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Jo Fulkerson
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87 years old

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The TEENAGE WARS

The TEENAGE WARS tells a story ripped from the front pages of newspapers all around the world – teenagers’ lives being challenged by drug dealers who prey on young people. A high school senior takes it upon himself to fight back when teen dealers target his younger, special needs brother. Before long, other teen friends join his campaign and together they devise a plan to fight back. This is a most unique story, compellingly told. It not only entertains the reader, it also offers insight and hope to young readers.

The Teenage Wars is now available at

AMAZON:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KEEZ6TC

BARNES & NOBLE:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1119561742?ean=2940149525935&itm=1&usri=2940149525935

Or from my publisher,

http://www.booklocker.com/

Excerpt from The Teenage Wars

CHAPTER 1

I remember how it all started. It was the night of the big football game. That’s when Teddy got dragged into all of this. It was the night when Dos Pintos High School won the championship. Only problem was, Teddy and Kelly and I didn’t get to see it. We all went to the game, but we had to leave before it even started. And all because of that punk, Leo.

Actually, I guess it really all started when Teddy and I were little. Teddy had an accident. He was two and I was five. We were taking a bath before we went to bed. Mom had left us to go get Teddy’s pajamas. He forgot them as usual. I got out of the tub to dry off. That’s when Teddy started getting cute. He splashed water on me.

“Teddy, cut that out,” I yelled. “I’m gonna tell Mom.”

Teddy made a face at me, and then reached down to pick up the floating wash cloth. I took my towel and flipped him with it. Somehow he lost his balance. He fell face down in the water.

“Come on, Teddy. Don’t kid around. Get out of the tub.” I waited. Teddy didn’t move. I panicked. I grabbed his arm and pulled. “MOM! HELP Teddy’s in trouble.”

Mom raced into the bathroom. She pulled Teddy out of the water. “Go call 911 like I’ve shown you before,” she said to me as she began breathing into Teddy’s mouth. Then she started pumping his chest. I ran to the phone and called 911. When I got back, Teddy was awake. But he was acting funny. Mom looked really upset about something. I thought she was mad at me for letting Teddy get hurt.

The paramedics got there really fast and they checked Teddy over. They said he should go to the hospital to spend the night and be sure he was going to be all right. At the hospital, they checked Teddy some more. They finally came and told Mom that he must have hit his head when he fell because he had a concussion. I knew I must have caused it when I flipped him with my towel. Mom tried to tell me it was her fault for leaving us alone, but I knew better. she wasn’t gone that long. Anyway, I’ve been looking out for Teddy ever since. I try to make up for what happened to him. I found out later that he had been under water long enough and had not breathed long enough to cause some brain damage.

When we got to the game, the bleachers were almost full. Everyone wanted to see the Mustangs win their first ever championship. Kelly, my girlfriend, got there late.

“I want to see the team come on the field,” Teddy said when we got there. He always wanted to do that.

"Sure, Teddy. We’ll just wait right here and watch for them.” I watched as Teddy looked for the team. He was so excited. He loved the legend of Dos Pintos a lot. He used to have Mom or me tell him the Indian legend over and over again. It told of a family in early times. Two children in the family got sick and died. There was a herd of wild mustangs that lived nearby. No one had ever tamed or gotten near them. After the children died, two young colts separated from the herd and stayed near the family’s farm. The Mescalero Apache Indians said that the spirits of the children had gone to rest in the two paint colts, and that was why the colts stayed to be clear to the family. Spanish soldiers eventually dubbed the farm “Dos Pintos”, which means “two ponies”. Later, when a town got started, settlers began to call it Dos Pintos. Teddy always loved that story.

“Hey, Michael. There’s Kelly over there.” He had taken his eyes off the field long enough to see Kelly near the refreshment stand. He waved to her and yelled for her to come on over.

And then a muffled neighing sound floated on the breeze. I thought it was my imagination at first, but I saw that funny look come onto Teddy’s face, so I knew he had heard it, too. Sounded like it came from the mountains. I knew something off the wall was probably coming from Teddy.

“Michael, did Dad like football?”

"Yeah, he probably did. But that wasn’t . . .”

"I’m just asking. I think about him sometimes. Do you ever think about him, Michael?"”

I don’t even know if Teddy really remembers Dad. "Yeah, I do." But I guess if it makes life a little easier for Teddy to imagine his dad watching over him through the eyes of a horse, what’s the harm? That’s the way things are with Teddy. And I still feel the blame.

“Anyone hungry?” I asked, glad to change the subject. “Let’s go get a hot dog and drink.” Kelly and I started toward the snack stand. I noticed Teddy wasn’t following. “You, too, Bud. Come on.”

“I wanna see the team come out.”

“Hey, Teddy.” Raymond Garcia, probably the only real friend Teddy had, ran up to Teddy. Teddy broke into a grin and gave Raymond a light jab.

“Hiya, Raymond,” I said. I decided Teddy could stay and watch for the team as long as Raymond was with him. “Okay, Teddy, we’ll be right back. You stay right here, okay? Wait right here for us, okay?”

Teddy nodded and turned his attention back to the football field. Kelly and I hurried over to the snack stand. I kept looking back to check on Teddy. He and Raymond were talking and laughing together. We got some hot dogs and drinks. When I turned back to look for Teddy, he wasn’t there. I looked all around, began running and finally saw him being led away from the crowd by the assistant principal, Mr. Martinez. “Oh, God, what’s Teddy done now?” I mumbled. I ran in their direction as fast as I could. Kelly followed me, carrying the food and drinks. I heard Teddy yelling for me. Out of breath, I finally caught up with them.

“This is your brother?” Mr. Martinez asked me.

“Yes, he’s my brother. Why are you dragging him off like this?

"I'm sorry, Michael. But I saw him handing off a plastic bag to an older boy. You know I have to ask him some questions in a case like this. He reached out to Teddy but Teddy backed away. “I’m sorry if I scared you, son.”

“Okay, wait a minute,” I said. “Let’s start at the beginning. Teddy, did you give something to someone?”

“No, Michael,” he said. He didn’t sound convincing.

“Teddy, think. Tell me everything exactly as it happened.”

"I was watching for the team to come out. A guy said he had something for me. He put a plastic bag in my hand.” Teddy stopped and kind of hung his head. He looked at me for help and I nodded my head for him to go on. “He asked me if I wanted to buy it. I didn’t have any money. I gave it back to him. ”

“Who was this other kid?” I demanded. “Why isn’t he here, too?”

“He told me his name was Leo,” Teddy jumped in. “He said he knew you, Michael.”

”Yeah, I know who that creep is.” I’d heard about him selling drugs to kids. My friend, Carlos, said Leo had sold something to his little brother. Carlos beat Leo up pretty good for that. “Teddy, if you ever see him again, you run away from him, okay?”

“Okay, Michael.”

“I mean it, Teddy. You stay clear away from him.”

“I will, Michael. Don’t be mad at me.”

I hugged Teddy, knowing my voice would crack if I said anything. But I still wanted to know why Leo wasn’t being questioned like Teddy was. Before I could say anything, Mr. Martinez told Teddy to turn his pockets inside out. Teddy looked at me, scared. But he did what Mr. Martinez asked. Of course there was nothing in them. So I figured the matter was done with. But Mr. Martinez put Teddy on two weeks On Campus Suspension. I blew up at that.

“You gotta be kidding,” I yelled. I was so mad. “How’s that fair? You let Leo go and give Teddy OCS.”

“I’m sorry, Michael. But Teddy was seen handing the bag to Leo. So we have no choice but to treat this as suspicion of dealing.”

“That’s nuts. Just plain stupid. You heard Teddy tell you what happened. And you didn’t even question Leo.” And then it hit me. Teddy’s suspension was going to mess up everything for me, too. “You can’t do that, Mr. Martinez. You can’t do it.”

“I’m sorry, Michael. It’s nothing personal. It’s school policy.”

"Yeah, well it’s my policy to take care of my little brother. I have to watch after him after school. Our mom has a job to go to. She can’t stay home for two weeks. We need the money. So I have to skip basketball practice for two weeks. Coach isn’t going to like that. And I’m not going to tell him – you are.” I don’t usually talk to grown-ups like that. Mom would have my head if she heard me.

I put my arm around Teddy’s shoulders and we left. Kelly had thrown our food and drinks in the trash nearby. No one was hungry any more. I think I saw Mr. Martinez’s mouth fall half way to the ground. But I didn’t care. This just wasn’t fair to Teddy. And it wasn’t fair to me, either. So we left. And that night the Dos Pintos Mustangs became the class AAA champions. But among the three of us, Teddy was the only one who really cared.

The three of us walked around down town for awhile. We didn’t talk much. Except for Teddy. He was still hyped over the game and having to leave before it even started. I tried to explain that he hadn’t done anything wrong but I don’t think he really understood. I told him it was really Leo’s fault. But he couldn’t figure out why Leo didn’t get in trouble, too. Neither could I. But I’m going to see to it that Leo gets his some day..

Mom is going to be so mad when Teddy and I tell her what happened. Teddy finally went to sleep but I lay awake for awhile. I kept thinking about Leo and him trying to sell Teddy who knew what. Someone had to do something about all the Leos out there.

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