Something Fishy Going on is in the publication queue.
It's been a few months since Summertime and the Living is Easy finished up so here are a few refreshers.
Jack Pierce - 16. Attends Porter-Gaud, a private college prep school. Typical SAT scores are more than 300 points higher than national average. Tuition last year was $30K.
Christie Pierce - Jack's mom. Married twice. She divorced Victor Strzok when Jack was little. Married Ronnie Pierce, who provided for the family financially, but spent little time with them. He died young. Christie is engaged to Dane Edris
Dane - Yankee. Cardio pulmonary surgeon at MUSC. Moved south to Charleston a couple of years ago.
Franklin Pierce - Jack's brother - older by 10 years and recently married to Karen.
Sally Hinkleman - Jack's first love. Her father moved the family to Nashville. This didn't go over well with Sally or Jack.
Kim McTighe - Jack's second girlfriend. 16, and a junior at Porter-Gaud. She's perfect. You can ask anyone.
Pat and Mary McTighe - Kim's grandparents. Kim's biological parents and older sister died in a car crash. Her grandparents have been raising her.
Veronica - Christie Pierce's best friend. Recently went through a divorce. She is perhaps the most complex personality in all of this.
Melanie Middleton - Kim's best friend and fellow cheerleader.
Bobby Claire - Jack's friend and fellow swimmer.
Lori Newsome, Lisa, Allie, and Annie are fellow cheerleaders.
Vince Delinger - Porter-Gaud graduate and former QB.
Doctor Hank Legare - Dane's good friend, orthopedic surgeon and a bit of a health guru.
Coach Miller - Swim coach
Coach Hamilton – Baseball Coach
This is not a typical cast of characters. The friends and neighbors are affluent and Porter-Gaud is very definitely an elite school with highly motivated students. The standards are very high. Within that environment, someone rises to the top. I understand that this environment is very unusual for some readers to get their arms around. It is, however, very real. To put things in perspective, tuition at Porter-Gaud is currently right at $30,000. GPAs and SAT scores are high, as is the motivation and expectations.
Over the summer, Jack worked with Hector’s crews to earn the money for an engagement ring for Kim. Kim, Jack, Christie, and Veronic spent an interesting vacation in Puerto Rico followed by Jack popping the big question.
I hope this helps those who've read the first story get back on track. For those that haven't, this will not be enough to bring you up to speed.