Exerpt from Cameron's Quest - a real life moment.
Below is an excerpt from Cameron' Quest. This section is a good snapshot of my writing style for the entire Columbus Avenue Boys trilogy. If you read to its end, you will probably have some moisture forming in your eyes - (it is not dust). And, the remedy will probably be to click the link and buy the book---books.....
MAY 7, 1987
Chris could not hold back his excitement. On any other day, he would saunter back to his apartment after a late afternoon workout. Not today, he was bouncing with energy and needed to share his euphoria. He had busted his ass, and for the first time had earned A’s for all of his classes. After a killer weight session of squats, and dead lifts, he spoke with his political science professor. He needed to pull high marks on the final exam and term paper to push his grade from B+ to an A. The professor praised his paper as one of the finest she had read during her seven years at UT.
The thesis was focused on the Great Depression. Chris had supported his contention that the big government policies of President Hoover and continued with more draconian measures by President Roosevelt had prolonged the misery. If not for the build-up of the military related to World War Two, the United States economy may have not recovered to the war production level. His analysis highlighted the New Deal as a failure. The unemployment rate rose from 14% to 19%, and the public works programs accomplished little of significance. This big government spending strategy was implemented via the recommendation of British economist John Maynard Keynes to lift the country out of its economic doldrums. His research disproved Keynesian economic policy and trumpeted supply-side economic policy as more effective in turning the country around following the 1920-1921 depression. President Harding had cut personal income taxes and reduced federal government spending. After Harding’s death, President Coolidge continued on this course, and the Roaring Twenties brought along a period of prosperity. His conclusion re-emphasized the argument with sound examples of the current success of Reaganomics supply-side doctrine.
Taking the stairs three at a time, Chris was sweating profusely. Breathing heavily, he opened the door of the apartment to the sound of a CNN anchor parroting the breaking news of presidential candidate, Gary Hart’s higher office ambitions crumbling. Mr. Hart’s love affair with Donna Rice aboard the yacht Money Business had been exposed.
“This crap’s been in the news for days. Doesn’t CNN have anything better to report on?” Chris derided the report as he walked to the kitchenette and the refrigerator full of beer. Sitting on opposite ends of the couch, Ron and J.R. had remained silent and did not respond to his current events banter. J.R. stood and clicked the television off.
“Hey, turn on Cheers. I hear Sam’s going to ask Diane to marry him tonight,” Chris howled.
J.R. somberly called out, “Yo CeeJay, sit.”
“Dudes, get ready to party tonight; my first 4.0 for a semester!” Ignoring the sedateness, Chris took a sip from a cold Shiner Bock, clicked the TV set back on and changed the channel to NBC before plopping in the recliner adjacent to his roommates.
“CeeJay, your mom called. I took the message while you were out,” Ron-Ron paused, his eyes were closed and his voice cracked. “Your grandfather had a stroke…sorry buddy…he died an hour ago.”
Not another word was said. Lost in the moment, they collectively sniffled and wiped tears away. Chris had emotionally supported his roommates, for J.R. and his mom’s cancer treatment and last year after Ron’s sister had been injured in a car accident. They came from different worlds but had formed a bond that would never waver.
As the shock of the death of man who Chris had called Grampy as a toddler was being fully processed, happy memories darted through his brain…the image of him as a baby sucking on a bottle while resting on his Grampy’s lap on their plastic-covered couch...a proud old man bundled in a winter jack braving the elements while watching his grandson play a late fall, football game...a black and white wedding photo situated on top of the living room fireplace, oh my God, after fifty two years of marriage how was his grandmother going to survive…a quartet of men happily toasting wine; Joe Cavazzi sharing a moment with his three paisanos.
The apropos lyrics to the introduction of Cheers sung out. Chris placed his face in the palms of his hands. He had to get back to Tuckahoe as fast as he could; Gary Portney was perceptive - Sometimes you wannabe where everybody knows your name.
https://www.amazon.com/Camerons-Quest...
MAY 7, 1987
Chris could not hold back his excitement. On any other day, he would saunter back to his apartment after a late afternoon workout. Not today, he was bouncing with energy and needed to share his euphoria. He had busted his ass, and for the first time had earned A’s for all of his classes. After a killer weight session of squats, and dead lifts, he spoke with his political science professor. He needed to pull high marks on the final exam and term paper to push his grade from B+ to an A. The professor praised his paper as one of the finest she had read during her seven years at UT.
The thesis was focused on the Great Depression. Chris had supported his contention that the big government policies of President Hoover and continued with more draconian measures by President Roosevelt had prolonged the misery. If not for the build-up of the military related to World War Two, the United States economy may have not recovered to the war production level. His analysis highlighted the New Deal as a failure. The unemployment rate rose from 14% to 19%, and the public works programs accomplished little of significance. This big government spending strategy was implemented via the recommendation of British economist John Maynard Keynes to lift the country out of its economic doldrums. His research disproved Keynesian economic policy and trumpeted supply-side economic policy as more effective in turning the country around following the 1920-1921 depression. President Harding had cut personal income taxes and reduced federal government spending. After Harding’s death, President Coolidge continued on this course, and the Roaring Twenties brought along a period of prosperity. His conclusion re-emphasized the argument with sound examples of the current success of Reaganomics supply-side doctrine.
Taking the stairs three at a time, Chris was sweating profusely. Breathing heavily, he opened the door of the apartment to the sound of a CNN anchor parroting the breaking news of presidential candidate, Gary Hart’s higher office ambitions crumbling. Mr. Hart’s love affair with Donna Rice aboard the yacht Money Business had been exposed.
“This crap’s been in the news for days. Doesn’t CNN have anything better to report on?” Chris derided the report as he walked to the kitchenette and the refrigerator full of beer. Sitting on opposite ends of the couch, Ron and J.R. had remained silent and did not respond to his current events banter. J.R. stood and clicked the television off.
“Hey, turn on Cheers. I hear Sam’s going to ask Diane to marry him tonight,” Chris howled.
J.R. somberly called out, “Yo CeeJay, sit.”
“Dudes, get ready to party tonight; my first 4.0 for a semester!” Ignoring the sedateness, Chris took a sip from a cold Shiner Bock, clicked the TV set back on and changed the channel to NBC before plopping in the recliner adjacent to his roommates.
“CeeJay, your mom called. I took the message while you were out,” Ron-Ron paused, his eyes were closed and his voice cracked. “Your grandfather had a stroke…sorry buddy…he died an hour ago.”
Not another word was said. Lost in the moment, they collectively sniffled and wiped tears away. Chris had emotionally supported his roommates, for J.R. and his mom’s cancer treatment and last year after Ron’s sister had been injured in a car accident. They came from different worlds but had formed a bond that would never waver.
As the shock of the death of man who Chris had called Grampy as a toddler was being fully processed, happy memories darted through his brain…the image of him as a baby sucking on a bottle while resting on his Grampy’s lap on their plastic-covered couch...a proud old man bundled in a winter jack braving the elements while watching his grandson play a late fall, football game...a black and white wedding photo situated on top of the living room fireplace, oh my God, after fifty two years of marriage how was his grandmother going to survive…a quartet of men happily toasting wine; Joe Cavazzi sharing a moment with his three paisanos.
The apropos lyrics to the introduction of Cheers sung out. Chris placed his face in the palms of his hands. He had to get back to Tuckahoe as fast as he could; Gary Portney was perceptive - Sometimes you wannabe where everybody knows your name.
https://www.amazon.com/Camerons-Quest...
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