This year was different.
I woke up on Nov 25, validated my novel as finished, and then checked to see what cover they had done for that day. I was shocked to see this!
They picked my synopsis! I couldn’t believe it! There were over five thousand novels submitted, and mine was picked! I was shocked, amazed, and could hardly believe it for a week.
This is an amazing gift to me, though they probably don’t know just how amazing it is. I’ve been very scared to publish my novels. While I’ve gotten good feedback from friends about how much they liked my books, I’ve always had lingering doubts that it won’t appeal to many others. When they picked my novel for this project, it told me something very profound. There are people out there who would want to read my novel. This peeked their interest. I can become a published author. The time has come to stop doubting and just do it. I’ll start with a vigorous editing of Martin’s novels and then submit it to publish. It’s going to be a long process, but I’ll keep you updated.
Now, however, I have written the first part of novel number five. So now, I present it. The synopsis is out and it’s gotten attention. Time to let the novel out. Time to take the stage, Amy McPeir!
Racer
Amy could vividly remember the day her father died before thousands of cheering fans.
It was a Saturday. But, then again, all the major Races were held on Saturday. She and her mom sat in their living room, a dingy small one fit for a single mom and her kid. Like the rest of the basement apartment, it seemed dimmed though it was actually midday. And the colors of the walls matched the grim squander they lived in. But it was all that they could afford on the small paycheck Mom earned. Mom sat on the thread bare couch, busily sewing her work uniform up. Amy sat in front of the TV, despite her mother’s warnings that it would ruin her eyesight. Why she should care? She was only four.
Amy couldn’t sit still as they announcer went through the normal round up of Racers for the day. Why couldn’t they get to the race? After all, it was an important one.
“And there he is!” the announcer said, his voice carried over the screaming crowd by microphone. “Our reigning champ and four time winner of the Race Circuit, Target!”
Amy cheered with the spectators in the stands.
“If Target wins this race,” the announcer went on, “then he gets to retire the Race Circuit. The first in a hundred years to do so!”
“Yeah,” Amy giggled. “Then he can come home.”
Though she and her father had never met, Mom was sure to point him out to her. Mom said that once Dad had retired from the Race Circuit, he could come home and they could finally be a family. Something Granddad wanted for his little girl to begin with. Maybe once Mom and Dad actually married, Granddad would accept them back into the family and they wouldn’t have to live in this dingy apartment anymore.
At least, that’s what Mom always says.
“Racers!” an official called. “To your marks!”
Amy watched fascinated as the dozen or so Racers lined up at the starting line. This Race was on jet skis and the racetrack a large artificial lake. The stands were set up around the lake with huge screens above them. Television crews were on the water, on raised platforms to give them solid ground to shoot from. Amy drank it all in, wishing so much that she could be there, watching with everyone else, to be there with Mom as Dad finally won and retired.
But Mom couldn’t afford that. And besides, Mom got nervous if anyone knew who Dad was.
She didn’t want anyone to know that her daughter had inherited her father’s Talent.
The red light turned orange. Amy started jumping in her seat. It was going to start! Yellow. “Come on, Dad,” she whispered. “You can do this.”
Green.
“And they’re off!” the announcer cheered, the crowd nearly drowning out his own voice. “And, as usual, Target let’s the others go in front of him, letting them burn off their Talent first.”
That was Dad’s way of winning. Let the others work themselves into exhaustion and then he’d take the lead.
“Frankford takes the lead, with Wrecker close behind,” the announcer went on, calling the shots as the Racers tried for the finish line. Amy could barely keep track of the speeding streaks of color as the jet skis went around the track. Racers went too fast for any human eye could see clearly, so they were assigned colors so people would know who was who. Her Dad was red. Amy cheered him on as he started moving up in the ranks, gaining the lead.
“And TARGET TAKES THE LEAD!”
“Yeah!” Amy cheered with the rest, jumping to her feet. “Come on Dad!”
Too restless to sit anymore, Amy squirmed in front of the TV, grinning and cheering her Dad on.
“Amy,” Mom said, “sit back down! I can’t see the screen.”
“Humph!” Amy said, sitting back down. However, she was quickly drawn back into the Race. Dad would make it. He had to.
“Target has a large lead in front of the leaders,” the announcer narrated. “It looks as if Target is going to be the first to… Wait! Wrecker is coming up quickly from behind!”
“Boo!” Amy said, standing up again as the black streak started gaining on her Dad’s red.
“Amy!” Mom said again. “Sit down!”
Amy obeyed the command, watching intently as Wrecker came up beside her Dad.
“They’re neck in neck,” the announcer said. “It’s going to be a close call, folks! This will be Wrecker’s first win and ends Target’s chance of retirement for the next five years. They’re starting to waver, trying to get ahead of the…”
BOOM!
Amy fell back with a cry, staring with shock at the now black screen. Did the TV break again?
Then the scene pulled back, revealing something far worse.
The black she had seen was actually black smoke. A fireball continued to burn on the water. The jet skis came to a sudden halt, unable to make it to the finish line because of the wreckage. Officials hurried to the site, many trying to put out the flames.
The only sounds came from the burning wreckage, a crackling that horrified her. It seemed that it horrified everyone else to. The crowd was silent and the announcer said nothing.
“Mom?” Amy asked, turning around. Mom was strangely pale, the uniform had slipped from her fingers. “Mom?” she asked again, crawling to her Mom’s legs and tugging on her pants. “What’s going on?”
“Your Dad isn’t coming home,” Mom said, tears welling in her eyes. “He’s never coming home.” Mom burst into tears, covering her face with her shivering hands. Amy glanced back at the screen and the burning wreckage, wondering just what had gone wrong.
*************
Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Bee…
Amy hit the alarm clock without even looking at it, stopping the horrid sound of it. Rubbing her face in her pillow, she glanced up briefly to glare at the offending clock. Six-thirty in the morning. An evil time to be up, she was sure. If school weren’t so important, she’d never be up this early.
Groaning, she dropped her face back into the pillow. While it was a big day, she felt very little reason to actually get up. Graduation could wait, couldn’t it?
“Knock, knock!” her Mom said from the other side of her closed door. “Get up, high school grad. Can’t miss your graduation.”
“Why not?” Amy grumbled into her pillow.
“Because graduation is important,” Mom chuckled. “Now, get up. You breakfast will get cold.”
Amy grumbled under her breath as she finally climbed out of her covers. Reaching for the end of her bed, she grabbed a large black hoodie, her favorite sweater, and pulled it over her head. Even though it was spring, it was still a bit chilly in their small two-bedroom house. Although Mom could afford a house now, they tried to save money wherever they could. Including setting the temperature colder than either of them would have liked.
Half heartedly making her bed by pulling the covers up to her pillow, Amy stumbled to the door and opened it. Light temporarily blinded her and she had to blink a couple of times to adjust her sight. The hall was small, much like the rest of the house. Her Mom’s room was opposite hers, with a bathroom between their two rooms. Quickly ducking into the bathroom, Amy relieved herself and washed up for breakfast. Feeling a little more awake, she went into the rest of the house.
The kitchen, dinning room, and front room were all one room, with only a breakfast bar dividing the kitchen from everything else. Mom was already at the stove, frying another egg for herself. Amy noticed that she was already wearing her work clothes.
“Do you have to go in early today?” she asked, sitting down at the small table, her food already waiting for her.
“Of course I do,” Mom answered, putting her egg on her plate. “Your graduation is tonight. I need to go in early to finish all my work so I don’t miss it.”
Amy couldn’t argue with that. Mom worked at an accounting firm as a secretary, a job she got shortly after Dad had died. While the pay wasn’t anything grand, it got them both on along fine. After all, they could afford the house.
“Then why do I have to get up early for a ceremony that’s going to happen tonight?” she asked.
Mom chuckled, sitting down opposite her. “You already know. They’re going to be announcing scholarships today. And you’re going to be picking which college you’re going to because of those scholarships. It’s an important ceremony for you.”
College. To be honest, Amy was looking forward to that. Mom was too. After her Granddad had died eight years before, he had left a fortune for each of his grandkids so that they could go to college. It was a surprise to everyone when he even willed a fortune to Amy.
Mom won’t have to worry about my expenses, Amy thought. And I get to have a better education.
It was all that she wanted.
“Why can’t they do this scholarship like in the old days?” Amy asked. “You know, when you’d have to send in your application months in advance, you get a letter of acceptance, you write a letter back saying yes…”
“Everything’s electronic, dear,” Mom pointed out. “And people like drama. People like to know what is happening now.”
Amy rolled her eyes. Seemed like a lot of hassle to her.
“Any idea which school will give you a scholarship?” Mom asked.
“Trade schools always gives away scholarships,” Amy said, biting into her toast. “And I’ve got high enough grades that I think that I could into the State school.”
“But you have higher ambitions,” Mom said shrewdly.
Amy didn’t say anything. Everyone had laughed at her when she applied for a Specialty school, a college that focused on one subject. Those were the best schools and most spots were reserved for those who were Talented in those subjects. But she had her hopes of going into the Chemistry Academy.
“Think I have a chance?” Amy asked softly.
Mom reached over and patted her hand. “Amy,” she said softly. “I think you do.”
Amy matched her Mom’s uneasy smile. A chance was better than nothing.
*********
“Amy!”
Amy glanced up, seeing her friend Sally Ballard skip towards her. Amy had just finished getting ready for the day and had walked out the door when Sally came bounding forward. Sally was a short, plump young woman with dark hair and a sunny disposition. It was hard to be gloomy with her around.
“Hi, Sally,” she said, wondering why her friend was always so cheerful. “Ready for today?”
“I sure hope so!” Sally laughed, grabbing her arm. “Are you ready?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be.” Together they walked to school. It wasn’t a long walk, just a half mile. They made sure to walk along the side of the road to avoid getting hit by the other kids driving to school. There was a sense of excitement in the air as the kids went to school. It meant the end of a school year for most and the seniors got to learn their fates.
“Hoping that you’ll get into the Research Tech?” Amy asked Sally.
“Of course,” Sally huffed. “Wouldn’t it be amazing to learn more? Discovering new medicines, how to make technology cheaper, and the Talented! There’s a new Talent discovered every ten years now! Maybe the scholars are right and that everyone has a Talent! Wouldn’t that be amazing?”
No. But Amy didn’t say that. She would much rather be unTalented. It wasn’t a world that she wanted to be part of.
“The Talented,” Sally said dreamily. “It would be amazing to be them.”
“Amazing?” Amy asked, frowning. “They dominate everything.”
“Exactly!” Sally pointed out. “If you’re a Talented, then you’re promised a life of ease and fortune!”
“Life isn’t just ease and fortune,” Amy started to say but Sally wasn’t listening.
“Think about it,” Sally kept saying. “A child is discovered to have a Talent at a young age and they’re guaranteed to become famous. The Talented Musicians have their music on the radios, Talented Engineers work on the coolest buildings, Talented Chemists create new medicines, and Talented Artists have their masterpieces in museums before they can talk! Would it be great?”
Amy shrugged.
Sally sighed dramatically. “Of course. You’re like most people. The Talented don’t interest you.”
“They’re far above us regular people,” Amy said blandly. “Just give me an honest job any day. I’ll get by on my own work and not on any magical powers.”
“They’re not magical powers,” Sally huffed.
Amy gave her friend a flat stare.
“Alright,” Sally conceded. “They’re magical.”
There was really no other way to describe it. How else could a five year old create a work of art that rivaled that of works of art hundred of years old? How else could a four year old understand the complex chemical formulas? How else could a child be so fast that none could catch them?
The Talented get everything, Amy thought, her heart sinking. All that is asked of them is that they give up everything else.
“Amy?”
Amy shook out of her thoughts. “What?” she asked.
Sally had a sour look on her face. “Look who’s driving up.”
There could be only one person who could give Sally a sour mood.
Emily Halcroft drove up in her fancy sports car. She was a beautiful senior with perfect long curly brown hair, perfect figure, perfect attire, perfectly rotten attitude.
And she was a Talented.
“Well, well, well,” Emily said, slowing her car to match their walking pace. “If it isn’t a couple unTalented walking to school.”
Amy kept her eyes forward. Emily enjoyed taunting her. Perhaps it was because Amy had managed to destroy one of her masterpieces when they were still in elementary and got away with it. Or that Amy managed to keep higher grades than her. Or that Emily simply enjoyed it. Whatever the reason, Amy often found herself, and those around her, under the pretty Talented bullying.
“I hear congrats are in order, Emily,” Sally said, trying to be her usual cheerful self. “You’re going to an art school.”
“Of course I’m going to an art school,” Emily laughed, a sound that grated on Amy’s ears. It sounded fake. All the time. “I’m a Talented Artist after all.”
Yeah, yeah, yeah, Amy thought. Now why don’t you Talent yourself away.
“And what of you two?” Emily asked. “Hoping to get into a Trade school? Or perhaps, if you’re lucky enough, to get into the State school?”
“A higher education is all we need,” Amy pointed out.
Emily laughed. “If you say so! Well, good luck, ladies.” Revving her engine, she drove off, laughing at them.
“I really don’t like that girl,” Sally muttered darkly.
“Being Talented has gone to her head,” Amy pointed out. “She’s the only one in our school district who’s Talented.”
“Known Talented,” Sally corrected. “Come on. Let’s pick the pace. I don’t want to be late.”
***********
The bleachers in the school gym were like others that she had come to know in life. Hard plastic seats with no back support and way too crowded. She, Sally, and Sally’s current boyfriend Jeff, had to squeeze close together to make room for more seniors.
You’d think that they designed these bleachers to punish students, Amy thought, flinching as someone kneed her back again.
It took a while for everyone to gather for the all day assembly. Even the lower classmen joined in. Everyone wanted to know where the seniors were going. It was all pomp, done just for the drama. Amy couldn’t understand why anyone thought this was a good idea.
While waiting, Amy studied those who sat down in the gym, comfortable in their folding chairs and enjoying light conversations. There were the teachers, the student council, and, of course, Emily. The Talented held herself aloof of the others, sitting primly on her chair and basking in the adoring stares of her classmen. Amy just rolled her eyes. Emily took things too far at times.
At last, the freshmen sat and the principle stepped up to the podium. “Welcome!” he said, grinning. “We’re here to congratulate another year of graduates who are moving on to bigger and better things!”
Amy half-heartedly clapped as others cheered.
“We’ll go with tradition by handing out scholarships,” the principle announced. Then the procession started. Going by schools, he announced who got scholarships, asking the students to stand as their names were called. As Amy knew, she got scholarships in the local Trade schools and the State university. There was the polite applause after the principle finished a school.
“And now,” he said, pulling out four nice looking envelopes. Amy sat up a bit. Those were the scholarships for the Specialty schools. “For those who will be going to the biggest and best things.” He opened the first letter.
“Four Specialty scholarships?” Sally whispered to her. “Emily is one… Who are the other three?”
Amy shrugged. “Dunno.”
“Emily Halcroft!” the principle announced loudly. “Our Talented Artist! She’s going to the Art Institute in Arco City!”
Emily stood and bowed, blowing out a few kisses to the crowd. Amy rolled her eyes. That girl loved attention.
The principle opened the second letter. “Harry Belnap!” Their student body president stood up, grinning. “He’s going to the Astrology College in Fairfax!” Harry beamed with pride as the student body applauded for him.
The third letter. “Spencer Trentson, come down to sit with us,” the principle announced. “You’re going to the Marine Campus in Georgetown!”
Spencer practically jumped down out of the bleachers as he hurried for one of the two empty seats reserved for him. He was grinning like an idiot as everyone cheered for him. It was really no surprise that he got into a Specialty school. He was almost Talented in Biology.
Fourth letter, Amy thought, holding her breath as the principle opened the letter. I hope…
“Amy McPeir!” the principle said. “You may also come down. You’ve been accepted to the Chemistry Academy!”
The force of the cheer around her stunned her. She turned to Sally, too shocked to even speak.
“Go on!” Sally said, giving her a hug. “You’ve got it!”
Amy grinned as she made her way to the last chair with the others. She had done it. She had got into the Chemistry Academy!
Now this assembly didn’t seem too bad at all.
**********
Amy couldn’t believe it. She stood before a mirror, still in awe at the robe she wore. It wasn’t going to be the one that she had rented before, of the same style that everyone else was going to wear. No, instead of the red drab robe of the school’s color, she was wearing a blue and green robe, signifying that she was going to a Specialty school. The Chemistry Academy’s colors.
She couldn’t stop grinning.
Her Mom had come early to the ceremony and stood behind her.
“Oh, Amy,” she said, wiping the tears away from her eyes with a tissue. “Congratulations, dear.” In a soft whisper, she went on. “Your father would be proud.”
Amy didn’t say anything, feeling tears come to her own eyes. She took a good look at herself in the mirror. She was like any other lanky eighteen year old, skinny with no real curves, flat blond hair, and bright blue eyes. Mom always said that she looked a lot like Dad.
He never wanted to be a Racer, Amy thought. He wanted to marry his girlfriend that he got pregnant. He wanted to go to a trade school and grow old and happy with his family.
But he couldn’t. Dad died in the Race Circuit fourteen years before.
He’d be glad to know that his daughter isn’t going into the Race Circuit.
“Thanks, Mom,” she whispered back, rubbing her eyes with the palm of her hand. “I wish he were here.”
“I know,” Mom said softly, hugging her tight. “I know.”
“Excuse me.”
They both turned as one of the teachers popped her head through the open door. “Ms. McPeir, you need to go take your seat. The ceremony will start soon.”
“Good luck,” Mom said, kissing her on the cheek. Amy could only grin as her Mom left. Good luck? For a graduation ceremony? She already had it.
It was a blur to her as the ceremony started. Unexpectedly, she sat up with the rest of the student council, the valedictorians, and the three other Specialties. She didn’t even get to sit by Emily and endure her through the graduation. A plus in her book.
Thankfully, all she had to do was sit there and listen as others talked. And when the diplomas were handed out, she got a loud cheer as she received hers. It was a great day and she could barely remember it.
After it was all over, Mom found her with Sally, and hugged them both tight. “Congratulations, girls,” she said, smiling.
“Thank you Ms. McPeir,” Sally laughed. “Can you believe it? We both got into the schools that we wanted.”
“We’ll still be in the same city too!” Amy grinned. “The Research Tech and the Chemistry Academy are in Arco City.”
“Well,” Sally said, rolling her eyes, “Arco City is one of the largest cities in the world. It’s not that big of a surprise.”
“And it’s only a couple hours away,” Mom pointed out.
“Maybe we should look into getting the same apartment and being roommates!” Sally suggested.
“Sounds good to me,” Amy agreed.
“Well, you won’t be planning tonight,” Mom said. “Will you be coming home or going to the All-Nighter?”
“All-Nighter!” they both answered.
Mom laughed. “Alright. I’ll see you in the morning, dear.” She kissed her on the cheek and left.
“Come on,” Sally said, pulling her away. “We’ve got to change before going to the party!”
***********
And there we have it! Amy seems to have everything going for her. Next post, I’m going to destroy that. But, hey, that’s what authors do.
I hope you enjoy this new novel. It’ll hopefully be the start of a new series (at least, that’s what I’ve planned).
Thanks for reading and enjoy the journey!
