The Secret Life of Dr. Bakersfield

By Eric Carlson

James McAvoy isn't the sort of kid that had grown up attending preparatory schools, learning the proper way to live in society. In fact, his transfer to the renowned Coopersmith Academy is a punishment for his delinquent behavior at public school. But even though he tries to turn things around, he soon finds himself in the office of the headmaster, Dr. Bakersfield. That's when everything changes.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Eric Carlson
• Release date: Jan 26, 2012
• ISBN: 9781466039933

Eric Carlson

Eric Carlson spends his time living in Fort Collins, CO with his guitar Angela and his parrot Kenny. The traveling trio spend their time hiking, singing folk songs, and drinking $1.50 PBR at the local watering hole. Feel free to contact the man himself at [e-mail].

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The Secret Life of Dr. Bakersfield

By Eric Carlson

Copyright 2012 Eric Carlson

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The Secret Life of Dr. Bakersfield

New England, 1953

I was 14 years old in the year of 1953, young and reckless and full of passion. My parents had just sent me off to boarding school in Massachusetts, away from everything I had ever known. Away from baseball games and county fairs, chewing tobacco and raiding my parents’ liquor cabinet – all the fun things I had ever enjoyed with my friends. Don’t judge me, though; all of our recklessness was in good fun, and we never wanted to hurt anyone. What we wanted to do was spread the joy and humor of life to everyone and everything around us. But apparently those around us didn’t have the same outlook on our pranks, which is part of the reason I ended up spending my next year at boarding school. I happened to be involved with some people that took pranking much too far, and I paid the price for it. But that’s another story altogether.

As a result, I found myself standing in front of the great Coopersmith Academy in Wurlitzer, Massachusetts. A huge, green lawn was spread in front me, at the end of it a humongous tower that loomed over it not unlike the professors at the school: stern, suspicious, and satanic. Okay, maybe not that last one. The building I was looking at was the famous Nielsen clock tower, the 200-year-old symbol of the prestigious academy that inspired fear and respect in all but the bravest of new students. It was made of beautiful red brick draped with large, circular windows, and countless balconies made of green-painted oak. Near the top of the building, gargoyles defended the revered relic, lost in a time of mythology and superstition. All day they sneered down at the students, daring them to even put a toe out of line. I remember many of my classmates laughed at the crumbling relics, but I never did. And on that day I quickly walked out of sight from their gaze, careful to not look back.

I was put into the dorm that housed all the 9th grade students,