Wattpad Block Party - Winter Edition III

KatherineArlene Presents: It's All in the Game

KatherineArlene Presents: It's All in the Game

****SPOILER ALERT****

If you are intending to read my story The Boy in the Woods or haven't finished it yet, I would urge you to reserve this chapter for after you've completed it.

The Boy in the Woods is a mysterious and poignant coming of age story set in the late 1950's with the same classic feel as A Little Princess and The Secret Garden. This bonus chapter reveals information that gives away a major part of the plot, which may ruin your reading enjoyment.

However, if you've already read Boy, or are a Wattpad Block Party reader, I've written this as a standalone piece and I hope you'll enjoy it! It's a chapter my readers have been begging me to write for years.

Bonus chapter for The Boy in the Woods – It's All in the Game

April 1958

Jonathon quickened his steps to his red brick office building, pulling the neck of his coat tighter against the rain that began to beat down harder. Beside him, Norm Kennedy, his right hand man matched his pace. They'd been having a discussion on their way up from the mining pit where they'd just finished their morning rounds, but when the rain started, they gave up talking and walked faster, intent on getting inside where it was warm and dry.

"Hey!" Norm nudged him in the arm and pointed. "There's a police car."

Jonathon lifted his head and water ran down his back from the brim of his fedora. A black and white Chevy was parked at the curb in front of the building. "Damn, it!" he said.

"I bet one of the men got drunk and busted up a bar again," Norm said.

"Whoever it is, fire him," Jonathon said. "I'm not going to tolerate them acting up anymore. It's starting to make the business look bad."

Norm shook his head as they headed up the steps to the entrance. "I hope it's not one of the vets. Some of those guys have death wish."

The men who'd come home from Korea were having a harder time adjusting to civilian life than the ones who'd been in the last war, and Jonathon couldn't understand why. His younger brother, Billy had seen plenty of action in Europe, and although he'd had some problems when he came back, he'd recovered over time. He'd been able to go to college in New York and now had a good job on Wall Street.

Even at his worst, Jonathon couldn't imagine his brother acting like some of the fellows working for him now. Nearly every week he'd hear about drinking, fighting, or someone getting in an accident due to reckless driving. Norm was right. It was like some of them were trying to get themselves killed.

When he stepped inside the warm building, he pulled off his wet fedora with relief. "Mr. Blackwell," his secretary, Mrs. Gibson said, coming to take his hat and coat. "Police Chief Connelly is here to see you."

Jonathon turned as the chief stood from one of the chairs in their small waiting area. A young patrolman who'd been sitting next to him stood as well. Jonathon didn't miss the grim expression on Connelly's face, or the way the patrolman's eyes nervously shifted away from him. If their expressions weren't enough, the fact that Connelly was coming in person in his role as chief to talk to him meant it had to be bad.

"Paul," Jonathon said, offering his hand to Connelly.

"Can I talk to you privately?" Paul said while he shook it.

Jonathon smiled to cover his dismay. "Of course. Mrs. Gibson, can you make coffee?"

"None for me," Paul said.