Write to Life blog

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 31

The first few weeks of the Boaz Stenographer column were bland at best.  The Sand Mountain Reporter selection committee consisted of the senior sports reporter, the Classified-Ad saleslady, and Delton Kittle, the crime reporter.  One week the committee choose an entry by Tony Sasser, “the City of Boaz is an idiot for turning down a two million dollar offer from Frank at the Bowling Alley.”  Another week, the committee selected a submission by Randy Goings, “Yesterday’s double rainbow. More evidence of God’s unending love.”  I was thankful Regina hadn’t asked me to write the SMR’s weekly response column before now.

This week’s selection was submitted by Dale Engles, “If you don’t like statutes of Robert E. Lee and other Confederate soldiers, then get the hell out of the south.  There’s plenty of places for you to live in the North.”  Finally, something to write about.  I needed to conduct my pre-writing first, so I checked out Mr. Engle’s Facebook Page.  No doubt he is a devout Christian.  He often posts about God this or God that.  

So far Engles fit the profile.  First, virtually everyone in the South, certainly around Boaz, is a Christian fundamentalist.  This means they believe the Bible was written by God, is without error, and is to be taken literally.  Yes, these folks believe in a literal Adam and Eve, and Noah’s Ark.  I assume Engles is like most all other Jesus believers, he believes God is in control.  He has a plan for every follower.  Even when the worst things happen, like recently, when the local and beloved football coach died at thirty-nine, God was simply revealing His endless mercy and love.  This was the case, even though hundreds had taken to Facebook to shout their support and to declare their undying commitment to pray for the cancer-stricken coach.  I have yet to see a single comment that even hints the question why didn’t prayer work.

I was now on a rabbit trail.  It was early Sunday morning, way before daylight, and I had to have a draft to Regina by late afternoon, and I had more important things to do today.  I returned to Engle’s statement: “If you don’t like statutes of Robert E. Lee and other

Confederate soldiers, then get the hell out of the south.  There’s plenty of places for you to live in the North.”  I easily concluded this wasn’t the statement of a rational human being.  My response had to be, that was what Regina had charged me with when I accepted her offer to prepare a response to the weekly selected statement.  A statement that was supposed to be something that a Boaz resident had said, written, or seen or heard locally or nationally.  This requirement tied to the name, the Boaz Stenographer.  The person submitting the quote had to be totally accurate, since that’s what a real stenographer does, he takes down verbal statements exactly, without change.

I knew Engle’s statement screamed for me to address Robert E. Lee himself.  No doubt, he had a great reputation in the South.  I assume the general opinion throughout the South, especially among the less educated, is that secession was totally justified.  Who were the damn Yankees to tell us Southern plantation owners that we could no longer own slaves?  Hell, the Bible supports slavery.  No matter what wonderful things that could be said about Mr. Lee, there are a few things that cannot be argued.  Unlike George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, both slave-owners themselves, Lee was the only one of these who choose to fight against his country and kill hundreds of thousands of his fellow Americans to preserve his right to own and sell slaves.  It was Lee who chose to fight for his fellow Southerners right to sell a black mother to one buyer, and her child to another buyer.  Lee was a Virginian and a U.S. army officer before the Civil War started.  Both he and Grant were graduates of West Point.  Lee could have remained in the federal army and fought to protect the United States of America.  Over forty percent of Virginian’s did just that. There is no doubt Robert E. Lee was guilty of treason.  Even though he was indicted, he was never prosecuted because General Grant persuaded President Johnson otherwise.  Lee’s troops killed at least 360,000 Union soldiers, and Lee led approximately 260,000 Confederate soldiers to their death.  Lee’s legacy lives on to this day.  

During my research, I found a letter allegedly written in 1856 by Robert E. Lee to then President Pierce.  “The blacks are immeasurably better off here than in Africa, morally, physically, and socially.  The painful discipline they are undergoing is necessary for their further instruction as a race, and will prepare them, I hope, for better things. How long their servitude may be necessary is known and ordered by a merciful Providence.”  

Why did Lee choose to lead the Southern army; was it because of his allegiance to state’s rights?  Maybe.  If so, he allowed that allegiance to lessen his sympathy toward the suffering slave (which appears to reconcile with what he wrote above).  All I could think about was the overwhelming pain and suffering multitudes of blacks endured at the hands of Southern whites/slave-owners–probably, including my own ancestors.  Seems to me, I have a lot to be ashamed of and therefore, I should do my best to be slow to speak and quick to learn. Finally, I suspect Robert E. Lee was like most of us, a mix of good and bad, most likely an honorable man. Of course, we all know honorable men are men; they can be wrong.  If I had to vote right now whether to leave the Civil War statutes, I would vote yes, leave them. But, that vote wouldn’t represent the result of my careful research and analysis.

The sad thing is that Mr. Engles probably doesn’t care about these facts at all.  He has this warped opinion, generated by years of brainwashing, indoctrination, poor education, all included within Christian fundamentalism, that facts and truth don’t really matter.  Of course, he would argue differently.  He would likely argue, as Lee himself did, that the black man was far better off on a Southern plantation than he was when he was in Africa.

No doubt, Robert E. Lee and Dale Engles, grounded their worldview in scripture.  As Lee stated, God was in control, and, if he chose, would free the black slaves in good time.  Engles, likewise, would argue for the wisdom of a providential God.  Engles didn’t say it but it appeared certain he would argue that if a person is against the Robert E. Lee statute then he is against God.  And, Engles wasn’t the only one who likely thought this.  I counted over forty comments from others in the Boaz community who felt the same way.  Sissy Peterson said, “God works in mysterious ways.  Sometimes it is God’s will that thousands are killed.  Just look at His commands to the Israelites to wipe out every man, woman, and child in Canaan.  But, no matter, God is good, He is Holy good.”

I felt like my little brainstorming adventure had given me enough ideas that I could develop an outline.  Writing my article would be the easy part. But, I could do that later.  Now, I was sleepy.  I walked back upstairs from my study and lay back across the bed.  The first rays of the sun were just appearing through a small crack in the blinds.  As I tried to doze back off, I couldn’t help but associate Dale Engles with President Kane.  No doubt, Engles would be a huge fan.  When facts, truth, and reason are relegated to the waste bin, one cockamamie opinion is as good as another.

 

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 30

Detective Darden Clarke Abbott sat at his desk still puzzled at the red, five-pointed star found a month ago at the Kip Brewer murder scene. 

The Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences, so far, had been unable to match the partial fingerprint found smudged on the star with anyone in any known database in America.  The father and son duo who found the star had used a pair of needle-nose plyers to lift it from the location where it was found, to place it in a plastic, zip-lock bag.

It was sheer coincidence the red star was found.  On Saturday, April 21st, Ronald Simpson and his son Rodney were celebrating the twelve-year old’s birthday with a day of treasure-hunting with Rodney’s new Tesoro Silver uMax metal detector.  Ronald was a single parent, a truck-driver by trade, who had obtained custody of Rodney just a few weeks earlier when his mother had been killed in a car accident in Baton Rouge, her and Rodney’s hometown.

Ronald and Rodney lived off Highway 179, in an old 40-foot mobile home, on a dead-end dirt road that curled behind Spider’s Spirits, a small beer and liquor store just over the county line.  The two had walked into the woods behind their house and headed straight to Cherryville. It was a nickname from Ronald’s youth and beyond.  It was just a camp three-quarters of a mile into the woods.  No one knew who named it, but long-standing rumor was that it was a teenage hangout, popular as a place young girls lost their virginity. 

The plan was to hike to Cherryville and try their luck with Rodney’s new toy.  After two hours, the two got bored with finding bottle caps and decided to turn north towards Kip Brewer’s pasture to see if the highly publicized murder scene was still forbidden to visitors.  To their surprise, it was abandoned, except for the crime tape that still cordoned off a half-acre rectangle.

After another two hours of searching, without finding anything, not even a single bottle cap, Rodney climbed a big oak tree that stood next to the barbed-wire fence along the edge of the pasture.  It was there the star was found.  Fifteen feet off the ground and wedged between two smaller limbs that crossed the giant limb Rodney was sitting on.  It appeared someone had probably been climbing down the tree and got a sleeve caught between the limbs pulling off the attached star.  The backside of the star contained a tiny loop for thread in sewing it on something like a hat or jacket.

The only thing for sure Detective Clarke and the FBI had been able to conclude was the red star was a Russian symbol often associated with communist ideology.  Another fact the Department of Forensic Sciences felt nearly as strong about, was this star, the one found by Rodney Simpson, was manufactured in St. Petersburg, Russia, probably at the metals plant started by Nikolai Kuznetsov, who produced most of the red stars for the Russian army during World War II.  The Department’s consultation with three independent international collector’s and metallurgists yielded the same story.  The subject red star was authentic Russian, manufactured in the mid to late 1940’s and was commonly used with military uniforms, most often, military hats and jackets.  However, the collector’s all pointed out the ease of buying a red star from websites such as eBay, although most were imitations.

Detective Clarke sat frustrated.  Today, he had to meet with District Attorney Clay Thompson, who was hosting Trevor Nixon, Frankie Olinger’s defense attorney from Boaz.  He was scheduled to arrive at 11:00 a.m. to inspect the red star and the related Forensic’s report.  Clarke imagined he could hear Nixon at Olinger’s trial, assuming the case got that far, spinning the tale that the Russian’s had murdered Kip Brewer.  Surely, no Marshall County jury would buy into such a farfetched idea. 

 

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.