Sunday, September 04, 2016

The Boys of Summer

Time again for Weekend Writing Warriors and Snippet Sunday!




Here's the third snippet from my NEW RELEASE, True Blue. (You can catch up on the earlier excerpts here.) You've already met Jeana, Wade and Billy Joe. Now meet Mickey, a blue-eyed baseball player whose dad named him after Mickey Mantle. He's only ten like the other three characters, but he's dealing with some pretty deep stuff because of what he sees out on the patio one night when he wakes up and goes to the kitchen for a glass of water. Edited from the published version to fit our guidelines.

Oh, and check out the cover my amazingly talented cover artist made for me! I think she's the greatest, and I'd say that even if she wasn't my daughter. ;-)


His dad stood up and emptied the bottle into the glass, but instead of putting it back down, he stared at it in his hand for a long time, then he slowly went into a windup and hurled the bottle out into the yard like the all-star college pitcher he’d been—before he'd had to drop out of school and get a job to take care of his wife and unexpected baby.

Mickey never said anything to his dad or his mom about what he’d seen. He didn't want to embarrass his dad, and he also felt a little ashamed, as though he’d been spying on him. Sometimes he’d find empty bottles out in the yard and would always put them in the garbage so his mom wouldn’t see them, because he didn’t know whether or not she knew his dad was drinking and didn’t want her to think anything bad about him.

For the next few weeks, Mickey worried about his dad and tried to figure out a way to help him. Then it was time for Mickey’s baseball team to start the new season, and he got so busy practicing that he almost forgot about his dad’s problem—until the night that Mickey hit his first home run of the year and he saw that when his dad picked him up in celebration after he crossed the plate, there wasn't a trace of sadness in his eyes as he looked at his son.

That’s when Mickey knew what he had to do. He'd work harder than everybody else and be the best baseball player in the whole league. Maybe he could even play in the big leagues when he grew up, like his dad had wanted to do—maybe even for the Yankees. Then his dad could be happy all the time, and he wouldn’t need to drink anymore in the middle of the night.


Hey, you knew everything couldn't be all sweetness and light in any of my books. Next week you'll get a peek at what one of the other boys is dealing with. Can't wait? You can buy True Blue here. ;-) And please do also check out the other Snippet Sunday folks and the Weekend Writing Warriors. Something for everyone among these talented writers!

~Stay true to yourself and your dreams will come true!

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16 comments:

  1. Aw, how incredibly sweet of Mickey! I have a feeling he definitely hasn't chosen an easy road, though.

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  2. Poor kid. My heart's gone out to him. I hope he's not beginning a losing battle.

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  3. Awww, sweet but sad that Mickey's going to 'fix' life for his Dad. Excellent excerpt.

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  4. In my eyes it's still a sweet snippet. His dad isn't taking it out on anyone else than himself at least. ^^; And Mickey is trying to make his dad happy. In the wrong way but at least he's trying. :)
    Great snippet!

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  5. Sweet thought, although I'm not sure it works like that.

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  6. Anonymous5:12 PM

    He's really a heroic little boy, though I suspect he's in for heartache even if he reaches his baseball goal.

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  7. Oh, that poor kid. Trying so hard to make his dad happy... but the drinking won't be fixed so easily, I bet.

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  8. Aww, he's amazing! This snippet was so full of heart. Thank you for sharing!

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  9. Poor kid, taking something like that on himself. He's not responsible for his father's happiness.

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  10. Damn i loved it ... teenage thinking to solve all the problems in teh world. Great snippet.

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  11. Oh no, no. Poor kid. Gods I know that feeling and the pressure of it just totally can destroy someone. I hope he finds another way, but I have a feeling he won't. This hurts the heart.

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  12. Can't help but feel bad for the boy who wants to please his father and make him happy. He doesn't realize he can't fix his father's drinking problem or moods.

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  13. How heartbreaking for a young child to have such a brden on his shoulders. I hope Mickey can find the support he needs and that his father can pull himself together. Great snippet.

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  14. So well written, Joyce. The poor little guy has developed a distorted view of happiness. Now he feels responsible for whether or not his dad is happy... Ouch.

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