Uncle Carl

by Frank LoProto

Who is Uncle Carl? When Tommy Grainger was younger, Uncle Carl guided him through the various stages of his development, advising him in his educational and career decisions. He later referred Tommy and his wife, Ciara, to the fertility specialist who helped her become pregnant with their first child. It was Uncle Carl who was there for Tommy during his times of need, in place of the father who abandoned his family. By all accounts, Uncle Carl offered guidance and assistance to Tommy at every stage of his life. Then why can’t Tommy remember any of it, and why can’t he even summon an image of Uncle Carl in his mind? As his life grows increasingly complicated and he finds himself plagued by inexplicable visions and dreams of bright light, Tommy once again finds himself at a crossroads. With the backdrop of a nation in the grip of an authoritarian government steadily eroding the freedom and rights of its citizens while warning of the imminent threat of undefined terrorist aggression, Tommy is left anticipating Uncle Carl’s pending visit to the family with the hope that he can provide clarity during a time when paranoia grips not only his family, but his country. When his wife and daughters are arrested by government security agents as suspected terrorists, Uncle Carl sends Tommy to Sunrise Harbor, a sleepy seaside vacation village where he is told he will find what he needs to rescue his family and gain a better understanding of the things that are complicating his life. While there, Tommy learns the shocking truth about himself and Uncle Carl, and he becomes caught up in events with implications not only for the Grainger family, but potentially for the entire human race.

410 pages, Paperback

Published July 24, 2021