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    Not The Life I Expected
    Not The Life I Expected
    Not The Life I Expected
    Ebook62 pages54 minutes

    Not The Life I Expected

    By Thomas Nathan-Kemper

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    About this ebook

    The story of what happens when a completely Republican controlled Congress completely repeals The Americans With Disabilities Act, seen partly through the eyes of Ashley Joshua Windfoot, a boy who is himself in a wheelchair, and partly through the eyes of his best friend, a girl named Avery Jessica Chainlink.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherThomas Nathan Kemper
    Release dateSep 17, 2015
    ISBN9789876543217
    Not The Life I Expected
    Author

    Thomas Nathan-Kemper

    Born Sarah Thomas Kemper, Thomas (Tom to her friends) never liked the name Sarah, at least for herself.  After her little brother Nathan, confined to a wheelchair from birth, was killed in the collapse of the ramp of a locally owned public building, she legally changed her nane to Thomas Nathan Kemper in his honor.  This book is dedicated to his memory.

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      Book preview

      Not The Life I Expected - Thomas Nathan-Kemper

      Not The Life I Expected

      Thomas Nathan-Kemper

      Published by Thomas Nathan Kemper, 2015.

      This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

      NOT THE LIFE I EXPECTED

      First edition. September 17, 2015.

      Copyright © 2015 Thomas Nathan-Kemper.

      ISBN: 978-9876543217

      Written by Thomas Nathan-Kemper.

      Table of Contents

      Title Page

      Copyright Page

      Dedication

      Not The Life I Expected

      About the Author

      For my little brother Nathan.  I'll never forget you and  love you forever.

      PROLOGUE: THE WIND AT MY FEET.

      Fast, FAST, FAST.  The wind at his feet as the golden ribbon neared, Ashley Joshua Windfoot, Dash to all but his parents, tore around the long distance track faster than a race horse.  His feet barely made contact with the surface of the track, as he flew towards the finish line.  But his breath flowed unlabored through his lungs as his speed increased even more.  His muscles labored hard, but none protested the labor.

      Surely, no one can match this, flew through his mind.

      Looking briefly to either side, he noticed a boy from Green Hills High School was within sight

      and closing on him.  Stunned, Ashley doubled his speed, but so did his rival, and now the boy was starting to close the gap between them.  He saw the finish line, though, and summoned strength from deep within to put on one last burst of speed towards it.  His feet flew across the turf, and he saw the other boy try to match his speed, but then fall back, breathing hard, and Ashley's lips parted in a broad smile, his feet flying across the ground, as he tore though the golden ribbon to the cheers of everyone from Lake View High School.

      His smile increasing, he searched the crowd and found his parents and his best friend, Avery, the three of them cheering louder than anyone, and gave them a smile and a wave.  Every seat in the stadium was full for the Texas high school state track meet, but they were still discernible.  Then he moved aside to wait.

      *

      I present the 2015 Meet Champion, the fastest boy in The State of Texas, Mr. Ashley Joshua Windfoot, the announcer shouted as Ashley stepped up to the highest platform, gold paint flaking off where his foot scraped, and an imitation gold medal was hung around his neck by an official that looked like he hadn't run in many years.  The man was so tall, however, Ashley's small, sixteen- year- old frame did not even need to bend forward to receive the medal.  Cheers went up from all directions, as his smile almost reached his ears.  He enjoyed the ceremony and winning the medal, of course, but it was the sheer joy of running that he most loved, and the desire for competition that actually might beat him that fueled his Olympic dreams.

      *

      Congratulations Dash, Avery flashed one of her brilliant smiles and extended her right hand in the reception line after the ceremony.

      Ashley noted that the grass here was too long to easily run in.  Then he turned back to his best friend's smiling face.  Her sea blue eyes sparkled in the sunlight of early afternoon and her otherwise clear cheeks were flushed with red.  Her small nostrils stretched with the smile, and her black hair framed her face perfectly.  If I were into girls. . .thought Ashley.  She was his best friend, even so, and a very close second to running.

      Thank you, Ave, he replied, shaking himself out of his musings and smiling back, his large nostrils at last taking a slow breath of the crisp fall air as he took her hand in a firm shake.  She seemed reluctant to let go afterwards, and when he gently pushed her hand off with his left, she shuddered at the touch.

      He quickly looked away and moved on, for Avery wasn't the only one waiting to shake his hand.  Well done, son, said his daddy, David, gripping his hand a little too tightly, in Ashley's opinion.  His strong face beamed with pride, although Ashley knew running was only a passion for his daddy because it was his passion.

      Yes, you did great, said his mommy, Emily, smiling with pride herself.  Her soft face glowed as  she gripped Ashley's hand with a strength more to his liking.

      Smiling, he shook hands with each of them and thanked them, then

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