The Journal

By C. E. Rivetto

The Journal

Is it possible that events that occurred

over 260 years ago can have an impact

on the present?

The Journal, narrated in part by the

survivor of a massacre, is a story of

adventure and romance, love and hate,

forgiveness and redemption.

Written in dialogue format, the story

will have an unexpected twist at the

end which will cause you to wonder:

Is that really possible?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Covenant Books, Inc.
• Release date: Nov 8, 2022
• ISBN: 9781685269791

Book preview

Table of Contents

Title

Copyright

Preface

Historical Background

Author's Note

Author's Commentary

About the Author

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The Journal

C. E. Rivetto

ISBN 978-1-68526-978-4 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-68526-979-1 (Digital)

Copyright © 2022 C. E. Rivetto

All rights reserved

First Edition

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Covenant Books

11661 Hwy 707

Murrells Inlet, SC 29576

www.covenantbooks.com

Preface

To the reader:

The Journal is in reality two stories in one: one story takes place in colonial America and the other in modern-day America. They are connected by a 260-year-old journal. They are stories of love and death, loss and understanding, and, in the end, redemption.

The format of this book requires a brief explanation. It is a written in a modified script format using scenes rather than chapters to tell the story with a minimum emphasis on scenery but with a maximum focus on dialogue and the ideas expressed therein.

Historical Background

As has been mentioned, The Journal takes place during two time periods: modern-day America and America during the French and Indian War (1754–1763). The story from each of the time periods will be intertwined as what happens in the past (which we learn about through the journal) does have an impact on the present.

The French and Indian War was actually fought by the British army (Redcoats), the American colonists, and their Indian allies against the French army and their Indian allies. One of the tribes allied with the French was the Abenaki, who lived mainly in the northeastern corner of what is today's United States.

Author's Note

There are three different languages spoken in this story: English, French, and Abenaki. If The Journal was a movie, the characters would speak in their own language, and the English translation would be written on the screen as a caption. With a novel, that is not possible.

Only two characters speak all three languages: Jean Pierre and a French priest, Father LeBeau. There will be references to some language translations in the story, but the story itself will be told in English. It could not be told in any other way.

While truly forgiving will set you free,

it is love that will make you whole.

{1} 1760

On a sunny summer morning, two men stand on the porch of a log cabin with smoke curling from its chimney. An outbuilding and a field of knee-high corn are in the foreground. Patrick O'Reilly, twenty-five, tall, and buckskin clad walks down the steps followed by his father, late fifties and graying.

PATRICK

They've never raided this far south, Pa…but it bein' an all-out war, things could change.

FATHER

Don't worry about us, Son. If it looks bad, we'll just make for the fort.

Patrick hugs his father.

PATRICK

That's where Becky and Susie are. I'm gonna hate missing her first birthday.

FATHER

You just take care of yourself. There'll be a lot more birthdays.

The door of the cabin swings open. Jimmy, fourteen, short, and carrying a musket, and Sean, twenty, tall, and carrying a knapsack, rush down the steps. They're followed by Colleen, eighteen and pretty, and their mother, late forties and leathery, carrying a small sack. Patrick hugs Jimmy and Sean as they give him his musket and knapsack. His mother hands Patrick a sack, holds him for a long hug, and starts to tear up.

MOTHER

Don't want you goin' hungry while you're on the road.

PATRICK

I'll be just fine, Ma.

Patrick looks to Colleen.

PATRICK

Nothin' for me, Sis?

COLLEEN

How about a kiss on the cheek?

PATRICK

Well, I guess it's better than nothin'.

Colleen gives him a kiss on the cheek and then sticks her tongue out at him. Everyone laughs.

PATRICK

But not much! Isn't there a family event next week? Someone havin' a birthday?

Patrick reaches into his inside jacket pocket and pulls out a knife with an ivory handle and gives it to Jimmy.

PATRICK

Happy birthday, Little Brother!

JIMMY

Wow!

Jimmy takes it and gives Patrick a hug. Then he pulls back and salutes him.

JIMMY

Thank you, Lieutenant!

Patrick salutes back.

PATRICK

Well, I best be getting on my way. Keep me in your prayers.

As Patrick walks away, there is a chorus of Byes. He turns around, waves, and starts walking.

COLLEEN

Wait!

Colleen walks up to Patrick and gives him a hug.

COLLEEN

Take care of yourself, you big lunk.

PATRICK

Try and stay out of trouble if you can, Sis.

Patrick gives her a kiss on the cheek, turns, and walks away without looking back.

{2}

A peaceful village of wigwams lies next to a small river. A number of Indians are visible by the wigwams. Near one wigwam, Spotted Owl, fifties and overweight, hugs her two sons: Little Bear, late twenties, short but muscular, wearing Indian dress, and Jean Pierre, early twenties, tall, wearing buckskin with features more French than Indian. Both are carrying muskets.

SPOTTED OWL

Protect our people, my sons. (Coughs) This is our land and (coughs) we must fight to keep it.

LITTLE BEAR

I will make the English devils pay for what they have done!

Little Bear hugs his mother and leaves. Jean Pierre walks up and hugs her.

SPOTTED OWL

Watch out for your brother, Jean Pierre. You know his temper (coughs) and his hatred for the English.

JEAN PIERRE

I will make sure that he comes home to you.

Jean Pierre hugs her again and leaves as are other braves throughout the village.

{3}

The O'Reilly cabin is a bustle of activity on a bright sunny day. Mother sits in a rocking chair mending a shirt. A musket leans against a wall near her. Colleen stands on the porch churning butter.

Near the cabin, Father splits logs, his musket resting on a stump. All look up as Jimmy and Sean come out of the forest near the back of the cabin, muskets in one hand, freshly killed rabbits in the other.

SEAN

Gotta little work for ya, Sis. After you finish the butter.

COLLEEN

Ma, how come men's work is fun, but women's work is all drudgery?

MOTHER

Your father heard that Colleen.

The father walks over after burying his ax in a log.

FATHER

My darlin' daughter, you're not fussin' again, are you? And am I correct in supposin' this complaint will end up in your journal tonight.

COLLEEN

No need to, Father Dear. It's been written before. Once I'm done with the butter and the rabbits, I should have more than enough time to finish the logs.

FATHER

Not to worry. I'm sure your sainted mother will have them done by then.

{4}