The Tennessee Youngster

Chapter One

Bad News

Winter had made its exit as the April showers opened the door to summer being around the corner in 1959. For two young boys age twelve and fourteen, summer meant the world to them. It was an escape from scholastic prison and barking teachers. A time to relax and a time for adventure was all they could think about as the final bell rang signaling schools out. Little did they know that this summer would change their lives forever, as they were about to find out.

In fact, this summer would be remembered for a lifetime. The family gathered around the dinner table one night and like any other normal family ate together. However, this dinner was different. The boys sat down and then their mother, but their stepfather stood there in the back of his chair, hands on the top of the backrest and stared at all of them. It was only a matter of time before Tommy would ask what the matter was.

"What's the matter, dad?"

"Stephen you might as well tell the boys."

"Tell us what?" Nick responding to his mother while looking at both of his parents.

"Boys, I have some bad news to tell you."

Tommy braced for the worst. He didn't know what to think. Was he in trouble? Gosh, he couldn't think of why he would be.

"Listen, your mother and I have been talking and well, you see I have been let go at my job and we fell it is best to..." Stephen pauses for a second while reacting by running his hands through his hair as he sighs and then looks at them.

"To what?" Tommy eagerly wanting to know more yells out to his stepfather.

"Move."

Both boys sat there with a bewildering look as they turned to look at one another in awe.

"What do you mean move?" Nick responded with a deep tone in his voice while pouting.

Nick didn't care to be uprooted again as he was before in the past when his mother Debra met Stephen. His mother married Stephen, they had to move from New York to Massachusetts, and he hated it. They moved due to his nature of work. Stephen was a journalist and worked for newspaper companies.

"Sorry Nick but your stepfather and I have made the decision to move. Besides where we are going I am quite sure the both of you will like it."

"Where mom?" Tommy said eagerly wanting to know more about the place.

"Well, it's a small town in Tennessee called Camden. Your stepfather has accepted a job as the newspaper manager."

"Yeah but this means we have to pack up again. I hate moving." Nick responding to his mother angrily as he pushes back his chair forcefully, knocking it over, and storms off into his bedroom.

"Nick get right back here now!" Stephen upset from Nick's little outburst, yells down the hall to him.

"If you don't come back now I will be forced to use my belt on you."

"Stephen, you don't have to always revert to using your belt on my boys. Can't you see he is upset because we have to move again?"

"Debra, he is being disrespectful towards me, can't you see that?"

"What I see is your anger taking over. You are always quick to punish Nick. I was here too, but do you see me getting all bent out of shape?"

"Well, maybe you should show more anger towards your boys and not pamper them all the time."

"Look this is not the time or place for arguing." Debra raising her voice towards her husband.

"Is that a matter of fact? Well, let me tell you I don't like how he shows me in his facial expressions and comments that he is upset towards me. And another thing, when he talks to me he better wipe that mean grumpy look off his face or I will wipe it for him."