Hang On Jack: One Pig's Tale

By Zephyr Carlyle

In "Hang On Jack: One Pig's Tale", Jack Caruthers is a challenged Los Angeles teen that seems destined to flounder or fail. Jack is sent to live with his grandparents in rural Missouri. Jack, a city kid, does not take to farm life until he becomes best friends with Newton, a miniature potbelly with a huge I.Q. Newton also has an overwhelming desire to get an education. He wants some respect from others, and a ticket out of the barnyard. On the first day at his new school, Jack hustles Newton to class as his seeing-eye pig. Jack gets away with this outrageous gag, and Newton becomes Jack’s constant companion on campus.

Jack and Newton learn the hard way that success comes from working together. A veterinarian implants an experimental voice-box in Newton, giving him the gift of speech. Newton can now explain differential equations to Jack, but even a genius pig cannot explain away Jack’s girl troubles. There are also increasing tensions on campus between some of the white students and the growing Mexican population. These conflicts get personal for Jack. Maria, a Hispanic teen, who is Jack’s close friend and emerging girlfriend, accuses Jack of insulting her heritage and gives him the cold shoulder. Newton overhears plans for white students to provoke Hispanic students into a rigged knife fight. Newton stops the fight using stealth and makes sure the troublemakers get what they deserve. School administrators ask Newton to go undercover to bust a campus drug ring. Newton’s cover is blown and the gang pignaps Newton, taking him to a nearby Indian reservation. In a race against time, Newton turns the tables on his captors. Newton frees himself before Jack and other rescuers can find him with the help of a clairvoyant young girl.

The next school year, Newton and Jack part ways. Newton leaves town to further his education. Jack has to go back to school without his best friend, but with a whole new life he has created for himself.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Zephyr Carlyle
• Release date: Jan 8, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301171958

Zephyr Carlyle

Zephyr Carlyle is a high school English teacher and attorney in San Diego County, California. Zephyr’s students and the animals on his farmette were the inspiration for this book. He also drew on his experiences of working on the Navajo Indian Reservation, along with other Indian advocacy work.

Book preview

Hang on Jack: One Pig’s Tale

By Zephyr Carlyle

Published by Zephyr Carlyle at Smashwords

Copyright © 2013 Zephyr Carlyle. All Rights Reserved

eBook Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

*****

"Hang on Jack is a suspenseful coming of age story with a riveting plot -- imagine Charlotte’s Web meets Dog with a Blog. In his exciting first novel, Carlyle masterfully mixes adolescence anxiety and animal intelligence, and blends them with supernatural elements, that together craft an exciting story certain to please any young reader." -- Lauren Goldsmith, clinical psychologist and mother of three children.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 - Say Goodbye, Jack

Chapter 2 - A New Home

Chapter 3 - Rodney Gets Angry

Chapter 4 - The Beginning of a Beautiful Friendship

Chapter 5 - Meet the Neighbors!

Chapter 6 - Wilcox County Middle School

Chapter 7 - The First Day of School

Chapter 8 - The Day the Earth Shook

Chapter 9 - Grandma is Full of Surprises

Chapter 10 - Jack Settles In at School

Chapter 11 - Jack’s Unnerving Day

Chapter 12 - Even Best Friends Can Fight

Chapter 13 - Rodney Rears His Ugly Head

Chapter 14 - Newton is Smarter Than He Looks

Chapter 15 - The Doctors Make Newton an Offer

Chapter 16 - A Less Than Excellent Adventure

Chapter 17 - A Great Invitation

Chapter 18 - Jack Crashes the Big Party

Chapter 19 - Ethnic Tensions at School

Chapter 20 - Newton Helps Out

Chapter 21 - Newton is in Big Trouble

Chapter 22 - Jack to the Rescue

Chapter 23 - New Beginnings

About the Author

Connect with Me Online

Back to TOC

Chapter 1 - Say Goodbye, Jack

Jack scanned the hallway for his last video game as he walked by his mom’s bedroom. The door was partially open. Jack saw Mom crying as she sat on the edge of her bed. Mom glanced up at the dresser mirror. She looked at the mascara running down her face. I’m going to take care of myself once I get Jack on that plane. I’m going to really take care of myself. She started crying again, Oh, I hope he’ll be okay. It’s all my fault. Mom stopped crying and lightly dabbed her eyes with a tissue. Jack looked away and quickly walked past the door. Jack shook his head hoping that would untie the knot in his stomach.

Jack was still looking for that last video game when Mom got into the car. She blew the horn and yelled, Jack, get in this car now! Don’t make me come back into the house and drag you out! Jack found the video game and jammed it into his backpack. He ran into the bathroom to use it one last time. His mom yelled, Alright, I’m coming in! You’re getting in this car right now young man, or you can walk your way to Grandma’s house! Jack flushed the toilet and pulled the bathroom doorknob with great force. The doorknob came off in his hands. He put the knob back several times but it kept falling out.

Help! Get me out of here! I’m stuck. Mom, help me!

Jack heard footsteps getting louder and then rattling noises. Mom took a deep breath and said, It’ll be okay, but the door knob keeps turning on this side. It won’t stick. I don’t know what to do. If I had a screwdriver, I could force the door open.

Get a screwdriver, came the muffled plea from the other side of the door.

But I don’t have a screwdriver. Your father took all the tools with him.

Yeah, but I have a screwdriver in my locked box. I’m takin’ it with me to Missouri.

You mean you’re taking to Missouri that box you made out of scrap wood? Never mind, where is it?

It’s in the back seat of the car. You’ll need the combination. It’s 5-12-23

Mom ran to the car and ran back with the box. Mom fumbled the tumbler. 5 um, 12 ahh…. 23…. done. With trembling hands, she opened the box. God, please, do not let him have cigarettes or marijuana in this box. Please.

Mom emptied the contents of the box. Under some shiny stones and a Boy Scout knife, she found the screwdriver. Mom saw the photograph of their trip to Santa Monica Beach at the bottom of the box. The picture showed Jack and his parents all huddled under a beach umbrella eating Mom’s chicken and coleslaw. Mom cried as she pried open the door and bundled the boy into the car. She raced to the airport. They ran up to the departure gate just as it was closing. She gave Jack a good-night type kiss and the usual family commandment, You be good now, ya’ hear? A crewmember hustled Jack forward. He could not see the tears running down his mother’s face. She could not see his tears either.

Mom stopped off at the local liquor store on the way back home. She walked into the store and the clerk behind the counter beamed. Well, hello Abby. We haven’t seen you in awhi -- He stared at Mom’s smudged make-up and puffy eyes. He lowered his voice. Are you alright? Mom sighed as she walked straight to the vodka section. She mechanically grabbed the closest bottle. Putting it on the counter, she stared at the bottle, It’s been a long day and it’s only eleven o’clock. I gotta be somewhere by three and I need a little help. She looked up at her old friend and tried to smile. How are you doin’ Sam?

Mom went home and poured a drink. She piled her clothes and accessories on her bed as she sipped her vodka and lemonade. She refilled her glass several times as she packed her suitcases and toiletry bag. She put the suitcases in her car and staggered back into the house. When she saw the vodka bottle, she took off the top and took a big swig. She coughed and puckered her face. Uggh. That was a bad idea. Mom went into the kitchen and found a coffee travel mug. She mixed up a vodka drink and put on the lid. She took a long sip and said, Much better. She locked the house and carried the travel mug to the car. Mom tripped on the porch step, but managed to regain her balance. She got in the car and drive off.

Mom weaved through traffic as she drove across town. A scared pedestrian jumped back on the curb to avoid Mom’s high-speed turn. She took a swig from her travel mug at every stop. Mom almost went past her destination. She made a quick turn into the parking lot. She slammed on the brakes and heard a loud snapping sound. The car came to a complete halt that jarred Mom backward. She looked around and shrugged her shoulders. She did not look over the dashboard to see the mangled sign that read: Welcome to New Beginnings: A Rehabilitation and Recovery Center. She also did not see the mashed sign posts jammed into her car grill. She got out and went into the door. Above the door were written the words Check-In and Lobby.

Back to TOC

Chapter 2 - A New Home

The June 15th plane flight from Los Angeles to Columbia, Missouri was uneventful. The airline crew was warned that a teen boy would be traveling unescorted. The stewardesses kept a friendly eye on Jack. He liked the extra attention. As the plane made its final descent, Jack saw the lay out of the land. It looked like Missouri was a checkerboard with so many squares and rectangles of various sizes all stacked one right next to the other. As the place got closer, the checkerboard loomed larger. Jack could now see the individual pieces in each checkerboard square such as young rows of green corn stalks lined up single file and freshly plowed brown earth in the neighboring section. Jack felt his throat tightening as the plane belly flopped onto the landing strip.

Jack got his backpack and walked slowly down the crowded aisle, manfully trying to hold back a tear. The lump in his throat prevented Jack from saying anything to the stewardess who asked if everything was all right. Jack nodded and smiled at her instead.

He exited the plane and walked down the long tunnel, dragging his worldly possessions behind them. Amid the bustle of joyous reunions, Jack peered through the humid air of Missouri, looking for old folks with vaguely familiar faces. Jack saw an old lady with cold blue eyes and a man with a leather face.

Jack yelled, Grandma! Grandpa! I’m here.

The old people walked over to Jack. Grandpa smiled and said, Welcome to your new home, Jack! Hope your flight went well. My, you’ve grown so much since we last saw you.

Mrs. Fletcher came up and gave Jack an obligatory hug. Welcome. How was your flight? She did not wait for an answer. Mrs. Fletcher turned and walked towards the airport exit.

Grandpa watched his wife walk away. He beamed at Jack. Git your stuff, we’re on our way.

Jack waited at the airport curb clutching his luggage as Grandpa went to pull up the car. Jack looked around, blinking hard, but said nothing while he waited. Jack was lost in his thoughts about a future he could not see, but he knew enough to dread. Grandma obliged by remaining silent.

Grandpa pulled up in an old Rambler. Full of dents and dings, it tilted to the left side. The original blue paint had eroded to a dull primer gray. Grandpa opened the door and jumped out. Through his smile, he exclaimed, Git on in now! We’re mighty glad to see you! Weeza takin’ you home!

Grandpa looked at his wife. Mother, you get in first. Jack shook his head. He never heard a man address his wife as mother. Grandpa scurried over to the passenger front door with a light step. He opened the door. He waited for Grandma to get in the car before gently closing the door. Jack observed this ritual silently. He had only seen men open doors for women in old movies. Jack snapped out of his daydream when Grandpa put his suitcases in the trunk and told Jack to get in. The car was soon heading away from the city and cruising into the countryside. Jack stared out of the car window, taking in the rolling green hills. Soon, the view turned to open fields and farmland in between areas of deep woods with thick undergrowth. The trip to Potown was largely silent with Jack’s grandparents asking the occasional polite question.

Jack viewed this increasingly rural landscape with growing anxiety. He was already separated from his mom, and his friends, too. His biggest concern now was for his new life in Potown. He did not want to live in the country. He liked the golden ghetto of the suburbs. He liked to walk on sidewalks, wait for city buses, and go to shopping malls.

As the Rambler moved through the countryside, Jack wondered if Grandpa and Grandma lived like hillbillies. The further Grandpa drove, the more undeveloped it got. The landscape went to fewer farms and barns and more fields and streams. Gradually, Jack’s silent prayer for concrete was answered as the car passed road signs for nearby towns. The road widened from two to four lanes of traffic, complete with exit ramps that promised gas stations, quick marts, laundromats and liquor stores. Jack’s easy breathing returned as the car took an exit ramp that read: Milton – Capital of Wilcox County, a sign that promised a return to civilization. However, the car drove away from Milton until they were back in farmland again.

It was dark by the time the car stopped, but Jack knew that he was now living in the woods. He knew with the intuition of a city boy. He could not see anything. There were no lights -- no street lamps, no billboard lights, no neon storefronts, no illumination from a neighbor’s window -- nothing but darkness all around him. The air smelled clear and piney. They were surrounded by the quiet beauty of the night. Jack hated it. He got out of the car and squinted in the direction of his new home. He saw a vague outline of a house with a two-story barn hovering in the background. Jack pulled out his battered suitcases from the car trunk. He alternated between thinking he would make a new life in Missouri, and wishing he could go home to be with his mom. Grandma told Jack to leave his bags on the porch outside the house. He followed Grandpa through the front door into the entryway. The first thing Jack saw was an old wooden telephone on the wall. The rectangular phone had a curved metal mouthpiece and a crank handle on the right side. Jack walked to the end of the entryway and could now see into the living room. Quietly stationed in the far left corner was a spinning wheel with layers of woolen string