Kindle Edition
Amazon
Amazon
Category:
Action/Thriller
Publisher: Amazon
ISBN-10: B00BE3G11E
Type: Fiction
Pages: 182
Copyright: February 9,, 2012
Price: $5.99 (eBook)
An historic novel about growing up during the 1950's and 1960's. Set in and around Rochester, NY; it recounts the humorous, irreverent and poignant tales of childhood, adolescence and young adulthood. The story begins in 1954 at the Cold Water, NY railroad crossing and ends on snowy Christmas Eve - 1968.
"Taking the Tracks" is set in the 50's and 60's. I was a simpler time when childhood pursuits did NOT consist of video games, cell phones and the other ancillary electronic distractions which mesmerize today's kids.
But be warned, there’s no steamy sex, no gore, no blatant profanity and no violence; save for a one-punch schoolyard fight. And mercifully – no Zombies!
Formatted specifically for Kindle, what sets “Taking the Tracks” apart from other novels is its unique format. Each chapter is a self-contained short story, though all 27 are loosely arranged in chronological order.
Excerpt
".......Hands down, my favorite day of the year was the opening of the Chili Fireman’s Carnival, Ronny on the other hand lived for April Fools Day. And back in 1961, while Miss Wallace endeavored valiantly to steer the vessel of our education, it was Ronny Bromley who single handedly torpedoed her.
That April Foolie 1st he showed up at school carrying a large matchbox that at one time had been filled with “Ohio Blue Tip” matches, which like that old rhyme we all knew; were the kind you could strike on anything*, like the zipper of your dungarees; an action I might add which if carried out in too cavalier a fashion could result in potentially disastrous consequences. Ronny had cut a slot partway up the underside of the sliding outer cover and a second hole in the bottom of the matchbox. He’d filled it with some cotton from bottles of aspirin and had tinted the entire mess with ketchup. He walked over to my desk and said; “Hey Richie, I cut off one of my fingers last night and I brought it to school for Show and Tell.” He slid open the matchbox to reveal the “bloody” finger fragment he’d slipped inside from the bottom. It sure fooled me. Then in an act of perverse brilliance, I suggested he show the box containing his severed digit to Cindy Burnett and Patty Sanderson; two of the more squeamish girls in our class.
When the girls squealed, screamed and ran back to their desks, Miss Wallace sprang into action. Confronting Ronny, she demanded to see the contents of the matchbox. Ronny for his part, was more than willing to comply. As he slid the box open, Miss Wallace shrieked; “My God, it’s a human finger!” Somewhat embellishing her claim Ronny remarked; “Actually Miss Wallace, to be precise, it used to be my left index finger.” As it turned out, Miss Wallace wasn’t that interested in Ronny’s detailed explanation after all. Because by then, she had her head stuffed in the waste basket and for the moment at least seemed otherwise occupied."
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