The Quotidian

Kasidi Prause

Description

Adam''s a simple young man with Sotos syndrome. During his daily ride, he succumbs to a flat tire. Whilst observing earth, as the night fell, an alien from Joosigh found him curious.
Producing a small screen, he scans the earthling, finding out that he''s a ''Quotidian'' and tries to find a beloved pet, a cat, to shapeshift into the lower life form. He wants to know more as Loodex bonds with the Quotidian, whilst he waits for a promise to be fulfilled that was set in motion back in 1963 after an encounter with Grey Feathers.

Sujets

• Science fiction

Informations

• Publié par: Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd
• Date de parution: 29 mai 2020
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781528957779
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

The Quotidian
Kasidi Prause
Austin Macauley Publishers
2020-06-30
The Quotidian About the Author Dedication Copyright Information © Acknowledgements Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Nevada Dessert: Grooms Lake Road Chapter Six Back in ABBIE Chapter Seven Flight to South Australia Chapter Eight Loodex Goes Machine Hunting Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Grey Feathers’ Story Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Back with the Harper Family Chapter Thirteen Chapter Fourteen Chapter Fifteen Justin and Stacey Arrive in Adelaide Chapter Sixteen Chapter Seventeen Chapter Eighteen Chapter Nineteen Chapter Twenty Chapter Twenty-One Chapter Twenty-Two Chapter Twenty-Three Chapter Twenty-Four
About the Author
Kasidi Prause has always had a love of writing since high school but she put it on hold after her son, Adam, was born. It’s only in the last five years that Kasidi has once again taken to creative writing. An old plastic fold-up table was good enough to put a laptop on and so Kasidi started her passion to write a story about the special bond between their feline Kitty and her son.
Dedication
To all the paws we’ve loved
Copyright Information ©
Kasidi Prause (2020)
The right of Kasidi Prause to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with section 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.
Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.
A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.
ISBN 9781528904650 (Paperback)
ISBN 9781528957779 (ePub e-book)
www.austinmacauley.com
First Published (2020)
Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd
25 Canada Square
Canary Wharf
London
E14 5LQ
Acknowledgements
Thank you, Austin Macauley.
Chapter One
It’s late afternoon in Abbie, a sleepy town along the coast of South Australia settled amongst a forest of gum and eucalyptus trees, there lives a young-minded man of 32 with Soto’s syndrome who sits alone in his room playing with his Xbox game while, occasionally, he glances out the window contemplating whether to go for a ride on his bike. A route close to home along a dirt track leading up to his favourite spot known as ‘Bud’s lookout’. Adam pauses his game taking a closer look out of the window noticing the clouds sneaking their way over, deciding to go anyway, turning off his TV and Xbox, then placing his control back where he left it, knowing everything has their place. Reaching for his helmet on top of his wardrobe, then scoops up his MP3 player and backpack as he makes his way out of his room down the hallway where he scents the aromas of tonight’s dinner. Ashley’s by the stove sizzling the chicken on the stove when she heard the heavy sound of footsteps approaching from behind; they’re loud and increasing when she looks over her shoulder noticing Adam’s opening the fridge door taking out a bottle of water and a few treats placing them in his backpack when she softly asks:
“Where are you off to, Adam? It’s after four, and dinners at 5.30.”
Adam’s listening whilst fussing with the tracks on his MP3 player replying, “I know, Mum, I’m just going for a ride. I’ll be back in time for dinner.” He’s smiling, wanting some space to clear his head after being cooped up in his room killing some time as he looks over her shoulder to see what she’s doing. Only sounds omit, he’s delighted as he looks forward to dinner tonight, although all her dishes are his favourite finding he’s never been that fussed with his food while giving her a smile and replies, “I’m just going for a ride up to Bud’s lookout, Mum, love you.”
Popping his head in to say goodbye to his gran, but she’s having a nanna nap, giving her a kiss on her cheek anyway as he quietly tiptoes away, then without warning, he gives Ashley a kiss on the cheek whispering, “Catch you later, Mum.”
But before Ashley could say anything, Adam was already out the door. Turning down the stove as she rushed out to catch him, she’s opening the front screen door calling out, “Adam, do you have your phone on you?” Wiping her hands on her apron seeing Adam take out his mobile phone so she can see it, giving her peace of mind with thumbs up letting Adam know she’s fine with it while watching him ride off. She’s shaking her head as she breathes a weary sigh; she shuts the screen door locking it behind her and continues to prepare dinner. Adam takes off down the street waving at Mrs Devon as she waters her front garden, she nods, and she’s happy. Adam offers to do her front lawns on occasions. Adam keeps riding seeing his exit just up ahead but not before waving at Mrs Davis attending to her front garden, too, she’s waving her arms in the air like a mad woman as Adam chuckles at her actions whilst calling out to him as he rides pass shouting:
“Hello, Adam.”
“Hello, Mrs Davis.”
Adam wears a big smile knowing he can’t hear a word she’s saying, as the music drowns out everything whilst letting on he’s listening with just a slight wave of his hand as he quickly grabs the handlebar of his bike, then jumps onto the footpath where he starts the bike trail. Disappearing along the dirt trail lifting dry leaves where green growth tries to push their way through, he continues along the path seeing an array of gum trees gathering in numbers, but only one stands out when the sun sets giving the ghost gum her name with their leaves not as bright as those with an abundance of water. He’s laughing, having remembered what his mum used to say about the ghost gums, how the folds in the trunks remind her of those hairless cats. Adam tries to picture a cat within forks of the trees as he takes his time enjoying the solitude, and apart from a few walkers waving as he passes them by, he looks up towards the breaks through the trees noticing the clouds covering the sun. Finding his path, a little darker to see having to take his sunglasses off as he enjoys listening to his music.
Ashley’s going about her chores and, at times, would love to know what goes through his mind, though usually she’s right 99% of the time, but she does wonder what triggers his thoughts. If it was just a simple action or a build-up of emotion over a period, it’s hard to say really – but she does know he finds it hard to say, not wishing to avoid hurting anyone’s feelings. Adam can see Bud’s lookout just up ahead finding the break, a welcome relief after riding for 20 minutes, making himself comfortable on the wooden bench as he reaches in taking out his bottle of water and a few treats as the ocean’s breeze sweeps across his face, and he’s loving it, knowing whatever upsets him that day just melts away. While back home, Ashley’s mind goes through so many variables as she stands over the sink washing the dishes and thinks of ways to prepare her son as she tries to find the right method, so he’s able to understand. It’s not something she likes to think about, but, eventually, she will pass, and she just wants Adam to be independent, so he could cope without her. She’s staring out the window over the horizon in a daze when she saw bright-coloured lights flashing in the distance startling her, and that’s when she realises she’s washed the dishes several times snapping:
“Nice one, Ash, you’ll have the cleanest dishes in town.” Ashley dries her hands on her apron as she walks pass her mum noticing she’s still asleep, then casually walks to the front door, then unlocks it pushing the screen door open and walks through, looking up towards the sky thinking she may have imagined the coloured lights seeing Mrs Shields out on her front lawn and calls out, “Hello, Margret, did you see the coloured lights, too?”
Ashley walks towards Margret along the garden path where her flowers flourish; she smiles loving scent as she admires her son’s work thanking God, Adam has taken to gardening as if it were second nature. And she must admit at least it’s something to fill in his time apart from games and riding his bike, Ashley’s casually making her way down the driveway then over to Margret as she stood alongside her. She’s folding her arms while staring up at the sky assuming she’s looking for those amazing bright coloured lights; she seems a little preoccupied not realising her presence as Ashley raises an eyebrow. Margret seems a little dazed thinking she may have taken something to settle her nerves. Ashley didn’t know what to do, As she releases a heavy sigh as they both look to the skies, then a few minutes pass finding the silence going nowhere deciding to ask anyway.
“I was washing up, and I noticed the bright lights, they were beautiful.”
Ashley could see Margret was exhausted noticing she hasn’t been getting enough sleep; it’s not surprising! Ashley can see what Jason puts them through, and thanks God everyday Adam’s not as bad as her son, imprisoned in a wheelchair having to take care of him 24 hours a day with her husband, Jacob, having to do all the heavy lifting. Finding each year, a little harder to bare knowing time eats away a little every day, having never gone on a holiday finding it extremely hard to find a career for their son – wondering the whole time if they would love him and care for him as they do. It’s too much to think about, and then hearing Jacob as he pokes his head out through the front door seeing his incredible smile calling out:
“Hello, Ashley, how’s Adam doing?”
“He’s good, Jacob, thanks for asking; he’s off on his bike riding up to Bud’s lookout. Did you see the bright-coloured lights in the sky, too?”
“No, sorry, I missed it! I was bathing Jason.”
Ashley feels so bad when a teardrop trickles down her cheek then discreetly wipi