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I've been approached by a group of Patriots who read my articles to write a book that I've tentatively titled Ray -- An American Story (suggestions welcome) that tells the story of a young man who gets red-pilled while serving in Afghanistan after 9/11. The purpose of the book is two-fold -- to use fiction to expose the corruption and treasonous behavior infecting America today, as well as providing an "instruction manual" of sorts that instructs people how to organize and resist tyranny. I've selected #deepdives for this undertaking (with permission) as this is probably the deepest dive I've ever undertaken. I intend to use my own military experience to help Americans to fight back against an insidious and determined enemy. Please bear with me as I develop the characters, I know this doesn't fit the typical #deepdives format but it's a necessary part of the story. Thank you and I sincerely hope you like it... all suggestions welcome.
She was the most beautiful girl Ray had ever seen, flowing chestnut red hair that resembled spun copper when the sun hit it, and a flashing white smile like two rows of perfect pearls. Her name was Jillian Shepherd and she was way out of Ray’s league, her father was the district attorney while Ray’s dad was a mechanic who owned a small garage. But that didn’t keep him from dreaming. It was their senior year of high school, Ray’s last season on the Fairfax Lions football team.
He still had baseball season to look forward to but football was Ray’s first love. He was small for a linebacker, 6 foot 2, 215 pounds so a scholarship to play college ball was probably out except at some small obscure college. The other linebackers on his team were a good 30 pounds heavier than him, but he could hit like a ton of bricks. He had almost another year to decide what he wanted to do, there were more pressing issues at the present. It was October of 2000, the homecoming dance was coming up and Ray had made up his mind to ask Jill, what the heck, the worst that could happen is that she would say no.
Jillian was talking to some of her friends after school and Ray was waiting for a chance to get her alone so he wouldn’t embarrass himself in front of her friends. He felt kind of like a stalker as he followed them toward the student parking lot waiting to get her alone. Finally, after what felt like an eternity she waved to her friends and walked toward her car. Ray jogged to catch up.
“Hey Jill,” he called out.
“Hi Ray,” she said shielding her eyes from the sun with her hand.
“I uh, thought that uh, that…” he began.
“Yes,” she replied smiling.
“Well, I uh, thought,” he stammered.
“You already said that,” she was laughing now, white teeth flashing.
“The uh homecoming uh.” he said looking at the ground searching for the right words.
“Are you asking me out, to the dance?”
“Well, I uh,” he stammered
“Well are you or aren't you?” She laughed.
“Yes,” he blurted.
“I’d love to, Ray,” she beamed up at him. “Why haven’t you asked me before? I was beginning to think I was going to have to ask you.”
“Well, I just thought that… I don’t know,” he said looking down. “You know, with your dad being…”
“You thought you weren’t good enough?” She asked incredulously. “Look Ray, I’ve liked you for a long time and people are what they make of themselves, not where they come from. Your dad is a good man, he works hard and there’s nothing wrong with what he does. I can’t believe…”
She set her bag on top of her BMW and turned to Ray saying: “I don’t care where you come from, I like you, you’re smart, you’re a great athlete, you’re funny, and kinda cute.”
Ray couldn’t believe his luck, he fumbled for something to say. “Well, I guess uh…”
“Is this how all of our conversations are going to go?” She flashed that dazzling smile, standing on tiptoe to kiss his cheek. “You don’t have to wait three weeks until the dance to take me out, you know.” She winked getting into her car. “Call me, I’m in the book.”
Ray turned to walk to his car, a 1966 Chevelle SS 396 that his dad had helped him to rebuild. It was practically scrap when Ray bought it, but thanks to a lot of hard work and his dad’s assistance, it was a beauty -- Aztec Bronze that almost matched Jill’s hair when the sun hit it just right.
“Hey Ray,” he heard, and turned just in time to see her blow him a kiss, “call me tonight.”
Ray drove to his dad’s shop where he helped out after school when he didn’t have football practice. Chet Merrill was a short man, heavy set, the opposite of his son who looked more like his mom who was Italian, slender and dark. Chet used to joke that thank God he got his looks from his mom and not him. His dad told him often that his mom had been the prettiest girl in school and he thanked his lucky stars that she had chosen him over all the other boys that wanted to date her.
Angela Merrill was indeed a beautiful woman who never regretted marrying her “grease monkey” husband for one solitary second. She used to always tell Ray and his younger brother Dennis that they should grow up to be like their dad, honest and hard working. She had her pick of all of the boys in school but married Chet not long after graduation and a little over a year later Ray was born.
That night at dinner Ray could barely contain himself. “I’ve got a date for the Homecoming Dance,” he said.
“Who’s the lucky girl?” His mother asked, eyebrows raised.
“Jill Shepherd,” Ray grinned proudly.
“Bob Shepherd’s daughter?” His father asked, eyes wide. “Does he know about this?”
District Attorney Robert “Bob” Shepherd did not have a reputation for being a nice man. He had political aspirations and it was said that he had never met a dollar he didn’t like. There were rumblings of corruption and malicious prosecutions in his office, but he was a longstanding member of the Democrat political machine so it never made the newspapers or television news.
“Yup, that’s her,” Ray said with a smile.
“Be careful son,” his father warned. He knew all too well about Shepherd’s reputation.
Meanwhile at the Shepherd residence a different sort of conversation about the dance was going on. Jillian was the Shepherd’s only child and the District Attorney has plans of his own for his daughter. They too were seated at the dinner table.
“I understand that Judge Graham’s son Leo is planning to ask you to the Homecoming Dance,” Bob smiled at his daughter.
“I already have a date, Daddy,” she said.
“Then break it,” her father said amiably.
“I won’t,” Jill replied flatly. “Leo Graham is a creep, he makes the hair stand up on my neck and there’s no way I’ll go out with him… not in a million years.”
“You will go out with him,” Bob said firmly, as if this ended the conversation. “His father is the District Court Judge and it could mean a lot for my career. By the way, who’s this date you have with?”
“Ray Merrill, I really like him and I’m going to the dance with him,” she replied petulantly. “I’d rather stay home than go with Leo Graham.”
“Merrill, Chet Merrill’s son?” Bob asked incredulously. “The man fixes my car, they’re not part of our set. You will absolutely not go out with this... Ray.”
“I will go out with him Daddy,” she said with a raised voice. “I’m 18 years old and I’ll go out with whoever I want to. All you care about is your precious career, you don’t care about anything or anybody else.”
With that she got up, grabbed her purse and walked out leaving her father in mid-sentence. “Young lady…” She drove straight to the Merrill residence and knocked on the door. Angela opened it to see the shaken teenager on the porch.
“You’ve been crying dear,” she said. “Please come in.”
“Is Ray here?” Jill sniffed. “I need to see him.
“Of course,” Angela replied. “Let’s get you fixed up first, come in and sit down and then I’ll get Ray.”
Ray was working on his math homework when he heard the door and came downstairs. When Jill saw him she launched herself into his arms sobbing. “Oh Ray,” she moaned. Ray held her for a moment and took her hand and gently led her upstairs. They sat on his bed where she slumped next to him.
“What’s wrong?” He asked.
“It’s my father,” she sobbed. “He said I can’t go to the dance with you. He wants me to go with Leo Graham.”
“Leo Graham, isn’t he kinda creepy?” Ray asked, surprised.Why would your dad want you to go with him?”
“Because he’s Judge Graham’s son,” she said, collecting herself, sadness replaced with anger.
“Oh,” Ray replied. “I understand.”
“No you don’t understand,” she said, her eyes searching his. “I’ve been in love with you since Freshman year. I’m not going anywhere except with you.” She took his arm putting it around her shoulder leaning against him. He held her close and they sat like that for a while enjoying the closeness.
That was the beginning. Despite her father’s protestations Jill went to the Homecoming Dance with Ray… and the Senior Prom, along with many other events. She began spending as much time as possible at the Merrill home becoming a fixture there. Jill was amazed to see what a real family was like, unlike the distant austere home she was used to. Jill had grown up privileged with all the material things life could provide, but it was the Merrills that seemed rich to her, they had each other. They were genuinely happy, they liked each other and it showed… it was something she desperately wanted to be a part of. It was a disappointing football season after the departure of coach Verbanic the previous year, but Ray didn’t care, he had Jill.
They both decided to take a year off before scouting colleges much to Bob Shepherd’s disappointment. Ray and Jill were very much in love, Ray was even able to talk in complete sentences to her now. After graduation Ray went to work for his father full time and Jill had practically moved in, only going home to sleep. They wanted to go to college together or not at all, something that was unacceptable to Bob Shepherd. He had planned to use college to get his daughter away from Ray and his family. Home life for her, away from Ray’s family was hell, a constant struggle with her father. Her mother, through her haze of alcohol and pills, inevitably sided with her father against her. She wanted to be away from them both in the worst way.
Then, on September 11th, a day that started like any other with Jill getting up and heading for the Merrill house, their lives were changed forever. Ray was in the garage when he heard the news and raced into the house where he found his Jill and his mother in front of the TV crying.
“Oh my God,” his mother cried, crossing herself. “All of those poor people, those poor poor people.”
Jill looked up at Ray who was watching the TV intently trying to unravel what was happening, his dark eyes focused on the screen. The second plane had just hit Tower 2. Jill took his hand and held it to her cheek, knowing intuitively what would come soon. Chet joined them soon after holding his wife as they watched the World Trade Center Towers come down again and again.
“Something’s not right here,” Chet said without taking his eyes away from the screen.
“What do you mean dad?” Ray asked, a quizzical look on his face.
“Watch them come down,” his father replied. “They’re falling straight down, that isn’t right.” He held his hand straight up and hit it with his other hand pushing his fingers back. “If a plane hit it, it should fall over, not straight down. That’s a controlled demolition. Something like that takes months of planning, especially on buildings that tall.”
“You mean it wasn’t terrorists, Dad?” Ray asked as they watched the buildings crumble and fall again.
“I don’t know who it was, all I know is that it wasn’t those planes,” his father said resolutely.
Dinner was a quiet affair that night, no one seemed to have much of an appetite. Jill helped clear the table and helped Angela with the dishes. When they were done they all went back to the living room where Jill sat close to Ray on the spacious sofa.
“I don’t feel like going home tonight,” she told him quietly.
“Stay here,” he said. “You can have my room and I’ll sleep on the couch.”
“Are you sure?” she asked.
“Yes, it’s fine,” Ray was deep in thought. Chet and Angela nodded their assent.
“You’re always welcome here dear,” Angela said smiling.
Her eyes went back to Ray, “a penny for your thoughts,” she said, but she already knew what he was thinking.
“I’ll tell you tomorrow,” he said gently, kissing her forehead.
They tried to watch an old movie after his parents said good night, but neither could seem to stay focused. They were satisfied to just sit in the semi-darkness holding each other. Finally they embraced and Jill went up to bed leaving Ray to lie in the dark staring at the ceiling. Neither slept very well that night. The next morning at breakfast, Ray made his announcement.
“I’ve decided to go into the service, the Navy,” he said. “My country needs me and I have to go.”
“Have you thought about this?” His father asked.
“I’ve been up all night thinking,” Ray said firmly. “It’s what I have to do.”
Jill looked stunned. She already knew this was coming, but somehow it wasn’t real until he said it.
“Have you talked this over with Jill?” His mother asked, a concerned look on her usually placid face.
“I love you Jill, more than anything,” Ray said tenderly, “but this is something I have to do.”
“I know,” she said quietly, not looking up from her plate.
When they were alone she told him, “I already knew last night. I’m not going to try to talk you out of it because you’re convinced it’s the right thing.”
“Will you wait for me?” He asked his eyes locked on hers. They were sitting on the front porch watching the traffic on the road in front of the garage. “I don’t know how long it will be, so if it’s no I’ll understand.”
“I’ll wait under one condition,” she said with a twinkle in her eye. “You have to marry me first.”
“Ok, I uh, ok,” he blurted out.
“Are we going to do this again?” She asked laughing. It was good to hear her laugh again after the somber day before. Ray just grinned back.
“Let’s go tell the folks,” Ray beamed before turning serious. “What about your dad and mom?” He asked.
“Dad will hate it and throw one of his tantrums and Mom is probably too drunk to notice,” she said grinning. “It doesn’t matter one way or the other to me, being around your family has taught me what family is all about. Let’s go tell your folks.”
Chet and Angela were thrilled. They would have a small informal service at the house and then a formal church wedding when Jill’s Catholic confirmation was over, she had been to Mass with them at their church that still did a traditional Latin Mass and she was amazed at the beauty of it. She had already begun the lessons necessary to convert. Jill would try to talk her parents into attending.
