The Inner World

By Andrew Ditch

After receiving a call from a long lost friend, John Hays starts on an adventure that takes him back to his childhood and awaken thoughts that had disappeared ages ago. He must return help his friend, but will he be in over his head?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Andrew Ditch
• Release date: Aug 26, 2020

Andrew Ditch

I spent most of my time in the Chicago area. I have written several short stories and slightly longer ones along with various other things. “Awoken” is my first time publishing anything and I made it freely available to get any critiques I can. I am not looking to become the next best selling author, but I would like to improve to the best of my ability and I enjoy hearing other’s opinions.As far as my personal life, I enjoy kayaking, skiing, exploring new areas, swimming, movies and spending time with friends.

Book preview

The Inner World

By Andrew Ditch

Prologue

Johnny sat on the ground sobbing quietly. He didn’t believe that anyone was around, but he did not want to be seen or heard by anyone. He did not want the other boys to make fun of him for being what they would consider a baby. He didn’t have much interest in girls yet, but he didn’t want any of them to see or hear him crying either for fear that word would spread. Recess generally took place outside during the spring and autumn unless it was raining. The area that the kids were allowed to play in consisted of a blacktop basketball court, a swing set and an open expanse of yard where the kids could play tag or other games. The entire perimeter had a chain link fence so the kids could see out but clearly knew where they had to stop. During kickball, many a ball had been lost to the great beyond by going over the fence. Johnny had found a big oak tree in the corner of the yard where he often went to be alone and read. Today he used this tree to hide his tears from his classmates.

Johnny had lived in Brookdale his entire life, all eight years of it. He had made a few friends when he was younger, but most had moved away after a few years. Brookdale was the kind of place that everyone seemed to use as a stopping point on their way to somewhere better. Johnny couldn’t understand why. The town had a library which had a miniature version of a caboose that kids could read in, a river that ran through the town center, there were several parks in the different neighborhoods, and Johnny never felt unsafe. To Johnny, Brookdale had everything one could ever want in life. He had one friend who had stayed in the neighborhood named Thomas Jefferson but everyone called him TJ for short. TJ was a year younger than Johnny and he was small even for his age. In spite of his size, he could run like the wind which made him a favorite for kickball teams. Johnny did not possess the skills necessary for sports, but TJ always made sure he was on his team anyways.

Johnny was crying to himself because he had just learned that TJ was going to be moving away with his parents. TJ’s father had accepted a job in Chicago which was only 45 minutes away but might as well have been half way around the world to Johnny. Johnny knew that without TJ around, he would have no real friends and that he would only be picked for teams as a last resort, if at all. While he was never that interested in playing sports, it was the thought of not being wanted that affected him most. Because Johnny was so caught up in his own misery, he didn’t hear the footsteps coming from the other side of the tree.

Alison Mandrake had seen Johnny slink off towards the tree and she had come over to see what was behind it that Johnny found so fascinating. She heard Johnny sobbing. She thought about simply turning around and letting him have his private moment. Alison though, was not the kind of girl who could simply walk away from someone who was upset without at least trying to help. She was a very kind girl who always looked for the best in everyone she met. She was polite and well-mannered and would never say anything mean to anyone on purpose. Sometimes this made her seem like she was trying to be better than everyone although that was never the intention. Never-the-less, it left her without many friends and those that were often liked her only because she would always compliment them or help them in some other way.

Are you hurt? Asked Alison

Johnny was startled by the sudden notion that he had been caught. He swirled away from her and slunk down even further into his knees to hide his face. Tears had left streaks down his cheeks which were already flush. He didn’t know how to respond or react so he froze.

Are you hurt? Alison asked again. I can help if you let me.

Go away said Johnny. He did not shout this and he had not meant for it to sound rude, but it was a rude thing to say even so.

Alison stood shocked for a moment. She had only wanted to help him and couldn’t understand why he would be so rude.

Johnny felt ashamed of how he reacted. Alison didn’t deserve that and he would have been hurt if he had been in her place. He simply didn’t want anyone to see him in such a state. He was miserable over his friend leaving. He looked up almost instantly to see the look of shock on Alison’s face and felt even worse.

I’m - I’m sorry Johnny stammered. I wasn’t trying to be mean, honest.

Always quick to forgive, Alison answered That’s okay. Why are you so upset?

Johnny was not used to having real conversations with people he did not know. He wasn’t sure his parents would understand or his teachers or anyone for that matter. He didn’t know exactly what to say.

My best friend is leaving and I will not have any friends at all after he goes away to Chicago. Johnny said. Once it blurted out of his mouth, he thought that it was easier to explain than it seemed it would be.

Alison’s heart almost broke for the poor little boy. She knew what it felt like to not have true friends. She knew that the boys and girls who showed up to her last birthday party were only there because their parents made them or because they wanted her to help them with their homework. She sat down next to Johnny and said I’ll be your friend, if you’ll be mine.

Johnny looked at her puzzled for a moment. He knew boys and girls could be friends, but he never pictured himself having girl for a friend before. He wiped his cheeks on his shirt sleeves and thought about the proposition she had just made. It did not take Johnny long to realize that when someone sincerely offered to be your friend, you took the offer no matter if it was a girl or boy.

I would like that very much. My name is Johnny. He stuck out his hand for her to shake it not knowing if that was appropriate for girls like it was for boys. Alison stuck her hand into Johnny’s and firmly shook it as if a deal had just been struck. My name is Alison. she said.

As if on cue, the bell rang and both of them jumped just a little from the startle of the loud noise in the otherwise very quiet part of the yard. They giggled at each other’s reactions and got up to go inside with the rest of the class. They stepped from behind the tree and saw the rest of the kids flocking towards the doors to the school. The tree was the farthest spot away from the door so they both sprinted to catch up. Johnny was so happy that he had met Alison that he almost forgot about TJ moving away. Almost, but not completely. TJ was his best friend and had been all his life. He would miss him more than any of his other friends. He would miss him more than he missed anything else in the world. Still, Alison had made him feel better and he would never forget that.

Chapter 1

Back To The Beginning

John Hays received the call at 2am that very morning. He woke to the incessant ringing from the cell phone on the table beside his bed. Having just woken, his eyes were not yet adjusted to the darkness of his room. His hand maneuvered clumsily about the bedside table knocking into his alarm clock and lamp before finally reaching the phone. He looked at the phone while he waited for his brain to register the number that appeared on the face of it. After the fog of dreams lifted and reality set back in, he pressed the answer button and spoke into the mouthpiece.

Hello He whispered.

He was alone in his room so there was no reason to whisper but the quietness seemed to demand that he speak softly.

Johnny? The voice on the other end replied.

John felt like he might