12 Strokes of Midnight

Chapter 1

  Copyright Ⓒ 2018 by B. Bailey All Rights Reserved    

This is a work of fiction. Archimedes, in the historical context, is fictionalized for the purpose of this story. However, it does abide by the general information known for his lifetime. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, business, events and incidents are the products of the authors imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons outside of Historical figure Archimedes and his history, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Cover Photo  "Paradise Lost: The Creation of Light" by John Martin (British, 1789-1854) is licensed under CC CCO 1.0

I want to thank my family for supporting me and inspiring me to make my stories public. Thank you.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,

Corinthians 3:23  

Chapter 1

"I won't go!" I yell, not caring about the scene I'm making on our driveway. "You can't make me go!"

Date: Midway through the worst day ever opening the path to the worst summer of my life.

Dear Journal,

Parents. They think they can control my life "because I (they) say so". Why do their words get to be absolute while mine get ignored? I asked them and all they told me was that when I grow up I can make my own rules but as long as I am their kid I have to do what they say. If they want their words to be a binding contract I expect them to honor the terms they set down.

Did they honor them? No. No, they did not.

All A's in every class; Winning the Extracurricular mathletes competition; the spelling bee; and acing the placement test. Those were the rules we agreed on so that we could have the Most Awesome Summer of Summer Vacation EVER.

I kept up my end, which was seriously not easy. They set the bar really high, higher than normal and that is saying a lot because my parents have astronomical standards. Just look at Poe, my older brother. He got all A's and graduated at the top of his High School class. Instead of taking time to enjoy the massive party they threw for him, they threw Poe at their friends. Oh wait, that's not right. Their "colleagues".

Because that is so terribly important.

Who wants to talk to a bunch of old boring people instead of their friends at their own party? Nobody! Poe only went along with it to make Mom and Dad happy and help calm them down about his future – the future they have all planned out for the both of us.

The future that's driving full speed ahead with my parents at the wheel, but they're wrong if they think I won't pull open the doors and jump off of the "future plan" train.

I'd really do it too if I could solve my problems that way, just leaping and rolling off into life.

But it's not that simple so I can't.

I tried to do things their way and follow Poes' advice with compromising - the "mature mans" approach.

It failed.

I won't hold the advice against him. I know he meant well. Maybe it would have worked with normal people. Maybe it would have worked if I was a man.