-I wrote the following novel nearly two decades ago. In the years between then and now I've honed my craft, and my perception of this world; my thoughts and ideas; have changed dramatically. However, I still enjoy the premise and have decided to do an overhaul of revisions and rewrites, though likely not until sometime next year. (Though I'm sure I'll do a little as I post chapters)
For now I hope you will enjoy a glimpse into my book writing beginnings...
They are the closest of friends though they have never met in waking life.
Prologue-PT1 Prologue-PT2 Chapter 1
Chapter Five
Over four years later
Collin stood back from his project, admiring the insects, feeling a fondness for them that most people would be perplexed by. He had been working on a way to perfect this particular strain of honeybees for the whole summer. He had taken Yugoslavian, Carnolian, and Russian bees and bred them together in order
to create a bee that would winter over in the north, explode in population, and be extremely resistant to the mites that had been causing 'the disappearing disease' of honeybees across the United States.
It was his fourth and final year at Jarien’s school for the gifted. The following year he would be heading off for college, though he hadn’t yet decided between the vast variety he had at his feet. Up until a few months ago his studies were wrapped around foreign language and Computer systems, with math and other subjects on a lesser scale. He could go Ivy League-Harvard, Yale, Princeton perhaps, but his new interest in insects had caused him to lean towards Cornell University in Upstate NY.
John Gothan, his ever proud mentor and now very close friend, had already insisted on paying for whatever schooling his scholarships didn’t cover. Of course Collin insisted he would pay him back, and it was settled.
Since beginning at the school he had taken Spanish, French, German, and was now and had been for the past half a year studying Mandarin and Cantonese. He was considered fluent in the first three, but the Chinese languages were a bit more difficult. Still he had come a long way already and was even beginning to read and write it. Entomology was a big change in direction.
He thought he might have plunged into this new arena because of his strong desire to work for himself and only be around other people when he chose to and not because he had to. He had a few friends now- mainly John Gothan and the guys he shared his little dorm apartment with- still his favorite person in the world was his night time friend. She was 13 going on 30, yet he was beginning to see a bit of the adolescent silliness setting in. He knew she would move quickly through the phase-particularly if it were pointed out to her, but he didn’t mind at this point, her giggle was just so sweet.
Since moving to the Jarien institute he saw his mom and brothers about once a month, and really that was enough for him. Well except for Jack, he would like to spend more time with him. Jack was exceptionally bright as well, but much less social, Collin felt he was a little too antisocial in fact and worried about him. But soon he would be driving and able to spend more time with him, and as if John Gothan hadn’t already done enough for him, he bought him a car too-a cherry red mustang. Collin thought that John had turned him into the son he’d never had, and that worked out well since he was also the missing father.
He was one of two people who really knew Collin, and since the other was still just a figment of his imagination, he was possibly the only one. John’s wife Katherine was also a fine lady, but lately the two of them had been having minor problems. Even though they appeared to be small, it really troubled Collin as they were the first consistent and stable couple he’d ever actually known. He knew it had something to do with Catherine’s decision to become more avid about her faith. He also knew that she’d cut down on her practice and was having some sort of crisis of conscious concerning her field. This of course led to the possibility of financial problems.
Money. That’s what it all came down to it seemed. And partly what had influenced his decision to do something he truly enjoyed rather than go into a field he despised just to become wealthy. Someone had once said to him "Do what you love and the money will come." The truth of which he intended to find out.
His thoughts turned back to his decisions about his furthering education, and he realized that he had all but made up his mind, Cornell University in Upstate NY, that was where he was headed.
“Hey Collin, do you think you could pry yourself away from those bugs, the guys and I are going downtown to grab some lunch.”
Jake Bennett stood in the doorway with the impatient look that seemed to be permanently attached to his face. He was a man with a purpose, even when he had no particular purpose in mind.
“Sure, give me a minute.” Just to have some fun he put his things away painstakingly slow, knowing the pulse in Jake’s temple would be beating full bore just observing this.
When he was finally done he glanced at the door and was not disappointed. He laughed out loud and strode across the room, clapping Jake on the back. "Ready?" He grinned.
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