JJ Kapock: Early Life - Softcover

Gary, John

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1546240314 ISBN 13: 9781546240310

Verlag: AuthorHouse, 2018

Inhaltsangabe

Set in a blue-collar community in the suburbs of Baltimore, this novel reflects the aftereffects of World War II, the transformation of the United States after a wartime economy, and the solid values of hardworking Americans from all walks of life. It demonstrates the struggles of young people preparing for life, learning the value of a good work ethic to earn money. They must deal with sexual relationships they clearly do not understand, and they lack role models to emulate as they plan for their future happiness. How do you achieve it? Is choosing a real soul mate for life really a choice, or does it just happen? Is marriage meant for everyone, or should some people remain single? Creating children is a gift from God, but some people do not seem to be equipped to raise them in a wholesome family environment. Read and feel the struggles of JJ Kapock, Julie, and their many friends as they tackle such real-life issues.

Über diesen Titel

Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

John Gary is a semiretired businessman who overcame the challenges of growing up poor in a community rife with civil and economic unrest. With few in his life to guide his decisions and mold his character, he found his soul mate and his own compass and navigated his life with an innate sense of right and wrong. His self-developed values, love of his wife and his family, and inner voice led him from poverty to the realization of the blessed life he imagined as a child.

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JJ Kapock

Early Life

By John Gary

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2018 John Gary
All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-5462-4031-0

CHAPTER 1

It's early spring. Baseball season is upon us. JJ Kapok, our hero, is ready to get the ball and glove out of the closet.

It's a beautiful day. He calls Tommy, Jimmy, and Billy and asks them if they want to meet on the school field and get a game going. They are all ready and willing. "Okay, see you there at noon. Call some other guys. Let's get as many as possible."

At noontime, JJ says, "Hey, what do you guys think about the Orioles this year?"

Tommy says, "Oh, they probably will finish last again."

Jimmy says, "I don't know. The new catcher, Gus something, is supposed to be a home run hitter, and their pitching is pretty good."

Billy says, "Yeah, but nobody is going to beat the Yankees. Mantle, Marris, Yogi. These guys are really good. I don't think anybody can beat them. They're going to win it all again this year."

JJ says, "I hope that you're wrong. I like those guys, but I can't stand the owner. He's a real asshole. Besides, he has so much money that he keeps buying up all the great players. That's not right. They need to do something about that or that asshole will keep winning every year."

"Money talks, and New York has plenty of it."

"Did you hear the latest Yogi joke? 'If you keep missing the ball, you'll strike out every time,' and he does it with a straight face. He is really funny."

"You ready to play?"

"Let's wait a little longer. We only have twelve guys. Are we expecting a couple more?"

"Yeah, here come two more."

"That's enough. That gives us seven on each team. If any more show up, we'll just add them on."

It's perfect weather, but after seven innings everyone is ready to call it a day. Who cares what the score is? It's been great to play. Its 5:00 p.m. and starting to get dark.

"Hey, let's go down to Pop's Place and get a Pepsi. As soon as those street lights come on, our moms will be looking for us."

"Yeah, I can't wait 'til they change the clocks so we can get some more daylight."

"Yeah, but my butt is tired and my mom's cooking chicken. So that Pepsi sounds real good right now."

"Okay, tomorrow, same time."

"Yeah, sounds good. Maybe we'll keep score tomorrow."

As they all hop on their bikes and head for home, the street lights come on. Pepsi first. Then they listen for Mom calling. "JJ, where are you. You know that you're supposed to be home before the street lights come on."

Just made it.

Mom says, "You're late. Where have you been? Go wash your hands. Your chicken's getting' cold. Your dad has already gone to work, so what's left on the table is yours. Don't make a pig of yourself or you'll have a belly ache. Did you wash your hands? They still look dirty. You'll make yourself sick."

"Geez, Mom. Calm down. I just got in the door. And I still love you. Those other girls are pretty. But you're the only one who cares about me."

"Yeah, well don't tell your father. He might get jealous. And what about that girl that lives around the bend?"

"Yeah, I love her too, but she doesn't know it. I'm going to marry her when I finish school. By then we will both know about the 'Birds and the Bees.'"

"Somehow, I think you both know about the 'Birds and the Bees.' You better behave yourself."

"Mom, I'm only ten years old. But she's nice. Her grandmother lets me fish off her pier, and she always asks me how many fish I caught that day. She's a nice lady. And you should see her aunt. She's beautiful. She's only 4' 10'', but she is all woman. I think she's about twenty-one. And if Julie gets her looks, she is going to be perfect. She's already taller than the aunt."

"Boy, for a ten-year-old you notice things that you shouldn't be looking at."

"Mom, it doesn't hurt to look. Besides, give me a few years and I'll become an expert at girl watching."

"In a few years, Julie will have you wrapped around her finger. And she will slap you alongside of your head if she catches you girl watching."

"In a few years, if she looks as good as her aunt, I'll have the girl that all the other guys are watching."

"You really have all this stuff figured out. I can't imagine what you will be thinking about when you're thirteen?"

"Don't worry Mom, I'll still love you. And I'll make sure that Julie doesn't catch me girl watching. Any more chicken?"

"No! You ate six pieces. You must have a hollow leg. Where are you putting all that food?"

"I'm a growing boy. I have to get ready for baseball season. We're playing again tomorrow. I hope we have enough guys to have two full teams."

"You watch those street lights and I'll have more chicken for you when you get home."

CHAPTER 2

Sunday noontime, it is a beautiful day. JJ and friends gather at the baseball field. This time they have seventeen players, so one volunteers to be the umpire. Just as they were ready to start, the GI Public Bus stops, and Martin, a black boy from Freetown, gets off.

"Hey, can I play?"

JJ knew Martin from a Food Bank project that his Boy Scouts troupe did in Freetown. Freetown is an all-black community with a mix of hard-working people and single-family moms. It had high crime problems, but the working people and the good moms had formed a Community Watch group and were working with the police to clean up the community. The county Parks and Rec department had asked the Boy Scouts troupe to help. The first project was the food drive to help the very poor families. It was a big help. Many of the young boys wanted to join the Boy Scouts. But the white parents objected to mixing white and blacks. So our troupe sponsored an all-black boy Scout troupe. The first in the county. And some believe it was the first in the state.

JJ was the pack leader sponsor for the new troupe, and Parks and Rec had ask him to start a baseball team that would play six games during the summer against the black boys. He was having problems, because many of the white moms didn't want their boys going into Freetown. So JJ asks his Scout Master what he thought he should do. The Scout Master said that he would make some phone calls to see if he could help. He also suggested that JJ talk to some of the fathers to see if they would act as coaches for the teams. One of the fathers was married to a black woman, and he said "yes" and that he would use his pick-up truck to help. JJ asked him if he would help convince some of the other fathers to help. Nine of fifteen fathers said yes, and they told their wives. Next thing you know, all the mothers became supporters. They made cupcakes and iced tea for every game. They became friends with the black moms. They even invited some of them over to their house for backyard cookouts. Wow, that was unheard of, to actually have black friends.

"Yeah, sure. Did you bring a glove?"

"No, I didn't know you guys were playing."

"That's okay. We'll put you on the other team and you can use mine when we're up."

"Hey. Wait a minute, JJ. I don't want to play with no nigger."

"What? You know Martin. He's our friend from the Freetown Food Drive."

"I don't give a damn. I don't want to play with some nigger."

"Why? You afraid that he will be better than you? I'll bet you a buck that he gets more hits than you."

"You're full of shit. I'll play circles around him."

"Well, okay then. Get your ass out in the field. We came here to play baseball!"

Martin played well, but Joe was one of the best players on the field. He was big for his age and he could...

Details zur Ausgabe

• Verlag: AuthorHouse
• Erscheinungsdatum: 2018
• Sprache: Englisch
• ISBN 10: 1546240314
• ISBN 13: 9781546240310
• Einband: Taschenbuch
• Anzahl der Seiten: 300
• Kontakt zum Hersteller: Nicht verfügbar
• Verantwortliche Person: KreGa Onlinehandel GmbH; 4950000000000; info@krega-onlinehandel.de; ; Birkenweg 31; Brakel; 33034; Deutschland