STEVEN BOWMAN This World We Live In First published by Draft2Digital © 2020 Copyright © 2020 by Steven Bowman All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission. This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental. Steven Bowman asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work. First edition This book was professionally typeset on Reedsy. Find out more at reedsy.com Contents Chapter One 1 Chapter Two 2 Chapter Three 4 Chapter Four 6 Chapter Five 10 Chapter Six 14 Chapter Seven 19 Chapter Eight 25 Chapter Nine 31 Chapter Ten 34 Self-Publishing Date 40 About the Author 41 Also by Steven Bowman 42 Chapter One I t will be a great summer, no matter what it takes. By the way, I am fourteen-year-old Michael James, and I was born at 6:57 pm on February 26th, 1990. It is 2004, and I live at 29 South Rockwell St., Houston, TX 77267. I have got a ten-year-old little brother named Casey James. He was born at 6:25 pm on February 10th, 1994. My Mama is Margaret “Margie” Callahan-James. She was born in Boston, Massachusetts, at 9:51 am on July 6th, 1969. She grew up in her parent’s house at 13 North Birchwood St., Boston, MA 02118. And Papa is William “Liam” James. He was born in Pasadena, Texas, at 12:31 pm on November 18th, 1966. He grew up in his parent’s house at 9069 Hope Drive, Pasadena, TX 77503. He is thirty-seven. I am also going into the ninth grade in high school, and Casey is going into fifth grade. It will happen after the summer is over. However, high school sucks. There is always trouble when someone gets me into it. Hmm, a bully? That is who. 1 Chapter Two I t is now Sunday, June 27th, 2004. One week after summer started. Summer begins on June 20th, so that is a week from then. I am enjoying my summer so far; no worries have pitied me. It is like the best summer ever. However, my little brother has been bugging me. Ugh, this is the world we live in, I try to ignore him, but at ten, he should know better than to bug people when they fucking do not need it! I am so much for a caring, lovable brother. Right? Nothing ever goes my way, it is sometimes my teenage attitude, but I say, “fuck that shit!” Maybe the world requires a teenage attitude. However, I was able to lay off the dramatics. Nobody gives a fuck about me, not Mama or Papa, well, definitely not Casey. Hell no, not him whatsoever! Well, it is not like my life requires my little brother. Hell no! I am better off without him, not that he will care about it. I am a teenager that is rampaging on and on, but who gives a fuck? There I go with the dramatics again. Yeah, yeah. I know. Quit bullshitting. Haha, that is a good one. Life sucks! But this summer has made my life better. 2 CHAPTER TWO It has been a week, and I have not seen much. My life gets boring, and my family does not help. I am getting bored just staring at the plain old white ceiling. Shit is rough! My world does not need such boredom. Anyway, I may be used to the boredom. Like no school until September, and weirdly, the unwillingness to kill my little brother. Well, I will not kill my little brother. That would end me up in prison, charged with a murder case. That is a no-go for me. Although I dream about killing him, that would not be very pretty. It would end up brutal and ugly. I do not need that on my hands, nor mind. Let us move on from that, shall we? Let us shall. 3 Chapter Three I t is now Thursday, July 1st, 2004, four days after June 27th. And I am still bored to death. Hell, I have not killed Casey yet. Moving on, moving on, I know. Well, today, I am stressed. It is because of the so-called girlfriend I used to have, who has now broken up with me. She and I have been dating since April 17th, 2002. That was back when I was twelve, and we had been dating for two years, two months, and two weeks before the breakup. Well, I was a twelve-year-old, and she was an eleven-year-old. I am fourteen, and she is thirteen, but fuck her. I do not need that bitch anymore! I will put that in the graveyard before feeling wacky, and she was a great girlfriend and friend. Now, I have got to go fishing with another girlfriend. Oh, brother! Woe is me! The next day. Right now, it has been a day. Now, it is Friday, July 2nd, 2004. Great news, I have a friend that helped me out by giving me a girl’s number. It looks like her name is Carolyn Hunter, and she goes by 4 CHAPTER THREE Carrie. She is a fifteen-year-old, born at 12:42 pm on December 25th, 1988. Maybe if I ask her out, she will be my girlfriend. Let us find out, shall we? Vamos. I dialed Carrie’s number on my phone and waited for her to pick up. Then, after a few rings, she picked up, and we conversated. The conversation went well, and I hope she will be my girl- friend. “Hello, is this Carrie Hunter?” I wondered as I waited for a response. “My name is Michael James. I got your number from a friend. Who am I speaking to?” “Yes, I am Carrie Hunter,” she replied. “Who’s this? How’d you get my number again?” “Michael James, madam,” I politely said. “I got your number from a friend of mine. That is not important. I wondered if you would like to be my girlfriend, Carrie. What do you say, miss?” “Okay, Michael. I will decide,” Carrie says. “I decide to be your girlfriend. Where do you live, Michael?” Michael says in his mind, “ Yes! ” “I live at 29 South Rockwell St., Houston, TX 77267,” I responded. “Where do you live, Carrie?” “I live at 9908 Little Street, Houston, TX 77088,” Carrie responded. “We are four-point-forty-miles apart.” “Okay, cool,” I said. “Thanks for being my girlfriend, Carrie. You will not regret it. Te lo prometo.” Carrie said, “Anytime, Michael. I know you will not make me regret it.” Michael then hung up the phone and jumped for joy. Now that he has a girlfriend again, things for this summer are better. 5 Chapter Four T oday is Friday, July 9th, 2004, a week from July 2nd. And it has been boring for me so far. Maybe I should ask Mama to drop me off at Carrie’s house. After I told her I got a new girlfriend, would she be disap- pointed that I broke up with my ex-girlfriend two years, two months, three weeks, and one day ago, on April 17th, 2002? I entered the living room, “Mama, can you drop me off somewhere?” Mama politely responded, “Sure. Where do you want to go, sweetie?” “The address is 9908 Little Street, Houston, TX 77088,” I told her. “Her name is Carrie, and she is my girlfriend. She lives four-point-forty-miles from our house. So, can I go, Mama?” “Sure, sweetie,” Mama says with a smile. “What happened with you and Britt Allison?” I frowned, “I do not want to speak about her anymore, Mama. It did not work out for us. That is all you need to know.” “Okay, sweetie. Let us get to your new girlfriend’s house,” Mama motioned for me to get ready. “That is disappointing that you and Britt broke up, sweetie. You two were a great couple. It is time to get your shoes on to see your new girlfriend.” “I know, Mama. It is too bad, right?” I said with a half-smile. 6 CHAPTER FOUR “Maybe Carrie and I can be a better couple than I was with Britt. Okay, let me get my shoes on. Please do not rush me.” Then, I went and got my shoes on. Mama grabbed her car keys, and we both headed out the door and into my Mama’s car and drove four-point-forty miles to Carrie’s house. And then, I finally got to meet Carrie for the first time. Finally, once I got there, Mama dropped me off, kissed me goodbye, and Carrie and I hung out for the day. Once I got there, I got to meet Carrie’s family and was her little sister like my little brother, yes, annoying as fuck. I leaned for a kiss on Carrie’s cheek, “What’s up, Carrie? It is me, Michael James. It is nice to meet you. What is your sister’s name, and how old is she?” Carrie replied, “Cynthia Hunter, she goes by Cindy. She is my six-year-old little sister.” Cindy was a six-year-old, born at 2:05 am on July 5th, 1998. I introduced myself, “Hello, Cindy. My name is Michael. Michael James.” “Hello, Michael. It is nice to meet you,” Cindy says with a smile. “Who are you to, my big sister?” “I am your big sister’s boyfriend,” I replied. “How cool is that, Cindy?” Cindy smiled, “It is so cool, Michael. As long as it makes you two happy, it makes me happy.” Then, Cindy went to her room, and I believe she was playing with her dollies. Along with some makeup of some sort. Ew, girly stuff, am I right? It is whatever, though. I am a man! Never am I a sexist, I do not understand what girls have with dolls and makeup at such 7 THIS WORLD WE LIVE IN a young age. Well, with Cindy, I am getting it, I guess. She is a six-year-old little girl. And it is a little girl thing, but it is just their thing. I sat on Carrie’s couch and sighed, “What do you want to do, baby?” “I could introduce you to my parents,” Carrie replied. Then, she told me to hang on for a bit, “I have got to get them. Hold on. Please give me a minute, and I will be back. Okay, sweetie?” I smiled and nodded, “Sure, baby. Go right ahead. Hurry back now.” Then, Carrie went and got her parents. It took her more than a minute, by the way. And then, after a few odd minutes, she came with her parents, and I got to introduce myself to Mr. and Mrs. Hunter. “Howdy, Mr. Hunter. My name is Michael. Michael James,” I said as I introduced myself to Carrie’s father. “What is your name, sir?” Mr. Hunter introduced himself, “Howdy, Michael. My name is Curtis Hunter. It is nice to meet you, sir.” Mr. Hunter was thirty-nine years old, born in San Antonio, Texas, at 7:48 am on January 9th, 1965. “Howdy, Mrs. Hunter. My name is Michael. Michael James,” I said as I introduced myself to Carrie’s mother. “What is your name, madam?” Mrs. Hunter introduced herself, “Howdy, Michael. My name is Courtney Mitchell-Hunter. It is nice to meet you, sir.” I smiled, “It is nice to meet you as well, Mrs. Hunter. I finally got to meet you, miss.” Mrs. Hunter was thirty-seven years old, born in Dallas, Texas, at 10:13 am on February 16th, 1967. 8 CHAPTER FOUR Carrie motions her parents to leave, “Okay, Mama, Papa. You met Michael. You may leave. Goodbye, guys. I love you all.” Then, Mr. and Mrs. Hunter left us alone, and Carrie and I hung out for the rest of the time until my Mama came and picked me back up. Boy was the day a fun one. My first day with Carrie, hell yeah! Today was special. I wish I could do it over and over. It was a score, and I am better off with Carrie than my ex- girlfriend Britt. I did not miss Britt for the whole day. She was not on my mind. Can I get a boo-yeah, anyone? The day ends. 9 Chapter Five T oday is Saturday, January 1st, 2005, and since July 9th, 2004, it has been five months, three weeks, and two days after. I am still a fourteen-year-old, and Casey is still a ten-year-old. My Mama is thirty-five years old, and my Papa is thirty-eight. My fifteenth birthday is eight weeks away, and Casey’s eleventh birthday is five weeks and five days away. I am still a ninth grader, and Casey is, again, a fifth grader. And now, since July 2nd, 2004, it has been five months, four weeks, and two days since Carrie and I dated. And since July 1st, 2004, it has been six months since the breakup between Britt Allison and me. Also, speaking of how long it has been since April 17th, 2002, it has been two years, eight months, two weeks, and a day later, after my first date with my ex-girlfriend Britt. Wow, that is the exact number of months, weeks, and days from each. Too long, shall I say? Now that it is January 1st. It is New Year’s Day of 2005. I am too cold, and I believe I am coming down with a cold, achoo! My goodness, I cannot afford to get sick. Well, I could miss school, I guess. Well, it is a good thing that I will miss school. 10 CHAPTER FIVE That does mean no homework, no stress, and NO BULLIES! Yay, I love being sick, achoo! Well, I am sick, my Mama took my temperature, and my fever is 105.7 °F, 41 °C. Since it is Winter Break at my school, I do not have to miss it. GODDAMMIT! Well, I am staying home one way or another. However, achoo! My goodness, I cannot keep myself from sneezing. I am sorry for sneezing so much. I cannot help it, achoo! There I go again. I am sorry. One and a half hours later. The time right now is 2:17 pm, and it has been one and a half hours since 12:47 pm. And my Mama made me chicken noodle soup with saltines for lunch, and I ate that right up. Boy, was that soup delicious? You guessed it; it was. Quite yummy! Now that it is 2005. And no longer 2004. The year has just begun. And since 2004 passed, the year has been going great for me. I no longer have to worry about my ex-girlfriend Britt Allison. And I have got yet, a more beautiful and stunningly gorgeous girlfriend. She is way better than Britt, by like one hundred times better. Well, achoo! My goodness, sorry for sneezing again. Please excuse me when I sneeze, achoo! There I go, sneezing yet again. I am sorry, I cannot help myself when I sneeze. Bless me, right? My life is more entertaining now that I have got Carrie. She and I clicked more than I did. She understands me, and yes, our younger siblings drive us crazy. I am talking about my ten-year-old little brother Casey, and Cindy, her six-year-old little sister. Wow, we have got annoying younger siblings commonly. We 11 THIS WORLD WE LIVE IN both can agree that they are both fucking annoying! Fifteen minutes later. Fifteen minutes have passed, and now it is 2:32 pm. Fifteen minutes ago, it was 2:17 pm. I feel like calling Carrie. I bet she will make me feel better, achoo! I am sorry, I am sneezing again. Where was I? Oh, yeah. I will call Carrie. Once I dialed her number, and the phone rang, she picked up after three minutes at 2:35 pm. Our conversation was this: “Hello, beautiful,” I told Carrie on the phone as she picked up. “I am sick, baby. Please, make me feel better, Carrie.” Carrie said, “Aw, poor baby. I wish I could be there with you. But you know. It is a four-point-forty-mile drive from my house to yours.” “Thanks, Carrie. I feel a little better now that I am talking to you,” I said with a smile. “Do not forget that I love you, Carrie.” Carrie smiled, “I love you too, sweetie. By the way, happy anniversary Michael. Do you know how long we have dated?” I replied, “Exactly, five months, four weeks, and two days. And thank you. Same to you, Carrie.” “Correct, Michael,” Carrie felt proud. “Thank you, sweetie. What is it like at your place since you are sick?” I replied, “Anytime, Carrie. Well, I am in my room, and I am in my boxers on my bed. I am also bored to death, baby.” “Aw, poor baby. I feel bad for you, sweetie,” Carrie said with a frown. “Well, I hope you feel better soon, Michael.” I sniffled and said, “Thanks, I appreciate it, Carrie. What are you doing right now?” Carrie replies, “Anytime, sweetie. I am in my room, doing nothing but watching television and catching up on some 12 CHAPTER FIVE homework. Also, I had to tell Cindy to leave my room a lot. She is so fucking annoying. My God! Ugh!” “Okay, that is relatable,” I smirked. “Casey kept going in my room a lot, so I had to yell at him to leave my room. He can get fucking annoying as well. I agree. Our siblings are annoying as fuck.” Carrie laughed, “Yeah, you have got that right, sweetie.” “Well, I will let you go, baby,” I said. “You have got homework to do, so goodbye. Talk to you another time, Carrie. Enjoy your day. I love you.” Carrie says, “Okay, Michael. Goodbye, I love you too. Enjoy your day, sweetie. Talk to you another time.” Then, I hung up the phone. It left me still sick, bored, and with an annoying little brother who made me want to kill him. However, I cannot kill him. You know, a murder case, remember? Well, that conversation was a good one. I love talking to Carrie. She is the best girlfriend ever. I feel complete when we talk to each other. Amazing girlfriend and best friend. Way better than my ex- girlfriend, Britt. Achoo! There I went sneezing again. I am sorry for sneezing so much. Anyway, the rest of the day finally blew by. That left the rest of January 1st boring. It is whatever. Anyway, achoo! I am sorry. Bless me yet again. 13 Chapter Six T oday is Saturday, February 26th, 2005, now it is 6:57 pm, and it has been eight weeks since January 1st. Guess what? It is my fifteenth birthday, and I have survived on Earth for fifteen years. Also, Casey’s now an eleven-year-old since Thursday, February 10th. His birthday was lame, and it had no pizzazz to it whatsoever. Snort! I cannot keep myself from laughing! Well, my birthday will not be lame. I can guarantee that 100%. “Happy birthday, Bubba,” Mama says as she hugs me. “How does it feel to be fifteen, Michael?” I replied, “Good. Thank you, Mama.” “Happy birthday, Michael-My-Boy,” Papa says as he pats my back. “I cannot believe my oldest is fifteen now.” I got weirded out, “Gees, Papa. You do not have to start crying. Quit while you are ahead, please!” Casey punched my arm fifteen times, “Happy birthday, Big Bro. There are your fifteen birthday punches.” I was flustered, “Quit that shit, Casey! I do not need those fifteen birthday punches. Enough with that bullshit!” Mama started getting angry, “Quit arguing, you two, RIGHT NOW!” 14