Ryan

By Robert Cornforth

Ryan Green is a 17 year old American teenager who has just started the final year of high school and is hating it, as he is a bullied loner who sees school as a waste of time.

But he soon discovers that he has the gift of an enhanced intellectual ability and reaction speed that kick in whenever he is in high pressured situations. Unfortunately it also results in him getting the attention of some very unsavoury people.

You follow him on his journey as he takes his first steps into adulthood by finding himself in situations that no one should ever have to be in. Yet despite the problems that occur, his compassion for humanity shines through with his insistence on using his abilities to help others. This story follows the trials and tribulations that come with such a powerful ability afforded to such a young man.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Nov 14, 2014
• ISBN: 9781326080921

Book preview

Ryan

Ryan

Ryan

By Robert Cornforth

Copyright © 2015, Robert Cornforth

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted by any means—whether auditory, graphic, mechanical, or electronic—without written permission of both publisher and author. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this work is illegal and is punishable by law.

ISBN: 978-1-326-08092-1

Synopsis

Shortly you will meet Ryan Green, a 17 year old American teenager who has just started the final year of high school and is hating it. Not just because he doesn’t see the point of it but because aside from one friend, he is a loner. Girls don’t seem to know of his existence and the only boys that do are those who make his life difficult. But he soon discovers that he has a gift; enhanced intellectual ability and reaction speed that kick in whenever he is in high pressured situations. Giving him detailed awareness of his entire surroundings by putting to use every bit of knowledge that he has ever accumulated both consciously and subconsciously to help him out of various scenarios.

You follow him on his journey as he takes his first steps into adulthood by finding himself in situations that no one should ever have to be in. Yet despite the problems that occur, his compassion for humanity shines through with his insistence on using his abilities to help others. This story follows the trials and tribulations that come with such a powerful ability afforded to such a young man.

Chapter 1

Ryan lives with his Mum (Megan) and his Dad (Carl) in a fairly modest house in the suburbs of Reading, Pennsylvania and is about to be woken from a pleasant dream into a far grimmer reality; the first day back at school.

GOOD MORNING RYAN! shouted his Mum from downstairs as he began to rouse from his bed. A blissful ten week summer break had come to an end and now it was time to go back to the daily grind that is more commonly known as school, for one final year. He considered school to be a waste of time as he only had one friend and didn’t feel like he was actually learning anything. Though he did feel somewhat consoled at the thought of it all being over in a year.

He got dressed into his newly bought school uniform and cringed as he looked in the mirror. After letting out a brief sigh, he made his way down the stairs into the kitchen to see that his breakfast had already been prepared by his over-excited Mum.

His Mum noticed how glum he looked.

How are you feeling? she asked. Ryan looked at her as if it were a rhetorical question.

One more year and it will all be over. You’ll miss it. she said, while loading the washing into the washing machine.

There is precisely no chance I will miss it said Ryan as he started tucking in to his cereal.

Oh you will, his mum insisted.

I won’t. It’s such a waste of time. I don’t learn anything and I’d rather go to work full time. Maybe I could be a freelance web designer like you he said.

Sure honey, you’ll just have to spend a few years in college after school finishes she replied.

Ryan cringed at the thought of further education. His Mum left the room leaving Ryan to finish off his breakfast and little over an hour later, he was in the car as it pulled up outside of St Camden’s high school. He put both straps of his bag over each of his shoulders as he tried to mentally prepare himself for the day. 

He barely got a couple of metres away from the car before he heard his Mum shout Have a great day! You’ll miss it when it’s over! a little too loud for his liking. Ryan hurried away from the car, doing his best to pretend he didn’t know who this clearly crazy person was.

As he walked up the steps towards the building, he saw that once again pretty much everyone in sight was either accompanied by a friend or was part of a group. He continued through the foyer of the school and headed to the locker room which was a labyrinth of  green lockers, broken up only by doors that functioned as the entry points to each classroom. He walked over to his locker and placed his bag inside it. Just as he closed his locker, he was nudged by someone walking by him, nearly making him lose balance. Didn’t see you there, said the guy who was wearing a baseball cap back to front whom he had never met before, who walked off like nothing happened. Same shit, new year Ryan thought to himself.

He checked his 2015 timetable and the first lesson of the year was history. Why do we concern ourselves so much with the past when there is so much going on in the present? he thought. He checked the time for the class. The lesson starts at nine o’clock, which is fine because I have.......oh crap it’s five minutes past nine! thought Ryan, who was now panicking. Fortunately the classroom for history was not far away, and so he ran across the hallway and got to the door which had a sign reading ‘Mr Henderickson’ above it. He paused for a moment and heard the teacher’s voice from the other side of the door.

......will be about the history of the American revolution and all of..

Ryan panicked, as he knew he would be interrupting the teacher’s presentation. It wasn’t like him to be late for class and he worried this could be a sign of worse things to come that day. So he gingerly knocked on the door.

The speaking stopped. Come in said a voice from inside.

He opened the door and thirty student’s turned to look at him. He turned to look at the teacher who was about five feet six inches tall, almost completely bald, wearing a grey jacket with grey trousers and who’s best years were about thirty years ago.

Hi. Erm. Sorry for being late said Ryan.

Fair enough said the teacher. Just don’t be making this a habit. Please, take a seat.

What’s your name? asked the teacher.

Erm, Ryan Green he replied, hoping this was to confirm his presence rather than report him.

Ryan found an empty desk and walked towards it while several of the student’s stared at him as if they were angry with him being late. He sat down and started listening to the teacher.

Does anyone know how many American colonies broke from the British Empire to form the United States of America? asked the teacher. Hey I know this! thought Ryan.

He and one other pupil were the only two in the class that put their hands up. The teacher pointed to the other student, a chubby boy with short dark curly hair. Was it seven? he asked. No replied the teacher, who then pointed to Ryan.

Thirteen he said.

Correct replied the teacher, which made the other boy give Ryan an unpleasant look. Ryan didn’t know much about history but had always been good with statistics.

..and what year did it begin? asked the old teacher.

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