THE RIVER: A SERIES OF TRAGIC SUCCESS, BOOK ONE

by Ron Davidson

An unemployed veteran cares for his family as he battles with PTSD, anger, and depression. Reliving past experiences helps him come to terms, while filling in pieces to reveal a much bigger problem.

Entertaining the reader with an unorthodox approach to storytelling, harrowing experiences from throughout his life are relived as the protagonist battles many antagonists around and within him.

Below is an example from the fifth chapter of Book

This material contains adult content and language.

EXT. PARKING LOT, HIGH SCHOOL, SUNNY - LATE SPRING, 2:35 PM, AGE 14

One new moped, a 1970’s moped, and a 1980’s scooter idle in the center of a parking lot. Their riders’ attention, directed to a playground beside an elementary school, as three high-end mopeds race closer from the left of the idling trio.

The speeding riders pass an excited crowd of teenagers appearing from the right, with groups of two and three trailing across the parking lot to the high school entrances.

All three wear their helmets, ready to speed off, as Dustin looks nervously at Ron.

DUSTIN
Are you ready?

Glancing over his shoulder as another group approaches loudly from the high school’s main entrance, Ron is calm and collected, except for a slight look of concern in his eyes.

RON
Yeah.

Zipping to an abrupt stop, the three riders join the group as all five of the teens now watch Ron, blankly staring at the playground.

Without warning he speeds out of the parking lot and down the road towards the elementary school as the other five riders race to catch up.

EXT. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PLAYGROUND - IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING

Jumping the curb, the six riders veer their mopeds in to park near a windowless brick wall, obscuring their presence to the teachers inside the school.

Already a large crowd has formed and more high school kids can be seen hurrying from across the field – all, trying to arrive before one group louder than the rest.

Removing his helmet, Ron hangs it on his moped’s handlebars before swinging his leg wide to dismount.
Wearing a new, white shirt and mesh shorts, Ron looks down at his flip-flop sandals, realizing he did not choose the best footwear that day.

Stepping to the center of the crowd, he is the focus of their attention as it widens around him.

Friendly voices offer encouragement over each other, mixed with concerns of doubt. Closer voices offer pep talks that Ron has tuned out.

Staring intently as the approaching group blends into the huddled onlookers, Ron’s opposition makes himself known by removing his shirt with an attempt to look muscular.

With his back partially towards the center of the circle, he does not acknowledge that Ron is even there. Though not as fit, the other boy stands much taller. And he looks as though he weighs twice as much.

Taking a measured step forward, Ron pauses, still unclear whether this was going to be clean or street rules.

RON
Do you want...

Before he can finish the sentence, the much larger teen turns, cutting the distance to Ron faster than expected, tackling him to the ground.

He appears to have bitten off more than he can chew as his face is pinned between a sweaty chest and the grass.

367 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 1, 2022