R.L. Brown's Blog

First Novel! Brother's Keeper

My first novel is finally finished! Feel free to preview Chapter 1 of Brother’s Keeper in my writing section.

Boys Don't Cry (Excerpt)

The lake, and its surroundings, seemed so different from up top of the roof. While they never discussed it openly, they both realized the importance to sit quietly and motionlessly for a while and simply observe. The two boys adopted a habit of whispering rather than using their normal speaking voices when they were seated on the roof, or they would simply point when they noticed something of interest. They often wondered if the wealthy people who owned the homes high in the wooded hills across from them, ever sat pressed against their picture windows and stared down at the lake. The boys often remarked that if they lived up there they would gaze down at the lake every day in search of “nervous water,” so they would know where the baitfish were, and rush down to fish those spots. They would gaze off into the tree tops, looking for birds of prey. Upon spotting one, Richard would hiss that it was a Bald Eagle. Christopher knew better, and would say it was just a hawk, or perhaps a falcon, sometimes it was just a large crow. Ever since learning they were endangered, Richard wanted dearly to see a Bald Eagle, so every large bird was an eagle, until he was corrected. After a while, they would silently slide down from the roof, and they never discussed their thoughts and feelings from the roof, but they would exchange a knowing glance as their feet touched the ground. After that, the Zen like trance was over, and they each behaved as if they had never spent time up there at all.Boys Don't Cry