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    The Wrong Side of the Tracks: A Coming-of-Age Adventure of First Love & Friendship - Book 2
    The Wrong Side of the Tracks: A Coming-of-Age Adventure of First Love & Friendship - Book 2
    The Wrong Side of the Tracks: A Coming-of-Age Adventure of First Love & Friendship - Book 2
    Ebook183 pages3 hours

    The Wrong Side of the Tracks: A Coming-of-Age Adventure of First Love & Friendship - Book 2

    By Mike Wells

    3.5/5

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    About this ebook

    14 year old Stephen moves into a tough neighborhood and soon finds himself in love with Kristine, one of the prettiest girls in his class. Kristine appears to like him, too, but Stephen learns she "belongs" to a big, mean football player who's three years older. Despite warnings from his best friend, Stephen moves ahead anyway. All hell breaks loose. Will Stephen allow himself to be shoved into the background, or will he win the girl he truly loves?

    5 Stars! Wrong Side of the Tracks is set in the teenage hell known as high school. -- Cindy Harrison
    5 Stars! Very well-written, exciting, and keeps you reading till the end! -- Billie J. Copas

    5 Stars! a great book with a lot of turns and twists in it. -- MacKenzie Becker

    From Dustin Reviews
    The Wrong Side of the Tracks was one of those remarkable reads that sucked this reader right out of the real world and into Wells fictional
    story book universe. When one finds such a read, it's magical. From the first paragraph, I was reminded of the 1986 American dramatic film: Stand By Me, directed by Rob Reiner. Based on the novella The Body by Stephen King which starred Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman and others. Reading The Wrong Side of the Tracks was like visiting old friends that I hadn't seen in years. Although Stephen King's and Mike Wells stories are quite different, they share a similar overall feel. Wells brought the teenage (main) characters to life in a way that I felt I was actually part of the story itself, although I was a silent observer. Wells descriptions and dialogue are spot on and weaves a very realistic and believable story. The Wrong Side of the Tracks holds true to Wells reputation as a writer of 'unputdownable' novels.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMike Wells
    Release dateNov 2, 2011
    ISBN9781465955081
    The Wrong Side of the Tracks: A Coming-of-Age Adventure of First Love & Friendship - Book 2
    Author

    Mike Wells

    Mike Wells is an author of both walking and cycling guides. He has been walking long-distance footpaths for 25 years, after a holiday in New Zealand gave him the long-distance walking bug. Within a few years, he had walked the major British trails, enjoying their range of terrain from straightforward downland tracks through to upland paths and challenging mountain routes. He then ventured into France, walking sections of the Grande Randonnee network (including the GR5 through the Alps from Lake Geneva to the Mediterranean), and Italy to explore the Dolomites Alta Via routes. Further afield, he has walked in Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Norway and Patagonia. Mike has also been a keen cyclist for over 20 years. After completing various UK Sustrans routes, such as Lon Las Cymru in Wales and the C2C route across northern England, he then moved on to cycling long-distance routes in continental Europe and beyond. These include cycling both the Camino and Ruta de la Plata to Santiago de la Compostela, a traverse of Cuba from end to end, a circumnavigation of Iceland and a trip across Lapland to the North Cape. He has written a series of cycling guides for Cicerone following the great rivers of Europe.

    Read more from Mike Wells

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      Book preview

      The Wrong Side of the Tracks - Mike Wells

      The Wrong Side of the Tracks

      Book 2

      by

      Mike Wells

      Smashwords Edition

      Copyright 2011 Mike Wells

      http://www.mikewellsbooks.com

      This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblances to persons living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental

      All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any form whatsoever without written permission from the author.

      Book 2

      Chapter 2.1

      Stephen searched the entire neighborhood, but Ben seemed to have disappeared. Tommy was nowhere to be found, either.

      When Stephen gave up and came back home, he sat down on the front steps of his house, soaking wet. He didn’t have an umbrella, not that he would have used one if he did. In this neighborhood, umbrellas were on an unwritten list of accessories reserved for pussies.

      The only place Stephen had not looked for Ben was down at the railroad tracks. But he wasn’t about to go down there again. And it was hard for him to imagine Ben going back there, either, at least not so soon after what had happened with the train detective. Ben may have been suicidal, but he didn’t want to go to juvenile court or a detention center—even his own screwed up home life was better than that. Besides, it was raining, and nobody went down to the tracks in bad weather. It was too muddy.

      But where else could Ben be?

      Stephen finally decided to search the woods around the rail line—he would stay off the actual tracks. He searched a block in both directions, quickly crossed the tracks and searched the other side, but Ben was nowhere to be found.

      Then he remembered the spot where the big, gnarled oak tree was. Maybe Ben was there.

      Five minutes later, he was approaching it, and he heard voices. At first he was afraid that it might be the train detective, but then he recognized the voice as Ben’s.

      Pull harder, you weakling! he clearly heard Ben say. Then, what sounded like the ping ping ping of a hammer hitting metal.

      Stephen moved cautiously towards the big oak tree, spotting something. Something big and green.

      He crept a little farther through the brush until the object came into view.

      It was a tent. A camouflaged army tent.

      Stephen found Ben kneeling next to one corner of the small canvas structure, rain water dripping from his nose, pounding on a metal stake with a hatchet. The tent was near the big oak, but not directly underneath it. Tommy was crouched beside Ben, pulling on a canvas loop which the stake was driven through.

      Hey, Stephen, Ben said, but kept pounding.

      What are you doing? Stephen said, befuddled.

      I ain’t livin’ at home with that bastard old man of mine no more, Ben said.

      He’s movin’ out! Tommy sang.

      Stephen glanced around the clearing. You’re gonna live in the woods permanently? There was a large piece of plastic on the far side of the tent, under which appeared to be a lantern, a stove, and some other odds and ends.

      Damn right I'm going to live in the woods. I’ve always liked it out here better, anyway.

      But...what about when it get colds, and snows?

      What about it? I’ll keep warm. I bought a new sleeping bag, for cold weather, and a stove.

      Stephen took a closer look at the camping equipment. There was a lantern, a bunch of rope, other things. Where did you get all this stuff, anyway?

      Bought it today at the army surplus store. Used every last dime I had, too. Stephen had noticed a white price sticker on the blade of the hatchet in Ben’s hand. Ben made a little money in the summer, mowing lawns and weeding, and had saved up a few hundred dollars, he had recently told Stephen.

      Ben motioned to Stephen with the hatchet. You don't tell a soul where I'm staying.

      I won't, don't worry.

      Promise!

      I promise.

      Pull a little harder, Tommy. Ben started pounding the stake again.

      Stephen looked in the direction of the rail line, then up at the trees that separated them from the clearing. The campsite was a long way from the tracks, but when the leaves were all gone, Stephen was almost certain that the engineers would be able to see the tent when the train passed by. Because the property belonged to the railroad, they would kick Ben off of it, Stephen was sure, and Nelson would probably send him to juvenile court.

      Stephen looked back at Ben, who was pounding away at the stake with grim determination. He was sure Ben had not thought that far ahead, but Stephen decided not to say anything about it. At that moment, he also decided that he would not tell Ben about the unexpected meeting at school with Detective Nelson.

      Want some help? Stephen said.

      Yeah, sure. There’s a lot of underground rock here. Ben gave the stake one final strike with the hatchet, then picked up another stake and moved to the rear of the tent.

      I wanna help, too! Tommy said.

      You can help by keeping your mouth shut and staying out of my way.

      Come on, Benny. Please?

      My name’s not Benny.

      "Come on, Ben, please?"

      Ben rolled his eyes, then tossed Tommy a dirty blue towel. Go over there and wipe the water off all that stuff under the tarp.

      Tommy happily scampered off.

      Ben said to Stephen in a low voice, He’s one more reason I’m movin’ out. If I don’t live there no more, then I don’t have to watch him.

      * * *

      Stephen helped Ben finish pitching the tent and getting everything set up. After they were done, they both sat inside, out of the rain.

      Listen, Ben, I have a favor to ask.

      I have a favor to ask you, too. I'll tell you mine first."

      Ben reached inside the tent flap and produced a plastic bag. Inside it was another smaller, clear plastic bag. Through it Stephen could see a manila envelope.

      This is my art school application, Ben said. Ms. Marshall has to have it tomorrow, cause of the deadline. Ben paused awkwardly. What I was wonderin’ was…there’s this stupid essay I have to write. You know, why I want to go to art school. I tried writin’ it…but what I wrote is terrible! I can’t write worth a damn, Stephen, my English sucks. He looked at Stephen uncertainly. Since your mom's a writer, you think she would fix it up for me?

      Stephen was taken aback by Ben's sudden about-face in attitude. I’m sure she would. I mean, I don't see why she wouldn't.

      Ben looked relieved. He handed Stephen the envelope. If she would do that, it would be fantastic, Stephen. He motioned to the package. If you want to know the truth, that’s one reason I didn’t apply for that scholarship—that damn essay! Ms. Marshall said the essay part was real important, just as important as the art samples I have to give them. I don' t have anybody else to help me. Nobody in my family ever went to college before—they sure don't know what to write.

      My mom will do it, Stephen repeated, though in fact he was not sure—she refused to actually write one word for him, on his school assignments. All she would do was polish up what he had already written.

      Stephen started to open the envelope, but it was sealed.

      Ben snatched it away. He eyed Stephen gravely. You open this and I kick your ass. Only your mother opens it. Understand?

      But what you wrote…it's in here, right?

      Yeah. But I don't want you readin' it. Only your mother.

      Don't worry. I'll give it to her as soon as she gets home tonight.

      * * *

      The favor Stephen wanted Ben to do for him was of a totally different nature. He wanted Ben to call up Alice Renfro and see if she knew why Kristine Elliot wasn't at school today.

      What makes you think Kristine and Ray had a fight? Ben said, when he finally managed to get Ben over to his house. He didn't want to call Alice, for any reason.

      Stephen showed him the necklace.

      Ben peered closely at the leather straps. It does look like he yanked it off her…

      That's exactly what I thought.

      Ben frowned. He took a dim view of men—or boys— who physically abused females. Once, when Stephen and he were passing through the parking lot of a small shopping center, Ben had decked a man who looked to be in his 30's for slapping his girlfriend, or wife—Stephen wasn't sure which she was. Even my old man don't hit my mother, Ben had said afterwards. The guy deserved it.

      Stephen took the necklace back from Ben. So maybe this has something to do with Kristine not being at school…

      Maybe, Ben said. But I don't want to go calling up Alice Renfro on the phone to find out.

      Why?

      Cause she'll think I'm chasing her.

      Come on, she won't think that. Stephen handed Ben the slip of paper where he had copied the number down from the phone book. Just tell her you're calling strictly for me.

      Ben snickered. That will only make her think it more.

      Damn it, Ben. I already promised I'll ask my mom to fix up your essay.

      He smiled at Stephen, but it seemed to be with pity. You're really hung up on Kristine Elliot, aren't you?

      I'm not hung up on her, Stephen said defensively. I just want to know how come she's not at school. Anyway, Alice Renfro seems pretty damn hot to me. I don't see why you don't want to call her.

      Ben shrugged, thinking. I wouldn't kick her out of bed.

      Then what's the problem? You know she likes you—you said so yourself.

      Because I don't chase girls. How many times do I have to explain that to you?

      Stephen snatched the paper from Ben's hand. If you're chicken, then I'll do it myself.

      Ben snatched it back. I'm not chicken. He grabbed the phone, muttering, Damn girls, if you call 'em they'll talk your ear off… He punched in the number and waited, glaring at Stephen.

      Hello? Alice? Hi, it's Ben McClean."

      Ben started to make small talk.

      Stephen paced the floor of his living room, waiting for him to get to the point.

      Even though Stephen was anxious, he soon found watching Ben chat with Alice entertaining, if not fascinating. Stephen had never seen Ben talk to a girl on the phone before—Ben became almost a different person. He smiled and laughed a lot, was witty—Stephen supposed the word charming might apply. There was a certain animation in his voice that wasn’t present under other circumstances. At times, it was almost sickening to watch, but Stephen thought he would probably behave in a similar way if he talked to Kristine on the phone. He had noticed that he acted a lot differently when he talked to Kristine in class—she brought out some clever, fast-thinking part of himself that he hadn’t ever really been aware of before.

      What’s she saying? Stephen finally whispered to Ben.

      Ben raised his hand and barely glanced at Stephen. Uh-huh. Well, maybe. Uh-huh. Maybe….I'm not sure, I'll have to see…it's possible…

      At last, he hung up.

      Well? Stephen said.

      You were right, Ben said. Kristine and Ray had a big fight.

      What happened?

      I'm not exactly sure. All I know is that Kristine’s parents never liked Ray Hatcher one bit. Too old for Kristine, bad influence, the usual story. And they don’t like him even more now, cause of the ‘fight’ Ray got into over her at school. They found out about it, somehow, but all they heard was just that he got into a fight with some other kid over Kristine. Ben smiled wryly. I guess the wimp left out the part about me beatin the hell out of him...

      So why wasn’t Kristine at school today?

      Her family, they always go up to Crystal Falls this time of year, you know, to see the leaves change and all that shit. Her parents were goin' up there today, and Kristine was goin' up there on Saturday, because she was gonna watch Ray play football Friday night. But her parents made her go with them today, because they want her to cool off about Ray. They think she’s too serious about him. Ben shrugged. They want to keep her and Ray apart a while.

      Oh. This reminded Stephen of Romeo and Juliet, which they had just read in English.

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