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Virtual Christmas
Jake Samson is an angry, embittered teenager living in Reno, Nevada. It is Christmas Eve, the day of the year Jake hates most of all.
All afternoon and evening he's felt nervous and edgy as if someone is watching him. When his two friends, Clem and Jorge, arrive to play computer games, Jake's deceased grandfather appears on the screen, but only to Jake.
At first Jake doesn't believe, but Gramps hounds him until he has no choice but to admit that he is real. Then Gramps tells him that later in the evening he will take a virtual journey with three ghosts to see his past, present, and future.
Though virtual, it is a journey Jake will never forget.
All afternoon and evening he's felt nervous and edgy as if someone is watching him. When his two friends, Clem and Jorge, arrive to play computer games, Jake's deceased grandfather appears on the screen, but only to Jake.
At first Jake doesn't believe, but Gramps hounds him until he has no choice but to admit that he is real. Then Gramps tells him that later in the evening he will take a virtual journey with three ghosts to see his past, present, and future.
Though virtual, it is a journey Jake will never forget.
ebook
First published November 10, 2009
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About the author
Clyde Hedges
17 books2 followersI was born in Evansville, Indiana toward the end of WWII. As far as my childhood, it was typical of any child from a dysfunctional family. My parents had many reasons for their dysfunctions, the Depression, my grandfather deserting my grandmother and his children when my mother was two, combat fatigue for my father who was a wounded veteran, and scrimping and saving and barely getting by until their eldest sons left for the service. I am a four year Army veteran, but I was more fortunate than my father and never experienced combat.
I had three major ambitions in life, to be a teacher, serve in the army, and write. I've done all three, so when my time comes, I will be satisfied. Probably the best and third happiest event of my life was meeting my wife while I was stationed at Fort Devens, Massachusetts. We've been married now for 49 years, and it hasn't all been heavenly bliss as in most romance novels, but I've been happy, and my wife has always told me she was or is.
I rated meeting her as the third happiest thing in my life, the first two were the births of our daughters, Stacy and Kelly. We have one grandson, whom we dote upon continually, but I have to rate him fourth because you don't center your life around a grandchild as you do a child. I've also been happy with my family, and the many fine friends I've made over the years, and the many fine students I was blessed with during my teaching career.
My wife and I were both teachers, and that was a blessed calling. I loved to teach, and I loved so many of my students. Contrary to popular belief, most kids are good, and they want to be good, and they give school their all. I always tried to make my classes interesting and to show the relevance of what I was teaching to their lives. Where education in America breaks down is with the administration of American education. We need to better train our teachers on how to run a class, structure a classroom, and how to make their lessons pertinent to the lives their students are leading.
I was fortunate in that I taught in inner-city schools, and I saw first hand how tough life can be for so many young people. I was never bigoted; I was raised in a bigoted atmosphere, but I never bought into it. But if we are going to help our troubled students, then we have to give them an education that is best fitted for their learning style. I believe that will require more computerized testing for learning styles and computer lessons geared on an individual level for maximum learning.
I started to write, years ago, and I've written fourteen novels, and three short story collections, which I am in the process of learning how to market. In the end, I believe in the natural goodness of the majority of people, no matter what their race, religion, or color of their skin. I believe that our ethnic and racial diversity can be our greatest strength or our greatest weakness. Let's all work together for the future.
I had three major ambitions in life, to be a teacher, serve in the army, and write. I've done all three, so when my time comes, I will be satisfied. Probably the best and third happiest event of my life was meeting my wife while I was stationed at Fort Devens, Massachusetts. We've been married now for 49 years, and it hasn't all been heavenly bliss as in most romance novels, but I've been happy, and my wife has always told me she was or is.
I rated meeting her as the third happiest thing in my life, the first two were the births of our daughters, Stacy and Kelly. We have one grandson, whom we dote upon continually, but I have to rate him fourth because you don't center your life around a grandchild as you do a child. I've also been happy with my family, and the many fine friends I've made over the years, and the many fine students I was blessed with during my teaching career.
My wife and I were both teachers, and that was a blessed calling. I loved to teach, and I loved so many of my students. Contrary to popular belief, most kids are good, and they want to be good, and they give school their all. I always tried to make my classes interesting and to show the relevance of what I was teaching to their lives. Where education in America breaks down is with the administration of American education. We need to better train our teachers on how to run a class, structure a classroom, and how to make their lessons pertinent to the lives their students are leading.
I was fortunate in that I taught in inner-city schools, and I saw first hand how tough life can be for so many young people. I was never bigoted; I was raised in a bigoted atmosphere, but I never bought into it. But if we are going to help our troubled students, then we have to give them an education that is best fitted for their learning style. I believe that will require more computerized testing for learning styles and computer lessons geared on an individual level for maximum learning.
I started to write, years ago, and I've written fourteen novels, and three short story collections, which I am in the process of learning how to market. In the end, I believe in the natural goodness of the majority of people, no matter what their race, religion, or color of their skin. I believe that our ethnic and racial diversity can be our greatest strength or our greatest weakness. Let's all work together for the future.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 24, 2013
Virtual Christmas is not what I expected. I thought the characters were all going to be in a virtual reality, but just one was taken for a reality check.
Our society has become a me first, I want, I am entitled mindset. Jake, the lead character is just such a hoodlum, but not from how he was raised but rather from the emotional traumatic pain he holds in from six years on.
His grandfather puts Jake into a virtual reality to steer him onto the right path. He lets him see what he has become from lashing out with anger instead of healing his pain.
Jake's friends also suffer his obstinacy and superiority attitude and insults. No one is safe as he lashes out, even a cold homeless and defenseless puppy. What he discovers though through his grandfather's help is what the basis of life is all about. What rewards really make you happy, from what deeds you do, and things you accomplish. Money is not the reward that gives you the greatest song in your heart. Destroying a company or others won't heal the wounds in your heart. The one thing that finally makes Jake heal and happy is what his grandfather finally makes him understand.
It is a good story. I wanted Jake to succeed, but I also now want to know what he does next. He has a huge opportunity at his feet, and will he hold onto his new found reality, or will greed and self interests get the best of him yet.
I would enjoy another installment of Jake and his life. It is a fun read everyone would enjoy.
Our society has become a me first, I want, I am entitled mindset. Jake, the lead character is just such a hoodlum, but not from how he was raised but rather from the emotional traumatic pain he holds in from six years on.
His grandfather puts Jake into a virtual reality to steer him onto the right path. He lets him see what he has become from lashing out with anger instead of healing his pain.
Jake's friends also suffer his obstinacy and superiority attitude and insults. No one is safe as he lashes out, even a cold homeless and defenseless puppy. What he discovers though through his grandfather's help is what the basis of life is all about. What rewards really make you happy, from what deeds you do, and things you accomplish. Money is not the reward that gives you the greatest song in your heart. Destroying a company or others won't heal the wounds in your heart. The one thing that finally makes Jake heal and happy is what his grandfather finally makes him understand.
It is a good story. I wanted Jake to succeed, but I also now want to know what he does next. He has a huge opportunity at his feet, and will he hold onto his new found reality, or will greed and self interests get the best of him yet.
I would enjoy another installment of Jake and his life. It is a fun read everyone would enjoy.
November 12, 2012
Reviewed by Grandma Bev for TeensReadToo.com
Wealthy, handsome, and smart, Jake Samson is not a very likable guy. He has everything, but still suffers psychological pain and takes it out on everyone in sight, especially now, during the Christmas season.
In spite of the efforts of his parents, he takes out his frustration on his parent's employees, and then on a hungry and cold puppy.
Jake's friends, Clem and Jorge, have come to play the latest computer games on Jake's state-of-the-art equipment, but Jake is visited by the ghost of his grandfather. Clem and Jorge can't see him, but Jake is compelled to play a virtual game on his own, engineered by his ghostly grandfather.
In this updated, modern version of Dickens' A CHRISTMAS CAROL, Jake spends Christmas Eve visiting Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Future. He gains some incredibly revealing insights as he sees the pain of others and how his abominable behavior has added to their suffering.
Clyde R. Hedges has created compelling and sympathetic characters in this story with a fast-moving plot. Though somewhat predictable, it is very entertaining and inspiring.
There are lessons for all of us to learn as Jake sees himself through the eyes of others.
Wealthy, handsome, and smart, Jake Samson is not a very likable guy. He has everything, but still suffers psychological pain and takes it out on everyone in sight, especially now, during the Christmas season.
In spite of the efforts of his parents, he takes out his frustration on his parent's employees, and then on a hungry and cold puppy.
Jake's friends, Clem and Jorge, have come to play the latest computer games on Jake's state-of-the-art equipment, but Jake is visited by the ghost of his grandfather. Clem and Jorge can't see him, but Jake is compelled to play a virtual game on his own, engineered by his ghostly grandfather.
In this updated, modern version of Dickens' A CHRISTMAS CAROL, Jake spends Christmas Eve visiting Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Future. He gains some incredibly revealing insights as he sees the pain of others and how his abominable behavior has added to their suffering.
Clyde R. Hedges has created compelling and sympathetic characters in this story with a fast-moving plot. Though somewhat predictable, it is very entertaining and inspiring.
There are lessons for all of us to learn as Jake sees himself through the eyes of others.
December 8, 2012
I read this in Kindle edition.
Very good story of a 15-year-old boy, incredibly wealthy, who needs an attitude adjustment. He's visited on Christmas Eve by the ghost of his grandfather and forced into examining his Christmases Past, Present, and Future.
Very good story of a 15-year-old boy, incredibly wealthy, who needs an attitude adjustment. He's visited on Christmas Eve by the ghost of his grandfather and forced into examining his Christmases Past, Present, and Future.
November 7, 2016
A modern remake of A Christmas Carol. Loved all the Characters.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews