Too
by
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As he walked slowly and apprehensively toward the Administration Building, Doug’s thoughts drifted between registration today and the last time he had registered in the same building so many years ago. His many thoughts were intermingled: Registering on the same day and at the same university as his only son, Steve, produced numerous complicated and confusing emotions. Being a full-time Doctoral student competing with the bright young minds twenty plus years his junior was both frightening and fascinating. Being separated from his wife, marvelous daughter, associates, and friends caused an empty feeling. Being with Steve was exciting. Returning to the college, now a university, where he first began and memories he had long forgotten stimulated him. He was in a world alone strolling with his thoughts. The trees were taller and fuller. Some of them were gone. The shrubs and bushes had forever changed. Each part of the campus was designed like a garden with appropriate flowers for the season. Where there had been narrow streets and small houses, there were large buildings, shrubs, and grass. The university was the same but totally different. The two story library had been replaced with one six stories high. Those girls he once considered beautiful and desirable were now just children. Exchanging his suits, white shirts, ties, and wingtip shoes for dockers casuals, shirts and loafers made him feel uncomfortable and out of place. Even so, comparing himself to others on campus caused him to believe himself to be over dressed which caused him to be even more uncomfortable. Passing at an angle in front of Doug, not looking directly toward him, a silhouette of a familiar face, yet strangely different, came suddenly into focus. His first thoughts, ‘Who is she, where have I seen her before?’ and ‘Was she a classmate he had long forgotten?’, raced uncontrollably through his mind. His compulsion to know the identity of the beautiful, well-built, formally dressed and distinguished lady who moved as an angel demanded his full and immediate attention. Her head didn’t move as she floated like a cloud up the walk. He knew he had to see that face more completely. Teenagers had more control over their emotions than he had over his at the moment! Not wanting to draw attention to himself, yet needing immediate answers, Doug quickened his pace. The familiar stranger was not hurried, moving confidently and gracefully at an angle up the steps, through the large doors, and down the corridor as if at home was no stranger to Masters University. Doug walked faster while thinking, ‘If I lose sight of her now I may never see her again.’ He knew the campus had grown large with many visitors, guests, students and faculty. After an eternity of less than a few minutes, Doug passed so casually, without speaking a word, beside this wonderful creature who had captivated him; but not cautiously enough! She stopped, motionless, did a military turn, and looked directly at him, frozen. Doug stood motionless too. His only thought, ‘It can not be, it just can not be her.’ A forgotten world was standing in front of him. His past faced him. His joy and pain stood before him. "Judy?", Doug muttered in a whisper, almost hoping she would not hear. Without any change of expression, recognizing the voice of a ghost from her past, she spoke with authority and cold force, "Yes, Doug, it is I.", with a very slight tremble. "Yes.", the only word he could hear as his eyes searched desperately for an exit, yet knowing he did not have the strength to run, walk or crawl at this instant. Before he could gain any strength or regain his composure, Judy fired her first volley. "What are you doing here?", she demanded politely, not expecting an answer, "It has been a very long time." And, with cool efficiency she fired the second blast by answering her own question, "Eighteen years, nine months, and a few days if my memory serves me correctly. And, it does." Her aim for Doug’s heart was perfect. Her steel ocean blue eyes had total control. The North Pole would have been warmer than the tone of her voice, her selection of words and her facial expressions. What was he to say? Where was he to begin? How could she be so cold after so many years, yet remember so precisely? Doug’s mind was blinded with questions unanswered.
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About the Book
TOO
The suspense and intrigue begin to heighten when a girl meets a boy for the first time whom, she later learns, is her half brother. They must learn how to change their mutual crush to sibling love. While dealing with a new brother, whom she has always wanted, she learns, prior to her mother knowing, that a total stranger is her biological father and only love of her single mother.
Twenty years of secrets are forced through the surface as father, mother, granddaughter and others learn they have been manipulated by a father with money, power and gall who did not want his daughter to marry the man of her choice.
As these young adults are attempting to adjust to new lives, they must also deal with the sins of commission and omission by those they have loved, trusted, respected and obeyed all their lives.
The characters are forced to make decisions that only a few weeks ago would have been unthinkable. They must deal with their own emotions, egos, pride and prejudices while taking into consideration those people they had no idea even existed when their lives began to change.
About the Author
Anthony (Tony) B. Bull is the sixth of nine sons born to share croppers just after the end of the great depression. His father died when he was only four years old. Yet, through education, hard work and the efforts of his determined mother, his brothers and he moved into, and in some cases through, the middle class. After completing his high school education, serving over three years in the United States Marine Corps, marrying, working three years, and becoming the father of two children, he worked his way through Carson-Newman College in less than three years with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He majored in English with a minor in mathematics. He was certified to teach secondary education. He worked six years for the Du Pont Company, Construction Division, prior to entering the healthcare industry in which he rose to the position of Chief Executive Officer while serving in several hospitals. During these years, he wrote numerous technical articles and position papers. His first published article was "The Money Tree" for CREDIT WORLD. When he began his healthcare career, it was fun. Shortly thereafter, it became work. Regulations and continuous rules changes caused his work to become hard then extremely difficult. It was no longer an enjoyment. One day, to his total surprise, his wife of twenty plus years, Linda Davis Bull, suggested that he retire so he could do that which he had always wanted to do, write. He accepted her offer. The next day, he began drafting an outline for TOO.