Within the Light’s SHADOW

Kenneth Kirkwood

Description

George and his friend Scott both enlist in the Navy, but George is selected to lead a special unit in the NSA called the Peace Task Force, while Scott is not selected as a unit member. George must team up with his new friends, James and John, to create a secret NSA unit designed to create peace by taking down Donna and her terrorist network. Due to the secrecy of his task, George begins to feel the strain on his relationship with his family and friends because he cannot tell them the true nature of his mission.

Sujets

• Fiction

Informations

• Publié par: Xlibris US
• Date de parution: 22 janvier 2023
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781669850922
• Langue: English

Extrait

WITHIN THE LIGHT’S SHADOW
 
Shadows of Peace
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Kenneth Kirkwood
 
Copyright © 2023 by Kenneth Kirkwood.
Library of Congress Control Number:
2023900969
ISBN:
Hardcover
978-1-6698-5091-5

Softcover
978-1-6698-5090-8

eBook
978-1-6698-5092-2
 
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
 
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
 
Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.
Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.
 
 
 
 
 
Rev. date: 01/18/2023
 
 
 
Xlibris
844-714-8691
www.Xlibris.com
842782
CONTENTS
Dedication
 
Chapter I
Graduation
Chapter II
Facing the Music
Chapter III
The Naval Exam
Chapter IV
The Warning
Chapter V
James and John
Chapter VI
Spokane
Chapter VII
Enlistment
Chapter VIII
General Armstrong
Chapter IX
George’s First Demerit
Chapter X
Boot Camp Begins
Chapter XI
Peace Task Force
Chapter XII
The Plot Thickens
Chapter XIII
George Doubts
Chapter XIV
The Barracks
Chapter XV
Jimmy
Chapter XVI
The Final Exam
Chapter XVII
Final Days of Boot Camp
Chapter XVIII
R&R Begins
Chapter XIX
Janis Surprise
Chapter XX
Mothers Affair
Chapter XXI
The Argument
Chapter XXII
The Accident
Chapter XXIII
The Hospital
Chapter XXIV
Janis Confession
Chapter XXV
George Engagement
Chapter XXVI
Final Day of R &R
Chapter XXVII
Janis Father
Chapter XXVIII
Steve’s Death
Chapter XXIX
Scott’s Revelation
 
DEDICATION
I am dedicating my book to my family. My wife, whom I will always cherish, for sticking with me through my journey as she, my son, and my daughter, granddaughters, and my daughter-in-law, along with several of my students and friends, were all contributors to our first poetry book Poetic Inspiration—Peace Wisdom and Treasure , which was published in 2009. My eldest son has been one of my most avid supporters, constantly pushing me and doing whatever he can to help me. My daughter has been my inspiration as I have watched her grow as a writer, and she challenges me to be more expressive in my writing. My youngest son has always pushed me with his musical talents, helping me to become more creative with my writing. As he has helped hone my poetry skills, hopefully, one day, we will collaborate to use my poetry to create music. I am excited as I continue my journey, completing my second book in Search for the Light Series, Within the Lights Shadow: Shadows of Peace. I hope everyone enjoys my writing, and I am grateful to those who have supported and inspired me to express myself and never give up, knowing that your voice can be heard no matter how small or big the scale of your writing is.
CHAPTER I
Graduation
M y name is George Cantwell. My story begins the day I graduate from high school. After my final exam in Mr. Peterson’s class, my best friend Scott Beaman and I were about to change the world. It was 7:30 AM when the bell rang, and I entered my homeroom. Immediately after the bell rang, Mr. Peterson ordered everyone to take their seats. I was so glad this would be the last time I had to sit at my old, dilapidated desk. Every time I would sit in the hard wooden seat, pain shot up my spine.
However, when I looked around the classroom it seemed like everyone was totally focused on the exam and they were glad it would be the last English exam they would ever take at Westwood High. In less than a week we would all be graduating.
The longer I sat in the classroom the more the pressure began to rush through my veins. It was beginning to feel like I was in an oven; the hot humid air in the classroom was suffocating me and my mind was more focused on joining the Navy with my best friend Scott. As my mind to drifted in and out of reality.
I truly could not understand why Mr. Peterson made me take his dumb test anyway. Last year he let all the seniors who had a 100 percent in his class skip their finals he called it their graduation gift. However, this year I had 99.5 percent in the class, so he made me take the exam. It made no sense I understood the material. To me it seemed like he was punishing me because I had been late to his class four times during the school year. And he docked my grades by a ½ of percent and made me take the final exam.
I had already proven I understood the material and even turned in several extra credit assignments hoping he would excuse my tardiness. To me the exam was unfair. I had more important thing to do than to play games with my English teacher and his exam was just an exercise in futility.
The more I thought about it the more excited I became. That’s when the pressure began to rush through my veins, and I felt like I was in an oven as the air in the classroom was nearly suffocating my soul. The streams of sweat were pouring down my face and dripped onto my exam and made my words unreadable. I wanted to scream!
All my mind could focus on was that Scott and I would celebrate after the exam. Both of us had decided we would navy and sail the seven seas. It would be the biggest adventure of our lives.
Whi le in the navy, we would take some online college classes, thus ensuring that when we decided to go to college, we would be ahead of the game. Since we were assured that we would be stationed on the same ship near our hometown, everything seemed perfect. I could hardly wait for the fun to begin. I knew Scott would be with me every step of the way. What could go wrong?
No one understood our relationship. While Scott was rougher around the edges and seemed to make decisions spontaneously, I was always laid back and took things methodically. However, I was sure our adventure in the navy would change everyone’s mind about our friendship.
Th ey said it was Scott’s crazy idea for us to join the navy. I knew the truth. I had decided this was the best way for us to show the world our true potential. Suddenly Mr. Peterson tapped me on the shoulder. “George,” he whispered as he firmly placed his hands directly on my shoulder. “Remember, if you don’t pass this test, it will be nice to see you in summer school.”
I l ooked at Mr. Peterson with disdain and nodded my head. Then I took a deep breath and stared out the window.
Wow, what crazy joke was Mr. Peterson trying to play on me? He sure knew how to break through the pleasant memories of my time in high school. Why was he torturing me? My mind nearly snapped. I had to poke myself with my pen before I realized I was still taking my final exam
Soon the doors would open, and I would be free from this jail. Sure, Mr. Peterson had the upper hand because he knew I had received scholarship offers from three prestigious universities. All the scholarships were based on my 4.0 GPA.
Thu s, he intentionally made me feel like I was the dumbest person on the planet. Yet, I still could not stop daydreaming about the rest of my life, even though I knew he was right.
When Mr. Peterson told my parents at their card game this weekend that I would be receiving a B, it ruined my 4.0-grade average. They would go into panic mode and force me to take his class over. That was the only reason I decided to take my final test; I did not want my parents to have a heart attack.
Meanwhile, Scott was patiently waiting for me