The Threshold
Hello dear readers. It was a tough decision, but I've decided to do something a bit risky. I shall be posting my NaNoWriMo novel, unedited, in excerpts on my blog for you all to read, enjoy, hate, admire, and make fun of. I haven't even read the whole thing yet, so consider yourself privileged!
Here's your first tidbit!
It was graduation day that everything began to change in the world of Alex Black. Not only was this the long awaited day of his release from high school prison, but he would later find it was the beginning of a most unusual journey.
Alex was sitting in the third row of students waiting to be called up for diplomas. He nervously scanned the crowds of family and friends watching loved ones receive their certificates, not looking for his parents, but rather someone they did not approve of; his best friend Grif. Grif was not a gangster or a drop out. He was not a dealer or a thief. He was a writer, who happened to be old enough to be Alex’s father. At 45, many found it odd that Grif kept the company of a teenager. The two met when Alex was only 15 and a sophomore in high school, but we’ll get into the details on that soon enough. Right now, Alex was feeling very worried for his older friend and mentor, for he hadn’t yet spotted him in the audience and knew this was not a day Grif would purposely miss.
Where is he? thought the boy. Something must be wrong. Lost in thought and worry for his friend, Alex didn’t even hear his name called over the speakers by his principle, a moment he had anticipated since his freshman year.
“Alex, your up!” urged his walking partner and girlfriend, Melissa.
“Oh, yeah,” Alex answered, still slightly lost within his own mind.
He stood up and began the short march to the line of administration waiting to absently shake his hand and move on to the next student, when he saw Grif making his way between people trying to get to a vacant seat among the crowd. Alex was so overcome with relief that he forgot himself and tripped dramatically after stepping on the fabric of his black graduation gown. He nearly did a somersault in the course of the fall, his cap flew off and as he lay sprawled on the grass he thought, What a way to be remembered.
The crowd roared with claps, whistles and laughter as the boy picked himself up as quickly as he could, grabbed his diploma and sat back down, hoping for a way to bury his face.
Two hours later, after posing for countless pictures with family and making his rounds with fellow graduates, Alex found Grif waiting for him in the bleachers where the crowd was sitting before. The moment he saw the boy, a grin spread across his face. Alex mistook this as a sign that Grif noticed his spectacular fall in front of the entire senior class, but it was actually a smile of pride.
“Thanks a lot,” Alex said to Grif sarcastically. “You made me biff it in front of everyone!”
Grif still smiled and simply said, “sorry I was late.”
“Where were you?” Alex asked.
"Getting things ready.”
“Ready? For what?”
“For the journey of a lifetime.”
Here's your first tidbit!
THE THRESHOLD
installment one
It was graduation day that everything began to change in the world of Alex Black. Not only was this the long awaited day of his release from high school prison, but he would later find it was the beginning of a most unusual journey.
Alex was sitting in the third row of students waiting to be called up for diplomas. He nervously scanned the crowds of family and friends watching loved ones receive their certificates, not looking for his parents, but rather someone they did not approve of; his best friend Grif. Grif was not a gangster or a drop out. He was not a dealer or a thief. He was a writer, who happened to be old enough to be Alex’s father. At 45, many found it odd that Grif kept the company of a teenager. The two met when Alex was only 15 and a sophomore in high school, but we’ll get into the details on that soon enough. Right now, Alex was feeling very worried for his older friend and mentor, for he hadn’t yet spotted him in the audience and knew this was not a day Grif would purposely miss.
Where is he? thought the boy. Something must be wrong. Lost in thought and worry for his friend, Alex didn’t even hear his name called over the speakers by his principle, a moment he had anticipated since his freshman year.
“Alex, your up!” urged his walking partner and girlfriend, Melissa.
“Oh, yeah,” Alex answered, still slightly lost within his own mind.
He stood up and began the short march to the line of administration waiting to absently shake his hand and move on to the next student, when he saw Grif making his way between people trying to get to a vacant seat among the crowd. Alex was so overcome with relief that he forgot himself and tripped dramatically after stepping on the fabric of his black graduation gown. He nearly did a somersault in the course of the fall, his cap flew off and as he lay sprawled on the grass he thought, What a way to be remembered.
The crowd roared with claps, whistles and laughter as the boy picked himself up as quickly as he could, grabbed his diploma and sat back down, hoping for a way to bury his face.
Two hours later, after posing for countless pictures with family and making his rounds with fellow graduates, Alex found Grif waiting for him in the bleachers where the crowd was sitting before. The moment he saw the boy, a grin spread across his face. Alex mistook this as a sign that Grif noticed his spectacular fall in front of the entire senior class, but it was actually a smile of pride.
“Thanks a lot,” Alex said to Grif sarcastically. “You made me biff it in front of everyone!”
Grif still smiled and simply said, “sorry I was late.”
“Where were you?” Alex asked.
"Getting things ready.”
“Ready? For what?”
“For the journey of a lifetime.”
ALL MATERIAL IS COPYRIGHT SHELLY ALLISON MORTON
posted by Shelly at
4:09 PM
1 Comments:
Of course, you left us hanging so we'll have to come back for more!
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