Forever Eastward: Part 1

By Elijah J. Sanders

Forever Eastward is a rather peculiar person. You see, unlike most of us, he is pulled to the East by gravity. And if this hasn't caused him enough trouble, perhaps a secret society trying to kill him will. Forever Eastward is a unique and refreshing twist to traditional scifi, with scenes taking place in New York state, Oregon, Algeria, India, and Jakarta, Indonesia. An easy read, and suitable for most ages.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Elijah Sanders
• Release date: Mar 30, 2018

Book preview

Sanders

Introduction

We’ve all felt strange at some point in our lives. People feel strange for all sorts of silly reasons. Maybe you feel strange all the time. But no one ever felt more strange than Forever Eastward. That’s er, his name, or Forever as he likes to be called. Eastward, unlike most people, has a very good reason to feel strange. You see, all people are pulled down by gravity, but not Eastward. Yes, as his name suggests: gravity always pulls him Eastward, I mean, to the East. For him, standing right side up means standing up on the side of a wall, or on the side of a tree trunk, completely horizontal to you and me. If he were to walk to the top of a tree and then jump off the top, he would fall East. To me or to you it would seem he were flying, but to him, he’d be falling! This has made his life, both in getting around AND his social life... quite difficult. This is his story.

But it doesn’t begin with him. No, our story begins... with his mother, Maria Eastward. Maria lived just North of New York in a small town surrounded by wooded hills that changed colors in the Fall and Spring and was within sight of the ocean. Maria was a short girl who had long, wavy, orange hair and a dark skin color. As you can see, she herself might have had reason to feel strange, but she decided that she would be happy with how God had created her to be.

She was 23 years old at the beginning of this story and was saving to go to college to become a movie director. The people of the town loved Maria’s smiling face and her ever-optimistic view of life. Maria enjoyed horse back riding and helping her parents at their local convenience store. Her dad would always give her a discount on store items and she used to love getting the banana flavored milk, her favorite (her parent’s store was the only place that sold it).

Maria, before and after she became an Eastward, always loved watching the sun rise in the East. She loved all the colors and the warmth when the sun first peeked over the ocean’s horizon. She had a favorite spot to watch these sunrises: the house roof. Her persistence of this had caused her dad to build a fence around the edge of the roof for safety, complete with stairs to the different levels, hand rails, and flat spots for sitting. He even built a little door next to the window in her room that she used to crawl out of before the renovations.

The house roof was indeed Maria’s favorite spot (please readers, stay off of your house roof, it’s dangerous), and she often had her close friends over for star gazing and sleep overs. I don’t need to mention they talked a great deal about things, including guys around the town. One such young buck was Edward Eastward. He had only moved to town about 6 months prior to intern for horse training. He was tall, kinda average looking, and a little quirky. He had green eyes, slightly long black hair, and freckles.

Edward had taken notice of Maria, especially since he worked part time with her dad at the convenient store and was often invited over for lunch, dinner, and occasionally fixing the sink. He found her to be quite pretty and enjoyed her personality. Maria had also become very enamored with Edward but hoped that he wouldn’t notice the extremity of it.

One day on his day off, it happened that Edward’s car broke down just a few blocks from Maria’s home. It was early in the morning, just before sunrise and Maria was all set and cozy on her roof waiting for it. She was wearing baggy gray sweat pants, a white tank top, and one of her dad’s plaid jackets. She had the beanbag set, blanket wrapped around, a notepad, pen, and banana milk in hand.

Knock, knock, knock, hello? She heard down below at the front door. It was Edward! Her heart fluttered. She quickly and carefully scooted across to the edge of the roof right above the front door.

Edward! She shouted, poking her head past the out-of-place guard rail.

Hi Maria he said, is your dad home?

Yes he is, but come up here quickly! Maria shouted, I have something to show you!

She then quickly scooted back to the flat sitting area and rushed into her room and down the stairs. She was panting by the time she opened the door.

Hi Edward she said with a smile and tilting her head slightly. Before Edward could reply, Maria had grabbed his hand and started dragging him up the stairs not wanting to miss the sunrise, come quickly! she said.

Edward was in a slight state of shock and also surprised at how strong such a short woman could be. Needless to say, he was very excited to be being dragged up the stairs by the girl he had a crush on.

Into her bedroom they rushed, a pleasant aroma hit Edward in the face, and then more solidly the top of the tiny door also hit him in the face as Maria was rushing him out to the roof.

Oh! Sorry! Maria said pausing for a moment, are you ok?

As quickly as Edward had said yes Maria continued dragging him up the stairs to the top roof and then plonked herself down.

Sit down, sit down quickly! she urged him.

What’s going on? he said.

Ssssshhhh, just sit down quickly she said in an overly excited whisper, and suddenly yanked Edward down.

Edward trying to make sense of it all, decided to look to the East, as Maria was now reverently doing. Edward looked, and looked, and then back to Maria’s piercing gaze towards the horizon, and then back again.

Suddenly, the sun revealed it’s first rays of sunshine over the ocean. It’s warmth was immediate, and the colors beautiful. Maria basked in the sunlight.

As pleasant as it was, Edward was much more interested in Maria then the sunrise. He glanced over just in time to see her eyes closed, face lit up by the sun, and the light glowing through her orange hair. Maria turned her face slowly towards Edward and opened her eyes.

So Edward said, you really like the sunrise uh?

Maria laughed. That broke the ice and they started talking, enjoying but almost ignoring the beautiful sunrise which lasted for several minutes. During their conversation Maria came across a startling discovery, she didn’t know Edward’s middle name!

Come on, tell me she said, what is it?

No no no, it’s a stupid name he said.

PLEASE TELL ME! Maria said exaggerating her voice.

Ooooh, ok Edward said, but promise not to tell anyone?

No Maria quickly said teasing.

Edward zipped his lips, crossed his arms, and turned away in a stony silence.

Ok ok! Maria said shaking his shoulder, I won’t tell anyone.

Promise? Edward said looking over his shoulder.

Yes she said happily, now turn around and tell me!

Ok he said, my middle name... is Forever.

Maria could tell by his face that he was waiting for her to be surprised or shocked or think that he was kidding with her.

That’s an AWESOME name! She said excitedly.

You think so? he said a bit puzzled.

YES! Maria continued, Edward Forever Eastward, it has a nice ring to it you know?

Well I think you’re the only one who thinks so Edward said smiling, just don’t name our kids after it.

What?! Maria said shocked.

Nothing! Edward said embarrassed.

He managed to navigate around this and they continued their conversation until noon. Edward took Maria out for lunch and later that afternoon dropped her off at the house and her dad helped him fix the car. It was the start of a beautiful relationship. Edward continued coming over to see Maria and one year later they became engaged, and two years after that they became married.

Chapter 1.

First Born

It wasn’t until four years later that they received news that Maria was pregnant, a much awaited moment with anticipated joy. It was a sunny day and Edward had just finished putting the horses into their stables when Maria came out of the house with a gleaming smile.

You look happy, gorgeous Edward said smiling, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

"Are you