Access

Paul Ward

Description

David Smith was raised in an orphanage from the time he was a baby until his late teens. Now, as an adult, he decided to have his d.n.a. checked in order to gain some knowledge of his background. He was not expecting the results that showed up while he was on vacation. It was during his vacation that he accidentally found out he may have the ability to access places ordinary people do not have knowledge of. Upon his return from vacation he learns that someone is, to the point of violence, very interested in him. His friends have discovered who it is that is after him, but not why. When Dave tells his friends about his escapades while on vacation they want to test his abilities for themselves. His friends then talk him into giving them a demonstration, which Dave did not find to be a positive experience. As the negative experiences pile up his friends gather and stand with him, becoming the family he had always hoped for.

Sujets

• Religion
• Christianisme
• Alien Contact
• Science Fiction
• Suspenso
• Contemporary history
• Contemporary
• Christian
• Suspense
• Fiction

Informations

• Publié par: Outskirts Press
• Date de parution: 23 juillet 2023
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781977266842
• Langue: English

Extrait

Access Going Places All Rights Reserved. Copyright © 2023 Paul Ward v3.0
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
The opinions expressed in this manuscript are solely the opinions of the author and do not represent the opinions or thoughts of the publisher. The author has represented and warranted full ownership and/or legal right to publish all the materials in this book.
This book may not be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in whole or in part by any means, including graphic, electronic, or mechanical without the express written consent of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
Outskirts Press, Inc. http://www.outskirtspress.com
Cover Photo © 2023 www.gettyimages.com . All rights reserved - used with permission.
Outskirts Press and the "OP" logo are trademarks belonging to Outskirts Press, Inc.
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Table of Contents
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1
"Friday afternoons just seem to drag on" Joe said as he passed Dave’s cubicle. Dave chuckled and nodded, his day seemed to go by quickly since he just kept busy. Dave Smith had been working for Jonstone Services for nine years doing data entry. Dave looked to be in his mid-thirties, and in pretty good shape for someone who works at a desk.
"Hey Joe, you coming for poker tonight?" Dave asked.
"Don’t think so" Joe responded, " I’ll be keeping my money, thank you very much."
"Oh well, nothing ventured, nothing gained." Dave said with a shrug.
Joe looked at him and said "My mother taught me that if I can’t afford to lose I can’t afford to play." Joe turned and continued on to his cubicle.
From around the corner someone says "Good advice for a pussy!"
Dave asks "That you Rob?"
"Yeah," Rob said, "too bad, I could’ve used the money."
Joe just shook his head as he sat down at his desk. Joe is a tall good looking black man with a wife and three kids, a teenage son and a seven year old girl and a six year old boy. He married his high school sweetheart shortly after she got pregnant at their senior prom. He had no regrets and loved his wife and family dearly.
"So I take it you’ll be there tonight, Rob?" Dave asked.
"Of course I will," Rob said, "but, eh, who else’ll be there?"
Dave paused, "Not real sure yet, you, me, Mr. Jonstone,"
"Wait a minute." Rob interrupts, "you invited the boss?"
"Sure, why not? His money is good, and his poker is not." Dave explained, "You still coming?" he asked. "or are you a pussy?"
A laugh is heard from Joe’s cube. When Joe had gotten back to his desk, he found a CD. He wasn’t sure, but he had an idea who put it there. He also knew it would mean a production bonus.
"Ok, ok, "said Rob, "who else?" He asked as he came around to Dave’s desk.
Dave looked suspiciously at Rob, wondering, why all the interest? "Well," Dave continued, "I asked Joe and Quinn, also my neighbor, Dan, and maybe his sister Chrissy. She’s in for a couple of weeks vacation."
Dave paused, then looked up at Rob, "Who do you owe?" he asked. Rob looked down and said "I owe Quinn a hundred from last time I played."
"You mean you haven’t paid him yet?" Dave asked incredulously, "that was two months ago, you sure you want to play tonight?"
"Yeah, I’m sure, and I’ll bring Quinn his money. Like it matters to him, he’s barely conscious." Rob said, with almost a sneer.
"What’s that supposed to mean?" Dave asked, clearly agitated.
"Ok, ok, sorry, I know he’s your friend. But he’s, like, autistic or something, he never looks at me and it creeps me out." Rob replied.
Dave looked at Rob, he could tell Rob regretted saying that, out loud at least, but probably couldn’t help it. That’s just how Rob was.
"Well, he is an acquired taste." Dave offered.
"I guess I ain’t acquired it yet." Rob said as he walked back to his space.
‘Well,’ Dave thought, ‘might as well stretch my legs.’ As he stood up a slight groan escaped from his lips.
"Old man noises." someone said in the background.
‘Old man noises indeed’ thought Dave. His back and knees weren’t fans of sitting at a desk all day.
He liked taking the long way to the water cooler, he got to see more people this way. He walked amongst the cubicles, nodding and saying "Hi", until he approached Amanda’s cubicle. He knew in his heart this was why he came this way.
He found Amanda to be simply adorable. She was a cute little hardbody, with natural dish-water blonde hair, and definitely a lot smarter than she appeared. He believed she was in her late twenties.
He stopped and asked "How’s things on your end? They look pretty good from here."
Amanda giggled and said "I can still get a rise out of people."
‘I’ll bet you can’ thought Dave. He looked at her and asked "Everything good with the new beau?"
She lit up and said "Real good, three dates and he’s still listening to me!"
"Sounds like a keeper, keep me informed." Dave said as he turned to continue on to the water cooler.
"Thanks for asking,…and for everything." she said as he left.
Amanda liked Dave. She found him easy to talk to, and he was always willing to help…no matter what. She did sometimes wonder why he had never hit on her when they first met, but was happy they had become good friends.
As Dave got his first cup of water the cooler made a gurgling noise, that’s when a voice came out of the only corner cubicle in the office.
"I was just thinking," Quinn started.
"And what’s holding your interest today?" Dave queried.
"Pistachios, are a good nut. They would make a good snack for poker." Quinn said.
"What about the shells?" Dave asked.
"A small price to pay for not having greasy fingers!" Quinn retorted.
"Good point," Dave said, "so I assume you’ll be there tonight?"
"Of course I will." Quinn said as he turned to continue typing.
Dave nodded and headed back to his workspace. As he passed Amanda’s cubicle he looked in to see, as she turned in her seat, a glimpse of her panties. ‘Light purple, nice’ he thought. Amanda looked up to see him looking up her skirt, with a quick glance at his crotch, looked at him and said "Good luck tonight."
He grinned and said "I feel I’ve been blessed." He walked back to his cubicle thinking ‘ if only I were a younger man.’
2
Dave got home from work and immediately started making sandwiches and putting chips and salsas into bowls, it was the third Friday of the month and that meant poker. He always made sure everyone had enough to eat, so they wouldn’t get drunk. Everyone knew to bring their own beverages, and he had no restrictions on what or how much you drank. But he made sure everyone understood that being drunk is no excuse, you get drunk and somebody will take advantage of you. Forewarned is forearmed.
He had turned his dining room into a poker parlor, he had two round tables that would each seat seven people comfortably. Although it had been a while since he had used the second table. He also had several small fold-out tables for drinks, ashtrays, and such. He had, over time, acquired a variety of folding chairs, mostly padded (some better than others), but all solid. None of which were set up. He knew Quinn liked to help set up the room, so he waited for the help.
Dave looked at the clock, it was five thirty, everyone knew to be there around six. He knew Quinn would be there at a quarter to six, so he was surprised when the doorbell rang. He answered the door to find Quinn standing there with their boss, Jim Jonstone.
Quinn smiled and said "A good night for poker, let’s get this set up."
"You’re early." Dave said.
Jim spoke up, "I saw him waiting for a bus, so I stopped."
"I think you should get in." Quinn interrupted, using his ‘boss’ voice, "that’s what he said."
They all laughed and got to work setting up the room for the evening’s game.
"How many places do we need?" Jim asked.
"I think seven." Dave responded.
At that there was a knock on the door. "Come on in." Dave called out. The door opened and in came Rob with Joe right behind.
"You two ride together?" Jim asked.
"Nope" Joe said, "different sides of town."
‘Different sides of town, indeed’ thought Dave. Joe lived a block over from Dave, in an upper-middle class neighborhood, Rob, however, lived in the lower income part of town. ‘Cheaper rent.’ Dave supposed.
Through the window Dave saw his neighbors headed over, so he went to the door to greet them. "Howdy folks!" Dave said as they reached the porch.
Dave’s neighbor, Dan, was about forty, an average looking man, who’s only problem seemed to be a mild case of cerebral palsy. It wasn’t real bad, but he was often taken for being drunk.
His older sister, however, was almost perfect. A natural redhead with a killer body and an even deadlier wit.
"Ok," Dave said, "I guess the only people who haven’t met are…Dan’s sister, Chrissy, this is Jim, my boss, and over there, staring at Chrissy’s tits, is Rob. Rob visibly reddened as he waved to her.
Jim shook Dan’s hand, "Good to see you again, and good to meet you." he said as he nodded to Chrissy. Jim continued, "I just want everyone to know I have to leave at nine o’clock, up or down I have got to go." Everyone agreed.
"Well then, let’s get our chairs and chips and get started." Dave said with a smile. Everyone found a seat at the table except Dan.
"You playing tonight?" Dave asked Dan.
"Nah, I’m just here to administer first-aid to whoever pisses off my sister." Dan replied. Everyone looked at Rob.
"Screw all of you." Rob said, looking visibly annoyed. Everyone, except Rob, got a good laugh. Dave liked needling Rob before the game, it made him easier to re