The Light And Dark Side Of Seventeen
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
“What time is it now?” Clark looked at his watch once again.
“12:20. You guys better go.”
“Pat?” George’s voice seemed far away and wrapped in a fog. “PAT!” he called again as I walked toward the back of the house.
“Sorry…what is it?”
“Can you two meet us for dinner at The Charcoal House tomorrow night? Like, seven o’clock?”
“What?”
“Pat…you and Dolly… can you meet us at The Charcoal House tomorrow at seven?”
“Sure…that’ll be…” My mind was elsewhere. “I mean…”
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, George, I’m okay. I just…” I never finished my sentence. I don’t even remember if we said goodnight to each other. I don’t even recall how I made it up the steps and into the back porch. I was worried sick about Dolly and I knew I’d have absolutely no peace of mind whatsoever until I saw her again. I walked into the kitchen and poured myself a soda and then sat back out on the porch. I rocked in that old wicker chair until I felt sea sick.
My God…what time is it?!
I walked back into the kitchen and looked at the clock. It was barely visible in the dim light, but I could still read it. 1:16!
I decided the rest of my evening would be spent working on some old crossword puzzles I never got to finish. I wouldn’t disturb anyone because out on the porch was a tiny reading light for just that purpose -- Aunt Anna thought of everything. As I was gathering a pencil or two I heard a noise coming from the backyard. It sounded as if a metal can had fallen over. My first thought was that it could be Mrs. Orwatt’s wandering tabby cat, who often visited our fish-boned garbage pail late in the evening. I scurried to the back door. “Fritz! Get outta here!”
I turned to place my puzzle books on the small end table next to the rocker… again the noise disturbed me.
Definitely not a cat.
A small yet piercing sound…
Like a cry of some sort…
Like an injured animal…
I turned on the outside light, and there, lying right on the bottom steps leading up to the back porch was Dolly. I ran down the steps as fast as I could and then crouched down beside her.
“My God! What happened to you?!” I stretched my arms across her body and she flinched in pain. “Dolly!” my voice trembled, “Answer me!!!”
She turned and grabbed onto my arms as if her very life depended on it.
“Talk to me!!!” I cried out.
“He…”
“Jack?”
“Yeah…”
“He what?!”
Her hands started to shake violently.
“HE what, Dolly?!! Jack did what?!!” ...
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About the Book
The Light and Dark Side of Seventeen is the story of two teenage girls -- circa 1959.
Both suffered tragedies early in their lives, and for that, they each pay a price. One of the girls, Pattie, was level-headed, focused, and grounded by a strong support system.
The other girl, a lost soul named Dolly was not so fortunate. She only had her self-created world to rely upon.
Along many a rough road, both girls learn the importance of good friendships,accountability, and the daytime nightmares that occur when we allow the lines of truth and reality to blur.
(Rated for adult audiences and mature young adults)
About the Author
"The Light and Dark Side of Seventeen" is Judith Kristen's third best-selling Young Adult book! Ms. Kristen lives in Southern New Jersey with her husband, Andrew, four cats: Cynthia, Miss Rose, Mookie and Ned, and a sweet old sheepdog named Henley.