Star Book 1: Discovering Koinonia: Book 1: Discovering Koinonia

By Dan Anderson

Star had entered seventh grade at Peak Middle School and was going through all the self-doubts and insecurities that go with her age. Her mom and her dad had recently divorced, and Star was spending more time with her grandma and her grandpa at her favorite place in the whole world, Konanea. Who would have thought that this quiet farm in rural South Carolina, where the Andrews have lived for over twenty-five years, would become such an adventure for Star that it would completely change her life? Located on 10,000 acres of prime farming and woodlands only thirty minutes north of Columbia, the state capital. Star discovered there was more to Konanea than she knew growing up. Actually there was more under Konanea, a highly technical research and development facility called the Complex, which would change her life in ways she never expected. Her life would be filled with the incredible journey that would eventually take her places she had never imagined.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Dec 19, 2011
• ISBN: 9781669843467

Dan Anderson

Dan Anderson and Maggie Berman are the authors of the bestselling Sex Tips for Straight Women from a Gay Man. They live in Palm Springs and New York City.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Saturday, 6:00 AM

Fire! yelled one of the boys in Star’s seventh grade class as everyone jumped to their feet and ran to the front. Star and her classmates were suddenly aware that something was very wrong. At first an unpleasant odor hung in the air, and then they could actually see it—smoke, seeping through the air vents into their room.

The teacher seemed lost and unsure what to do since no alarm had sounded. She tried calming the students, but panic had set in. She had lost control.

Wait! yelled Star as she rushed forward and stood in front of everyone, blocking the front door. We don’t know where the fire is, so for now, calm down! Let me investigate.

With fear in their eyes, they backed away and obeyed. Star moved into action. She opened the door, peeked into the hallway, and found nothing at all. It looked like the school had been abandoned and, incredibly, they had been left behind. Star turned back, closing the door and pondering her next move. In a matter of seconds, the smoke turned into heavy dark clouds and began to billow out into the room. Some of her friends were bent over, coughing. In an instant, she knew that they had to leave, and they had to leave right now. Star was certain that they would die if they stayed put; she said, OK, listen up, everyone. I want all of you to hold hands and follow me. Make sure you stay together and in a line. I do not want to lose anyone.

There had to be a fire somewhere, and the first decision would be to make sure they would be heading away from it. She again opened the door to make their escape, and the hallway erupted into a large reddish fireball. The frightened students panicked even more and started to scream. Star turned and, as cool as an army drill sergeant, said in a loud and clear voice, Listen up! Keep calm and do as I say. Now follow me! With determination all over her face, Star turned and headed into the hallway.

Star! Star! Child, do you hear me? said Star’s mom, Heather, as she climbed the stairs to Star’s upstairs domain, known as the Star-loft, and went straight into her bathroom. Are you daydreaming again? I thought you wanted to get to Koinonia first thing this morning. Can you please focus?

OK, OK, mumbled Star, struggling to talk and brush her teeth while she mentally paused the action from the fire. Star loved to use her imagination, and dreaming gave her an escape from the uncertainty that had taken over her life as the world around her seemed to be spinning out of control.

Star thought she had a perfect life, until last year—the divorce she didn’t see coming. She couldn’t figure out why her mom and dad couldn’t work things out. After all, they were happy, weren’t they? Star began realizing that her dad would never be coming home again. This made her so sad and mad all at the same time. It confused her and made her think that she must be the problem and because of her, they couldn’t get along. Star tried to be the perfect child, but her parents started to argue—no matter what she did. She would lie in bed at night, thinking about her situation, and it would feel like a heavy dark blanket, covering her until she would fall asleep in tears. Star loved her parents very much, and the thought of them all not living together became more than she could handle.

Several months after her dad left, Star received the most amazing birthday surprise ever. The special gift was a real live horse whom she named Duke. He helped her start enjoying life again. The name was given to him by Sir, her granddad, one day, and it seemed to stick. This beautiful and amazing jet-black horse had a perfect white star smack dab on the middle of his forehead. When Sir saw the star, he believed God had specially marked this horse for his granddaughter and that they were meant for each other. Star bonded with Duke in no time, and now, you rarely saw one without the other. Riding him gave her a freedom and a sense of control that she never knew before. Galloping through the trees with the air blowing through her long dark blond hair made her feel strong again and capable of taking on the whole world. Star found her make-believe world also came alive as she rode Duke, and it always seemed to give her the comfort and joy that her real life couldn’t right now. She was tired of being sad and desperately wanted to be happy again.

They turned down the main road to Koinonia, which was lined with large old oaks that formed a tunnel-like effect as the tall branches completely covered everything overhead. This had become the place where Star felt at home the most. Koinonia was everything a modern rural farm should be, yet it was nothing like it appeared. It sat in ten thousand acres of prime farmland and some of the most beautiful forests in South Carolina. Yet it lay only thirty minutes north of the state capital. Large pecan orchards and gardens told of a rich history and a time long forgotten. Koinonia, an unusual name given to it by the original founders, was a one-of-a-kind place. The Andrews family had owned this property for longer than anyone could remember, and the current occupants rarely had time for working the land. They did, however, keep enough livestock to give the feel and the appearance of a working farm.

Star could now see the main house peeking out from under the trees. It had the look of a Southern plantation, with graceful white columns. Built to last and over a hundred years old, it stood in excellent condition. The seven large wooden pillars across the front stood over twenty-five feet tall and gave the illusion of a much-grander home. Star loved to chill out on the porch that covered the entire front of the house. Old wooden rocking chairs and a bench swing would keep Star comfortable for hours while she sat and read—one of her favorite pastimes.

The truth of Koinonia and all its deep secrets lay hidden from its few neighbors, as it did to this young twelve-year-old member of the family who visited there regularly. As they approached the house, Star decided that on her ride today, she would finish her story and save her friends from the horrific fire that threatened to engulf them.

CHAPTER 2

Saturday, 7:00 AM

Sir loved to fish. He cherished the memories of all those fishing trips growing up with his dad and his brothers. They saw fishing as a competition. It was man against beast and always brother against brother. For Sir, to lose to his little brother was about the worst thing that could ever happen to him, so he fished like he now worked—nonstop and very hard. Star always laughed at that because she saw nothing beastly about the small bass her granddad would catch, and she usually beat him.

When Heather and Star arrived at Koinonia, Star was in such a hurry that she quickly said good-bye to her mom and then flew out of the car but failing to give the mandatory hug and kiss good-bye. To her displeasure, Heather called her back, and she had to take care of this ritual show of emotion. Deep down, Star loved this, but it also always frustrated her and amused her mom.

Star raced to the barn and saddled Duke and, within a few minutes, was riding through the trees to the big pond. She knew exactly where Sir would be, and she headed to his favorite place to fish.

To her surprise, Sir was nowhere to be found. Maybe he was at the Complex pond, thought Star, thinking of Sir’s second favorite and smallest pond near the back of the property. The Complex was where Sir worked, and it backed right up to the State Park and Lake Wateree. This little pond was a real fisherman’s delight, and Star had spent many hours there. She rode up to the Complex and saw Sir’s Gator, a four-wheel motorcycle, which he used to get around. There were also five cars there, which was normal on a Saturday. During the week, there were always many more as lots of people worked for Sir.

Some of these people seemed strange to Star. Like that Dr. Doug or Dr. Eck, as Star would say, because he smelled like he never bathed or washed his clothes. He was so weird, and he always wore a white doctor’s coat. When she asked what he did at the complex, Sir told her that he was a doctor of the mind. She didn’t know what that meant, but maybe he was a brain surgeon or something. She actually could imagine this strange-looking man opening up people’s heads and trying to fix their brains. Between the thought of him putting his fingers in someone’s brain being so gross, and his noticeable odor, she gave him the nickname of Dr. Eck.

As she rode up, Sir was walking out. Greetings, Star baby, Sir said with a smile. Star always made Sir smile, because she brought such joy to his life. She was definitely a tomboy at times, and she saw things as they really were. She was continually asking questions and seemed to never get tired of learning new things or trying something for the first time. She was fearless. Sir loved all of this about her. After all, she was his first grandchild. He asked, When did you get here?

Oh, a while ago. I rode Duke up to the big pond looking for you; and, when I couldn’t find you, I came here. Star smiled at her success in finding him.

Sorry about that, I had to take care of a problem. Anyway, it’s all better now, so let’s go catch some fish, said the smiling and happy grandpa who loved his Saturdays because he got to spend them with Star. He sat in his Gator and started it up.

I’ll race you! GO! yelled Star as she galloped away. The loser fixes lunch! Sir looked up, and all he could see was Star’s long ponytail bouncing as she tore out of there in a cloud of dust. Wait a minute, that’s cheating, Sir said. Come back here, young lady! But he was too late; all he saw now was the dust as Star had disappeared through the trees.

CHAPTER 3

Saturday, 12:00 PM

Sir told everyone that Grandma Julie was the real boss at Koinonia. She controlled the house, the family, and Sir’s life outside of the Complex, which she gladly allowed him to handle. Grandma was the most kind and loving person who always took care of everyone else, and she made Star feel so special. Star didn’t know how Grandma did it, but she was always buying her the coolest clothes. It seemed like every time she went on a growth spurt, a new wardrobe was sitting on the dining room table for Star to try on. Star loved Grandma with every fiber in her body, and she wanted to grow up and be just like her. Every Saturday, Grandma knew to have lunch ready by twelve o’clock sharp as the two big bad fishermen would be starved. Sir was always on time, and Grandma couldn’t ever remember him being late for anything. Grandma was finishing her famous grilled cheese sandwiches when she heard Sir and Star coming in through the front door.

OK, you beat me to the big pond. I give you that even though you cheated. But I beat you in catching fish, Sir said, holding up his index finger, signaling he was number 1.

No way, you can’t count that last fish as a whole fish—it was smaller than my little finger! Star said, holding her hands about three inches apart. And I didn’t cheat, I gave you the go, remember? You’re just getting slow, Grandpa.

Oh, so it’s Grandpa now, huh? You think the two you caught equal my three? No way, José, said a very confident Sir with a most smug look on his face. And I am not slow.

Grandma, can you tell Sir a fish is only a fish when it’s grown up and not some poor little minnow? Star said, hoping she would come to her aid. She was, if nothing else, right because she and Grandma were females, and the only man around was always wrong—Grandma’s first rule of the house.

Of course, said Grandma. And she looked at Sir and said, Cheating again, dear?

That’s not fair, two against one. That will never go in my favor. We need a boy around here to side with me once in a while, said the voted loser.

So then, give up and admit I won and boys stink, said Star, giggling.

Oh, I get it. You won, and boys stink, laughed Sir. And then he added, You say that now, my child, but I see you looking at that Tommy, Timmy, or Tyler fellow—whatever his name is—when I pick you up at school.

I don’t look at Tyler, said the guilty-as-charged Star, wondering when Sir had caught her looking at him. I sure hope Tyler hasn’t noticed. That thought really scared Star, and she could only hope he hadn’t.

OK, whatever you say. Now I’ll fix lunch—oh, wait a minute, it’s already cooked. Sir laughed like a winner and added in his best baby talk like he was talking to a newborn, Too bad, Star baby.

Star rolled her eyes and shook her head as she sat down at her assigned seat at the table. During lunch, Grandma reminded Sir that he was going to have to be around as she was going to see a friend in the hospital. You are planning on being here, aren’t you?

Absolutely, said Sir, proud that he actually remembered. Star can take care of me.

"I’ll be gone all day and won’t be back until late evening. I promised to stay with her until her son could be there. So can you"—and she emphasized the you—entertain Star until I return?

OK. If I have to, said Sir, trying to sound like it was a big inconvenience. But I really do think she will entertain me until you return.

A quick kiss and a hug, and Grandma was gone.

Sir was cleaning up the dishes when his cell phone rang. At first, neither of them knew what to do because Sir’s cell phone hardly ever rang. Star noticed how serious he was looking at his phone.

Do you know how to answer it? Star asked with a grin.

Very funny, said Sir, not everyone centers their whole social circle around their cell phones. He looked at Star with a look that said you’re the guilty one here.

Hey, I quit using my cell phone. I decided texting all day was a waste of time, responded Star with a look that puzzled Sir.

He just shook his head in a way that said I am not buying that for a minute. I had noticed that I didn’t hear it every few seconds. But I thought that was how you young people hang nowadays?