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Behind the Wheel
An unlicensed driver. His dad's truck. What could possibly go wrong?
Sean Porter needs a ride to meet a girl. Two things stand in his a driver and his younger brother, Paul.
"Behind the Wheel" first appeared in Visible & Invisible, a collection of short stories by eight CatholicTeenBooks.com authors, all with a secret or two. It features the Porter brothers, Sean and Paul, who readers meet several years later in the full-length novel Rightfully Ours.
Sean Porter needs a ride to meet a girl. Two things stand in his a driver and his younger brother, Paul.
"Behind the Wheel" first appeared in Visible & Invisible, a collection of short stories by eight CatholicTeenBooks.com authors, all with a secret or two. It features the Porter brothers, Sean and Paul, who readers meet several years later in the full-length novel Rightfully Ours.
26 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 1, 2021
10 people want to read
About the author
Carolyn Astfalk
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https://bit.ly/BookbubCarolynAstfalk
Carolyn Astfalk resides with her husband and four children in Hershey, Pennsylvania, where it smells like either chocolate or manure, depending on wind direction.
She is the author of the Contemporary Christian romances Stay With Me, Come Back to Me, Ornamental Graces, and All in Good Time, and the coming-of-age story Rightfully Ours.
Carolyn is a member of the Catholic Writers Guild, Catholic Teen Books, Pennwriters, and is a CatholicMom.com contributor.
True to her Pittsburgh roots, she still says “pop” instead of “soda,” although her beverage of choice is tea.
https://bit.ly/BookbubCarolynAstfalk
Carolyn Astfalk resides with her husband and four children in Hershey, Pennsylvania, where it smells like either chocolate or manure, depending on wind direction.
She is the author of the Contemporary Christian romances Stay With Me, Come Back to Me, Ornamental Graces, and All in Good Time, and the coming-of-age story Rightfully Ours.
Carolyn is a member of the Catholic Writers Guild, Catholic Teen Books, Pennwriters, and is a CatholicMom.com contributor.
True to her Pittsburgh roots, she still says “pop” instead of “soda,” although her beverage of choice is tea.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 11, 2021
I previously read this story in the anthology Secrets: Visible & Invisible 7 Amazing Stories from the Catholic Teen Books authors. I picked it up for two reasons, first I have greatly enjoyed everything of hers that I have read and benefited from it. Second I remember the characters and returning to the story was like a visit with old friends.
I have read five novels by Carolyn Astfalk and her short story in the collection mentioned above and in; Treasures: Visible & Invisible 8 Stories for Teens and Gifts Visible & Invisible 8 Christmas Stories for Teens. Reading this impacted me more reading it as a stand-alone story. Also reading it now as my own children are the ages of those in the story. I said previously about stories in anthologies that I thought it is sort of like having a mixed box of chocolates. If you have 2 or three, they lose a bit of their distinctiveness. And as much as I love anthologies, there is something to be said about reading the stories in isolation. Returning to this story apart from the anthology setting has reminded me how excellent Carolyn’s writing is!
My quick summary of the story when I read it more than a year ago in the collection was:
“I have been hearing about the writings of Carolyn Astfalk and I have picked up three of her novels. I just have not got around to reading them. But after reading this short story the novel Rightfully Ours, with the same characters jumped to the top of my reading list. This story is about taking a risk and breaking rules. But when the moment comes, will character come through or will it self-preservation win out? It was a great story and I look forward to reading more by Astfalk.”
And I enjoyed this story so much I went on and have since read everything Astfalk has published. The Description of the short story version is:
“Sean Porter needs a ride to meet a girl. Two things stand in his way: a driver and his younger brother, Paul.
"Behind the Wheel" first appeared in Secrets: Visible & Invisible, a collection of short stories by eight Catholic Teen Books authors, all with a secret or two. It features the Porter brothers, Sean and Paul, who readers meet several years later in the full-length novel Rightfully Ours.”
The novel this story leads to as mentioned is Rightfully Ours, and it is an excellent read. But this short story is also a wonderful read. And as my own children at home are now 15, almost 14 and 11 this story really hit home. A section that really impacted me is:
“Dad’s gaze wandered the page again. “Define fortitude.”
“Uh, courage,” Paul said with a note of uncertainty.
Dad nodded then read from the page margin: “Virtue that ensures firmness in difficulties. Strengthens the resolve to resist temptations, overcome obstacles. Enables one to conquer fears, face trials and persecution.” The book smacked shut, and Dad placed it on the table.
“Despite what happened,” he leveled a pointed look at Sean, “I’ve seen evidence of fortitude in both of you tonight. Paul, you called me when you knew you’d be in trouble with both me and Sean. Because it was the right thing to do.”
Paul swallowed and gave the slightest nod.”
The story has a wonderful message. And yet it also really caused me to reflect, and think, to think back on my own life and on where my children are at these days. It is a great story for teens, tweens and adults. It has a great message we could all be reminded of from time to time. It is an excellent offering from the pen of Carolyn Astfalk.
Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2021 Catholic Reading Plan!
I have read five novels by Carolyn Astfalk and her short story in the collection mentioned above and in; Treasures: Visible & Invisible 8 Stories for Teens and Gifts Visible & Invisible 8 Christmas Stories for Teens. Reading this impacted me more reading it as a stand-alone story. Also reading it now as my own children are the ages of those in the story. I said previously about stories in anthologies that I thought it is sort of like having a mixed box of chocolates. If you have 2 or three, they lose a bit of their distinctiveness. And as much as I love anthologies, there is something to be said about reading the stories in isolation. Returning to this story apart from the anthology setting has reminded me how excellent Carolyn’s writing is!
My quick summary of the story when I read it more than a year ago in the collection was:
“I have been hearing about the writings of Carolyn Astfalk and I have picked up three of her novels. I just have not got around to reading them. But after reading this short story the novel Rightfully Ours, with the same characters jumped to the top of my reading list. This story is about taking a risk and breaking rules. But when the moment comes, will character come through or will it self-preservation win out? It was a great story and I look forward to reading more by Astfalk.”
And I enjoyed this story so much I went on and have since read everything Astfalk has published. The Description of the short story version is:
“Sean Porter needs a ride to meet a girl. Two things stand in his way: a driver and his younger brother, Paul.
"Behind the Wheel" first appeared in Secrets: Visible & Invisible, a collection of short stories by eight Catholic Teen Books authors, all with a secret or two. It features the Porter brothers, Sean and Paul, who readers meet several years later in the full-length novel Rightfully Ours.”
The novel this story leads to as mentioned is Rightfully Ours, and it is an excellent read. But this short story is also a wonderful read. And as my own children at home are now 15, almost 14 and 11 this story really hit home. A section that really impacted me is:
“Dad’s gaze wandered the page again. “Define fortitude.”
“Uh, courage,” Paul said with a note of uncertainty.
Dad nodded then read from the page margin: “Virtue that ensures firmness in difficulties. Strengthens the resolve to resist temptations, overcome obstacles. Enables one to conquer fears, face trials and persecution.” The book smacked shut, and Dad placed it on the table.
“Despite what happened,” he leveled a pointed look at Sean, “I’ve seen evidence of fortitude in both of you tonight. Paul, you called me when you knew you’d be in trouble with both me and Sean. Because it was the right thing to do.”
Paul swallowed and gave the slightest nod.”
The story has a wonderful message. And yet it also really caused me to reflect, and think, to think back on my own life and on where my children are at these days. It is a great story for teens, tweens and adults. It has a great message we could all be reminded of from time to time. It is an excellent offering from the pen of Carolyn Astfalk.
Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2021 Catholic Reading Plan!
November 26, 2022
This short story features a character that only had a supporting role in Carolyn Astfalk's Rightfully Ours. My intrigue with Sean Porter began in that teen novel but grew immensely in this story. Sean's mischievous/good-guy personality makes him one to learn from and root for! If only there were a whole novel about this interesting character - hint hint. :)
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews