Ghost Town Chapter 1

The alarm went off slicing through the silence like a knife through warm butter.  Booger quickly jumped up and shut the beeping sound off.  He sat on the edge of his bed and began to rub his eyes.

 He immediately thought of one thing.  The only way he was going to survive this Monday morning was with breakfast.  He could taste the simmering eggs and that tall glass of milk!  Ah...How he loved food!

 Booger quickly through on some clothes on his body and ran down to the kitchen.  He whipped up a batch of his marvelous eggs and sat down.  He actually was a very good cook.

 After he had finished his meal, he went out to wait for the bus.  When the bus got there, it was around 7:30 and he quickly hopped on.  During the bus ride, he teased Kim McDermott a few times and knocked a few heads together.  Finally, the bus reached its destination, Woodlawn High School.

 The day was just like any other day, a few stabbings, fights, and killings at Jim's, Jeremy Mays got an A+ on his science test, and the usual other boring stuff.  Before Booger knew it, it was 7th Period...World History time!

 Mr. Morris gave out the same boring sheets as everyone sat down to work.  Something odd was going on with Mr. Morris.  The whole class noticed it too.  He seemed strangely happy for some reason.

 Soon, the bell rang and everyone got up to go home.  Mr. Morris motioned everyone to sit back down.  He then spoke.  "I need to see these people...Mark, Kim Langa, Kim McDermott, Natalie, Sheila, Jeremy, Charity, Chris, Matt, Booger, and Michael."

 Everyone else bolted out of the door.  As soon as the last of the other students had disappeared, Morris spoke again.  "You guys aren't in any trouble so lighten up."

 The eleven became relieved to hear this.  "What are we here for then?"  Booger asked.

 "Well, Bryan,"  Bryan Phelps was Booger's real name, "I'm going to take you guys on a field trip.  We will be gone about a week."

 Everyone broke out into side conversations.  Mr. Morris quickly quieted them down so he could finish.

 "We are going to do some historical research at an old ghost town in Texas.  We will be gone about a week.  It will be school related and reports will have to be turned in."

 "Of course he has to ruin it with homework," Chris Edwards quipped.

 "So why did you pick us?"  Matt Hails asked curiously.

 "I picked you eleven because I trust you and know you will work for the information.  Well, maybe most of you,"  Mr. Morris gave a quick head nod to Chris.

 "When do we leave?"  Natalie Tinsley asked.

 "Actually tonight.  I have already cleared everything with your families.  You need to be here in my classroom at 7:00 sharp."  Mr. Morris motioned for them to leave.

 "This is going to be a blast!" Kim McDermott said as she walked out of the door.

 "Don't forget to bring some of your music, Mark!"  Jeremy yelled.

 "I'll bring my machine, but someone needs to bring the tapes!"  Mark Fuller said.

 "Ah, a week vacation from school!"  Michael exclaimed as he started towards the door.

 Little did this group know that they were going to encounter the most horrible weekend of their lives...

TOTD

Still one of the most powerful Van Halen songs EVER!

SOTD - If I Didn't Have You

This life would kill me if I didn't have you...MH

SOTD - Hey Pretty Girl

You can bet you make this ol' boys day...MH

SOTD - Changed

I know it's been awhile since I've posted a new SOTD, but this song had to be done.



MH

Twenty-five Years in the Making

There comes a time in our lives, that fate and destiny step in. They take over. This was such the case in August of 1988. I remember sitting at a desk, at Woodlawn High School in Woodlawn, Illinois, staring down at a blank sheet of paper. All sorts of people were around me. Some I knew, some I had yet to get to know. I sat there and wondered. Questioned. What if... I then chose to put pen to paper. Using my fellow classmates around me as characters, I plotted a story. A story that gave me a place and a purpose as a lonely high school freshman. A story that gave birth to four additional tales in the same time and world. A story that changed my life as it proved to me that I could do something powerful... I could WRITE! As this year is the 25th Anniversary of this novel, I have decided to share with you this masterpiece. Is it perfect? No. This tale is being transcribed just as it was written 25 years ago from the perspective and the mind of a fourteen year old boy. Does that make it any less fantastic? Not to me... Those of you who were a part of the original journey 25 years ago, I hope you take the time to enjoy the nostalgic atmosphere that this hopefully creates for you. I loved this story then, and I love it now. Not just for the exciting plot, but for the characters that I loved...Who in actuality were the people that I loved during that time and still do to this day. So watch for the chapters ahead. Watch for the historical walk down memory lane. Watch for the cheesefest that only the mind of a fourteen year old boy can create. Watch for... GHOST TOWN! Actual photos of the original document:

She Ain't Metallica!

Tonight my daughter and my wife are seeing Taylor Swift in concert at the Scott Trade Center in St. Louis.  This reminds me of the time JMH was at the Trade Center with Metallica!  This isn't our video, but it does show some of the concert footage we were a part of.  Look closely...You just might see JMH in action!