Jack of All Trades: Rise of a Party Promoter

By Lamar Smith

Can a sports writer become a party promoter to impress the girl of his dreams?

Welcome to Turnit University where Greek life rules, and those who are not living lavish get shunned; excluded from meeting fine girls at all the parties. So when Jackonovan Carter tries to reconnec

• Language: English
• Publisher: New Degree Press
• Release date: Dec 8, 2020
• ISBN: 9781636762401

Lamar Smith

The author was born in Jamaica Queens, New York on August 24th, 1999. He grew up in a household with a Christian background and is the youngest out of six siblings. From a young age, he had a love for art, drawing many things such as cartoon characters and realism. After graduating from high school, he fell in love with the art of poetry, giving him a way to express emotions that were hidden for a long time. One person who motivated him to write was Tupac Shakur, who, in fact, was a poet himself. One of Tupac's quotes that inspired him states, "Behind every sweet smile there's a bitter sadness that no one can ever see and feel". Though Tupac was an inspiration to him, his great inspiration is God. He sees himself becoming an artist and aspiring poet in the future, releasing many more books with the help of Christ Jesus.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

JACKONOVAN CARTER

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Every year, Turnit University hosted Greek Sing which, contrary to the name, was a dancing competition. And every year a Turnip Tribune reporter wrote a story about the event, hosted by Zeta Beta Theta Sorority Incorporated. All the money from the event was donated to the Boys and Girls Club. Sororities and fraternities competed against one another while the winner earned the Greek Sing championship trophy. At the time, Jackonovan was just a volleyball beat reporter. The story he wrote went viral on the paper’s website, which helped vault him up the Turnip Tribune food chain.

The newsroom was rather quiet at three in the afternoon as Jackonovan Carter typed furiously on his laptop at his desk in the far right corner.

Hey, I got an assignment for you, Jackonovan, his editor, Lucas, screamed as he walked out of his office.

Lucas was about average height with long brown hair styled with an exorbitant amount of hair gel.

What’s the assignment? Jackonovan asked.

Lucas said, I need you to do a feature story about campus life and how students interact with each other.

Jackonovan scratched his head. Lucas shifted from foot to foot. He hovered like a mama bird over a malnourished chick.

I’ll do it. When do you need it by? he inquired.

Lucas responded, You have a few weeks to do it.

Jackonovan nodded his head and continued typing before Lucas walked over to his desk.

Is there something else you need me to do?

Lucas took a deep breath. Well, the reporter who was originally supposed to do the story set up an interview with the Director of Activities, and it’s in an hour.

Jackonovan’s eyes got big before he frantically packed his stuff up and ran out the door.

Oh, and the interview is at the Big Rutabaga, Lucas yelled as Jackonovan left.

He had an hour. It was fifteen minutes to the library. He had more than enough time to grab a snack from the convenience store in the student center. He speed-walked in the direction of the student center when he was stopped by his friend Zolo.

Zolo was six-foot two, stocky, and strong.

Hey, Jackonovan! Why you in a hurry?

He jogged in place. Zolo, I can’t talk. I need to head to the Turnip Pantry, then head to the library for my interview, then—

Why won’t you just slow down for a sec?

He pulled out his phone. I can’t, Moe. I got only fifty-three minutes until my interview.

Zolo laughed. Man, that’s more than enough time for you to get something to eat.

Moe, I’ll be fine. I just—

Jackonovan’s stomach roared ferociously.

Come on. I was about to get something to eat from the dining hall anyways.

Jackonovan had interviews scheduled with the Student Government Association President, a representative from student housing, and the Student Activities Board’s Director of Activities, all of which were already set up by the reporter that was previously assigned.

As soon as Jackonovan and Zolo walked into the dining hall, they got stuck in a line that led out the door and wrapped around the staircase that faced the dining hall. Jackonovan’s stomach growled. He smelled the burgers and the jalapeno peppers near the nacho bar. Then, standing at the register, they saw Benny, Zolo’s roommate who lived in their dorm.

Wassup, Jackonovan. You look like you’re in a hurry, Benny laughed.

Jackonovan began to jog in place again, as he and Zolo still had a while to go before they got to the front of the line.

I am in a hurry. I have to interview someone in about forty-five minutes, Jackonovan said as he looked at his phone.

Benny said to the employee at the register, Can you just swipe their cards with mine? I don’t want my friend to miss his interview.

The cashier nodded her head.

Jackonovan counted all the people in front of them silently. It’s okay, Benny. There are only eleven people in front of us. We’ll be at the front in no time.

Benny waved them to the front where the cashier swiped their IDs. Jackonovan grabbed a burger and onion rings while Zolo grabbed some chicken nuggets and asparagus. They walked to the back corner of the dining hall and sat in a booth.

As they ate, Benny and Jackonovan argued about who was better, the Turnit football team or the Turnit basketball team, while Zolo shook his head and chuckled the whole time as the two of them bickered.

There’s no way in the world they’re going to make a bowl game this year. The last time the football team won a bowl game, I was finger painting in kindergarten, Benny disagreed.

The football team is returning sixteen of its twenty-two starters. And they have their best recruiting class in almost a decade. If they win against Waterloo State and Aronon, they might have a chance at making the Collegiate Football Semifinals, Jackonovan argued.

Benny gave Jackonovan a deadpan stare. The Turnit basketball team has made the Excellent Eight five of the last seven years, including last year. But you think that the football team who was seven-six last year has a better chance of winning a national title over the basketball team? Benny rebuked.

Yes! Jackonovan answered.

Benny held eye contact with Jackonovan as he slowly sipped from a glass of lemonade.

Now to be fair, it’s a lot harder to win in basketball because the Collegiate Inclusion Association for Athletes Tournament is unpredictable, and you have to win six single-elimination games to be crowned champ, Zolo added.

Benny nodded his head before continuing to sip his lemonade with a mild look of discontent on his face. Jackonovan bit into one of his onion rings. Zolo looked at his smartwatch to look at his schedule for the rest of the day when he noticed the time.

Hey, Jackonovan, your interview is in ten minutes, Zolo stated.

His eyes widened as he looked at Zolo and Benny. Jackonovan spit out the onion ring, grabbed his backpack off the booth seat, and sprinted to the dining room exit and out the door. He was supposed to meet the Director of Activities at the main library on campus, the Big Rutabaga. It was two miles away, and he didn’t have a bike. He sprinted across campus, hopped over bushes, and split through groups of people.

A golf cart whizzed by and Jackonovan saw his friend Kurt, who worked at the library, at the wheel. Kurt! Kurt!

Kurt stopped, and Jackonovan jogged to the cart and threw his bag on the seat. He hopped on the back of the golf cart.

Step on it!

Kurt, confused and taken aback, drove as fast as the cart could go across campus. Jackonovan pointed him to the library where, a minute later, he jumped off and did a cartwheel, then sprinted the rest of the way to the entrance of the Big Rutabaga. Jackonovan entered the library, tired and out of breath. Before he could catch his breath, a girl approached him.

Hey! You must be Jackonovan, she said.

She was a curvy, five-foot three girl with long blonde hair. She wore dark brown rimmed glasses with rounded bottoms. Jackonovan stared, immobilized.

Hello. Aren’t you Jackonovan Carter? I think I’ve seen you working the basketball games before, she said with a confused look on her face.

He snapped out of his trance and wiped the sweat off his forehead. Yes. I’m Jackonovan Carter. Are you new to the S-A-B? I don’t recall seeing you before.

I’m Bethany Klein, Director of Activities.

He shook her hand before they walked to a bunch of empty seats in the lobby of the library. Jackonovan pulled out his phone to record the audio and leaned closer to her.

During the fifteen-minute interview, she told him about how the Student Activities Board (S-A-B) puts together their events while also addressing different ways the student organization plans to improve life on campus.

Considering you’re a part of the S-A-B, you’re pretty aware of the things that go on both off and on campus. How do you think your involvement in the organization contributes to campus life for Turnit students? Jackonovan said.

What capacity of involvement are you referring to? Bethany asked.

As the director, how does your campus involvement revolve around parties or any other activities that happen outside of the classroom? Jackonovan said.

I personally don’t party much. But as a part of the S-A-B, we’re putting on a Silent Disco this year, and we have a few other plans to galvanize the student body and show them a good time, Bethany said.

He jotted down some notes in his notebook. It did not occur to Jackonovan until Bethany mentioned it in their interview, but at times, parties could be discombobulated in Covington, Tennessee. They would usually get shut down by the cops, or they would just be horrible overall. He remembered going to a party during his freshman year where there was, like, a three-to-one guy-to-girl ratio, and the party was too crowded.

Is there any particular reason you don’t go out yourself? he asked.

Jackonovan was a bit confused. Bethany seemed personable and outgoing. He could not think of too many other reasons why she would be disinterested in going out.

Bethany leaned in a little bit closer to Jackonovan. This is off the record, but house parties are kind of lackluster. And sometimes frat parties get boring. I’m hoping through my position with the S-A-B, we can give students fun things to do for the people who don’t necessarily have aspirations to go out and party.

That’s not something you hear often at a party school.

If you really think about it, Turnit’s party school label is a result of us being in a college town, having great athletic programs, and a large Greek life community. Outside of Greek students, I don’t hear about a plethora of parties. Do you?

Bethany had this calming presence to her. Listening to her talk was as fluid as waves on a beach.

Jackonovan smirked. No, I don’t hear about non-Greek parties.

See, I just blew your mind. Bethany used her hands to make fake explosions on the sides of her head.

Jackonovan laughed. He thought her imitation of an explosion was a little corny but endearing at the same time.

Are you this excited during all your interviews, Ms. Klein?

Nope, I guess you’ve just done a good job asking questions, she flirted.

They both smiled at one another, holding a gaze that felt as if it lasted several hours, though it only lasted mere seconds.

Bethany checked her watch. Well, I got to head to an S-A-B meeting soon. Unless you have any more questions, I’ll be on my way.

After the interview, he shook her hand and thanked her for the interview. Bethany asked him to send her the article when it was published, and she left. Jackonovan waved at her as she walked away. Bethany’s thoughts about campus life and her overall demeanor stood out to Jackonovan. He had to figure out a way to see her again.

As he walked back to his dorm, he couldn’t help but think about Bethany. He immediately called Benny, Zolo, and Kurt to meet him at his dorm room. Guys, I met this fine ass girl today. She was beautiful, had a bubbly personality, witty, and the cutest little glasses.

All three of his friends looked at him with a straight face.

You good? Zolo exclaimed.

Good? Your man’s looks sprung, Benny said.

Kurt waved his hand in front of Jackonovan’s face.

Jackonovan stared off into the distance with his eyes glazed over.

Yeah, he’s stuck in a trance, Zolo answered.

Kurt kept trying to get Jackonovan’s attention, but he was stuck in a stupor.

Jackonovan felt the electricity between him and Bethany when their eyes locked on one another before the end of their interview. He could not help replaying the moment in his head repeatedly.

He has a short attention span. He’s probably thinking about a Turnit basketball game or something in his head, Benny explained.

You obviously like this girl. So, how are you going to see her again? Zolo wondered.

I don’t know. Jackonovan shook his head.

Benny and Kurt gave him a deadpan stare. The room remained quiet for what felt like an eternity.

Try going to the next S-A-B event, Zolo encouraged.

Jackonovan put his palm over his face. He didn’t know why he didn’t think about that.

Kurt pulled up the S-A-B website on his phone. What about the Silent Disco next Friday?

Hold up, the Silent Disco is next Friday? Jackonovan recalled.

Are you deaf? Kurt just said it’s next Friday, Zolo echoed.

Once Zolo asked Jackonovan that question, reality set in. He remembered Bethany talking about the Silent Disco during their interview. He really needed to take advantage of this opportunity.

I’ll go. If you three go with me, Jackonovan said.

They agreed and for the rest of the weekend, Jackonovan spent his time writing his story about campus life, though he didn’t finish it. He needed more info. Bethany’s interview posed some valid questions regarding the makeup of Turnit University. And though he didn’t know where to find the answers to these questions, he knew they had to be found.

CHAPTER 2

A CHANCE ENCOUNTER

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Jackonovan woke up later than usual on Tuesday morning and had only about an hour to get to class. He ironed his clothes, got dressed, grabbed his backpack, and headed out of his dorm. As soon as he rounded the corner to the stairs, he collided with Aubrianna Bahri, a girl in his journalism ethics class.

Ouch! She jumped back and rubbed her forehead as her books hit the ground with a loud thud. Watch where you’re going, goofy!

Keep calm, moe. It was an accident, Jackonovan apologized.

Aubrianna squatted down to pick up her books and her car keys. Jackonovan bent down to help her pick up some of her stuff.

I don’t need your help! Aubrianna slapped his hand away.

Hey! Jackonovan stood up. Damn, who pissed in your cereal this morning? he joked.

She scowled. Boy, I could just slap you silly.

Well, while you dream about doing that, I’m going to head to class.

Jackonovan made a left and headed down the hall to their journalism class while Aubrianna followed him. They made it just before class started. As they both found their seats, their journalism teacher began to pass out the class’s first quiz of the semester.

Ms. Wong said, Okay, everyone, you have until the end of class to finish the quiz. After you are done with your quiz, you can leave class.

Jackonovan stared at the clock. He didn’t really feel like doing a quiz early in the morning. After skimming through the test briefly, Jackonovan wished he studied more last night. He carefully read through the questions to see if something jogged his memory. Twenty minutes passed and a classmate got up. Another twenty minutes went by and another ten people submitted their quizzes. One by one, more students exited the classroom. By the time he answered the last question, Aubrianna was the only classmate in the room.

As they both left the classroom, Jackonovan nudged Aubrianna with his shoulder. What did you get for number nine?

Aubrianna kept walking.

Jackonovan tapped her backpack after she walked past him.

What? She stopped and turned to him.

I’m just trying to ask you a question, he said.

Now you want to talk to me. You couldn’t even say ‘excuse me’ after you knocked me down when we were on our way headed to class.

You’re still thinking about that shit. That happened, like, an hour ago.

She turned back around and kept walking.

Jackonovan turned back around to head toward the side door, grabbed the doorknob, and then paused. He whipped his head around and saw her almost reach the door at the end of the hall. I apologize for bumping into you, Aubrianna. Are you happy?

The answer to number nine was C, she said.

He left the journalism building and walked to his dorm. Thoughts of his test shifted to Bethany. Friday was three days away and he still wasn’t sure how to go about courting her.

Jackonovan headed to The Scramble to grab something to eat. He walked into the dining hall and swiped his card at the front register. He ordered a chicken sandwich and a small house salad, then grabbed some water before grabbing a seat when he saw Bethany walk through the front door.

She was wearing a red sundress with white polka dots, and her hair was in a slick back ponytail. She walked straight to the register and ordered, then greeted Jackonovan once she left the register.

Hey, you mind if I sit here? she asked while pointing to the empty booth seat in front of him.

Sure, go ahead, he said.

Jackonovan wanted to see her again, but not this soon. Talk about a self-fulfilling prophecy. But he just had to keep his composure.

She set her bag down before sitting down in front of him. You finish your story about campus life yet?

No, I’m still trying to figure out how I want to wrap up the story.

Well, is there anything I can do to help?

One of the staff members brought over his food and Jackonovan, after asking for some salad dressing, said, No, I’m fine. I probably just need to add more insight from the student body’s perspective because the story lacks that at the moment.

Hey, I have an idea. Why don’t you come to the Silent Disco on Friday? It’ll be fun, and maybe you can interview a few students while you’re there. Bethany pushed her white frames up on her nose.

I remember you telling me about that. I’ve never been to one of those before. How is it set up?

An employee brought over Bethany’s food—two scrambled eggs, French toast, and a bowl of mixed fruit.

Basically, everyone has headphones on that can change different colors. The colors represent different channels of music being played by one of three DJs at the event. This is our second year doing this event. Bethany put her hand on top of Jackonovan’s hand. Come, Jackonovan! It’ll be fun. She beamed.

Jackonovan blushed. Yeah, I’ll be there. Don’t trip.

Jackonovan squeezed her hand, then he pulled his hand from underneath Bethany’s and dug into his food.

Bethany also began to eat her food. There were a couple minutes of awkward silence before they continued to have a conversation.

Jackonovan and Bethany engaged in small talk until she was done with her food, then she left. Lunch with Bethany was extra motivation for him to go to the Silent Disco; it would be a great opportunity to get to know her better and develop their relationship.

CHAPTER 3

THE SILENT DISCO

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The sun started to set during a rather humid evening in the middle of September. The Silent Disco would begin in ten minutes, with the event being held from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. on the big lawn in front of the school’s largest library, which was called the Big Rutabaga. There were three DJs, each with differently colored headphones to signify the channels of music they were playing. The S-A-B had a table where they had blue and white t-shirts that said Silent Disco on them to give away to students as they entered the event. Two girls worked at the front desk, scanning IDs and giving out wristbands to keep track of all the students that attended the event.

Jackonovan, Benny, Zolo, and Kurt walked up to the desk to check in. After, they walked to the center of the lawn where Bethany was directing people to set up the last couple of things for the event. I need you to move this table to the far right of the DJ booths.

Two S-A-B members grabbed the table and carried it over to the far right of the DJ booths.

Wassup, Bethany, Jackonovan said.

Bethany hugged Jackonovan and said hello to his friends. After she was done greeting them, another S-A-B member came to her to ask her a question. Bethany excused herself so she could make sure they were setting up the other check-in table correctly.

"So, what’s your big plan now? Zolo wondered.

What plan? Jackonovan scratched his