Category: Young Adult/Teen Publisher: Club Lighthouse
ISBN-10: 1897532806
ISBN-13: 9781897532805
See below
Pock-marked Kenny Lapin lives with his mother in a forlorn one bedroom apartment and sleeps on a fold out sofa. His mother works as a part time receptionist, in which every month is a struggle to make ends meet. Kenny Lapin would love nothing more than to be rich, so that he could be free to do and buy what he wants. He would love to leave the suburban torture of Hayworth and flee to Southern California's eternal summer. Instead he is forced to work at Benny Burger a fast food franchise and earn a paltry wage. There he meets Kahina, a saucy and sophisticated girl who works the register and who he would like to get close to, and Javier with whom Kenny works with in the kitchen to closing time. All of them are tyrannized by a twenty-something assistant manager, Greg Brewster. On the top of Hamburger Heaven hen-picking order is Mel, a complete Panglossian idiot who thinks working at Benny Burger is a chance of life time. When Greg Brewster punches Kenny and Mel out a half hour before they have finished closing, it is a rude awakening to how unfair the working world is. To even things up, Kenny has no recourse but to steal from the store's safe on the biggest day in the restaurant's history...the day Benny Burger, the corporate clown comes to visit the franchise...
Excerpt
“SO THIS IS YOUR first day!” Greg beamed with a decisive swivel in his chair.
Kenny‟s head nodded like a springboard. Big Greg Brewster leaned back with a sigh and flicked his
Benny Burger tie clip. Kenny inhaled and looked around. The white-paneled walls reflected the
fluorescent light making the walk-in refrigerator, directly behind Greg, shiny and hard edged. Beside
it, the ice machine rumbled with freshly made cubes. The back sink lurked in the corner beyond the
ice machine.
“Run of burgers,” Someone yelled from the kitchen.
“I see you‟re wearing your black pants,” Said Greg.
He hated the prospect of working in a hot kitchen all summer. Greg moved back and forth in his
chair. His round face and twinkling blue eyes reminded Kenny of a Tiny Tears doll.
“Everybody knows how hard the first day is.” Greg brushed back his mane and continued in his
matter-of-fact manner. “Your shoes are all right.” Kenny looked down at his black Converse High
Top sneakers.
“They‟ll do,” Snapped Greg.
Kenny then realized that he will have to fit into Greg‟s criteria of what is and what isn‟t
appropriate all summer long. Greg gazed down and grinned at the way Kenny‟s ankles angled out
even with high top sneakers. Kenny pulled up his socks self-consciously. A part of Greg felt sorry for
this boney and awkward kid.
“How many years of high school do you have?” He asked.
“I have another year.” The rubber bands on his braces tightened and made his dental work hurt.
Greg played with the paper clip on the Formica-topped desk.
“What‟s your favourite subject?”
Kenny wondered why Greg was asking these questions. He glanced down at his wristwatch and
wished it was time to leave.
“Biology, I suppose.”
Kenny hated school as much as the next guy, and, in fact, had no favourite subject, but why not
say Biology? It sounded as good as anything else.
“I like a man with direction,” Greg said fiddling thoughtfully with his nose. He cocked his head
and peered directly at Kenny. “Are you willing to work hard for us?” He asked with great
concentration.
Khenlee has reached 12 Cycles of Seasons and will find which working circle she will now belong to. She is shocked to find out what the gods have decided what her life work will be.
Bristlecone Magic is a YA Christian fantasy about family, friends, neighborliness, love, magic and yes, even tragedy. The story takes place in Clinton County in upstate New York.
There is more than one kind of Magic! Contact me if you'd like an au
