1 + 1

By Pierre Beaumier

1 + 1 is a story about experiences that students live in high school, between grades 9 and 12 and also at teenager levels. The story develops in a medium-sized city in an average neighborhood at an average secondary school. When two students experience the same life challenge at the same time, but they deal with it each in their own way by themselves, then its just one person having a challenge plus another having a challenge1 + 1. They dont help each other or communicate with each other because they are from extreme ends of todays society. Therefore, even the society they are surrounded by treats them as one in trouble plus another one, not a pair. One is from a stable and well-organized family; the other, from a low-income social securitydependent family. Because of their lifestyles and choices, they cannot be seen together, let alone talk to each other. It would take quite a situation to break that trend.

This story is not written by a professional book writer; it is written by a passionate and caring father who most certainly has daughters. There is a popular saying that goes like this, How to make a grown man cry? Give him a daughter. From this book, you will see that it is obviously true. And yes, I have three daughters. Be ready for an emotional roller coaster as the story develops. Although this is fictional, it has probably happened to someone somewhere. Could it have happened to you? Could it have happened to someone close to you? Absolutely! I hope you enjoy reading this. I really feel every teenager from fifteen or those aged thirty-five, boy and girl, should read a story like this.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Oct 6, 2017
• ISBN: 9781543451375

Pierre Beaumier

1+1 is a story about experiences students live in high school; between grades 9 and 12, so at teenager levels. The story develops in a medium size city, in an average neighborhood, at an average Secondary school. When two students experience the same life challenge, at the same time, but they deal with it each in their own way, by themselves, then its just one person having a challenge plus another having a challenge. 1+1. They dont help each other or communicate with each other because they are from each extreme ends of todays society. Therefore even the society they are surrounded by, treats them as one in trouble, plus another one; not a pair. One is from a stable and well organized family, the other from a low income social security dependant family. Because of their life styles and choices, they cannot be seen together, let alone talk to each other. It would take quite a situation to break that trend. This story is not written by a professional book writer, it is written by a passionate and caring father who most certainly has daughters. There is a popular saying that goes like this: how to make a grown man cry; give him a daughter. From this book, you will see that it is obviously true. And yes, I have three daughters. Be ready for an emotional roller coaster as the story develops. Although this is fictional, it has probably happened to someone, somewhere. Could it have happened to you? Could it have happened to someone close to you? Absolutely! I hope you enjoy reading this. I really feel every teenager from 15 to 35, boy and girl should read a story like this.

Book preview

Copyright © 2017 by Pierre Beaumier.

Library of Congress Control Number:                   2017914412

ISBN:                   Hardcover                           978-1-5434-5139-9

                            Softcover                             978-1-5434-5138-2

                            eBook                                   978-1-5434-5137-5

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted

in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system,

without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the

product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance

to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 11/10/2017

Xlibris

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CONTENTS

Introduction

Chapter 1   This Life

Chapter 2   Sinners

Chapter 3   Reality Sets In

Chapter 4   The Road Map

Chapter 5   The Beginning of a Team

Chapter 6   Life in Motion

Chapter 7   The Return To The Entire School

Chapter 8   The Decisions

Chapter 9   The Final Stretch

Chapter 10   A New Life

INTRODUCTION

The story 1 + 1 is about the experiences students live through in high school, between grades 9 and 12, so at teenager levels. The story develops at an average secondary school in an average neighborhood in a medium-size city. When two students experience the same life challenge at the same time but deal with it each in their own way, by themselves, then it’s just one person having a challenge plus another having a challenge: 1 + 1. They don’t help each other or communicate with each other because they are from each extreme ends of today’s society. Therefore, even the society they are surrounded by treats them as one in trouble plus another one, not a pair. One is from a stable and well-organized family; the other, from a low-income social security–dependent family. Because of their lifestyles and choices, they cannot be seen together, let alone talk to each other. It would take quite a situation to break that trend.

This story is not written by a professional book writer; it is written by a passionate and caring father who most certainly has daughters. There is a popular saying that goes like this: How do you make a grown man cry? Give him a daughter. From this book, you will see that it is obviously true. And yes, I have three daughters. Be ready for an emotional roller coaster as the story develops. Although this is fictional, it has probably happened to someone somewhere. Could it have happened to you? Could it have happened to someone close to you? Absolutely! I hope you enjoy reading this. I really feel every teenager from fifteen to thirty-five, boy and girl, should read a story like this.

CHAPTER ONE

This Life

It’s Tuesday, September 7, 2010, and summer is officially over for all students. It’s a beautiful day; the sun is rising without cloudy interference. A slight breeze is merely cleaning the air as it blows softly in your face and through your hair. It’s a great day to get the school year started in a good mood for everyone. The birds are whistling a relaxing ballad in the distance. As it is the first day of school, even the traffic is carefully calm; no one is rushing for fear that some kid may jump in front of their vehicle out of excitement and without warning. And there are students everywhere today, it seems. The flashing lights of the frequent school buses are a reminder that everyday life will come back to order soon, but not today.

Ishabell Smith arrives punctually for her second year in secondary school. Her mother drives her in a clean Ford Focus, a newer model. It’s the car for family shopping, last-minute run for its, and anything else life throws at them. Mrs. Smith drives Ishabell to school every morning on her way to work at her husband’s hardware store. Both of Ishabell’s parents have been owners and are working at Friendly Freddy’s Hardware Store for quite some time now. They are well-known citizens, known as good people in the neighborhood, and they regularly support local fund-raisers. They are liked by everybody. Ishabell is their only child.

As they pull into the driveway, they see this appealing new look of the school’s facade. The summer renovations have brightened the entry to the school. A refreshing feeling is the first impression as one approaches the doors, but don’t be fooled, it is only a mask. Budget cuts have limited the renovations to the appearance. Once inside, it is the same old school with dirty floors and walls. Some graffiti are still impossible to remove, and damaged lockers line each side of the hallway as the students gather in small cliques, clinging on to previous friendships.

As Ishabell steps out of the car, her appearance is clear and distinct. She walks in a tight pair of black yoga pants and wears a short dress or a long T-shirt top, plain beige with the GAP logo in front. She is a very clean person. Her shoulder-length curly blond hair always appears organized. Her complete appearance is a reflection of organized and strict parents, parents that care about and get involved in their children’s upbringing.

Ishabell is very shy; she walks in the school head down for fear that someone may notice her. She holds a few books against her chest as if holding a teddy bear for comfort. It is not long before she finds her destination. As she walks into class, she takes a seat right up front and stays quiet. She only stands about four feet eleven inches, so she wouldn’t be able to see above others if she were in the back row. But most importantly, in the front row, she feels totally protected, like under the teacher’s umbrella. This is her bubble, her safe zone. She comes to school to learn and can better accomplish that when no one distracts her or bullies her.

There is this guy, Thomas, who is nerdy, small, and afraid of everyone. He is often called Tommy by his friends. He sits beside Ishabell whenever they are in the same class. He is also a good scholar. Thomas has short curly black hair and stands at almost five feet one inch. He usually wears jeans and a superhero T-shirt. He has a very thin build. Both Ishabell and Thomas talk at a low tone to avoid being noticed, being noticed by other students. They sit together at lunch, out of everyone else’s way. At fifteen, Thomas and Ishabell look and act younger than everyone else. They prefer to stay in their own little world, away from the troubles that surround them. Secondary school can be such a challenge. In this school, there are 350 teens who have an overdose of hormones they are not familiar with, some more than others. Many are uncontrolled. You could say that these kids are a little less than civil. Ishabell and Thomas try to avoid it all because they don’t want to get caught in the line of fire, especially not Eleanor’s.

Eleanor Alice Turcott, with her initials EAT tattooed on her right shoulder, arrives with her followers, demonstrating their gang attitude and their gang walk, instilling fear to all who are in their path. The gang consists of three gals and five guys, and all are fifteen years old going on thirty-five. All come from a low-income neighborhood where most parents are drunks and/or drug addicts. Eleanor stands at five feet plus a bit. She has dirty-brown hair that appears to never be brushed. Even if her hair is four inches below the shoulders, it is thick and greasy and does not blow in the wind. She always wears jeans, a dark-colored muscle shirt, and a dark-blue GAP hoodie. Her shoes are used Nikes but appear in better shape than the rest of her clothes. Her face is as serious as an enraged person on a mission. This is her normal look. She gets meaner than this serious look when she is fierce, enraged.

Among her friends, the two girls are Terry, who is taller and slimmer than Eleanor, and Aggie, who is the same size as Eleanor. The five guys are Chuck, a white male of straight build and with dark hair, the most dominant of the guys; Miika, a Korean male of straight solid build and is Chuck’s best buddy; Ty, a black male who can hold his ground and is totally fearless; Ray, a white male taller than the others, a stupid and senseless follower; and Otis, a semiblack male trying to fit in by just following.

All seven of them walk side by side with Eleanor slightly in front out of respect for her as the leader. They stick together for strength, security, and intimidation. None of the guys or gals ever take notes in class or have any books or writing material. They all have different classes, when they attend. They only attend class because it’s the law for their age and because they want to avoid being tossed around by the social services.

Aggie and Terry work part-time at the local McDonald’s, where they occasionally steal food for Eleanor. Chuck works part-time at the local Huff Muff muffler shop, getting mufflers from the back for the installers. Miika works at the local Rolly’s tire repair shop, getting tires from the back for the installers and occasionally helping with the installation. Ty is slowly taking over his dad’s business selling Ecstasy pills, weed, and other goodies. His father is currently serving five years in prison for that. Ray and Otis simply steal from their parents to supply their needs, whatever those needs may be.

Ishabell and Eleanor are living two completely different lives, and everyone knows that they can never have anything in common. These girls are total opposites. It’s really not hard to tell. The first hint is most definitely their attitudes. One is deathly afraid of everything, and the other is perpetually aggressive. The second hint of the two different lifestyles is their appearances. When you see