by Jason Zandri
Liz said.
“What if I change? What happens if I’m not used to her being gone, and do something stupid?” Matthew asked.
Liz smiled and stepped away. “That would be delicious.”
“How so?”
“Because if you pull a stunt like that, I’ll be waiting to take advantage.” Liz smiled and waved. She called out while moving toward the cars, “See you in a bit.”
Matthew walked over to Melissa and threw an arm around her. The two of them moved over to Patti, Lesley, and Tim, and they watched as Michael walked over.
“That was an awesome speech, man,” Tim said while he shook his hand and bumped his shoulder.
“The circle is finished, high school is done, and this is the last graduation,” Matthew said.
“So?” Michael asked. “We have about six weeks before critical decisions need to be taken regarding getting off to our respective colleges …
those of us going. What do we do in the meantime?”
“Glad you asked,” Matthew said. “Get your car and follow us.”
***
The sun dropped behind the large smoke stack at the Pierce Plant, and the gang ran about the front lawn in their pick-up-touch football game.
Between downs, Matthew looked at the station and up to the second-floor landing. A second-shift maintenance technician looked down from the windows, and Matthew motioned away from the lawn in a signal to leave.
The tech shook his head ‘no’ and pulled his chair forward, picked up his lunch pail, and continued to watch the neighborhood game.
Sides were set, and the ball snapped, Matthew grabbed it, and called out with a smile, “Go long.” And then threw it as far downfield as he could.
***
The gang returns for the next chapter in their lives in
“As Life Goes: The Reunion” – (expected April 2016)
ABOUT JASON ZANDRI
Jason has been working in the information technology field in one form or the other since 1996. He is currently employed full time at Bloomberg LP as a Systems Engineer in the R&D group. Jason lives in Wallingford Connecticut, with his wife Renata. He is the father to four children, three boys and one girl—11 years (Andrew), 9 years (Angela), 7 years (Adam), and 6 years old (Alex).
Social Media links
Twitter – @GUNDERSTONE https://twitter.com/gunderstone/
Facebook Author page – https://www.facebook.com/jzandri
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonzandri
Google+ – https://plus.google.com/+JasonZandri/
Author blog – The GUNDERSTONE Review
https://gunderstone.wordpress.com/
Books and links
Before Another Sunset (The Sunset Series Book 1)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00T11GKYE
Another Sunset (The Sunset Series Book 2)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QD2FQU8/
I Hero: The Beginning
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00Y3LA41M/
I Hero: Nathan Returns
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B011AOPE64
I Hero: Phases (Expected first half 2016)
I Hero: The Storm (Expected second half 2016)
I Hero: Untitled Book 5 (Expected first half 2017)
As Life Goes: Elementary
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ZXVB7SK/
As Life Goes: The End of the Innocence
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B017TBSD42/
As Life Goes: The Reunion – (expected April 2016) As Life Goes: The Wedding (expected July 2016)
As Life Goes: The Funeral (expected October 2016)
Another Sunset
David Stephenson is a kind drifter who comes to settle in the small Texas town of Westville. His sense, empathy, and awareness are well received by the residents of the failing town as they welcome and befriend him. During his stay he helps a small local girl try to realize her dream and while doing so excites and energizes the whole town to help out. Lives change as fate takes a critical turn. The local would-be reporter, tasked by David’s longtime friend, takes off on a mission to unravel the mystery of his travels, where he came from, and discovers why he is on his journey.
Another Sunset Reviews – (see all on Amazon.com)
- http://amzn.to/1RHrdES
“The author has a nice way of weaving together a touching story that definitely tugged at those heartstrings”
http://www.amazon.com/review/RE23H0HC4YBXY/
“Endearing characters, well-paced dialogue, and valuable lessons...all the components of fantastic book”
http://www.amazon.com/review/R3KETK9GVPLVIV
“Instead of the fast pace of stories that tell too much, too soon, Another Sunset moved its pace along with detail that helped really form its characters.
It gave plenty of time to delve into the story and not be able to fully discern where the story was going (which I like - I don't like to be able to script out what's going to happen! Surprise me!)”
http://www.amazon.com/review/R3DJBKJG5DVFM1/
I, Hero – The Beginning
The story that started it all
An everyday man, living less than ordinary life in New York City, simply makes his way about his work life and one at home. A kind heart and an empathetic soul, who tended to think of others before he thought of himself.
With his childhood totally left behind and gone with the final resting of his father, Nathan has come to terms with his past as he forges his life in the present, unaware of what lies ahead.
An unlikely friendship, a random act of violence, a budding romance, all part of a life changed.
“When it’s your time, there’s nothing you can do to change that outcome. The only thing you can do is meet it head on. You have to hope that the life you had with others, while you were here, has made a positive impact.” – Brian Devron
“Where there is darkness, you are light. Where others know fear, you will be brave. When there are setbacks, you will persevere. Where others find weakness, you bring strength. Where there is despair, you are hope. Where cowardice falls, you rise courageously. Where others do not have the ability to believe, you have faith. You will suffer, so that others will endure. You will triumph where others would fall." - Cici Johnson
“This is it; it all changes tonight. Anything I do tonight, at a minimum, is going to at least expose all of this to the world." - Nathan Devron.
I, Hero: The Beginning – Order on Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00Y3LA41M/
“I, Hero – The Beginning” – Excerpt I
http://bit.ly/1MKrwsF
“I, Hero – The Beginning” – Excerpt II
http://bit.ly/1CCp4Sl
“I, Hero – The Beginning” – Excerpt III
http://bit.ly/1HlZEYo
“I, Hero – The Beginning” – Excerpt IV
http://bit.ly/1CwNg3l
All my free excerpts from my books can be found on my blog via
https://gunderstone.wordpress.com/category/excerpt/
About I, Hero – Nathan Returns
Nathan is back in New York City; the place where it all started, nearly one year later. While he has been away, he has been establishing a base of
operations and trying to follow the direction his life has taken – making a difference and answering the call for help where and when he is needed.
He has returned to this birthplace of his powers with more questions of why he is on the path he is on and what is expected of him.
During a dangerous rescue, his powers dissipate, and leave him critically vulnerable.
He connects back with old friends who help him rediscover the man he used to be to in order to help him be the man he has become and the man who he must be.
Magical forces come into play, pulling on nature itself, which introduces an unexpected challenge to Nathan while he is at this perilous juncture.
The pendulum swings even farther out of alignment; it is up to Nathan to respond befor
e forces are set into motion that cannot be countered.
I, Hero: Nathan Returns – Order on Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B011AOPE64/
I, Hero: Nathan Returns – Excerpt I
http://bit.ly/1PKdbiD
I, Hero: Nathan Returns – Excerpt II
http://bit.ly/1j3gXqy
All my free excerpts from my books can be found on my blog via
https://gunderstone.wordpress.com/category/excerpt/
As Life Goes: Elementary
“Every new beginning starts from nothing. Understanding that you can have everything in the love of one person, isn’t that worth the risk of personal capital? Isn’t that kind of love worth it?” – Diane Wakeford
“Have I ever told you, you’re the nicest boy I’ve ever met?” – Melissa Bancroft
“I will have the friends I want. I don’t care what boy likes me or what boy I like. You’re an awesome friend. I am not giving you up because we’re going to different schools or for any one person either.” –
Elizabeth Wellsworth
Mark Sanford returns to his hometown with his son Matthew in tow to rebuild their lives. Recently divorced, and with the mother totally abandoning her parental responsibilities, both father and son are beginning their fresh start together.
Matthew begins to make new friends in the neighborhood and at school while he tries to find his place among people that have been friends with one another for years at elementary school.
Mark takes over the reins of the former family corner store with the help of a young woman looking for work. The ability to love and trust that woman entering his life is difficult for him because of all he has lost. For Matthew, that “first love” is difficult to understand without a motherly influence and with a father that has been deeply hurt.
As Life Goes: Elementary
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ZXVB7SK/
(BOOK ONE of the As Life Goes series) – Links to
Excerpts
As Life Goes: Elementary – Excerpt I
https://gunderstone.wordpress.com/2015/07/07/as-life-goes-elementary-excerpt-i/
As Life Goes: Elementary – Excerpt II
https://gunderstone.wordpress.com/2015/07/09/as-life-goes-elementary-excerpt-ii/
As Life Goes: Elementary – Excerpt III
https://gunderstone.wordpress.com/2015/07/13/as-life-goes-elementary-excerpt-iii-author-jason-
zandri/
All my free excerpts from my books can be found on my blog via
https://gunderstone.wordpress.com/category/excerpt/
As Life Goes: Elementary – Links to Reviews
FIVE STARS - A refreshing read – touching and very inspiring!
http://www.amazon.com/review/R2585J9HGG45TQ/
FIVE STARS - Touching and very relevant
http://www.amazon.com/review/R30MV63ZF0VILI/
As Life Goes: The End of the Innocence
“You have to let things happen and be there for the ones you care about.
When they slip, you try to catch them to break their fall. You can’t always be there for everyone; when you’re not and if they should fall, you help them back up.” – Matthew Sanford.
“Now and for the rest of my life, I want to spend the time trying to make you as happy as you’ve made me.”
“There’s no way to know all things with absolute certainty. If you want to love that much, if you want the chance to be Matthew’s entire world, and have him be yours, you’re going to have to risk everything.” – Diane Wakeford.
The one constant in the universe is change.
Matthew, Tim, Melissa, Liz and the gang come to the end of their youth as
they turn eighteen and prepare to leave high school.
Old friends and new come together as their lives shift from the moment they are in to the future that is coming at them.
One love is discovered and then lost. Another is never fully revealed. Others are put forward to stand against the tests of life, time, and circumstance.
At a time of letting go, they do their best to hang on, realizing that yesterday is gone and what they have to look forward to is everything that tomorrow offers.
As Life Goes: The End of the Innocence
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B017TBSD42/
(BOOK TWO of the As Life Goes series) – Links to Excerpts
As Life Goes: The End of the Innocence – Excerpt I
http://bit.ly/1knbsVe
As Life Goes: The End of the Innocence – Excerpt II
http://bit.ly/1MycCaG
As Life Goes: The End of the Innocence – Excerpt III
http://bit.ly/1M4duT0
Document Outline
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
CHAPTER THITRY
