Boy: A Short Story

By J.L. Shojosh

A young boy with special abilities to see a world beyond the veil, and a realm teeming with shadow formed beasts, undergoes an emotional roller coaster ride in this coming-of-age short story tale. Will Tommy forever remain haunted by these demons from beyond, or will he somehow find a way to best them?

• Language: English
• Publisher: J.L. Shojosh
• Release date: Sep 6, 2020
• ISBN: 9781005465551

J.L. Shojosh

I hope to show the universal humanity inherent in all of us. There's more that we as humans have in common with one another than the differences that sometimes pit us against each other. Through stories, I hope to highlight a few of those commonalities. Love conquers all.

Book preview

BOY

A

Short Story

By J.L. SHOJOSH

*

Copyright © 2020 Joshua Nsangi. All rights reserved.

The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.

Published by R.B. Publishers, Smashwords Edition.

I

I think that we have a shot this time. Chase is our ace.

A red haired chap smiled back as he kicked the ball to his friend.

Chase doesn’t improve our abilities by that much. So, no, Chris, we have zero chance this year.

The other ten year old had retorted, rather dryly. He’d awkwardly stopped the ball with the bottom of his shoe as he pressed it down to the ground.

Would it kill you to be less truthful about your lame thoughts?

Chris’ fully freckled face brimmed as the sunlight reflected on his glossy skin. He drew nearer to his sweat drenched companion, Tommy, who had opted to sit it out on the freshly trimmed lawn for a bit.

Tommy’s response this time came by way of expression, as his eyebrows raised, and his face would give Chris the really, like we haven’t talked about this? look.

Oh, yea, I forgot.

Chris sat beside the gloomy character and instantly slammed his back to the ground. His eyes got watery from the glaring sunlit sky. He smiled, rather enjoying the strange sensation that his strained eyes engendered at his staring at a bright blue and white surface, miles away.

You can’t still believe that, though… Chris continued, I mean… it was cool to think that lying kills you slowly when you were five. So, what…? Don’t tell me that you still see the ‘other side’,

He’d drawn up air quotes with his fingers.

…no… he continued, in disbelief, as he rose up from the ground to better look Tommy in the face. I always thought it was like having an imaginary friend. Some kids had one, and others didn’t. I thought you would grow out of it… you’re in the fifth grade, dude. Psshh, you’re lucky that your mom home schools you now. You wouldn’t make it a day at Mumba Prep.

Scoffing