Typhoid Mary

Where we live, traffic is nasty. It is slow, congested, clogged, you name it. I have to admit that at times, my impatience gets the better of me. I try to relax and go with the flow, or lack thereof, play my music and sing along, but traffic usually gets the better of me. Unfortunately.

The left lane is supposed to be the fast lane. Obviously, there are speed limits and there are good reasons for speed limits. But when a driver “camps” out in the fast lane and travels at a lesser speed, that is annoying. Cars move into the middle lane to pass around the car and then move over into the fast lane ahead of the driver, and the driver still doesn’t get a clue. It’s dangerous as well as annoying.

When you pull up to a red light and the red light turns green and no one moves, that is annoying. Especially if that driver is fiddling with his or her phone, it’s dangerous and thoughtless. The green light or green arrow only lasts so long, right?

Or when you pull up to a red light and the car in front of you sets two car lengths behind the car in front, that is annoying. Again, the green light or arrow only lasts a short amount of time and not everyone will get through because of this one car setting way back behind the car in front.

Or when you pull up to a four-way stop and each driver politely takes their turn to move forward, except for that one driver who might lose track of who is supposed to go next or who deliberately decides he or she is in too much of a hurry to wait.

Okay, I’m going to stop right here . . .

I ranted for about five paragraphs. I vented. I took your valuable time and unloaded on you. It didn’t feel very good, did it? Perhaps it even fired you up a little . . . or a lot.

You might have been having a bright and sunny day and I just rained all over it. Reading my rant might have changed your outlook, your disposition, and your attitude, not to mention how you might interact with others.

Your next interaction, if you decide to carry further my ranting, affects that person, and that person who is then interacted with, and so on. Much like Typhoid Mary passing her disease on to others.

Yes, there are times and there are places where venting and ranting might be acceptable. Perhaps. Sometimes something might happen that helps us reach our boiling point and like a volcano spewing lava and ash all over, we spew anger and wrath and angst. We change people’s attitudes from happy to sad, from content to anxiety, from peace to turmoil.

And we are the cause. We CHOOSE to let a situation or individual get the better of us. It’s how we CHOOSE to react that upsets us and others around us, those with whom we interact.

When we look at it objectively, we’re selfish. We’re placing our own feelings and needs ahead of others. And when you think about it, ranting and raving don’t do much to help us anyway. The net cause is still present: the way we CHOSE to respond and interact. Our spewing doesn’t do much of anything except to ruin another individual’s mood and day. It’s unfair and selfish. Something to think about . . .  

To My Readers:

I will be selling and signing copies of my book, Caught in a Web at:

Barnes & Noble

Sunday, October 7 at 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.

1220 Carl D. Silver Parkway

Fredericksburg, VA 22401

Today, Oct. 5 and Tomorrow, Oct. 6 are the last two days to purchase the Kindle version of Caught in a Web for only .99 (cents!) You can purchase your copy on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CKF7696 

And please, if you do give Caught in a Web a shot, please leave a rating and a review. I would appreciate it. Thanks for this consideration!

Caught in a Web:

The bodies of high school and middle school kids are found dead from an overdose of heroin and fentanyl. The drug trade along the I-94 and I-43 corridors and the Milwaukee Metro area is controlled by MS-13, a violent gang originating from El Salvador. Ricardo Fuentes is sent from Chicago to Waukesha to find out who is cutting in on their business, shut it down and teach them a lesson. But he has an ulterior motive: find and kill a fifteen-year-old boy, George Tokay, who had killed his cousin the previous summer.

Detectives Jamie Graff, Pat O’Connor and Paul Eiselmann race to find the source of the drugs, shut down the ring, and find Fuentes before he kills anyone else, especially George or members of his family. The three detectives discover the ring has its roots in a high school among the students and staff. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CKF7696

Also Available on Amazon for .99 the Lives Trilogy Prequel, Taking Lives

FBI Agent Pete Kelliher and his partner search for the clues behind the bodies of six boys left in various and remote parts of the country. Even though they don’t know one another, the lives of FBI Agent Kelliher and two boys become interwoven with the same thread that Pete Kelliher holds in his hand. The three of them are on a collision course and when that happens, their lives are in jeopardy as each search for a way out. http://bit.ly/Taking-Lives-JLewis

Connect with me on Social Media:

Twitter at @jrlewisauthor

Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/Joseph.Lewis.Author

Amazon at: http://www.amazon.com/Joseph-Lewis/e/B01FWB9AOI /

photo on Unsplash by Eric Ward 

An Eraser

When my wife and I lived and worked in California, both of us found ourselves at barrio schools at a certain point in our careers. It was a wonderful experience for both of us. From my point of view, I learned so much about kids, about teachers and, well, life.

One day, Kim came home and told me a story about one of her kids, Chad, and it stuck with me to this day. As her husband, I was a bit worried, but Kim has a toughness wrapped in gentleness that isn’t all that unique. I’ve seen that same combination in many colleagues I rub elbows with each day.

Kim pegged Chad as a class clown . . . at first. Wouldn’t listen. Did his own thing. But she had a knack with those kids. Still does, actually. But Kim found out later on that Chad was more than a class clown. He was in the upper echelons of a large gang in the area.

At some point during the year, Chad and Kim called a truce. She taught and he learned. At first, begrudgingly because after all, he was used to getting his own way. And, he didn’t want anyone to perceive him as weak.

Towards the end of the year, Chad was “gone” for about two weeks, maybe a little longer. Absent. Excused for “medical reasons.” When he returned to school and Kim’s class, he had some scars on his face and most of his hair was missing. Not a normal haircut, mind you. Not any type of surgery that Kim could tell. Just . . . missing.

Kim never asked about it, but welcomed him back to class and life went on as if nothing had happened. Then at the end of the year, Chad walks up to Kim when the two were fairly alone and somewhat private.

Chad said, “You’ve been really nice to me, so I think I need to tell you about what had happened to me.” Kim smiled and replied, “No, Chad, you don’t have to. I’m just happy you’re back.” Something to that effect. Chad insisted on telling Kim what had happened, so Kim listened.

One night, Chad and a friend stole a car. They rode around in it and they had finished with it, they decided that they needed to get rid of it along with any evidence. Their idea was to torch it. Set it on fire and be done with it. Stupidly, if not recklessly, Chad unscrews the gas cap and lights a match so he could see how much gas was left in the tank. Fumes. An open flame. Boom!

Chad and the friend were fortunate to be alive. Probably not the first time that could be said. Probably not the last time that could be said. Not the first run-in with the law. Probably not the last, either.

But Kim listened and at the end of the monologue, Kim said something like, “Well, I’m happy you’re alive and I’m happy you came back to my class.” Chad nodded, smiled, and walked away. Something like that.

Fast forward to the next school year. First day of class and Kim is taking attendance. Chad is now a senior, but not in Kim’s class.

Chad walks over, eyes the class and the class eyes him. Kim says, “Hi, Chad. Everything okay?” Chad smiles and says, “Everything okay, Mrs. Lewis? Everyone treating you okay?” Kim answers, “Yes, Chad. Everything is fine.” And Chad places an arm around her shoulders and says, “Good. Because if anyone doesn’t listen to you, let me know, and I’ll take care of it.” Kim answered, “Thanks, Chad, but I have it.”

Chad smiled at her, gave a “look” to the class, and walked away. And Kim never had a problem with any kid that year. Not one.

The thing is, Kim didn’t do anything extraordinary. Not really. Not anything a hundred other teachers do to or with kids. She smiled and listened. She taught. She had expectations and goals for the kids, and life went on.

But something happened along the way between Kim and Chad that created a connection. A trust. A feeling that all is safe, that Chad was safe. That Kim was in charge and Chad was a student . . . like or unlike the other students- you decide- and that was that.

With any kid, any student large or small, Trust is very much like an Eraser. Very much so.

As with any mistake, the mistake can be erased. But a bit of the eraser is gone in the process. The bigger the mistake, the bigger the chunk out of the eraser, until there is no eraser left to use. None. Like Trust. Often times, many times, Trust disappears and cannot be regained. How often has that happened to us? Too many, I fear. Something to think about . . .

Live Your Life, and Make A Difference!

To My Readers:

I will be selling and signing copies of my books at three events coming up in the Fredericksburg, Virginia area. Hope to see you at one or the other or both! The first will be at:

Stafford's Fall Festival

Saturday, September 22 at 10 AM – 4 PM

163 Staffordboro Blvd, Stafford, VA 22556

The second will be at:

Fredericksburg Independent Book Festival

Saturday, September 29 at 10 AM – 4 PM

Old Mill Park; 2201 Caroline Street; Fredericksburg, VA 22401

I will be on a panel with other authors discussing Character and Setting Development from Noon to 12:45 p.m. in Tent One.

The third will be at:

Barnes & Noble

Sunday, October 7 at 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.

1220 Carl D. Silver Parkway

Fredericksburg, VA 22401

Thanks to all who have taken a chance on reading Caught in a Web. If you are interested in a copy on either Kindle or in Paperback, you can find it on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CKF7696  or on Barnes and Noble at https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/caught-in-a-web-joseph-lewis/1128250923?ean=9781684330249

And if you do give Caught in a Web a shot, please leave a rating and a review. I would appreciate it. Thanks for this consideration!

Caught in a Web:

The bodies of high school and middle school kids are found dead from an overdose of heroin and fentanyl. The drug trade along the I-94 and I-43 corridors and the Milwaukee Metro area is controlled by MS-13, a violent gang originating from El Salvador. Ricardo Fuentes is sent from Chicago to Waukesha to find out who is cutting in on their business, shut it down and teach them a lesson. But he has an ulterior motive: find and kill a fifteen-year-old boy, George Tokay, who had killed his cousin the previous summer.

Detectives Jamie Graff, Pat O’Connor and Paul Eiselmann race to find the source of the drugs, shut down the ring, and find Fuentes before he kills anyone else, especially George or members of his family. The three detectives discover the ring has its roots in a high school among the students and staff. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CKF7696

The Trials

I visited a classroom today and was reminded of an interesting time in American History. Not only interesting, but a rather dark time in American History.

From Wikipedia, “The Salem witch trials were a series of hearings and prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts between February 1692 and May 1693. More than 200 people were accused, nineteen of which were found guilty and executed by hanging (fourteen women and five men). One other man was pressed to death for refusing to plead, and at least five people died in jail. It was the deadliest witch hunt in the history of the United States.”

Not a fun time in that part of the country by any means. The “evidence” was flimsy or nonexistent at best. One example introduced at the trial of Susanna Martin was a normally tame cow acting angry and unruly because a halter and tether was placed on it. Martin had somehow bewitched it.

And of course, this sort of thing happened at various points in history and not just in the United States. The Inquisition comes to mind. Christianizing the Indigenous people. Nazi treatment of Jews.

In the class I observed, the students were handed a note card. Most were blank, but there were some with a black dot on them. The students were told not to tell anyone else if their card had a dot or if it was blank.

The idea was that the students were to get up and move around the room and “determine” by “vote” who was a witch. Those who had a black dot were considered witches and they were to be expelled from the group. The “winners” would be the group that was the largest and that also had no witches in their midst. Of course, if a “witch” was among the group, then the group lost regardless of how large the group was.

The kids played along and moved around the room. Kids were expelled from one group or another based upon whatever criteria the group had decided.

Interesting . . .

At the end, each group had at least one witch among them and most were shocked to find out who it was. And equally bewildered were the “witches” who weren’t. There was a lot of laughter and spirited conversation taking place.

The instructor asked some compelling and thought-provoking questions. One in particular was, “Why did you choose to kick someone out of the group? On what basis?”

The kids had interesting answers: the way one would react after seeing if their card had a dot or not; their expression; how “secretive” he/she appeared; if he/she “laughed a lot.”

And equally interesting was the method used by the “witches” to disguise the fact that he/she was a witch: “I suggested that so and so was a witch and called for a vote.”

Finally, the instructor suggested that there was no real evidence, but the kicking out or keeping in was based upon one’s own emotion or the “look” of an individual.

Hmmm . . .

Seems like we do that quite a bit, don’t we? Ruling someone in or out based upon their looks. Ruling someone in or out based upon the way they act, especially if the way they act is not similar to our way of acting. Kind of easy to rule someone in or out. And kind of easy to be kicked out. Even if the reasoning or evidence is flimsy or nonexistent.

Might we try to be more inclusive? To accept someone rather than reject someone. To judge for ourselves rather than to accept the judgement of others. And perhaps it might even be better if we would not judge at all. Wouldn’t that be great! Something to think about . . .

To My Readers:

I will be selling and signing copies of my books at two events coming up in the Fredericksburg, Virginia area. Hope to see you at one or the other or both! The first will be at:

Stafford's Fall Festival

Saturday, September 22 at 10 AM – 4 PM

163 Staffordboro Blvd, Stafford, VA 22556

The second will be at:

Fredericksburg Independent Book Festival

Saturday, September 29 at 10 AM – 4 PM

Old Mill Park; 2201 Caroline Street; Fredericksburg, VA 22401

Thanks to all who have taken a chance on reading Caught in a Web. If you are interested in a copy on either Kindle or in Paperback, you can find it on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CKF7696  or on Barnes and Noble at https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/caught-in-a-web-joseph-lewis/1128250923?ean=9781684330249

And if you do give Caught in a Web a shot, please leave a rating and a review. I would appreciate it. Thanks for this consideration!

Caught in a Web:

The bodies of high school and middle school kids are found dead from an overdose of heroin and fentanyl. The drug trade along the I-94 and I-43 corridors and the Milwaukee Metro area is controlled by MS-13, a violent gang originating from El Salvador. Ricardo Fuentes is sent from Chicago to Waukesha to find out who is cutting in on their business, shut it down and teach them a lesson. But he has an ulterior motive: find and kill a fifteen-year-old boy, George Tokay, who had killed his cousin the previous summer.

Detectives Jamie Graff, Pat O’Connor and Paul Eiselmann race to find the source of the drugs, shut down the ring, and find Fuentes before he kills anyone else, especially George or members of his family. The three detectives discover the ring has its roots in a high school among the students and staff. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CKF7696

Book One, Stolen Lives:

Two thirteen year old boys are abducted off a safe suburban street. Kelliher and his team of FBI agents have 24 hours to find them or they’ll end up like all the others- dead! They have no leads, no clues, and nothing to go on. And the possibility exists that one of his team members might be involved. http://tinyurl.com/Stolen-Lives-J-Lewis    

Book Two, Shattered Lives:

Six men escaped and are out for revenge. The boys, recently freed from captivity, are in danger and so are their families, but they don’t know it. The FBI has no clues, no leads, and nothing to go on and because of that, cannot protect them. http://tinyurl.com/Shattered-Lives-J-Lewis    

Book Three of the Lives Trilogy, Splintered Lives:

A 14 year old boy knows the end is coming. What he doesn’t know is when, where or by whom. Without that knowledge, neither he nor the FBI can protect him or his family.

http://tinyurl.com/Splintered-Lives-J-Lewis    

The Lives Trilogy Prequel, Taking Lives:

FBI Agent Pete Kelliher and his partner search for the clues behind the bodies of six boys left in various and remote parts of the country. Even though they don’t know one another, the lives of FBI Kelliher, 11 year old Brett McGovern, and 11 year old George Tokay are separate pieces of a puzzle. The two boys become interwoven with the same thread that Pete Kelliher holds in his hand. The three of them are on a collision course and when that happens, their lives are in jeopardy as each search for a way out. http://tinyurl.com/Taking-Lives-J-Lewis

Connect with me on Social Media:

Twitter at @jrlewisauthor

Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/Joseph.Lewis.Author

Amazon at: http://www.amazon.com/Joseph-Lewis/e/B01FWB9AOI /