Gary Haywood runs away from his abusive home only to be returned, leaving him to devise a more drastic solution to his situation.
Gary Haywood is an unhappy thirteen-year-old who runs away from home to escape his drunken father. When his father finds him and delivers him back home, Gary comes up with a more drastic plan to get away from abuse. A court-appointed counselor, Marty Colson, works closely with Gary to help the boy realize his self-worth. One thing Marty doesn't count on is the strong attachment that develops between him and his client.
Excerpt
Gary ran. Fast. Faster than the cars driving up and down Maple Street. He turned the corner and ran down Elm, crossed over to Pine and kept going. Fast. He had to get away. Away from his parents who didn’t understand him. Didn’t have a clue how miserable he was. He hated living in that house with them. They didn’t seem to like him; they sure didn’t care about him or the things that were important to him. All they did was yell at him. He couldn’t do anything to their satisfaction except bring his dad another bottle of beer from the fridge and his dad even found reason to yell about that; said he didn’t fetch it fast enough.
Well, he’d show them. See how they liked his not being there to wash the dishes and lug the clothes to the laundromat and take out the trash and get hollered at if he was too slow or too fast or too anything. Without him there to be yelled at, the house should be more peaceful because like his dad said, he was the cause of all the problems in the house.
Gary ran past Miller’s Grocery, past Blake’s Liquor Shop, until he found himself on a street he’d never seen before. He slowed down, had to catch his breath. With every car that drove past, he tensed, thinking it was someone looking for a thirteen-year-old runaway. That’s a laugh, thinking anyone cared enough to look for him. His parents, if they even noticed he was missing, probably went to the bar to party. They didn’t need a reason to go out drinking, but being free of their lazy, trouble-making son would certainly be cause to celebrate.
Gary stopped at a bench. He needed to rest a moment. It would be dark soon and it occurred to him that he hadn’t planned anything beyond running away. Where will I spend the night? And what am I gonna do for supper? I should have brought food with me, but if Dad notices food missing, I’ll be in big, big trouble. One thing’s for sure, I’m never going back to that house on Maple Street. If I die from cold or hunger, it would be better than living with those mean drunks.
Gary rose to his feet and started walking, his mind focused on what he might do for food. A truck drove past him and stopped. A man got out. Gary looked up just as his father grabbed him by the collar and threw him into the truck. His father’s face was red and contorted, his eyes blazed with anger.
“So this is how you repay us for all we’ve done for you?” shouted his father. “You run away like the no good worthless thing you are? I don’t care if you never come back, but your mother’s worried, made me come look for you. I have better things to do, you know, than run after the likes of you.”
The truck stopped in front of their house and Gary stepped out. His father sped away. The boy walked in the house, his head lowered so his tears wouldn’t show. His mother came over to him and patted his shoulder, but he yanked himself away and went to his room. Before he closed his bedroom door, he heard her sigh. Gary lay on his bed and cried himself to sleep.
In the morning, he awoke with a smile. He had a new plan.
Professional Reviews
Finding Gary shouldn't be missed. A must read!!!
Linda Loegel’s newest novel Finding Gary was a truly enjoyable. She has a way of introducing you to her characters that makes you feel a personal relationship with them. Gary has an abusive father and a mother who is afraid to stand up to him. The author portrays the tragic, real life scenarios of so many families. A court appointed counselor, Marty, helps the family cope. He is able to gain Gary’s trust and helps the family long after his official duties had ended. It is a story of difficult human relationships. The counselor, Marty goes above and beyond bringing positive influences into the Haywood’s lives. It is a remarkable story of hope and understanding. Linda demonstrates that even the smallest kind gesture can help build confidence and create a positive attitude. I have enjoyed this book and am anxiously awaiting Linda’s next novel.
Bittersweet Story
"Finding Gary" is a bittersweet story about a thirteen-year-old boy with an alcoholic and abusive father. The book moves at a fast pace and the prose is simple; characters are not complicated, but they are well drawn. I wasn't sure when I first started if I would finish the book, but Gary was such a darn likable character, I had to see what happened to him.
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