There's A New Kat At Scecina

By Stephen Peterson

For better or worse, virtually everyone who has ever attended high school can recall events from their high school experience. It is often astounding just how much information we retain! "A New Kat At Scecina" looks at the experiences of two students friendship within a single year of their high school ex

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookTrail Publishing
• Release date: Jul 7, 2021
• ISBN: 9781637673157

Stephen Peterson

Stephen C. Peterson has lived a real life of what would seem to be a story right out of a movie. He never intended being an author or running for his life. He intended to live the American Dream with the love of his life, Mary. He’s been in the ministry full-time, he’s been a businessman, and he’s been a fugitive. People have been duped and murdered throughout his chase of a lifetime, and now all the twists and turns that interfered with his attempt at a straight line have been conquered. Today, Mr. Peterson is a seventy-three-year-old retired business executive who loves God and his darling wife, Mary. They were able to build a multimillion-dollar corporation that stands today. He and his wife have been a living example of how the American Dream is achievable even if you have a few crooked roads getting there.

Book preview

Copyright © 2021 Stephen Peterson

Paperback: 978-1-63767-316-4

eBook: 978-1-63767-315-7

Library of Congress Control Number: 2021911892

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

This is a work of fiction.

Ordering Information:

BookTrail Agency

8838 Sleepy Hollow Rd.

Kansas City, MO 64114

Printed in the United States of America

Contents

Dedication

Death Is No Longer Victorious

A Brief Biography of Thomas Scecina

Proverbs of Sister Rita Boecker, O.S.F

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Dedication

To the Father Thomas Scecina Memorial High School class of 1966. May the 279 members of the class of 1966 live in each other’s hearts and mind forever!!!

Stephen A. Peterson

Author

Graduate, Father Thomas Scecina Memorial High School

* Part of the story

Death Is No Longer Victorious

When loved ones die, I have learned from working with hospice patients and their family members, dying teens and having experienced the death of my father, other close relatives and friends, the sense of loss and void. I and those around me know that we will have their companionship no longer. It is so easy to feel that their special qualities—their smile, sense of humor, positive attitude, wisdom, kindness, unconditional love, compassion, their sacrifice—have vanished forever with them.

Yet, every so often, memory can bring those qualities of their being back, in unusual and unexpected ways.

In February, 2005, while re-arranging my private in- home library, I came across more of my high school class notes, senior year student directory, newspaper clippings of our graduation and the year’s sporting events. With the help of a member of our senior class, Donna Jones-Monaghan, I learned that two of our classmates had died. David O’Connor in the war in Vietnam and Colleen Mangold of breast cancer just before our thirty-fifth class re-union.

David O’Connor, I knew but did not keep up with his whereabouts since we graduated. I had been so busy going to college, military service and living my own life that I never kept track of most of my classmates. Moving to another state also contributed to a lack of contact high school classmates. Yet, just by the mere fact that he sacrificed his life for the preservation of freedom and liberty for Vietnamese and Americans, saddened me. I will never be able to tell him how much I appreciate his service to this nation. Nor will I be able to thank him for allowing me to know life, liberty and prosperity in this land of opportunity.

Colleen Mangold, I remembered because she and I were in many of the same classes. She was also the Vice-President of the Father Tom Club, a reporter of the Crusader (the school newspaper), a very good student and wise beyond her years for being under 20 years old. Everyone, at points in their lives, has been treated unfairly. Someone, in the final weeks of our senior year, had written Colleen an unsavory note. Although I did not see the contents of the note, her emotional response and tears indicated that she was paid no compliment. Asking if there was anything I or someone could do to help, Colleen responded, I’m deeply hurt and angered by this hateful note. However, I try to remind myself that a few people, no matter what I do, will not like who I am, what I am or what I stand for. I also try to remind myself that continuous happiness is not the sum total of living in this life. There are other important things and one of these, I believe, is bearing pain in all their forms, bravely as Jesus Christ did. I know that I will experience more challenges and pain in my life. Yet I will be able to face them if I have faith, hope and love in my heart. I was amazed and did not understand the impact of her comments until now.

Of the three personalities, Paul Nelson I knew best as we grew up in the same neighborhood and went to the same elementary school. Paul was a happy fellow who loved life. As a youngster, he wore the funiest hats, told some of the funiest jokes often getting himself into trouble talking in class. Rarely was there a sad Paul Nelson. His energy seemed endless that made for a better day for everyone.

Paul Nelson was a very good basketball player who spent many hours practicing his ball handling and shooting skills. During his high school playing days, he was always among the leading scorers in the Indianapolis city—Marion county area. Even during pick up games, Paul took his role seriously. If you were on his team and he recognized a problem, Paul could be say: Shoot the shot if you’re open! "Hey move your feet! You can’t guard standing still! You’ll just foul! What was interesting, Paul would generally be right. After graduation from Scecina, Paul went on to college where he was a journeyman player but learned enough to coach at the high school and collegiate levels. The United States Army was able to get