz Stenographer, written in 2018, is my fourth novel. I'll post a chapter a day over the next few weeks.

Book Blurb

Walt Shepherd, a 35 year veteran of the White House’s stenographic team, is fired by President Andrew Kane for refusing to lie.

Walt returns to his hometown of Boaz, Alabama and renews his relationship with Regina Gillan, his high school sweetheart, who he had ditched right before graduation to marry the daughter of a prominent local businessman.  Regina has recently moved back to Boaz after forty years in Chicago working at the Tribune.  She is now editor of the Sand Mountain Reporter, a local newspaper.

Walt and Regina’s relationship transforms into a once in life love at the same time they are being immersed in a growing local and national divide between Democrats and traditional Republicans, and extremist Republicans (known as Kanites) who are becoming more dogmatic about the revolution that began during President Kanes campaign.

Walt accepts two part-time jobs.  One as a stenography instructor at Snead State Community College in Boaz, and one as an itinerant stenographer with Rains & Associates out of Birmingham.

Walt later learns the owner of Rains & Associates  is also one of five men who created the Constitution Foundation and is involved in a sinister plot to destroy President Kane, but is using an unorthodox method to achieve its objective.  The Foundation is doing everything it can to prevent President Kane from being reelected in 2020, and is scheming to initiate a civil war that will hopefully restore allegiance to the U.S. Constitution.

While Walt is writing a book, The Coming Civil War, he is, unwittingly, gathering key information for the Constitution Foundation.

Will Walt discover a connection between the Foundation  and the deaths of three U.S. Congressmen in time to save his relationship with Regina, prevent President Kane from being reelected as the defacto head of a Christian theocracy, and the eruption of a civil war that could destroy the Nation ?

Chapter 26

When I got back to the house Regina was sitting at the kitchen bar with her water and a bottle of Coor’s Lite beside my plate.  Sunday’s had become somewhat of a routine.  We either went together to church, normally First Baptist Church of Christ, although, sometimes we visited a different one, or we just hung out here at Shepherd’s Cove.

“Shoot me if I ever drink another beer.”

“I take it you woke up with a splitting headache.  Any nausea?”  Regina asked, going over to the refrigerator and pouring me a glass of tea.

“No, thank goodness.”

“Are you okay after last night?”

“I’m fine and I don’t want to talk about it right now.  I have something else on my mind.  It’s kind of personal.  Can I ask you a question?”

“Sure, and don’t ever ask me that question again.  You can always ask me.  Anything.”  Regina said putting a slice of pizza on my plate.

“Okay, thanks, here goes.  I took a large bite of our Supreme, the best pizza in Boaz.  “What are you doing?”

“Is that your question?  Uh, I think I’m sitting here with you eating pizza.”

“No, silly.  With me.  What are you doing here with me?”

“You’re normally better at asking questions.  Let me frame it for you, assuming I’m understanding where you are trying to go.  How do I view our relationship?  Are we just friends, pals, or are we boyfriend and girlfriend?”

“That helps a lot.”

“Now that we have the question on the table, or bar, I think I’ll just eat this wonderful pizza.” Regina said glancing over at me out of the corner of her eye.

“So, we are, as the old saying goes, ‘just friends’?

“Walt Shepherd, I didn’t say that.  Do you need your steno machine?”

“Funny.  It is great pizza.”

With a mouthful, Regina said, “You lamebrain, I have loved you since high school.  You broke my heart when you chose Jennifer over me.  My heart stayed broke until just a few months ago.  Maybe, it is still broken, but I feel like it is healing some, because of our time together.”  She took a big gulp of water.

“Here’s the question I really want to ask, but just needed a little encouragement.  Regina Gillan, will you go steady with me.”  There, I finally said it.  

“Are you serious?  Are we in high school?  Wait, don’t answer that.  I love it.  That was beautiful.  So simple, so safe, yet so exciting. 

The answer is yes.  But, let’s hash out that little question of yours.”

“Okay.  What do you need to know?”

“For you to explain what you mean, when you say, ‘go steady.’”

“Okay.  I do need to give some background to frame the proper context.  I tried to put you out of my mind when I married Jennifer.  My reasoning was, I’ve made my bed, so I might as well lie in it.  Really, I never forgot you.  It wasn’t every day but there were times I thought of you, of us, doing the kinds of goofy things we loved to do: walking in the rain, hiking, writing and sharing little poems, making love in the barn loft.”

“What?”

“Just seeing if you were listening.  Strike the sex, but, in truth, we did make love.  Every time I held your hand, every time I kissed your sweet lips, every time we shared popcorn at a movie, we were making love.”

“It’s all coming back to me now.  Isn’t that a song?  Walt, you are doing a great job reminding me of a few of the reasons I fell in love with you as a fifteen-year-old girl.  Please continue.”

“After Jennifer died, not the next day, but soon after, I started to call you.  Yes, I knew where you were.  I had kept up with you.  I always knew where you were, where you lived and worked, you know.  But, I didn’t call.  I concluded that I would just cause you more pain.  For reasons I’m sure I don’t even know, when I was sitting in the Chief of Staff’s office at the White House, waiting to go in to see the President, I thought of you, and I was sweating.”

“I did always make you sweat.”  Regina chimed in.

“Yes, like right now.  During those short minutes waiting, I thought how it was time to do two right things.  One, stand up and be bold with the President, and the second thing was to come home and try to reconcile with you.”

“That doesn’t make a lot of sense.  I was in Chicago.”

“I had already learned, just a few days earlier, that you had quit the Tribune and were moving back to Boaz.  I think I knew, at least subconsciously, right before I walked into the Oval Office, that my D.C. days were over, that that chapter of my life had ended.  I only hoped that you had left the door to your heart cracked open just a little bit for me.”  I said, standing up and pulling out my wallet and laying on the countertop.

“That’s right, pull out the money.  You’ll need a check too.  Cashier’s only Mr. Shepherd.”  Regina said without exposing any hint of a smile.

“So, you’ll go steady with me if I buy the rights.”

“Absolutely, I learned a valuable lesson the last time you walked out on me.  This time, I’ll need a huge deposit to secure my heart real estate.  We’ll call it a dower.”

“I think you’re confused.  Wasn’t that what a man paid his girlfriend’s family to secure her hand in marriage?”  I asked digging in my wallet.

“Forget that, I don’t care.  I just want everything you’ve got and everything you can borrow.”  Regina now was revealing her gorgeous smile.

“Here, look at this.”  I said pulling out an old tattered photo of me and Regina at the fair.

“You still have our favorite photo.”

“It’s been in my wallet ever since that night, the summer of 1971, two weeks before the start of our senior year.  It’s not the same billfold but it’s the same photo.  Look at the back.”  I said handing it over to Regina.

“August 1, 1971.  Me and my future wife.”  Regina said reading the writing I had scrawled over fifty years ago. “Now, I may be a little confused.  Is this a wedding proposal or are we just going steady?”

“You are so adorable, well, most of the time.  Don’t read too much into the photo.  No, I’m not asking you to marry me, not yet anyway.  I showed you the photo to let you know that you have always been the most important girl in my life.”

“Not important enough to propose to me right now?”  Regina said.  She could be so exhausting at times.

“Quite the opposite.  You are so important to me that I am not, yet, proposing we marry.  You are so important that I want to do this right.  I don’t want to do anything to every lose you.  I want to prove my love to you.  That will take a few more days, weeks, months.  I hope not years.  Does this make any sense?”  I said, now standing across the bar from Regina, taking her right hand in both of mine.

“It does, totally.  I was just pushing your buttons a little.  Regina said, again smiling.

“Which I love.  Please never stop pushing my buttons.” I said leaning over to kiss her forehead.

“Baby, come around here.”  Regina stood and kept clutching my hand as I walked around the bar and pulled her body into mine.  Before we kissed she took my face and said, “Walt, look at me, just look at me.”

I leaned my head back and stared into a blue ocean, of mystery, of the strongest woman in the world, one who certainly could be boisterous but one who knew how to gently wave me towards a calm harbor. After a couple of minutes, lost in her trance, she said, “I will go steady with you if you want me, as long as we keep our hearts right where they are right now.  Can you do that?”

“Yes, double yes.” As we tilted our heads to kiss, we both said at the same time, “I love you.”

 

The primary aim of the "Novel Excerpts" blog category is to showcase my creative writing, specifically from the novels I've written. Hopefully, these posts will provide a glimpse into my storytelling style, themes, and narrative skills. It's an opportunity to share my artistic expressions and the worlds I've created through my novels.

The Boaz Stenographer, written in 2018, is my fourth novel. I'll post a chapter a day over the next few weeks.

Book Blurb

Walt Shepherd, a 35 year veteran of the White House’s stenographic team, is fired by President Andrew Kane for refusing to lie.

Walt returns to his hometown of Boaz, Alabama and renews his relationship with Regina Gillan, his high school sweetheart, who he had ditched right before graduation to marry the daughter of a prominent local businessman.  Regina has recently moved back to Boaz after forty years in Chicago working at the Tribune.  She is now editor of the Sand Mountain Reporter, a local newspaper.

Walt and Regina’s relationship transforms into a once in life love at the same time they are being immersed in a growing local and national divide between Democrats and traditional Republicans, and extremist Republicans (known as Kanites) who are becoming more dogmatic about the revolution that began during President Kanes campaign.

Walt accepts two part-time jobs.  One as a stenography instructor at Snead State Community College in Boaz, and one as an itinerant stenographer with Rains & Associates out of Birmingham.

Walt later learns the owner of Rains & Associates  is also one of five men who created the Constitution Foundation and is involved in a sinister plot to destroy President Kane, but is using an unorthodox method to achieve its objective.  The Foundation is doing everything it can to prevent President Kane from being reelected in 2020, and is scheming to initiate a civil war that will hopefully restore allegiance to the U.S. Constitution.

While Walt is writing a book, The Coming Civil War, he is, unwittingly, gathering key information for the Constitution Foundation.

Will Walt discover a connection between the Foundation  and the deaths of three U.S. Congressmen in time to save his relationship with Regina, prevent President Kane from being reelected as the defacto head of a Christian theocracy, and the eruption of a civil war that could destroy the Nation ?

Chapter 25

Just as Chuck Todd finished his sentence, I heard my iPhone vibrating on the kitchen bar.  I walked over and saw it was from Vann.

“Morning Vann.”

“Top of the morning to you, my most popular best friend.”  Vann said like he was a TV newsman himself.

“Yea, I’m popular alright.  In the worst sort of way.”

“You’re definitely right about your stock value with the local crowd.  You were all the buzz at Grumpy’s Diner this morning.  You and the President of course.”

“Please don’t even tell me.  I know I’m the current whipping boy of the entire Kane Tribe.”  I said feeling my headache reappearing after my huge dose of coffee.

“Don’t worry about it.  The worst I heard was something about burning a cross in your front yard.”

“Thanks.  I feel a lot better.”

“Pastor Warren was actually sympathetic.”

“Was I included in his sermon.  Which service did you go to?”

“I didn’t hear it from a sermon.  I heard it at breakfast.  I thought you knew that Warren and I have breakfast together at Grumpy’s early every Sunday morning.  Been doing that for years.”

“I guess I forgot.  What did the blessed Tillman say?”  I asked pouring me another cup of coffee.

“He said he admires the courage you had in holding to your position.  He said that unfortunately you should have been wiser and less courageous.  You should have known that the President is on the right side of history, and all opposition to the Kane revolution will be squashed.  He compared it to the Israelites being on the right side of God and wiping out all their enemies in the land of Canaan after they fled Egypt.”

“I thought they wandered in the wilderness for forty years?”  I said, certain of my Bible knowledge.

“All that slaughter came after that.”

“Is this why you called me?  To give me a Bible lesson?” “No, but you could learn a whole lot by being faithful to First

Baptist Church of Christ.”  Vann said lowering his voice to a whisper.

“Regina and I came a couple of Sunday’s ago.  You know I’m not much into the church thing.”  I said walking out onto the back porch.

“I’m talking about knowing your enemies.  You’ve heard that phrase, ‘keep your friends close but your enemies closer’?”  

“Yes, I think it was Michael Corleone in “The Godfather,” part II, I think.”

“I thought it was Sun Tzu or Machiavelli or Petrarch, who said that.  Here’s my point.  I bet you didn’t know that President Kane stayed with the Warren Tillman family last night after ya’ll’s little party at the

Bevill Center.”

“You got to be kidding.”

“Apparently, the President has one favorite pastor in each state.  Warren told me he met Kane in Mobile in August 2015 when he held a big rally there.  Warren made a big contribution and he’s been a pastor insider of sorts ever since.”

“What else did Kane tell Warren?”

“All I know is what Warren shared with me this morning at breakfast.  Kane and Warren had a couple of hours of quiet time alone on his back porch.  Kane spoke of the difficulty of persuading the old Republican guard to buy into his agenda.  Said he knew the only way to ‘Make America Great Again’ was to replace the Rinos, you know that stands for ‘Republican in name only,’ with congressmen and senators who are fully committed to the Kane brand of politics.”

“I bet he convinced Warren that God had favored him or some shit like that.”  I said, wondering why I continued this conversation.

“Warren did say the President asked for prayer, and even invited

Warren up to the White House in a couple of weeks.”

“That’s all we need in America.  A Kane theocracy.”

“Listen, Sunday School’s about over, and I need to get to the auditorium.  I’m sure Pastor Warren is fired up.”

“One question please.  Why did you skip Sunday School?”

“Oh Walt, you know that I only come to church for social reasons.  And, to keep up with the local gossip.  It’s even better than

Grumpy’s.”  

“Okay, I just wanted to make sure you hadn’t been sipping the

Kool-Aid.”  

After hanging up with Vann, I slipped on my walking shoes and headed to the mailbox for the Birmingham News.  Half-way there, Regina turned into my driveway and pulled alongside me.  I kept walking and she backed her car keeping pace with me.

“Well, this is a big thank-you and loving greeting after I baby-sat you last night.”  Regina said acting a little pissed.

“Oh hi.  Can I help you Miss?  You must be lost.”

“Wow, you’re mad because I didn’t stay all night, aren’t you?”  

I walked over and leaned down into her car kissing her on the cheek.  “Just playing my love.  But, you are right, I did want you to stay all night, just like I do every night.  I kind of like you, you know?”

“Let’s take this inside.  Hope you’re hungry.  I brought a pizza. 

Grab your paper.  And, I’ll go grab you a beer.”

“Not even funny.” I said walking on towards the mailbox.

 

The primary aim of the "Novel Excerpts" blog category is to showcase my creative writing, specifically from the novels I've written. Hopefully, these posts will provide a glimpse into my storytelling style, themes, and narrative skills. It's an opportunity to share my artistic expressions and the worlds I've created through my novels.

The Boaz Stenographer, written in 2018, is my fourth novel. I'll post a chapter a day over the next few weeks.

Book Blurb

Walt Shepherd, a 35 year veteran of the White House’s stenographic team, is fired by President Andrew Kane for refusing to lie.

Walt returns to his hometown of Boaz, Alabama and renews his relationship with Regina Gillan, his high school sweetheart, who he had ditched right before graduation to marry the daughter of a prominent local businessman.  Regina has recently moved back to Boaz after forty years in Chicago working at the Tribune.  She is now editor of the Sand Mountain Reporter, a local newspaper.

Walt and Regina’s relationship transforms into a once in life love at the same time they are being immersed in a growing local and national divide between Democrats and traditional Republicans, and extremist Republicans (known as Kanites) who are becoming more dogmatic about the revolution that began during President Kanes campaign.

Walt accepts two part-time jobs.  One as a stenography instructor at Snead State Community College in Boaz, and one as an itinerant stenographer with Rains & Associates out of Birmingham.

Walt later learns the owner of Rains & Associates  is also one of five men who created the Constitution Foundation and is involved in a sinister plot to destroy President Kane, but is using an unorthodox method to achieve its objective.  The Foundation is doing everything it can to prevent President Kane from being reelected in 2020, and is scheming to initiate a civil war that will hopefully restore allegiance to the U.S. Constitution.

While Walt is writing a book, The Coming Civil War, he is, unwittingly, gathering key information for the Constitution Foundation.

Will Walt discover a connection between the Foundation  and the deaths of three U.S. Congressmen in time to save his relationship with Regina, prevent President Kane from being reelected as the defacto head of a Christian theocracy, and the eruption of a civil war that could destroy the Nation ?

Chapter 24

I woke up Sunday morning with a splitting headache.  I had a hangover.  I couldn’t remember if I had ever had such a thing.  I hated beer, and rarely drank any type of alcohol.  Last night after Justin Adams’ campaign kickoff I had this insatiable desire to kill myself.  I settled for getting drunk.  Regina and I had wound up at my house, but only after I convinced her to let me purchase a six pack of Coor’s Lite.  We sat out on the back porch till nearly two a.m.  After three beers, I was buzzed, and she helped me get in bed.  I now assume she left because I don’t see her, and she certainly isn’t lying beside me in my bed.

After stumbling through my bathroom routine, I went downstairs and grabbed a large cup of black coffee, thankful for an automatic coffee maker, and promising myself I would never drink another beer.  I sat down on the couch and flipped on the TV.

For some reason, Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace was on.  I guessed Regina had watched some TV after I went to sleep last night on the couch.  He was talking about Kane’s Twitter fight last week with Morning Joe’s, Mika Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough.  As usual, Kane had called Morning Joe’s assessment that a ‘real’ President doesn’t make public statements that he is going to rain down fire and brimstone on another nation, especially, through his Twitter account.  Just as I was about to flip over to CNN’s Meet the Press, I saw a photo of President Kane standing on a stage behind a podium.  Behind him was a huge banner that read, “Justin Adams for Governor.”  This caught my attention.

Wallace went on to describe how a mean and tactless Kane had totally humiliated and embarrassed a former White House stenographer. 

The screen revealed the President’s exact statements he made to me, while Wallace read them: “I see I’m here among many friends and at least one enemy.  Walt Shepherd, you should be ashamed of being such a coward, of hating freedom and being so brainwashed by the liberals.”  The TV then showed multiple panorama sweeps of the entire Bevill Center, revealing an overflowing crowd of diehard Kane fans.

I switched the channel to CNN and caught the tail end of Chuck Todd’s, Meet the Press.  He, likewise, had chosen to conclude his Sunday morning program by featuring President Kane’s trip to Alabama, and his branding of gubernatorial candidate Justin Adams as the face of Kane America’s revolutionary governors.  

Over the next couple of minutes, I flipped back and forth between CNN and Fox News.  I was more pleased with Todd’s conclusions than Wallace’s.  But, both were more sympathetic to my position than to Kane’s.  It was refreshing to hear a Fox News reporter say, “President Kane appears to care only for himself and loses all his empathy, assuming he has any at all, simply to throw raw meat to his base supporters.”  Chuck Todd got specific.  He spent nearly a minute conveying my public statement, the only one I gave after being fired, where I described what had happened in the Rose Garden, what I had heard, and how I had no choice but to stick with the truth.  Todd said, “this country is going to need a lot more Walt Shepherd’s to stop the Kane Train from wrecking America.”