DarylMac

I had a conversation with a young relative of mine last week, he was telling me about rock bands and sports stars and professional wrestlers etc. He told me how much he'd like to be like those people when he grew up. He's coming up for 13 now and that's a very awkward time. I could sense he was giving a lot of thought to what his future would be like and what kind of person he would be. 2 days ago, while listening to one of my blues albums, I thought about him and where he would be 10 years from now, then I remembered what I was like at that age and how excited I was about growing up and how I used to wonder what I might be like; thats when this idea for a story came to me.

It's not even close to ready yet, I've written down a page or so but it's very basic so far, I haven't begun to explore the protagonist's real feelings or anything yet. It's the very first short story I've ever attempted and I wondered if anyone might have any suggestions for me. My protagonist is a 13 year old and I want to add a romantic interest in there as well as some conflict with an antagonist of the same age.

I was listening to blues when I wrote this so the background might seem very...South American, I guess, but I have no knowledge of America at all since I live in Scotland and have only visited America 3 times, so I decided to set it in a fictional town called Ocas Blue. I apologize if this offends anyone, please keep in mind that it's all made up, all of this is completely fictional, I added in some Scottish dialogue as well as some others.

Lastly, this is my VERY FIRST attempt at a short story! So please don't be too harsh. I'm not saying this is gold, and I'm not being intentionally ignorant even if it seems that way. I'm well aware that writing is 10% inspiration 90% perspiration but my writing skills are highly undeveloped at this point in my life and I'm learning as I write. So read this, please, and suggestions are welcome. Thanks.

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They called him BlackJack. No-one was sure why. He rode from town to town on the backs of trucks and said very little. This was because his actions spoke for him.

BlackJack never came to a town twice, or so it was said. You might see him once, with his blazing blue eyes staring through to your soul, but you’d never see him again.

BlackJack came to a town and he took it by storm, when he left, the whole population had his name on their tongues for a good few weeks then he’d be seen at the next town and the same procedure would be repeated.

Johnny had never seen BlackJack but had heard plenty about him. His friends told him all about BlackJack, although he wasn’t too sure how they knew since he’d never visited Johnny’s town yet.

Soon that was going to change.

‘James Brelin told me he’s gonna be here in a few days! We can see him and everything!’ Simon told him that day in the courtyard.

‘Yeah? And he’s gonna laugh at you, he is’ Johnny had retorted dismissively, ‘BlackJack ain’t gonna come to Ocas Blue, man, he’s way too cool for this place, what’s Brelin thinkin’ man?’

‘His pa told him so, says he knows someone who knows somethin’ bout it’ Simon responded. Johnny sneered again.

But BlackJack was coming. Johnny knew this because his pa told him so later that night.

‘Ye boy, he’s a comin’ here so’s he is’ Teddy Blake told his son, ‘Heard a word that he’s over yonder already’; he said nodding his head towards the old mill. Johnny was awestruck.

‘Oh man! He’s really here pa? You sure bout it?’ he said excitedly. Teddy laughed in his relaxing chair. He was a stocky man with graying hair, though he often told his son it used to be jet black in his youth. He was never one to shy away from tough work when it needed done and he’d been supporting his family since he was 19.

‘Ye son’, Teddy said ‘sure as all hell bout it, he’s here alright. I’d bet my last coin to it, he’s here. They say he likes to lay down a little before he comes out at first dawn and well, we’ll see what happens then, won’t we?’

‘What does he do pa? Reggy told me he comes around and whips the heads offa people who he doesn’t like, issat true?’ Johnny asked, wide eyed. Teddy laughed and patted his sons head.

‘Nah boy, wee Reggy’s gotta helluva imagination. Truth be told, m’boy, I’m not so sure what it is he really does. Folks in the other towns they talk bout him sure enough but they don’t like tellin’ others much bout him. Was in Fort Veneres once a few years back and they told me he plays the most amazin’ blues you ever did see. Fine as a summer’s day it is, they say, captivating. Well son, I sure hope BlackJack’s gone be comin’ out with those blues come sun up coz I’d like to hear that myself’. Teddy’s eyes glazed over slightly. Johnny looked out at the old mill. He desperately wanted to go there but he knew he’d never get the chance to get out.

‘Son, you’d better be off to bed now, you hear?

‘Aw pa! I wanna see BlackJack! Can I pa?’

‘Son, I’ve a feeling you’ll be seeing BlackJack soon, now you go on an get to bed, you best be helping me with the yard in the morning’ Teddy said, Johnny thought about begging some more but decided it wasn’t worth it, his pa didn’t like it when he disobeyed orders.

Fi-i-i-ne’, he sighed, ‘I’m away to bed, see ya in the morning, pa’ he said as he walked to his room.

Teddy watched his son walk away and sighed to himself a little. Boy, you gonna learn bout BlackJack soon enough. I just wish you had a few more years ‘fore it happened.



Johnny woke up early that day to help his pa do the yard work. He got his work done just fine but all he thought about was BlackJack the whole day. He kept looking at the old mill as the day passed and wondered if he’d get to see the man that day.

Well that whole day passed and BlackJack never showed once. Johnny was disappointed. He rode into town to see his friends Simon, James, and Shaun. They’d waited at the park for hours.

‘Where the hell is BlackJack?’ James asked.

‘You even sho’ BlackJack’s in Ocas Blue? Might be some prank yon older folks playin ‘gainst us’ Shaun suggested. James waved away that suggestion.

‘Who you tryin’ to fool? BlackJack’s in Ocas Blue man, I been tellin ya for a while now, he’s here and he’s gonna show. He’s gotta show!’

Johnny was quiet. He desperately wanted BlackJack to show. He’d heard so many stories about him. To Johnny he sounded like a hero and a villain, strong and weak, brave and cowardly. He wasn’t sure what to believe because they were so many stories about him.

‘Hey, what if he’s not even real. You think maybe the folks been pullin our leg?’ Simon said. James, Shaun, and Johnny all looked at him. James spoke first.

‘You’re a big kinda stupid, you know that? What’d the folks wanna lie about him for? And ‘sides, I know people who seen him!’ he said smugly. The rest of them gaped at him.

‘You jokin man? You know someone seen BlackJack? Oh man, what’d they say bout him? What’s he like? Shaun said. James shook his head.

‘Man I didn’t say I seen him now did I? No, I did not. I said I know someone who knows someone who seen him over in Kelvindale’.

‘You liar! First you said you know someone, then it’s you know someone who knows someone, you’re full of it.’ Simon said. James turned red and punched Simon in the arm. Simon let out a howl and rubbed his arm tenderly.

‘I ain’t a liar, you sonofabitch, I’m tellin’ the truth’, he turned to Shaun, ‘you know Petey Walker?’ Shaun nodded, ‘Well Petey’s cousin up in Kelvindale seen him, so there!’ he said triumphantly.

Johnny considered telling him Teddy Blake had spoken to some fellows in Fort Veneres then stopped himself. James didn’t like it when people challenged him. Johnny thought it was best to forget it and say nothing.

'Man, I'm going. This ain't no fun waiting for stupid BlackJack to show up. Dunno if he's even real' Simon said as he stood up. The other boys decided to follow him but Johnny stayed in the park.