Conspiracy of Sad Children

 The aim of this 2-part primer is to serve a larger project; a two season, two semester mini-series based primarily at a southern Ontario high school during the early 90's. A time when U2 was the biggest music act on the planet, when Kurt Cobain was a household name even in the most distant retirement communities, and Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and Alice in Chains dominated the airwaves.

 The key to seeing the potential for expansion this intricate backstory promotes is to ask yourself: What would the lives of students be like going to school everyday absolutely unaware that somewhere within its recesses, a military cache of firearms sits tucked away; a simple army-issue duffle bag containing enough firepower to cause a catastrophic amount of damage to any student body and worse?

 Then ask yourself. How crucial could this disturbing fact become for them?

 A well-known narrative principal called Chekhov's Gun has something to say about this. But not before an entire story plays out, rich with life and love, loss and betrayal. This is the story of children playing with fire, irresponsible and careless, yet naïve and forgiven, on the path to a destination that ends not in a crawling, raging frontal assault from class to class atop the screams and cries of pain and death. No.

 The end is simpler, and much quicker.

 **Content creator's note - This concept was born in the early 90's, and it's where it should stay. A year-long exposition free from the influence of cell-phones and social media, and far enough away from us as to be recalled only rarely and vaguely, so remote in time. As well, all character names are subject to change for various reasons. For example, the antagonist Rachel Kyle was created, in name and character, roughly one year before the Columbine tragedy, and might come to this change of necessity as determined by the fact that a young girl named Rachel Scott was lost that terrible day, an absolute coincidence.

This half of the primer can be seen this way: Part 1 explains the core issue and consequence of a certain unreciprocated love. Part 2 explains how the semester before, an awkward and nerdish young boy's failure to capture the affections of a girl out of his league brought him to ruin and worse. The last part then becomes the protagonist's inner thoughts as he pieces together his meandering friend's resolve, finally melding into a ghost conversation with his older brother as the un-nerving truth becomes clear to him.

OVERALL CONTENT

FIRST INSERT

PART 1 - THE ESSENCE

PART 2 - THE HISTORY

PART 3 - THE DOWNWARD STAIRCASE

SECOND INSERT

PART 4 - THE FLEDGLING HAND OF DEATH

PART 5  - JOEY MARTIN

PART 6  - ALL IN

PART 7  - WHAT ALL THIS MEANS GOING INTO THE STORY 

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PART 1 - THE ESSENCE

 When is it not about a girl?

 As it is in this case. But more, it's about a girl one cannot have, for reasons plenty.

 Kevin Dennis, 16, glasses and slightly overweight with a social standing of fine-ground powder is at the end of his rope. What he had stressed to his similar friend Jason Massey, now some months ago, is what he stresses now. She just isn't worth it; to leave her alone is his only option.