The Phenomenal Event

Copyright© 2025 by A Well Traveled Man

Chapter 1

Griffin Barrett was thirteen and lived in Granbury, outside Fort Worth, Texas. He lived with his Father, Richard Barrett, a chemical engineer at Allied Technologies. Four years ago, Griffin’s mother, Ashley Barrett, divorced his dad for the bright lights of Hollywood. She went to Southern California for plastic surgery on her nose after an accident and fell in love with the area. Dad said she met someone with money, and he wasn’t sorry she was gone. Grif, as everyone calls him, agreed.

Mom wasn’t a stay-at-home person. She wasn’t happy unless she was socializing, shopping, attending events, or going to expensive restaurants. Grif’s dad, Richard, inherited a trust from his parents that funded their lifestyle. His dad worked before his inheritance and liked his work. He avoided flaunting his wealth, and Ashley, his mom, went crazy when it happened. She maxed out the credit cards each month until his dad put a limit on them. That pissed her off, and there was constant fighting about money.

Dad laughed when Mom called and said she was filing for divorce. He told Grif his family’s trust wasn’t part of their income, so she couldn’t touch it. Mom hired an expensive attorney, and it took a year before Mom gave up and settled for a fixed amount without alimony. She left the family and was living with a movie producer named Jerry Harper. Dad had hired a PI and had photos of them. Dad got custody of Grif because Mom didn’t want him after finding she couldn’t get the trust money.

But he had to visit his loving mother for a week or two during the summer and on alternating Thanksgiving and Christmas. Things around their lives returned to normal after the divorce was final. Grif attended high school and was a linebacker/defensive end on the freshman team. His best friends were Greg and Nick, and they were on the team, too. Grif inherited his dad’s intelligence and was academically at the top of his class. The school wanted to advance Grif, but his dad rejected the idea.

Instead, he had Grif take college courses online. Dad said he needed interaction with his peers for his emotional development. By taking college courses online, he could graduate from college as soon as he graduated from high school, so that’s what Grif did. Grif also inherited his dad’s build and height, but he inherited his mom’s looks and skin color. Mom’s maiden name was Sanchez, and she was Hispanic.

When Grif wasn’t playing football, he worked part-time at his father’s company. He would help out in different departments because of his computer and chemistry skills. Grif’s computer skills were far superior, but he kept them hidden from everyone. His lab skills were good enough to help with the experiments and testing. With the work hours restricted to sixteen hours a week, he would still go to work and not clock in. That allowed him to work on his computer programming, and he developed into a master hacker.

That’s when the event happened. Grif was working on a computer in a vacant lab when the explosion occurred. It was more of a loud bang when a centrifuge exploded, and he was covered with liquid and then passed out. When he woke up, he was in the decontamination chamber, nude and wet from a shower the emergency personnel gave him. They came in, took readings with devices, and then took his vitals, urine, and blood samples. When he was cleared, Dad came and asked how he was feeling.

Grif lied and said he was fine but tired and would appreciate some clothes. His dad laughed and said, “We’ll get you some scrubs.” Grif said thanks because the female tech was eyeing him like dinner, and they laughed. Grif said he wanted to go home after putting on the scrubs, and Dad drove him home. Upon arrival, Grif said he would lie down and went to his room. He lied to the emergency personnel and his dad about his condition. He felt dizzy and had a tingling sensation all over his body, but didn’t want to undergo extensive testing.

When he woke up from his nap, he ran to the bathroom. The stench that came out of him was gross, and he had to flush several times. He sprayed air freshener and then took a shower, and he felt better. Dad ordered pizza for dinner and asked Grif how he felt while they ate. He said he was fine but a little tired. Then Grif asked his dad what happened in the lab. His dad said Dr. Rodney Bohm put an experiment into the centrifuge and left. The centrifuge overheated and exploded. Grif said the absent-minded professor, and they laughed.

Dad told Grif to take a few days off school and to call him immediately if he experienced any problems. Dr. Bohm couldn’t remember the experiment in the centrifuge, and the fire sprinklers washed away everything. After dinner, Grif went to his room to lie down and fell asleep. He dreamt something was happening inside his body. It started in his head and went down to his feet. Then, the dream ended, and he fell into a deep sleep.

Dr. Rodney Bohm was worried about his health. He had been diagnosed with advanced Alzheimer’s, and he had forgotten what he had done with his latest experiment. He couldn’t find his notebooks or the serum anywhere. Then, a lab explosion destroyed his serum. He couldn’t tell anyone what he was working on, just that it was his experiment in the centrifuge. His customer was the CIA, and they wanted results. After he tested it on rats, his serum showed great results, and he reported it to them.

They wanted to test it on humans, and that was what was in the centrifuge. There was enough for twelve treatments, but now there was nothing left, and Rodney was worried about what the CIA would do. He had to write everything down instead of using a computer. It was an off-the-books experiment, and he couldn’t afford anyone to find out. Rodney was so depressed about his condition and losing his experiment, he went home and drank. Seeing no other option, he put a gun to his mouth and pulled the trigger.

Grif woke up the next morning and ran to the bathroom. It was a repeat of yesterday, so he sprayed air freshener and showered. When he got out, Grif immediately noticed the change in his body. His muscles were more developed, and his skin had a glow. The muscle between his legs was also larger, and he wondered about his height. Grif tried to put on his jeans, but they didn’t fit, so he put on sweats. Then he called in sick to school, ate breakfast, and thought about his dream.

The changes to his body had to be related to the lab accident. Grif knew he needed to keep the changes secret, or he would become a lab experiment. After breakfast, he ordered a Lyft ride to the mall. Then Grif texted his dad that he had a growth spurt and was going to the mall for new clothes. His dad texted back OK, but to return home immediately afterwards. Hopefully, no one will see you there while out of school sick.

When Grif arrived at the mall, he bought shirts, pants, and underwear at the department store. Then he went to the sporting goods store and bought new sweats and exercise gear, including compression shorts. He stopped at the food court, got lunch, and ordered a Lyft ride home. Upon arriving home, he washed his new clothes and did his online college coursework. It went quicker than before, and he wondered what other surprises were in store for him.

Dad arrived home with Chinese takeout for dinner. While they ate, he asked Grif how he was feeling, and Grif said he was feeling better. Dad said, “Good. Then, go to school tomorrow, but there will be no physical activity for three days. I’ll give you a note for gym and football.” Grif said Coach Burden won’t be happy, and Dad said, “Tough shit.” The emergency personnel said it could have damaged your lungs, so don’t take a chance. If Coach Burden gives you a hard time, call me immediately.

Grif told his Dad about shopping, and he only bought the basics. Dad said that was good because he was growing and would outgrow his clothes within a few months. After they finished dinner, they measured his height on Grif’s closet door frame. He was now 5’11”, so he grew three inches. Dad told Grif to bag his old clothes, and he’d drop them off at the Goodwill on his way to work. Grif asked if the accident caused any problems with his part-time employment.

Dad said no and that he could return to work next week. Dr. Rodney Bohm admitted to leaving an experiment running in the centrifuge unattended. Dad said that man is a walking accident waiting to happen. He walked into my lab several times, thinking it was his, and stood there confused. Grif asked if he suspected Alzheimer’s, and Dad said yes, and it’s getting worse. So, avoid him at work, and maybe management will finally do something after the latest accident.

They watched the movie Enter the Dragon, starring Bruce Lee, John Saxon, and Jim Kelly. At the end, Dad told Grif to check out local martial arts studios. Martial arts can help with football and self-defense. But no belts or competition, and try to get one-on-one instruction. It’s not something you want known, or you will be challenged and fights will get you expelled and kicked off the team. So, tell no one, even your friends. They said goodnight and went to bed.

Grif went to his bedroom and performed some of the martial arts movements he had seen in the movie. He closed his eyes and did as Bruce Lee did in the film. After thirty minutes, he was exhausted and lay down on the bed. Grif wondered how he could recall all the details in the movie and fell asleep. Tonight was a duplicate of last night, with dreams of something being done inside his body. The same tingling sensation followed, and he fell into a deep sleep.

After breakfast, Grif walked to school, and his friends Greg and Nick asked what had happened to him. Grif said there had been an accident at Dad’s work, and he had inhaled some chemicals. They asked if he was alright, and Grif said yes, but no physical activity for three days. Greg said Coach Burden wouldn’t be happy, and Grif said, “Tough shit.” Dad will have his ass if he causes me trouble. Nick told Grif to tell the Coach at the beginning of practice so that it could be canceled.

They laughed and said, “Fat chance. “ He went to the school office and turned in the note for his absence. Grif sat in the back of his classes and studied college courses on his computer. He purchased e-books for courses he wasn’t taking online. He planned on testing out of as many courses as possible. Then came the dreaded football practice. Coach Burden said he didn’t give a dam about a note. He ordered Grif to practice or run laps.

When Grif said he couldn’t, the Coach told him to go to his office and that he’d deal with him after practice. Grif did as he was told and called Dad from the Coach’s office. Dad said he would call the school and straighten the asshole out. While he was waiting, Grif hacked into Coach Burden’s computer. The coach had a cameras in the girls’ locker room and recorded them undressing and in the shower. He copied one video and emailed it to the police department. The message said Coach Burden put cameras in the girls’ locker room and records it on his office computer.

Grif removed any sign of his activity and shut off the computer. Then he heard Coach Burden being summoned to the office by the intercom. He figured the Coach would threaten him after his office visit, so Grif had his phone read to record the event. He was right. Coach Burden stormed into the office and told Grif he had been kicked off the team. He told Grif to get out of his office before he beat his ass. Grif said yes, Coach, and went to the office.

Grif asked to see the principal and played the recording. He told Principal Holcomb his Dad would sue Coach Burden and the school. This wasn’t the first time Coach Burden threatened him, but it would be the last. Principal Holcomb asked Grif to give him a chance to fix the problem. Grif said, “You’ve had several chances, and he’s still here.” I’ll let my Dad handle it, and he left for home.

When Dad got home, he told Grif that Dr. Rodney Bohm committed suicide last night. He left a note that Alzheimer’s had taken his mind, and he couldn’t stand it any longer. Grif said that was sad, and Dad agreed. Then Grif played the recording of the Coach kicking him off the team. Dad told Grif to forward it to him, and he would have our attorney handle it.

Dad got Italian takeout for dinner, and they sat and ate. Dad said your mother called and wants you to attend a movie premiere that Jerry produced. It’s two weeks from Friday, so she set up a tux fitting in Dallas this weekend for you. Grif said Fabulous, at least they scheduled it on the football by week. They laughed when he asked if he was supposed to wear boots and a cowboy hat. Then Dad said Jerry’s paying for it, so do it and surprise them. Besides, you’ll make a scene upstaging them, and they laughed.

Grif said, “You know this could affect my holiday visits,” and they laughed again. They finished dinner and watched Fist of Fury, starring Bruce Lee. When it was over, Grif asked Dad if they could get a heavy bag for him to practice in the garage. Dad said it was ok, but told Grif to arrange lessons. He promised he would, and they said goodnight. Grif closed his eyes and imitated Bruce Lee’s movements, strikes, and leg kicks. After thirty minutes, he was exhausted and went to bed. The feeling and dream returned, then he fell into a deep sleep.

When he arrived at school the next morning, his friends Greg and Nick asked what he had done to Coach Burden yesterday. Grif said nothing but told him he could do any physical activity. Greg said when Coach returned from the office, he was pissed and put us through a ringer. Grif said sorry about that, but you know what the Coach says: “It will make men out of you.” They flipped him the bird while laughing.

After the sixth period, all hell broke loose. Police cars and crime scene vans surrounded the gym and lockers. Then the Police took Coach Burden out in handcuffs along with his computer. Girls yelled threats and obscenities at Coach Burden, and all after-school activities were canceled. So Grif ordered a Lyft ride to the sporting goods store and bought a heavy bag. The Lyft driver waited and gave him a ride home. Grif mounted the heavy bag in the garage corner and practiced his martial arts moves, punches, and kicks.

Grif could remember everything from the movies and noticed he had a photographic memory. He stopped after forty-five minutes, dripping with sweat. Grif thought about the martial arts training and decided to practice on his own until school ended. He went upstairs to shower and noticed his muscles were more pronounced and his skin glowed. Grif put on sweats, took his dirty clothes to the laundry room, and started the washer. Mother was never around after Dad got the inheritance, so he learned to wash his clothes and do some cooking.

Dad arrives home with a Mexican takeout, and while they are eating, Grif tells him about Coach Burden’s arrest at school. Dad asks what he was arrested for, and Grif says he doesn’t know. But the girls cuss him out and threaten him as they lead him away in handcuffs. Dad says it sounded serious, but it won’t affect our case. The attorney called today, and the school board, principal, and Coach Burden will be served tomorrow.

Grif asked what he should do if called into the office. Dad said he would give him the attorney’s phone number to call. If it happens, call Mitch Renolds, our attorney, before going to the office. They will know an attorney represents you and will make matters worse by trying to confront you. Mitch said the principal is a dead man walking, and the school board will want to settle fast to avoid bad publicity. Coach Burden sounds like he took care of his termination, so things should return to normal soon.

After dinner, they watched First Blood, the first in the Rambo series. Grif memorized all the fight scenes, and at the end, they said goodnight. Grif went to his room, closed his eyes, and simulated all of Rambo’s fighting moves in the movie. After thirty minutes, he was exhausted and went to sleep. He had the same dream and feelings, then drifted into a deep sleep.

When Grif arrived at school the next morning, his friends Greg and Nick asked who he thought would take over coaching the team. Grif said, “Let’s hope it’s the JV Coach, Rolston.” If we get Coach Weir, the Varsity Coach, we’re in for some fun times, and everyone laughed. Greg asked Grif if he would play tonight, and Grif said he felt good, so it’s up to the coach. Nick said he looked taller, and Grif said he had a growth spurt.

They separated and went to their classes. Greg and Nick were good students, but in standard courses. He was in the advanced “College Prep” classes and still well beyond the class. Grif took his normal seat in the back of the class, and Hallie, a JV cheerleader, sat beside him. Grif asked what her royal highness wanted from the peasant today. Hallie laughed and asked if he was aware of what Coach Burden did. Grif said no, but by the female’s reaction, he guessed the coach was a peeper.

Hallie giggled and said he put cameras in the girls’ locker room. Grif said that was disgusting, but the coach didn’t share, and she punched him in the shoulder, laughing. Grif asked Hallie how her royal court was taking the news, and he offered his lap for counseling sessions. Hallie laughed, punched in the shoulder again, and returned to her normal seat in the front of the class.

By lunch, everyone in the school knew what Coach Burden did. Rumors and speculation on what he did with the footage were wild. Most thought he sold it to an internet porn site. Some people felt that more teachers, coaches, and the principal were involved, too. A crime scene van and two police cars arrived, and they went into the office. That just fueled more speculation.

After the sixth period, Grif went to the locker room, and Coach Rolston was there. He informed everyone he was taking over for Coach Burden and reviewed tonight’s game plan. Coach Rolston asked Grif if he felt good enough to play tonight. Grif said yes, and the coach told him to dress and that he’d use him on passing downs. They had a pregame meal in the cafeteria and returned to the locker room to get ready.

Our team was called the Jaguars, and we were 0 and 6. Our defense was good, but our offense sucked. We had no running game, and the quarterback completed more passes to the defense than our team. It didn’t help that the offensive line was undersized and had problems blocking. So, we ran the ball most of the time and prayed when a pass was thrown.

We were playing the Weatherford Wild Cats and knew we were in for a long night. They were 5 and 1, so they had a good team. Coach Rolston put Grif in as a defensive end on the first series and got a sack and a tackle for a loss. The Wild Cats punted, and we started on our thirty-yard line. After two failed running plays, Coach Rolston called a play-action pass. Kevin, our quarterback, completed the pass, but the defensive back hit the receiver so hard he fumbled, and it was returned for a touchdown.

At the end of the first half, the score was 14 to 3, and we were lucky to score the field goal. The second half wasn’t better, and we lost 28 to 9. Grif was happy with his play and got four sacks, two tackles behind the line, and an interception. The Wild Cats put a tight end and tackle on him to slow him down. So, the coach shifted Grif to linebacker, got his interception, and broke up four passes. Coach Rolston gave his post-game speech, and everyone went home.

Dad asked Grif how the game was, and he said we got killed. The offense couldn’t sustain a drive, and the defense was on the field most of the time. It was close at halftime, but they wore our defense down in the second half. Dad said it’s a good thing the season is almost over, and Grif agreed. Coach Rolson gave a post-game speech and said he’d never seen such a poor performance. He promised there would be changes to the offence, and they had better pick up their game or forget moving up to JV.

Dad said the CIA visited us today. They wanted Dr. Rodney Bohm’s computer, files, and notes. Gerry Reed, the president, told them to get a warrant. Gerry told them that Dr. Bohm’s records were our property, not Dr. Bohm’s, and they left pissed off. So, Gerry doubled security and moved Dr. Bohm’s computer, files, and notes to the vault. The rumor is that Rodney was doing off-the-books research for the CIA. So be careful because they won’t give up easily.

Dad pulled a pizza out of the oven, and they ate a late dinner. Dad changed the subject and asked Grif if he thought Ashley’s invitation was a ploy to get you to move in with them. Grif said he didn’t know, but it won’t work. She has no interest in me except for money, unless, and Grif said shit, it could be an acting job. Why else would they buy me a tux for a premiere? Dad said he was right. They finished dinner, said goodnight, and went to bed. Grif didn’t do any martial arts moves and fell asleep. He had the same feeling and dream as before and fell into a deep sleep.

When he arrived at school on Friday morning, his friends Greg and Nick met him at the entrance. They talked about the game and how the offense sucked. Grif said we should refer to them as three and out, and everyone laughed. Then Hailey passed, and Grif said he had free time for a session. She laughed, walking away. Nick asked what that was about, and Grif told him about her visiting in class. Greg said I can’t believe you said that to her. Grif asked them if they would refuse Hailey sitting on their laps, and everyone laughed.

The varsity played tonight, so they had a pep rally, and we got out early to attend. Grif took the opportunity to leave early and go home. When he arrived, Grif changed into sweats and went to the garage. He closed his eyes and envisioned himself fighting Bruce Lee, hitting the heavy bag. After forty-five minutes, he dripped in sweat and headed to his room for a shower.

When he got out, Grif noticed his muscles were pumped and his skin glowed. He didn’t bother dressing and sat at his computer, doing an internet search on Jerry Harper, Ashley Harper, and Ashley Barrett. Jerry’s last three films didn’t get good reviews and went to streaming. Grif bet Jerry put his own money in the current film. He will snoop around while there and see how they’re doing financially. Ashley Barrett was an interior designer for homes. So, she was using our name for her business.

Grif went to the SAG website and applied for his card. Once the payment was accepted, he was given access to the site. He then went to the message board and searched for Jerry Harper, the producer. Actresses and Actors didn’t hold Jerry in high regard. There were complaints of late payments and poor working conditions. That could have to do with the movie investors, but it wouldn’t attract top talent. Grif saved the site in his favorites and logged off. After his search, Grif had more questions and wondered what he’d find when he arrived in Los Angeles. He hadn’t visited or seen his mom since she left for the glamour of Hollywood.

Dad arrived home with barbecue takeout for dinner. While they ate, Grif told him what he had found while searching the Internet. Dad laughed and told Grif to expect a hard sell on acting in a movie. Grif told Dad he applied for a SAG membership to ruin their day. With the membership application, I put you as my parent and agent. So, any offer has to go through you, and they laughed. Dad said it was a genius move to stop any back-dealing they had planned.

Grif asked how he would get through security without an ID. Dad said, “You have a passport, which was renewed a few years ago with mine.” It’s good until you’re fifteen, so don’t worry. After dinner, they watched The Matrix with Keanu Reeves. Grif memorized all the fight scenes, and at the end, they said goodnight and went to bed. Grif went to his room, closed his eyes, and fought Keanu Reeves in the Matrix. After thirty minutes, he was exhausted and crashed. He had the same dream and feeling from the previous night.

Saturday morning, Dad and Grif drove to Dallas and went to Minsky Formal Wear. Charles met them at the entrance, and Dad said, “My ex-wife and her husband, Jerry Harper, want my son Grif to attend a movie premiere. They sent us here, so could you check to see if Jerry Harper arranged payment?” Charles said, “Just a minute.” He went behind the counter and checked the computer. He asked the young man’s name, and Dad said Griffin Barrett.

Charles returned and said the payment was arranged, so what type of tux would you like? Grif said something to knock those Hollywood snobs out. He’d like to wear a cowboy hat and boots with the tux to reflect his Texas roots. Charles laughed and said This will be fun and they followed him into a private fitting room. After being measured from his head to his feet, Grif tried on six tuxes and selected the Tom Ford in charcoal gray. Charles chose a blood red shirt and a charcoal gray bow tie. He said a black Stetson gunfighter hat and snake skin boots will accent it perfectly.

They arranged to return next Saturday for the final fitting and left laughing. Dad said they were going to be pissed when they got the bill. Grif said they could have given the shop a limit on the style and make of the tux. Dad wanted to stop at work for an hour to finish a project. They stopped at the Whataburger drive-thru for lunch and went to Allied Technologies. Dad went to his lab, and Grif went to Dr. Rodney Bohm’s old office.

All that was left was the furniture, and everything else had been removed. Grif had an idea that Dr. Bohm had hidden something in the office, so he checked the desk and credenza. He figured Dr. Bohm would think it would be safer in his office than at home. Grif tapped on the inside of the credenza and found that the bottom of one cabinet had a removable floor. He lifted the floor piece and said shit, seeing stacks of bound one-hundred-dollar bills. There were also a dozen journals, and Grif thought about how he would get them out of the office.

Then he remembered he had left his backpack when he was hurt in the explosion. So, he got his backpack and emptied the hidden compartment. Dad found him on the computer an hour later and said, “Let’s go home.” Grif was laughing inside as they left the office. The security cameras would show them entering and leaving, and he could explain his backpack and hoodie if needed. The bundles of cash filled the backpack, and the journals were wrapped in the hoodie.

When they arrived home, Grif went to his room and hid the cash and journals in his closet. He took $1000 from one stack and put it in his wallet, which had a hidden compartment. Then, Grif went online and did his college coursework for the week. When he finished, Grif read the e-books he purchased for the advanced courses he planned to test out of at semester’s end. Dad called him to dinner, so he shut off the computer and went downstairs.

On the table was a cake with fourteen candles lit, and Dad said, “Happy birthday, Grif.” Grif laughed and blew out the candles. He said, “I forgot about it,” and Dad said, “Yeah, he almost did, too.” They had steak and baked potatoes for dinner, and Dad said it gets harder every year to buy you something. He asked Grif what he wanted, and Grif said to go on vacation just the two of us and maybe rent an RV. Dad said shit, it’s been years since I’ve taken a vacation, so let’s plan one for the summer.

After dinner, they watched Enter the Dragon, which starred Bruce Lee. Grif was glad his Dad liked action movies like he did, and he memorized all the fight scenes. When the movie ended, they said goodnight and went to bed. Grif closed his eyes and imagined he was fighting Bruce Lee in the film. After thirty minutes, he was exhausted and fell asleep. The same dream and feeling happened, and he wondered when it would end. Then, he fell into a deep sleep.

Chapter 2

Sundays were a day of relaxation at the Barrett household. Since Mom left, Dad spent an average of six days a week at work, and Grif was busy with school and work, too. Dad would sleep in, and Grif would go on walks around the neighborhood early in the morning. It was a peaceful time that allowed him to think without any distractions. A lot happened the past week, and Grif sorted the events in his mind. His thought process seemed clearer, and the changes in his body were dramatic.

His senses and reflexes had improved, and he was aware of everything around him. Grif wondered what Dr. Bohn was working on with the material he had been exposed to and how the CIA was involved. There were a lot of changes going on inside his body, and he welcomed them. The photographic memory was a surprise, and then the martial arts. He picked it up like he had been practicing for years. Activity ahead brought him out of his thoughts, and there was a yard sale.

An older Asian lady, whom Grif suspected was Japanese or Chinese, was selling items on the driveway and garage. He looked at the items and found a box of books that interested him. Inside were a dozen leather-bound martial arts training manuals, and ten foreign language binders issued by the US Government were in a box beside it. Grif asked the lady what she wanted for the boxes, and she said $30. He paid her and carried the boxes home.

Dad was up cooking breakfast and asked what he got, and Grif said he bought some books at a yard sale. He put the boxes in his bedroom and returned to the kitchen. While they ate, they discussed where to go on their vacation. They decided to head north to Colorado, Wyoming, and South Dakota and then return home. Heading north, they would avoid the heat of the summer. Dad said, “ Let’s plan to leave when school ends,” so there’s time to visit your mother. Grif said that’s assuming I’m still welcome after the premiere, and they laughed.

After breakfast, they went to the market and bought groceries for the week. While shopping, Dad asked Grif what vehicle he wanted when he got his driver’s license. Grif said a nice used 4x4 truck, a Chevy or Ford with an extra cab, so there’s room to put things in the back. Dad said they had plenty of time to look, but let him know if he sees a deal. They stopped at Sam’s for a few items, got gas, and headed home. They stopped at the Whataburger drive-thru and got lunch on the way.

When they arrived home, they put the groceries away and ate lunch. Dad asked if he was coming to work on Monday since it was a teacher’s day. Grif said shit, he forgot, and said yes, he’ll go with you for the day. They finished lunch and watched NFL football on TV. Grif watched and memorized the movements of the defensive ends and linebackers.

Dad ordered pizza for dinner, and they watched the Eagles vs. the Giants game while eating dinner. By halftime, the Eagles had won the game, so they turned off the TV, said goodnight, and went to bed. Grif closed his eyes and imagined he was fighting Bruce Lee, making all the punches and kicks. After 30 minutes, he was exhausted and went to sleep. It was the same dream, but with different sensations in his body. He felt pain all over his body, and his head hurt so bad it almost woke him up. Then it went away, and he fell into a deep sleep.

On the way to work, Dad stopped at McDonald’s drive-thru and got breakfast. When we arrived at Allied Technologies, Dad and Grif had to get new ID cards. The guard said they updated the security after an attempted break-in on Saturday night. They now had restricted entrance to the labs. If your ID didn’t authorize you, an alarm would go off. Iris scans and more cameras were also added this week. Grif was given broad access because he helped in multiple labs.

Grif didn’t say anything, but he read the security guard’s mind while he was talking to them. It shocked him at first, but then he thought it was cool. It was the night guard’s fault for falling asleep and allowing the intruders access, and thankfully, a noise woke him up. He hit the alarm, and the intruders fled. When they passed Dr. Bohm’s old office, it was now stripped bare. All the furniture had been removed along with Dr. Bohm’s name on the door.

Grif realized his new skill didn’t work unless he focused on the person. He wondered if the pain in his head last night while asleep had caused his mind reading. Grif also felt comfort when entering the labs and wondered if there was a threat, would he know it? He helped run tests and log the results on the computer. At lunch, Grif went into the lunch room, and everyone there sang Happy Birthday, embarrassing him. They had cake and ice cream, and he got a polo shirt with the company name and logo.

When they left work, Grif noticed a plumbing van parked across the street. He somehow knew it was a surveillance van, and two people were inside. The van’s logo was Chase Plumbing and Leak Repair. He didn’t tell Dad and looked up the company on his phone on the way home. No plumbing company named Chase was in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. They stopped for Mexican food takeout on the way home.

While they ate dinner, Dad told Grif to be aware of his surroundings when going to and coming home from school. The company suspects the CIA had something to do with the attempted break-in. They have no proof, but the break-in after trying to get Dr. Bohm’s computer, files, and notes is too much of a coincidence. So, they issued a memo warning all employees to be aware of vehicles following them. It said if a vehicle was following them, call 911, pull into public places where people are, and wait for the police.

Grif told Dad about the Plumbing van parked across the street from work. He said it was Chase Plumbing and Leak Repair, so he looked it up on his phone again and showed the results to his Dad. Dad said shit and called work to report it to security. They thanked Dad for the information and said they would report it to the police. Dad said he would get us pepper spray on the way home from work tomorrow.

They finished dinner and watched The Bourne Identity with Matt Damon. Grif memorized all the fight scenes, and when the movie ended, they said goodnight and went to bed. Grif didn’t realize that he had created a place in his mind and combined all the martial arts and fighting scenes into his own martial arts program. So, when he closed his eyes, he replicated the films’ moves, punches, and kicks. After thirty minutes, he was exhausted and fell asleep. There was no dream tonight, but the tingling sensation radiated throughout his body, and he fell into a deep sleep.

On Tuesday, while on his way to school, Grif noticed a van following him. He turned into an alley and hid behind a bush. The van stopped at the alley, and a man got out. Then the van drove off, and Grif waited until the man reached him. He jumped out of the bushes and beat the man unconscious. Grif searched the man and found a Glock 9mm with a silencer, a disposable cell phone, and a new wallet with an ID that was also new. He turned off the phone, hid everything under some bushes, and continued to school.

His friends Nick and Greg met at the entrance and asked Grif if he was ready for Coach Rolston’s punishment. Grif said the coach should punish the offense, not us. But if he does, let’s pay the offense back during practice. Greg and Nick agreed they needed punishment and laughed as they went to class. Hallie was sitting in the front of the class, and Grif whispered to her not to forget their counseling session and left her laughing.

Grif sat at the back of the class and looked up, learning to read Japanese online. A program was available online and qualified for college credit, so Grif purchased it and completed the first chapter during class. By the sixth period, he had completed six chapters and had six more. Then he went to the gym and dressed for football practice. Nick and Greg were right. Coach Rolston made everyone run laps before practice. The offense knew they were pissed and worried.

It wasn’t a good day for the offense, as they hadn’t gained more than ten yards during practice. Grif was in the backfield, interrupting the quarterback and running back during the first part of practice. Then Coach Rolson moved me to linebacker so they could complete some plays. The rest of the defense made them pay for every yard. At the end of practice, Coach Rolson pulled him aside and said Carl Plummer, the JV defensive end, had hurt his knee during the game on Saturday. So, you’re taking his place, and practice is at 6 am tomorrow. Then he handed Grif the defense playbook, told him to study it tonight, and left.

Grif said shit, showered, dressed, and walked home. He didn’t see the van, and when he got home, he studied the defense playbook. He still had an hour before Dad got home, so he listened to two CDs in the Japanese language program he bought at the yard sale. He wanted to learn to read and speak Japanese before reading the martial arts training manuals.

CIA Section Chief Ron Tover was pissed that his plan to recover the money and journals from Dr. Rodney Bohm had failed. He had contractors break into Allied Technologies, and they were discovered before getting anything. Then he hired contractors to monitor Allied Technologies, and they got arrested. Then another contractor got beaten up and was in the hospital following a kid who worked there. This whole operation had gone to shit, and now he had to cover his ass before someone talked.

Dad arrived home with Italian takeout for dinner, and they ate. During dinner, Dad mentioned that the police arrested two people in the plumbing van and found surveillance gear inside. They had tapped the phones and hidden listening devices in Gerry Reed’s office, linking them to the break-in, and now they face serious jail time. Grif didn’t tell his dad about the van following him after hearing about the arrests. Dad handed Grif the pepper spray and told him to keep it ready, as he wasn’t sure the threat was over.

Grif told Dad about his promotion to the JV team. Dad said it was great, and they play on Saturday night, so I will attend the games. Grif said this week’s game is at home, but he isn’t sure where the last two games will be played after next week’s break. Dad told Grif to make it hard for them to replace you by playing solid football. That will guarantee your spot on the JV team next year.

After dinner, they watched Hard to Kill with Steven Seagal. Grif memorized all the fight scenes, and at the end of the movie, they said goodnight and went to bed. Grif closed his eyes and fought Steven Seagal, mimicking his moves, kicks, and punches. After thirty minutes, he was exhausted, went to bed, and fell asleep. There was a dream tonight, but different, and he watched as today’s events were organized in his mind. The tingling sensation followed, then he fell into a deep sleep.

On Thursday, on his way to school, Grif thought about the man he had attacked in the alley. His strikes were precise, and he only hit the man six times. But each one caused damage, and the last knocked him out. When he arrived at 5:45 a.m., he dressed in his football gear and went to the practice field. Coach Rolson told the team that Grif Barrett was taking Carl Plummer’s place at defensive end for the last few games. Practice was more intense than the freshman team, but he still got into the backfield and disrupted the quarterback and running back. That earned him respect from his new teammates.

Gary and Nick saw him after practice and called him a traitor for moving to JV. Grif said he asked Coach Rolson if they could come with him. The coach said he didn’t want any pussies on the squad, and everyone laughed. Grif said he only got promoted because Carl Plummer hurt his knee in the last game. He has three games to prove himself, and the players are bigger and stronger than the freshman team. Grif told them to grow some balls and that they would join him on JV next year, and he left them laughing.

Grif sat in the back of the class and accessed the Japanese reading and writing program on his laptop. Hallie entered, came to his desk, and congratulated him on being promoted to JV. Grif said thanks and asked if she was his designated cheerleader for the rest of the year. Hallie laughed and asked Grif if he knew who her father was. Grif said yes, he’s the Chief of Police, but he’s old, and I can run fast. Hallie left laughing and went to her seat.

By the sixth period, he had completed his Japanese reading and writing program and had taken the final exam. Grif laughed at his friends practicing in the heat and walked home. Upon arriving home, he changed into sweats, went to the garage, and practiced martial arts on the heavy bag. When he was done, Grif showered and listened to three more Japanese language CDs. He liked his afternoons free to exercise, work, or study.

Dad arrived home with barbecue chicken, and they sat and ate. He asked Grif how practice went this morning, and Grif said it went well. He likes practicing in the morning rather than in the afternoon heat. Dad said the FBI visited Allied Technologies today. They are investigating the CIA’s interest in Dr. Bohm and the following events. Grif asked if they interviewed any employees, and Dad said no, they only met with the company president.

Grif told Dad not to worry if he was arrested. He would break him out of jail, and they laughed. After dinner, they watched Thursday night football, with the Kansas City Chiefs vs. the New England Patriots. Grif watched and memorized the defensive end play, and at the end of the game, they said goodnight and went to bed. He lay down and fell asleep, organizing the plays in his mind. Then the tingling sensation started, and he fell into a deep sleep.

On Friday morning at 5:45, Grif arrived at school for practice. They discussed the game plan and then did a walkthrough. It was nice not having to shower again before class. The JV team had won more games at 3 and 4 but was still losing a record. Grif met his friends near the office and asked about their game last night. Greg and Nick said we lost again, and Grif said, “Look on the bright side; you can’t lose next week.” They flipped him the bird, and everyone laughed.

Grif went to class, sat in the back, opened his laptop, and read a new e-book for college. Hallie entered class, looked at Grif, laughed, and sat down. He stared at Hallie and read her mind. She liked him, but her dad wouldn’t let her date until her junior year. Then he had to meet the boy and talk to his parents first. Hallie didn’t have much hope of dating until she went to college and had to read her mom’s romance novels. The teacher entered and started class, breaking his reading of Hallie.

During the second period, Grif emailed his online college and requested testing out of ten courses. He also asked about getting credit for the Japanese reading and writing course he completed and attached the certificate of completion. He got an email back that said to call the testing center to arrange the exams and provided the phone number. It also said his certificate for the Japanese course was accepted.

When he arrived home, Grif changed into sweats and practiced his martial arts on the heavy bag in the garage. After an hour, he was soaked with sweat and went to the house. He stripped in the laundry room, went upstairs, showered, and listened to the three last CDs of the Japanese language program. When he finished, Grif took his dirty clothes to the laundry and started a load. When the last load was done, he took the clothes to his room, and Dad arrived with Mexican takeout for dinner.

While they ate, Grif told Dad he had testing for his online courses. He wanted to know if he should call in sick or ask the office for a room to do it there. Dad said Talk to your guidance counselor, Ms. James, about it. She knows what you’re doing and can arrange something for you. Then they talked about Saturday’s plans. Dad said we will go and get your tux, then I’ve got some work to do. So, you can come with me, or I’ll drop you off at home. Grif said he’d go with you to work, but he has to be at school at 6 pm for the game.

After dinner, they watched Rocky with Sylvester Stallone. It did help his martial arts training, but Grif learned some boxing moves and punches. When the movie ended, they said goodnight and went to bed. Grif mimicked Rocky’s punches, switching to left-handed, and thought it would be useful in a fight. After thirty minutes, he was exhausted, and Grif went to bed and fell asleep. Then the dream started, followed by a bolt of pain from his head to his toes. It woke him up, and he had to shower and change the wet sheets for his sweat. After the shower, Grif fell into a deep sleep.

During breakfast on Saturday morning, Grif told Dad he had gone through a growth spurt overnight, showing him his jeans. After breakfast, they measured his height, and now Grif was 6’1” tall. Dad asked if he still had the receipts for his clothes, and he said yes. Dad told Grif to exchange his jeans on Sunday, hoping they didn’t seam the tux pants yet. They may wait because of the cowboy boots.

They went to Minsky Formal Wear in Dallas. Charles met them, and Grif told him he grew two inches last night. Charles said it wasn’t a problem because we couldn’t hem the pants until you wore boots. Grif put on the tux, then the boots, and Charles marked the pants for alteration. Charles took the pants to the seamstress in the back and returned fifteen minutes later. Everything looked great, and they thanked Charles for his help. Dad took the tux and accessories to the SUV, and Grif tipped Charles $200 and left.

On the way home, Dad told Grif he’d drop him off at home, and he could exchange the jeans today. That way, we could relax on Sunday, and Grif agreed. Dad dropped him off at home, gathered his jeans and the receipt, and ordered a Lyft ride to the mall. They exchanged the jeans without a problem. Grif thought about buying a pair of dress slacks and a shirt, but decided Mom and Jerry could buy them for him if needed. He ordered a Lyft ride home and ate lunch at the food court.

Grif noticed a black SUV parked at the end of the street with two men inside when Lyft dropped him off at home. He put his new jeans in the washer, hopped the back fence, and circled the block behind the SUV. Grif read their minds, and they were contractors working for CIA Section Chief Ron Tover. They already took care of the man in the hospital and the two in jail. Now they were to kidnap Grif and interrogate him about Dr. Bohm, then eliminate him.

Grif hopped in the backseat and knocked them out before they knew what happened. Then he pulled both men into the backseat and drove the SUV behind a strip mall. Grif beat up both men, then stripped off their clothes and threw them into a dumpster. He moved the SUV a mile away and parked on a side street. Grif searched the SUV and found two duffel bags in the back and a laptop under the front seat. After wiping down the areas he touched, Grif took the duffel bags, laptop, and clothes home.

When he arrived, Grif went through their clothes. All he found were their wallets, cell phones, and keys. He crushed the phones and put everything into a trash bag. He set it beside the garage and would dispose of it in the morning. Grif took the duffel bags and laptop to his room and put them into his closet. Then he started the Spanish language program and finished four CDs when Dad arrived home with dinner.

They ate, and Dad gave him a ride to school. Grif went to the locker room and saw his football uniform with his name on the back. The freshman team’s uniforms only had numbers. He joined everyone getting dressed for the game. Then Coach Rolston came in and gave his pre-game speech. We were playing the South Fort Worth Bears, and they had a better record than we did. So we were in for a tough game, but the coach said we would win if we did our jobs and gave 100 percent.

The Bears won the coin toss and chose to receive. The first quarter was hard-fought, and no one scored. He got one sack and two quarterback hurries. Both teams kicked a field goal in the second quarter, and we were tied 3 to 3 at halftime. The Bears scored a touchdown in the third quarter, and we kicked a field goal. In the fourth quarter, the Bears quarterback attempted a pass to the running back, and Griff intercepted it and returned it for a touchdown.

At the two-minute timeout, the score was tied, and the Bears worked their way to the thirty-yard line. With seconds remaining, they kicked a field goal, winning the game 13 to 10. The team was pissed and upset, losing a hard-fought game in the last few seconds. Coach Rolston gave his post-game speech, saying we gave our all, and the other team won. He said to take next week off and be ready to practice the following Monday.

Dad met Grif outside the locker room and gave him a ride home. He said that was a hell of a game, but the offense didn’t take advantage of the Bears’ mistakes. Dad told Grif he had a great game with two sacks, four quarterback hurries, and an interception that tied the score. Grif said yes and was glad they had a week off after the loss. When they arrived home, they said goodnight and went to bed. Grif fell asleep immediately, and there was no dream, but the tingling sensation returned, and he fell into a deep sleep.

Early Sunday morning, Grif took the trash bag of the men’s clothes and threw them into a trash bin a block away from the house. Then he picked up the silenced Glock he had hidden in the bushes and returned home. Grif looked in the duffel bags and was surprised to see two silenced Glocks, two AR-15s with extra loaded clips. Then there were zip ties, a hood, duct tape, and a doctor’s bag with syringes and small bottles of liquids. They had everything to kidnap, torture, and kill a suspect.

Grif put the other Glock he picked up in a duffel bag and put both bags in the attic. Then he hacked into the laptop, and there wasn’t anything useful on it. So, he turned off the GPS, turned it off, and put it in his closet. Grif listened to two more Spanish-language CDs, then Dad called him to dinner. While they ate, Dad asked him if he wanted to go to the gun range, and Grif said yes.

After breakfast, Dad opened the safe and took out the Glock 9mm, a .375 revolver, a .45 Long Colt revolver, and a .357 lever-action rifle. We also had a shotgun for home defense, a .270, and a 30-06 hunting rifle. We went to the outdoor range and enjoyed shooting targets for over an hour. My favorite handgun was the .45 Long Colt. I’d love to be good enough to shoot in the western shooting contests.

I told Dad it was too bad he couldn’t arrive in LA with the .45 Long Colt in a black western gunfighter’s holster. Dad laughed and said your Mother would scream and then faint. She never liked guns, so we always went to the range when she was socializing. On the way home, they got subs at the deli, ate lunch, and cleaned the firearms. After the guns were returned to the safe, they watched football for the rest of the afternoon.

CIA Section Chief Ron Tover was nervous because the crew he sent to Texas hadn’t checked in since Saturday morning. They last reported that they took care of the two men in jail and the one in the hospital. The last crew tried to apprehend a kid named Grif Barrett to see what he knew about Dr. Bohm. That put one man in the hospital, and the other split without answering his call. So, it piqued his interest in the kid, and now two more men are missing. The FBI was involved now, so he had to give up, or he would go to jail.

Dad ordered pizza and left to pick it up. He didn’t like having it delivered, as it could be in the car for thirty minutes or more before you get it. When he returned, they ate pizza and watched Sunday night football. Grif memorized the defensive ends’ plays, and when the game was over, they said goodnight and went to bed. Grif fell asleep and felt the tingling all over his body, falling into a deep sleep.

Grif went to school on Monday morning, and his friends Greg and Nick were at the entrance. They said it was a tough loss, and Grif agreed. He said the offense couldn’t take advantage of the Bears’ mistakes. Greg said it wouldn’t have been close without your interception and touchdown. Grif said he’s glad we have a week to get over it, but it’s an uphill climb to get to 500. Greg and Nick went to their classes, and Grif went to the office and asked to speak to Ms. James, his guidance counselor.

Ms. James asked Grif what he needed, and he said he had some testing to do for his online courses. Dad said to ask for a room to do it here instead of calling in sick. She wondered how long it would take, and Grif said probably two days, depending on their schedule. It could be one or two half days. Ms. James told Grif to go ahead and schedule it, and she would find a place for him to take the tests. Grif thanked her, got a note for class, and went to first period.

Grif went into class, gave the note to the teacher, and sat in the back of the class. When the bell rang, Hallie asked Grif why he was late. He said, “I met with my guidance counselor and asked to use her office for our counseling sessions.” She said yes, so we were set, and Hallie laughed, then punched him and said Ow. She said you’re as hard as a rock, and Grif said parts of my lap are soft. Hallie left laughing hard and shaking her head.

At lunch, Grif called the testing center for his online college. They said it would take two sessions, five tests per session. They agreed on Wednesday and Thursday mornings, starting at 8:30 a.m., and he would receive the testing instructions by email today. Grif stopped by the office and informed Ms. James of the testing schedule. She said she would have a room set up for him and to arrive at 8 a.m. Wednesday to get access. Grif thanked her and went to his next class.

When he got home, Grif changed into sweats, went to the garage, and practiced martial arts on the heavy bag. After an hour, he dripped with sweat, so he went to the house, stripped in the laundry room, and showered. Then, he finished the Spanish language program. He could now speak Japanese and Spanish, and he chose French next because he could have fun with it. He completed the first two French CDs when Dad arrived home with burgers and fries from Whataburger.

While they ate, Dad asked if they had worked out the testing issue. Grif said yes. Ms. James will set up a room, and his testing will be on Wednesday and Thursday mornings. Dad said, “Great,” and they finished dinner. They watched Monday night football, and Grif analyzed the defense’s movements. At the end of the game, they said goodnight and went to bed. Grif was tired, so he went to sleep. The tingling started, and then he fell into a deep sleep.

Chapter 3

Greg and Nick weren’t there when Grif arrived at school on Tuesday morning. Then, on the intercom, there was an announcement that all football players were to report to the gym. When he arrived, Coach Rolson said Mr. Smart would take your urine samples. Please cooperate with the test, as the league and school require it. Grif read Mr. Smart’s mind, and that wasn’t his real name. He was working for a booster from another school.

Grif raised his hand, and Coach Rolson asked what he needed. Grif asked if anyone had checked Mr. Smart’s ID and if he had a letter authorizing him to take our samples. Also, where are they going to be tested? Mr. Smart started walking to the door, which a dozen players blocked. Coach Rolson said, “Mr. Smart, or whatever your name is, it would be healthy to come clean now.” Mr. Smart turned out to be Norman Hoskins, and he was working for a booster from a school in Fort Worth ISD.

The police arrested Mr. Norman Hoskins, and he was lucky to leave the campus alive. Coach Rolson asked Grif what made him question Mr. Smart’s credentials. He said it seemed odd that they would test all three football teams with losing records. Many of the players thanked Grif for catching the imposter, and they went to class late. After class, Hallie asked why he was late, and Grif said, “You will hear by lunch.” Then he rushed to his next class.

Walking home from school, Grif realized his mind-reading skill saved the school and the players from major reputational damage. Once accused of something, it makes headlines, and the retraction is buried in the newspaper or online. Upon arriving home, he changed into sweats, went to the garage, and practiced martial arts on the heavy bag for an hour. He dropped his sweaty clothes in the laundry and went upstairs to shower. Then, he listened to three of the French-language CDs.

Dad arrived home with dinner, and while they ate, he said the lawsuit with the school and the school board was settled today. I’ve deposited the funds into a trust the attorney set up for you. It will shield it from taxes and keep your mother from getting it. Grif said good and asked about the principal and Coach Burden. Dad said the settlement included the principal, but he’ll have a letter of reprimand in his file. Coach Burden doesn’t have a pot to piss in and will be spending 15 to 20 years in jail.

Grif told Dad what happened at school today, and he said, “Oh my god.” Those people in the office are a bunch of fools. The principal will be lucky just to get fired. Dad said he would talk to the attorney tomorrow and get guidance on what to do. Dad was amazed that no one checked the man’s credentials, and you exposed the plot by asking questions. Once accused of taking illegal or performance-enhancing drugs, you can kiss your scholarship offer goodbye, whether true or not. Universities aren’t willing to take a chance.

They finished dinner and then watched The Expendables with Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, and Jet Li. Grif memorized the fight and martial arts scenes, and when the movie ended, they said goodnight and went to bed. Grif closed his eyes and mimicked the moves made in the film. After thirty minutes, he was exhausted and went to sleep. The tingling sensation returned, and he fell into a deep sleep.

Greg and Nick met Grif at the school entrance on Wednesday morning. Greg said he knew how to stir up shit, and they laughed. Greg and Nick left for their classes, and Grif entered the office, where Ms. James set him up in a vacant office. He logged into the testing center, took five finals, and finished in time for lunch. He confirmed his appointment for Thursday and went to the cafeteria.

While eating, Greg and Nick join Grif at his table. Hallie enters, and Grif pats his lap and smiles. She laughs and goes to her friend’s table. Greg warns Grif not to play with her because her dad is the police chief. Grif says, “Oh, that means she’s familiar with handcuffs,” and they all laugh. Nick says, “Yeah, and her dad carries a gun.” Grif said he has no interest in dating her, but she is fun to tease. Grif told Nick and Greg about offering her counseling on his lap when Coach Burden was arrested, and they laughed.

After school, Grif walked home, changed clothes, went to the garage, and practiced martial arts on the heavy bag. When he finished, the heavy bag was swinging wildly, and he was covered in sweat. He dropped his clothes in the laundry, showered, and listened to the remaining French-language CDs. Then he read the martial arts training manual he purchased at the yard sale. It was difficult to read, but the drawings helped. It discussed the key points of the body to hit to injure or kill the attacker.

Dad arrived home with dinner, so he put the book away and went downstairs. While they ate, Dad asked how his testing went, and Grif said it went well. He finished at lunch, and he has another scheduled for the same time tomorrow. Dad said your mother called and wants you to fly out on Friday at 6 a.m. With the time change, you will arrive around 7:30, and she will pick you up. Grif said an extra day means they are planning something, and Dad agreed.

Grif told Dad all he was bringing was the tux and his normal clothes, so for any other activities they had planned, they would have to buy me more clothes, and they laughed. Dad told Grif to text him with updates and to call in the evening. He said to remember they are two hours earlier than us, so six o’clock here is four o’clock in LA. But call right away if they try to do something sinister, and Grif agreed. Dad warned Grif not to accept drinks from anyone open or in a glass. Always open it yourself, as the Hollywood crowd is known for doctoring drinks.

He told me to check my bedroom and bathroom for hidden cameras, although he doubted Jerry or your mom would do it. The most common places to put them are smoke detectors or the alarm/clock radio. Desperate people do desperate things, so it’s better to be safe than sorry. They finished dinner and watched The Cowboy Way with Kiefer Sutherland and Woody Harrelson. They laughed at the Cowboys going to New York and Woody posing in underwear to get his champion bull riding belt buckle back. After it ended, they said goodnight and went to bed. Grif fell asleep, and the tingling sensation started. Then he fell into a deep sleep.

When Grif arrived at school on Thursday morning, his friends Greg and Nick weren’t there. So, he entered the office and signed in at the testing center. His professor was there, so they started early. Grif completed the last five finals by 11:30 a.m. The professor said his test results would be emailed by Monday, and they signed off. The rest of the day was uneventful, and he headed home after sixth period.

Upon arriving home, Grif changed into sweats, went to the garage, and practiced martial arts on the heavy bag. When he finished, Grif left his sweaty clothes in the laundry and showered. Then, he turned on the computer and did his weekly online college coursework. When he finished, Grif packed for his trip and started a laundry load. He had just finished putting away his clean clothes when Dad arrived.

While they ate dinner, Dad asked how the testing went. Grif said it went well, and he should know the results by Monday. Dad said they would need to leave for the airport by 4 a.m. to catch his flight at 6 a.m. Grif asked Dad if he knew what Mom looked like after her nose job, and Dad said no. Grif looked up Ashley Barrett’s Interior Design on his cell phone, smiled, and showed it to Dad. He said, “Oh my god,” and they laughed. The lips, nose, breasts, and Grif said he wondered if she got a caboose like Kim Kardashian.

It was good that they finished dinner because they were both laughing hard. After dinner, they watched Thursday night football, and Grif memorized the defensive end’s play. The game was a blowout by the third quarter, so they said goodnight and went to bed. Grif went to sleep, and the tingling started, and then he fell into a deep sleep.

Friday at 3:30 a.m., Grif showered, dressed, and took his bags to the kitchen. Dad met him, and they drove to DFW airport. On the way, Dad said, “This came in the mail for you,” and handed Grif a letter from SAG (the Screen Actors Guild). He also gave Grif his passport and dropped him off at the American Airlines gate for his flight. Dad wished him good luck, hugged Grif goodbye, and he went into the airport. He checked his bag, went through security, and arrived at the gate 30 minutes early.

Grif was surprised that Jerry and Mom had booked him in first class. The flight took off on time and landed at LAX after 7 a.m. Grif saw Mom at the baggage claim and asked, “Who are you?” when she approached him. She laughed and said, “I’m your mother.” Grif asked to see some ID, and they laughed and hugged. On the way to their house, Mom asked what clothes he brought. Grif said just the tux and his regular clothes. I’ve gone through several growth spurts; the last one was the day before we picked up the tux. Luckily, they haven’t hemmed the pants yet. So, we’ve been avoiding buying anything but the basics.

Mom said we’ll need to get you some slacks, shirts, and a sports coat. She asked how many inches he had grown, and Griff said five in the past month. He’s had to exchange his jeans after the last one. Mom asked how tall he was now, and Grif said 6’1” shorty, and they laughed. Then she asked how old he was and his school grade. Grif said fourteen, and he’s a freshman in high school. He’s also the starting defensive end on the JV football team. Grif asked Mom her age and weight, and she laughed and said it was none of his business.

They entered Bel-Air and stopped at a nice home at the end of a cul-de-sac. When they entered the house, Mom showed Grif his room and told him to get settled and then come to the kitchen. He hung up his tux and shirts and put the rest of his clothes in the dresser. Then Grif went to the kitchen, and Mom introduced him to Jerry. Mom asked if he wanted breakfast, and Grif said he had eaten on the plane. She told him Jerry was taking him to the studio to show him around, and they would meet around two to go shopping.

Jerry and Grif left the house in Jerry’s Mercedes sedan for the studio. Grif read Jerry’s mind and knew Jerry had arranged an audition for a part in a movie. They arrived at Warner Bros. Studio and went to Jerry’s office. They sat down, and Jerry told Grif he had arranged a movie interview for him. It’s a western, and although the chances of getting the part are slim, it will give you experience.

Then they went to a conference room, and Jerry introduced Grif to Matt Clark, the director, Eric White, the producer, and Thomas Murray, the scriptwriter. They asked about his acting experience, sports he played, education, activities, and hobbies. They were shocked that he took online college courses and spoke Japanese, Spanish, and French.

The scriptwriter gave him a sample script and asked him to read it in Japanese, Spanish, French, and English. When he was done, Eric White, the director, asked Grif to remove his shirt so they could see his build. Grif said there could be no photographs unless his agent agreed and saw the photo release. That surprised everyone, including Jerry, and Eric asked who his agent was. Grif said he’s listed on the SAG site by his name, again shocking everyone that he had a SAG card.

Grif removed his shirt, did a bodybuilder pose, and then put it back on. There was silence in the room, and then Eric asked Grif how he got so developed. Grif said he plays defensive end on the JV football team at his high school. He has to be fast and agile and able to move offensive linemen who weigh 50 pounds or more than I do. Eric asked when his season ended, and Grif said, “Our offense sucks, so in two weeks,” and everyone laughed.

Jerry and Grif returned to his office, and Jerry asked why he had an SAG card. Grif lied and said he got it to ensure the school didn’t overuse his image. Technically, they would have to obtain a photography release to use it with an SAG card, which protects him if he needs it. Jerry told Grif he had impressed the producer and director in the interview. Grif asked Jerry if he had an interest in the film. Jerry said a small one, and he has no control over casting.

They interviewed you as a favor to me and thought it would be one-and-done. Now, they have some hard decisions to make. They can go with the actor they chose, who has acting experience but not the physique, or they can go with an inexperienced actor with a physique that exceeds their expectations. On the drive home, Grif asked the movie’s name, and Jerry said, “Soaring Eagles Revenge.”

When they arrived at their house, Jerry told Ashley, “Your son is a stud,” and everyone laughed. He told her that Grif impressed the director and producer, so he has a better-than-average chance of getting the part. They ate a late lunch, and then Grif went shopping with Mom. They went to a men’s store, and Mom said they needed a pair of dress slacks, two dress shirts, loafers, and the accessories. The sales associate, Carol, got a pair of slacks that fit after several tries.

Then the shirts came, and Grif went out of the dressing room shirtless with a shirt that didn’t fit. Mom and Carol said, “Oh my god,” and giggled. Grif said he was Ms. Ashley’s boy toy, and she buys him clothes and jewelry when he’s good. Mom and Carol busted up laughing, then Mom said the comedian was her son Griffen. They finally got what they needed and returned to Mom’s house. She told Grif they leave in an hour for dinner, so get ready.

Grif checked the time and called home. Dad answered and asked Grif how everything was in LA. Grif told Dad about his movie interview, which Jerry set up. He told Dad it was supposed to be a cursory interview, but it turned into more, and he might get a call. Dad asked if Jerry was involved, and Grif said yes, but as a minor investor. He has no control over casting or the script. Then he told Dad about meeting Mom at the airport and clothing shopping. He laughed and said he wished he could have witnessed it.

They said goodnight, and Grif got ready for dinner. He met Jerry and Mom in the kitchen, and they went to the restaurant. It was in Beverly Hills, and they had valet parking. Grif asked if this was one of those restaurants serving small portions that looked better than they tasted. Jerry and Mom laughed and said No, it’s Italian, and you get plenty to eat. On the way to their table, Jerry and Mom said hello to almost a dozen people. Grif was introduced to several people, and they finally sat down.

The waiter took their order, and Mom explained that this was a business dinner. It is important for Jerry’s and my business to be seen and keep in touch with important people. Mom didn’t lie the portions were large and the food was excellent. The menu wasn’t priced, so he knew it was expensive. They finally left, and of course, they had to talk to several people leaving the restaurant.

On the way home, Grif asked how often they do this weekly. Jerry said once or twice a week, depending on what’s happening. When they arrived home, Grif said goodnight and went to his room. He inspected it thoroughly and found no cameras. He undressed, lay down, and fell asleep. It was past midnight at home, and he was tired from rising early and the trip. The tingling sensation started, and then he fell into a deep sleep.

During breakfast, Mom said she was going to the salon and told Grif he was going to the studio with Jerry. Grif said, “Damn, he was hoping to bond with his mommy and enjoy a mani-pedi with you. We could discuss grooming,” and Jerry and Mom burst out laughing. Mom said there was no way we were discussing grooming or getting a mani-pedi together, causing more laughter. Mom left for the salon, and Jerry and Grif went to Warner Bros. Studio.

When they arrived, Jerry arranged for Grif to take an executive tour of the studio while he worked in his office. The tour took almost three hours, and they had lunch in the canteen with the movie crews and actors. When the tour was done, Grif returned to Jerry’s office and heard him talking on the phone. He stood outside and listened to the conversation. Jerry was talking to Eric White, the producer of “Soaring Eagles Revenge.” Jerry said he had no control over Grif, and they had to speak to his father.

The call ended when Jerry told Eric to make a good offer and that they would probably hire an entertainment lawyer or agent to review it. So, don’t try any tricks if you want him in the movie. Jerry told Eric good luck and hung up. Grif walked around the building for ten minutes and returned to Jerry’s office. He finished his work, and they returned to Jerry’s house. On the way, Grif thanked Jerry for the tour and said seeing how movies were made was educational.

When they arrived, Mom had picked up dinner on the way home, so they ate an early dinner. Mom said we would leave at six for the premiere, so we needed to get ready soon. When they finished, Grif returned to his room and called home. When Dad answered, Grif told him about overhearing the conversation between Jerry and Eric White, the producer of “Flying Eagles Revenge.” Dad said it sounds like Jerry isn’t getting involved, and Grif agreed.

Dad said he would call his attorney and get a referral for an entertainment attorney. So, if they offer a contract, we’ll have someone to review it. Grif told Dad about offering to go to the salon with Mom for a mani-pedi and bonding, and they laughed. Grif said they were spending money like drunken sailors, so money isn’t a problem. Dad said he’s glad she’s spending Jerry’s money and not his, and they laughed again. Grif said he would call with his flight information tomorrow morning, and they said goodbye.

Grif showered, put on his tux, boots, and hat, and went to the kitchen. Mom saw him first, then Jerry, and they laughed. Jerry said, “You’ll be the talk of the premiere in that outfit.” That will only boost the movie’s exposure and your own simultaneously. The limo arrived and went to the premiere. Grif let Jerry and Mom exit first when their time came on the red carpet. When they passed the halfway point, he exited the limo, causing everyone to photograph him.

Once inside, Jerry and Mom introduced Grif to celebrities, producers, directors, actors, and influential people in the business. One lady approached them and asked Jerry and Ashley where they’d been keeping “This tall drink of water.” Everyone laughed, and Mom said, “Joanne, this is my son, Griffen.” Mom said, “Grif, this is Joanne Mosley, one of WME’s top acting agents.” Grif kissed her hand and said, “It’s a pleasure meeting you.” Joanne fanned her face and said Oh my, and a gentleman too, and everyone laughed.

Jerry and Mom moved on, and Joanne handed Grif her business card, told him to call her next week, and then left. He put her card in his wallet and followed Jerry and Mom. They mingled for twenty minutes, then the lights dimmed, and everyone entered the theater. Jerry had three seats reserved in the rear for them and sat and waited for the movie to begin.

The movie was called “The Murders on Grove Court.” It was a murder/mystery about twelve families on a cul-de-sac, and a single man on the street was murdered. Police interviewed everyone on the street, and they told different stories about the man. Then a couple was murdered, and the neighbors suspected each other. Two more murders happen, and people start moving away. An aerial view of the cul-de-sac shows vacant homes with overgrown lawns; only one house is well-kept.

It’s an old couple who bought the land and built their retirement home. There was only a dirt driveway to their home. Then, a developer purchased the remaining land and built houses around them, ruining their peace and solitude. In the end, the old man said, “See, mother, all we had to do was kill a few assholes.” Everyone left, and they laughed, sipping iced tea. The movie got a loud round of applause from the crowd, and it looked like Jerry had a hit.

They had to mingle, accepting congratulations for another thirty minutes until people started to leave. They waited until the exit line thinned, then exited together. All the cameras and video cameras were on them until they got into the limo. Once inside, Jerry said that was the greatest opening we’ve had yet. Mom said, “What do you think?” “Tall drink of water,” and everyone laughed. Grif said making movies would be ok, but he’d like to avoid all the other stuff. Jerry said Good luck with that now. You’ll be a hit at school, and Grif, oh shit, and everyone laughed.

When they arrived at their house, Grif said goodnight and went to his room. He took off the tux and put it into the garment bag. Then he lay down, thinking about what Jerry said about school. He could handle the students, but the problem would be with the opposing football team. Grif decided to talk to Dad about it when he got home and fell asleep. Then the tingling started, and he fell into a deep sleep.

On Sunday morning, he slept in, and after his shower, Grif packed and went to the kitchen. Jerry was cooking breakfast, and the Sunday LA Times was on the table. Jerry said we got great reviews for “The Murders on Grove Court.” He told Grif to check the entertainment section and saw a picture of him walking the red carpet. Grif said that’s not so bad, and Jerry said he should check the internet, the entertainment channels, or his hometown newspaper.

Grif said shit, he had better stock up on Sharpies and Chapstick, and they laughed. Jerry said kids can be cruel, so laugh and walk away. You’re a public figure now, and everything you do will be filmed by cell phones. You’ll be the bad guy if you get into a fight, so avoid it at all costs. It will blow over with time, but be careful. Mom came to the table in a robe without makeup, and Grif said a strange lady was in the house. Everyone laughed, and Mom said Watch it, buster.

After breakfast, Mom hugged Grif goodbye, and Grif thanked them for the invitation to the premiere, the tux, and the clothes. Jerry took him to the airport, and Grif thanked him for the interview and studio tour. They shook hands goodbye, and he checked his luggage and went through security. He was twenty minutes early, so he called Dad and gave him the flight number and approximate arrival time. He picked up an LA Times, and they boarded the plane. Three and a half hours later, they landed at DFW.

Dad welcomed Grif home with a hug at baggage claim before they went to the SUV. They stopped at the Whataburger drive-thru for dinner and then went home. They ate while watching Sunday night football, and Grif told Dad about the premiere. Then he told Dad about Joanne Mosley, one of WME’s top acting agents, giving him her business card and saying to call her this week. Dad said to call her on Monday and find out what she has in mind.

Grif didn’t pay attention to the game because he ate and talked to his dad. He told Dad about Jerry’s advice for school, and he said that was good advice. Dad warned that if it gets bad at school or during football, you may have to test out of school. This will be a test, and if you get a movie part, you’ll know how everyone will react. They finished dinner, said goodnight, and went to bed. Grif fell asleep, and the tingling sensation started, and he went into a deep sleep.

On Monday morning, Grif arrives at school for football practice. He gets teased about attending the premiere and wanting autographs. That stops once practice starts, and Coach Rolston yells at them for more effort. He says vacation is over and puts the team through an intense workout. Everyone is glad it is over, and Grif showered, dressed, and went to meet his friends.

Greg and Nick meet him at the entrance. They ask if they can have his autograph, and Grif says yes after you kiss my ass, and they laugh. They ask how he went to a movie premiere in LA, and Grif says his Mom’s new husband, Jerry Harper, was a movie producer. They invited him to his latest movie, “The Murders on Grove Court.” He got to tour Warner Bros. Studio and eat dinner in Beverly Hills.

Mom and Jerry live in Bel-Air, and it was a nice trip, but he’d never want to live there. The restaurant where they had dinner didn’t have prices on the menu. You’re judged by what you wear, where you live and eat, and what kind of car you drive. That lifestyle isn’t for me, and I’d rather be with normal people. So, kiss my ass, so I go to class, and everyone laughed.

When Grif arrived at first period, he sat in his normal seat at the back of the class. Hallie saw him and asked Grif for an autograph. He said, “Sure, but no skin or panties, per school rules. But off campus, there are no rules,” Hallie laughed. She asked how he got invited to the movie premiere, and Grif told her about his parents’ divorce over a year ago. His mom moved to LA and married a movie producer. They invited him to his latest movie, “The Murders on Grove Court.” Grif said, Let’s talk about where you want my autograph, and Hallie laughed and returned to her seat.

Grif waited until after school to call Joanne Mosley at WME. When she answered, Joanne asked how Grif enjoyed the spectacle Saturday night. Grif laughed and said it was all right, but he’d rather avoid it if possible. Joanne interviewed him like they did for the movie part and asked him what he wanted to do. Grif told her about the audition for the movie Soaring Eagles Revenge with Matt Clark, the director, Eric White, the producer, and Thomas Murray, the scriptwriter.

He told Joanne he was interested in acting in action, adventure, and suspense movies, but would prefer to avoid comedy and drama. Joanne said she doesn’t take unknown actors, but you’re an interesting young man. She said Let’s wait a week and see what happens with your audition. If they offer a contract, call her immediately. She’ll send our agent representation agreement for you and your dad to review and sign. In the meantime, Joanne said she would make discreet inquiries on the Soaring Eagles Revenge and look for suitable projects for you, and they said goodbye.

Grif changed into his sweats, went to the garage, and practiced martial arts on the heavy bag. After his trip, it felt good hitting it, and after an hour, he was soaked with sweat. He left his sweaty clothes in the laundry, showered, and picked the German language folder to study next. Grif completed three CDs when Dad arrived home with dinner. He dressed and went to the kitchen.

While they ate dinner, Dad said Eric White, the movie producer, had called, and they were sending a contract for us to review. Grif told him about calling Joanne and their conversation. Dad said that was good because she would know what was fair and should be in the contract. Then Dad asked how school was, and Grif said he was teased, but it wasn’t bad. Dad said if you get the part, we’ll have to decide on school.

They won’t let you take off a month or two for a movie. Then there’s the problem with your notoriety and the problem it will cause them and you. Grif said all he’s doing now is sitting in class and reading college e-books on courses he planned to take or test out of. Dad asked how many courses he took finals for last week, and Grif said ten. Dad said shit, you’ll have your BS before summer at that rate and Grif agreed. He said, Let’s see what happens with the film and then make a school decision.

They watched Monday night football after dinner, and Grif watched the defensive line players. The game was the New York Jets vs. the Buffalo Bills, and it was a blowout by halftime. The score was 24 to 3, with the Jets losing. They turned off the TV, said goodnight, and went to bed. Grif lay down and went to sleep. Then the tingling started, and he fell into a deep sleep.

Chapter 4

Grif arrived at school on Tuesday at 5:45 a.m. and dressed for practice. No one bothered or kidded me about the premiere, and we got down to business. The coach wasn’t happy with the offense’s production, so he rode them hard and instructed the defense to be the whip and spurs. Everyone was tired at the end of practice and headed to the showers.

After he had dressed, Grif met Greg and Nick at the school office. They asked how practice was, and Grif said the coach rode the offense and used the defense as the whip and spurs. Everyone was exhausted at the end, so have fun this afternoon. They flipped him the bird, and everyone laughed. They separated and went to their classes. Grif sat in his normal seat and saw Hallie rush in at the bell. Everyone clapped, and she bowed.

At lunch, Grif called Joanne Mosley at WME. He told her that Eric White, the producer of Soaring Eagles Revenge, called my Dad yesterday and said they were sending a contract for the part. Joanne said, “Great. Email me a copy immediately when you get it.” Also, review our representation agreement and send it back signed as soon as possible. She said her sources told her they were drooling over signing you. They think you’ll make the movie a hit, but don’t tell anyone. Then she said goodbye and hung up.

When he arrived home, Grif took the day off from martial arts. He thought he was burning too much fat, and three times a week with football was more than enough. Grif underdressed, turned on the computer, and checked his emails. The online college sent his test results, and he passed the ten finals. His lowest score was a 90, and the highest was a 99. Then he listened to three more German-language CDs. He sensed Dad was near, and that was something new. He put on sweats and went to the kitchen.

Dad arrived with dinner and two FedEx envelopes. While they ate, they read WME’s representation agreement. It was straightforward, so they signed it and put it into the return envelope. The acting contract was another matter entirely. Grif scanned it, emailed it to Joanne Mosley, and returned to the kitchen. Dad asked if he had any problems at school, and Grif said harassment and teasing had stopped. He said the real test will be the football game on Saturday, and Grif agreed.

After dinner, they watched Tombstone with Kurt Russell, Val Kilmer, Sam Elliott, and other stars. Grif watched the gunplay and shooting scenes. When the show was over, they said goodnight and went to bed. Grif fell asleep and fell into a deep sleep. Then a sharp pain radiated from his head to his toes, waking him up. He was sweaty, so he showered, changed the sheets, and returned to sleep.

When Grif arrived at school for football practice, he measured his height and weight. He grew one inch and gained five pounds, but it didn’t affect his clothes, as the jeans he exchanged were longer on purpose. Practice was interesting as he could tell what the offensive left tackle would do, and he didn’t read his mind. It was instinct, and Coach Rolston told Grif to stop rushing the passer so they could complete some plays. When it ended, everyone was happy and headed to the showers.

Greg and Nick met Grif at the front of the school and asked how practice was. Grif told them there had been no letup from yesterday, so they should be prepared. He thinks Coach Rolston wants to end the season winning. Greg said shit, it’s going to be a long two weeks and they laughed. Nick asked Grif when he was going back to LA. Grif said the divorce agreement says either Thanksgiving or Christmas if he’s invited. It may not happen, and he hopes it doesn’t. They said goodbye and took off for their classes.

Going to class, Grif was aware of everyone around him. He sensed someone running towards him from behind and stepped to the side quickly. The boy flew past him like he was trying to tackle him. The boy slid into the lockers with a bang and lay unconscious. Grif continued to class as a teacher was there and assisted the boy. When he took his seat, Grif hacked into the school’s CCTV system and copied today’s recording. He viewed the incident; the boy clearly tried to tackle him from behind, and he had a knife in his hand.

Grif copied the footage to his cloud account and exited the CCTV system. Then, he wondered why someone wanted to attack him. Hallie came to his desk and asked what had happened in the hallway. Grif said he didn’t know, but saw someone fly past him and hit the lockers. Hallie said that was Carl Plummer, the JV defensive end you replaced on the team. Grif said he never met him, and Coach Rolston told him he had a knee injury. Hallie told Grif to be careful and returned to her seat.

After the first period, Grif visited Ms. James, his guidance counselor. He told her what happened on the way to his first-period class and what Hallie told him. She went to the school IT tech, who copied the CCTV footage from this morning. Ms. James returned, and they viewed the event together. Grif asked for a copy in case accusations were made against him. She copied it onto a USB stick and gave it to Grif. She said he hadn’t done anything wrong, and Grif said Yeah, but all it takes is to be accused and left.

Out of caution, Grif called Dad and told him what had happened. Dad asked Grif to email him the CCTV footage, then call the police and let them investigate. Grif did that, and the police arrested Carl Plummer in the nurses’ office. They also recovered his knife from his pocket, which was an illegal weapon on campus. Then Grif went to see Coach Rolston and asked him about Carl Plummer. Coach asked why, and Grif said he tried stabbing me with a knife, going to the first period.

The coach said, “Oh my god,” and then told Grif Carl was upset you were playing his position. I told him it was just for the last few games of the season, but every position was open for the best player at summer tryouts and during the season. No one is guaranteed a position; they earn it and must perform to keep it. Grif told Coach Rolston that the police arrested Carl Plummer with the knife in his pocket and left his office. Grif returned to Ms. James’ office and asked her to arrange for him to test out of high school.

She asked why, and Grif said he senses a cover-up and isn’t going to take the risk of Carl Plummer succeeding next time. Ms. James said there is no way they will let Carl Plummer back in school, and Grif said, “Let’s wait and see.” She gave Grif a pass to take the rest of the day off, and he asked Ms. James to copy Carl Plummer’s school file. If there is a cover-up, someone will alter it so he can return to school.

Grif went home, called Dad, and told him what happened. He told him about Hallie’s warning and his feeling that there would be a cover-up. Dad said he’d call the attorney and get things started. He already sent him a copy of the video, so he’s ready. Dad said the school board and the principal aren’t going to like you much after this, and they laughed. Dad said he’d update him when he gets home, and they said goodbye.

He ate lunch, changed clothes, went to the garage, and practiced martial arts on the heavy bag. Grif lost track of time and was drenched in sweat when he finished. He stripped at the laundry, leaving his sweats, and guzzled two bottles of water in the kitchen. Then Grif went upstairs, showered, and turned on the computer. He listened to the final two German-language CDs. Then he searched the internet for Carl Plummer. Carl had a Facebook page, and it was a gold mine of information.

Carl’s Dad was Kenneth Plummer, President of the City Council and owner of the local Ford dealership. Grif needed to get Kenneth Plummer’s computer files and thought about how. Grif thought of an idea and opened a Hotmail account anonymously. Then he sent Kenneth an email warning him that an investigative reporter was targeting his dealership after multiple complaints of additional charges added to the sale price. Grif attached his worm and laughed while shutting his computer off.

He’d read an internet story about the car sales tactic and a state attorney general suing the dealership. Grif was sure the email would get Kenneth’s attention. Dad arrived home with dinner, so they ate at the kitchen table. He told Grif that his attorney, Mitch Renolds, filed a protective order for you requiring Carl Plummer to stay 500 feet away from you and our home. He also sent letters to the school board and the school to protect all video and records concerning Carl Plummer and notified them of our intent to sue.

Mitch recommended waiting to see what happens to Carl before proceeding. Grif told Dad what he had found online about Carl’s Dad, Kenneth Plummer. Dad said there would be an attempted cover-up for sure. Kenneth can’t afford to let this get out and hurt his standing in the community or car sales. He said he would call Mitch tomorrow and have him research what charges Carl will face. If he’s stonewalled or offered a plea deal, there’s a cover-up.

Grif told Dad about asking Ms. James to arrange for him to test out of school and to copy Carl’s school file to prevent tampering, and he said that was a good idea. Your safety will be at risk if Carl is allowed back in school. They finished dinner and watched Under Siege with Steven Seagal, Tommy Lee Jones, and Gary Busey. Grif memorized the fight scenes, and at the end, they said goodnight. Grif practiced the fight scenes for thirty minutes, then went to bed. When he fell asleep, the tingling started, and he fell into a deep sleep.

Early Thursday morning, Grif was dressing for football practice in the gym. Two offensive linemen slammed him into the locker and said to drop the charges against Carl Plummer. He had them down on the ground in seconds and said to tell Carl I will be seeing him soon. At the end of practice, Grif told Coach Rolston he was quitting the team. Two of Carl’s friends threatened me in the locker room this morning. He wished the coach good luck on the remaining games and left.

He could hear the coach yelling at the team as he walked down the hallway to the office. Ms. James saw Grif and gave him Carl Plummers’ school file. She said he was right about a cover-up. She saw Principal Holcomb pull Carl Plummer’s file after she copied it yesterday. The IT tech was also called into the principal’s office, so I scheduled your testing at North Texas Academy in Granbury on Monday at 9 a.m. That way, no one can change the results. Grif thanked Ms. James for her help, and he went to meet Greg and Nick.

They asked how practice went, and Grif said it was not good. Two of Carl Plummer’s friends threatened him in the locker room before practice, so he told Coach Rolston what had happened at the end of practice and quit the team. They said shit, the coach is going to be pissed, and Grif said he was yelling at the team when he left. But your team should be alright, and they laughed and went to their classes.

Grif sat in the back of the class, and Hallie came to his desk. She told Grif that Carl’s dad was influential, so he should be careful. Grif said his attorney was on top of it, but you should warn your dad. If he gets involved with the cover-up, it won’t be good. Hallie said shit and ran out of the class. Grif laughed, and that answered the question of whether the police were involved.

Hallie called her dad and said she spoke with Grif Barrett. He knows there’s a cover-up of Carl’s actions, and his attorney is aware, too. Grif said to warn you that if you get involved, it won’t be good. Hallie’s dad thanked her for the tip and said he had a message to call Kenneth Plummer. He told her not to worry and would call Kenneth and give him the bad news.

Don Beck Hallie’s dad called Kenneth Plummer and asked what he needed. Kenneth said Carl got into trouble again and needed the knife that was found on him to be misplaced. Don told Kenneth this was too big for a cover-up. The nurse, two officers, and several witnesses saw Carl with the knife in the nurse’s office. Then there’s the CCTV footage of his attack on a student. Don told Kenneth not to say to him anything he did illegally, or he would risk arrest. He wished Kenneth good luck and hung up.

Then Don called Ben Cline, the DA, and warned him not to agree to a plea deal on the Carl Plummer case. He was warned that people are watching this closely. So, if you like your job, go for the maximum sentence and stay above suspicion. Ben thanked Don for the tip because Kenneth Plummer had just left his office. He wanted the charges dropped to a misdemeanor assault with probation, and they said goodbye.

Grif signed out after lunch and went home. He called Dad and told him about getting Carl’s school file and telling the daughter of the chief of police about the suspected cover-up. Hallie, the police chief’s daughter, ran out of class to call her dad. Dad laughed and said, “You closed the door on Kenneth Plummer.” Then Grif told him about what happened at practice and his resignation from the team. Dad said, “You did the right thing.” They could hurt you on the field and claim it was an accident.

They said goodbye, and he checked his cloud account. Kenneth Plummer’s computer files were there, and I examined them. Ken was married, and he also had an office girlfriend. There were several photos of them in his office engaging in sex and a few videos taken in a hotel room. Grif copied two pictures and a video and sent them to Ken’s wife, Pam, using his anonymous Hotmail account. That should help Kenneth take his focus away from Carl and him.

Then Grif started the Chinese language program. He completed six CDs before Dad arrived home with dinner. While they ate, he told Dad about Ms. James arranging for him to test out of high school at North Texas Academy in Granbury on Monday at 9 a.m. She said that way, no one could change the results. Dad said we must buy her flowers to thank her for her help. Grif said You know she’s single and cute. Dad laughed and asked if he was trying to set him up with a date. Grif said yes, and he should include an offer for dinner with the flowers, and they laughed.