Below the Surface

By Robert Goluba

A deep-rooted fear. A fresh perspective. Life will never be the same.

Dave Tisdale's rocky past drives him to succeed at everything important to him. His superior physical fitness, stable career, and beautiful wife swell his ego as he passes judgment on anyone not up to his standards.

One morning, everything changes.

The prideful man is exposed, and his life implodes. Confronted by his worst fear, Dave crumbles and so does his charmed life, including his marriage.

Despite the desire for his old way of life, Dave pushes the people closest to him further away with each defiant act. 

Dave has a final opportunity to turn his life around, but it will require significant change. He needs to go below the surface and change his heart.

If Dave can't summon the will to change, everything important to him will be lost forever.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Robert Goluba
• Release date: Aug 25, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393203315

Book preview

Author’s Note

Below the Surface was originally released as Skeleton Dance in 2016. The entire story has been rewritten and launched as Below the Surface in 2020.

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Chapter 1

Dave Tisdale watched the autumn breeze nudge strands of brunette hair around his wife’s face for one final dance. He smiled at the sight and soaked up the warm early morning sun, unaware of the life-altering changes lurking above him. His wife Megan reclined on their backyard patio and sipped her hot coffee to the sound of the first lawnmower in their suburban Nashville neighborhood. Scout, their nine-month-old black lab puppy, laid near their feet. Between bursts of scrolling through social media posts and tapping witty responses on their phones, Dave and Megan sat quietly in the solitude of their back patio.

Dave broke the silence, Hey, Hon, did you ever get a chance to talk to the new shoe department gal about how she needs to be on time for every shift?

Megan typed her response and without looking up, replied, Yeah, pretty much. We had a good talk, so it will get better.

I hope you put the fear of God in her. No one so lax about being on time deserves to keep their job.

I didn’t threaten to fire her, Dave. Megan sighed, We talked, and I expect she’ll be on time in the future.

It’s disrespectful. I couldn’t deal with that.

Among many other things, Megan mumbled. She pocketed her phone and gave Dave a pointed look. I suppose you had a great week of whipping kids into shape in your PE classes.

Dave could hear accusation in her voice, see it in her eyes. Um... yeah, we just finished the basics of softball, so we had a playoff game. It came down to the final inning. All the kids had a good time.

Is that so? Megan replied. Even the ones who can’t catch or hit?

I don’t know. I guess so—

Dave didn’t like the tone of the conversation, so he changed the subject. Anyway, we have the President’s Challenge for fitness coming up in a month, so I’m doing mock Olympic games every week to help prepare the kids. I’ll even be handing out medals to the winners each week to make sure I get 100% effort. However, that’s not much motivation for some kids. You know, the butterballs.

Megan’s head dropped into her hands. Really, Dave?

Sorry, I meant, um... overweight kids.

Still rude. Megan stood. Your idea of help shouldn’t include mean names and meaner attitudes.

I’m not trying to be mean to them. I’m trying to motivate them. Give them the push they need.

Has pushing ever helped you when you were struggling with something?

What kind of throw was that? A little girl can throw farther! His brothers taunted.

Don’t you whine to me about being gassed, boy, Dad snarled. That’s when winners kick into a higher gear. Ten more sprints!

Dave shook away the unwelcome memories. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, he retorted.

Megan rolled her eyes. Since you think you’re so gifted getting things into shape, why don’t you work your magic on the grass?

Dave nodded with a grunt, and Megan went inside.

She was always riding him to coddle the lazy kids. How were they going to make it in the world expecting everyone to hold their hands and tell them how special they are? Not one of them would last two seconds with his dad and brothers. Why didn’t Megan get it?

Dave walked into their grassy backyard and grabbed a tennis ball. Scout darted from the patio and ran in small circles a few steps ahead of Dave. As soon as Dave raised the ball near his head, Scout moved to his seated fetch position. Scout usually snatched up the ball before it stopped rolling.

Today was no different on the first dozen throws. Then Dave tossed harder, and the ball flew nearly to the wooded area next to his yard. Scout darted toward the ball, but stopped halfway and peered into the expanse of southern red oaks and maple trees with one paw suspended.

Dave yelled, Go get it, Scout!

Scout recovered the ball and trotted back to Dave. Dave threw the ball again, and this time, Scout veered off towards the tree line. He stood with his head lowered and the ebony fur on his back standing at attention. It was the first time Dave heard Scout growl.

Dave looked in the same direction and squinted at the bizarre pattern streaking high over the