What is your story, Skillet?

I’m a black friend of our hero Aaron, with whom I saved the rabbits under his gramma’s porch in 1958.

The story opens in 1996 in Atlanta.

“Aaron and I grew up in the Deep South during turmoil that changed our lives forever. Those days, our friendship had to be a secret from his white family who thought I wasn’t worthy of their favorite son. I’ve loved that boy since we were chil’ren. I’m lookin’ forward to seeing him again.

“Sitting here on the shiny MARTA train, I can’t help thinkin’ about the past and wondering how much my South has really changed since I’ve been gone. My name is Skillet Hamilton, and I’m coming back to Georgia where it all began, at least for me.

“Bein’ home gives me a happy heart and makes me laugh at the memories that phrase conjures up. Every time Lyndon Johnson addressed the nation during our unsettled times, he had a heavy heart. We knew more about his heart back in the day than what he was doing to our country.

“Believe it or not, between Aaron and me, I was the lucky one. I experienced a loving, hardworking family and a clear set of values. Poor Aaron, his values changed daily. His capricious women folk, grandma and mother, couldn’t make up their minds about anything—‘cept me. I was off limits once we started school. They weren’t wishy-washy ‘bout that. They were—to put it nicely—confused. Ella, the old lady, was stuck in the past, not embracing the new ways. Her daughter, Lonnie Jo, Aaron’s mama, was stuck in the bottle or some other pleasure pit. It’s a wonder Aaron turned out so good.”

Do you think the author portrayed you accurately?

Very! I think she likes me. 

Do you have any special strengths?

Good sense! Aaron got mixed messages. My family was solid. As you watch us grow up, you’ll see it’s a struggle for Aaron, but I seemed to find my place in the world.

Do you have any special weaknesses?

Yeah. It takes me a while to commit.

What makes you happy?

Once I figured it out, my life was just fine. It took Aaron longer, that’s why it’s his story. He’s the conflicted sort.

What are you afraid of?

Water. Can’t swim and don’t want to!

What do you regret?

That I wasn’t able to impart more wisdom to my buddy before he messed up his life. Or, before his mom did. Lonnie Jo was a pistol.

What is the most important thing that ever happened to you? Why?

Seminary. I learned even a saint has to compromise.

Do you have any hobbies?

Sports, especially running. I got a lot of practice running from Aaron’s gramma.

What, if anything, haunts you?

The look of loss on Aaron’s face when we graduated high school. He had a whole lot of livin’ to do before he could find the right woman.

*~*~*~*

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Tagline:

Unsettled times and dysfunctional families force the young lovers to rethink their values and find love between the States.

Excerpt:

(Aaron is asking advice from Skillet who is headed for Seminary:

The store would close in half an hour. They took their milkshakes to a booth. Aaron leaned over toward the center of the table. “I’m in deep shit, Skillet.”

Skillet blinked. “What’s goin’ down, man?”

“Remember my pretty blonde girlfriend?”

“Who could forget her?”

Aaron took a deep breath and whispered, “This wasn’t Melanie’s fault, Skillet. I was so damned busy with my own goals I didn’t see the whole picture.”

“What picture? What’re you tryin’ to say?” He pushed his shake aside and leaned in.

“I was working to become a doctor. I let things slide. She told me she was taking an antibiotic. I knew she was on the pill. What the hell kind of premed student am I not to remember that antibiotics can nullify the pill?”

Skillet smiled. “You’re gonna be a daddy?”

“Hell, yes. And we aren’t married. I don’t want to marry her, but I should want to. I should be crazy to marry her. Doesn’t the baby deserve a family with parents who care about it? I loved Melanie once, or thought I did. Now—”

“Now you’re gonna be a daddy.” Skillet slapped him on the shoulder. “What’s wrong with that? Lots of college kids are married and working while they’re in school.”

“I’m in love with someone else.”

*~*~*

Bio:

Julie Eberhart Painter was raised in Bucks Count, Pennsylvania, boyhood home of James A Michener. Julie is the author of Mortal Coil, Tangled Web, and the 2011 Book of the Year, Kill Fee, and sequel, Medium Rare from www.champagnebooks.com. Daughters of the Sea, e-book and print. Julie’s first paranormal romance, and Morning After Midnight are available from MuseItUp Publishing. http://bit.ly/1gpaO4R and other online e-book venues.

Twitter: @JulieEPainter
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Julie is a monthly blogger on http://thewritersvineyard.com/ , and feature writer for http://cocktailsmagazine.wix.com/fictionandgossip  an online slick. Her nine flash fiction stories appear under http://bewilderingstories.com/bios/painter_bio.htm

Visit Julie’s Web site at www.books-jepainter.com