Moments for the Heart

Hey Weekend Writing Warriors. It has been a crazy week having two client projects to write. I normally only have one, so it becomes interesting when I have to double up. Personal writing sits on the back burner or even gets taken off the stove altogether. I had begun editing The Transference II, now it’s on hold again. But it’s all good. Making money is more important.

It should be an interesting week. I get to see balloons on my Twitter page. Adding another candle to the cake, one more year and I hit 5o. So I need to enjoy this one.

**If you’ve missed out on anything and want to can catch up on past snippets, you can click here.**

SYNOPSIS:

Michael Andrews thought he was far removed from the events his father experienced twenty years ago. He heard the bedtime stories so often, he had driven them out and was barely speaking to his dad. Religion was the last thing he wanted, until it became the only thing that mattered.

A new threat arises; his wife is arrested for talking about God to the wrong person. Now Jacob Andrews may be his only hope. He must lean on him, Rachel’s attorney, and those who understand what occurred twenty years ago and may be happening now when an old adversary returns to wreak havoc, using federal laws to exact revenge on the Andrews family.

Will he succeed, or will justice prevail to set Rachel free?

>>>If you are curious about the first novels snippets, I have them archived: Here is a link to them if you want to read up on The Fiver Barred Gate <<<

SNIPPET:

Summary:
This Five Barred Gate sequel, is a Dystopian Suspense about what would it be like if it our freedom of expression liberties were taken from us. These laws existed in the first novel, but are much stricter it being twenty years later. Now you cannot challenge an authority figure or be arrested. This spills over into the religious community as churches are no longer allowed to speak freely, out of fear that a sermon would violate the law. Pastors must submit sermons and speeches for scrutiny before they are spoken in a public forum. If you fail to do so, you are threatened with closure. This is where we find Jacob Andrews. He was the MC in the first book, he is now the pastor of a church and faced with the challenges of obeying the laws. This book surrounds his son Michael and how the laws now impact his life, wife, and children.

**Officials are like police officers, but not. The are federal government law enforcement officers placed into districts to enforce federal laws.**

Here is a bit from last week: (Jacob is speaking to the Official)

“I’m just trying to find your angle.”

“Why would I have one?”

“We haven’t seen an Official around these parts for almost fifteen years. Why now?”

“For that very reason, Mr. Andrews. Your area doesn’t have an Official to monitor activity. We can’t have folks creating havoc and disobeying local, or worse, federal laws, now, could we?”

—We are jumping ahead a couple of paragraphs. The Official gives Jacob a final warning that he will be watching him then leaves. Jacob, now nervous his past is repeating, calls his wife, Renae.–

“What are you talking about, Jacob?” Renae asked. “Slow down. You’re not making sense.”

“I told you. He’s back.”

“Who’s back?”

“Edwards.”

“Jacob, Edwards is dead,” Renae said with a sigh. He knew that sigh. She had given it to him before. It was the one she gave him after his bad dreams to reassure him that the boogie man was gone.

There is your ten, but let’s continue for a bit:

“Renae, this was not a dream. There was an Official here. He said that he was going to keep an eye on us. When he left, and I shut the door, I distinctly heard Edwards laughing.”

“Jacob, maybe the Official was laughing, and he sounded like Edwards.”

Jacob sat in silence. The thought never occurred to him. The sound grabbed him so quickly any other option fled his mind.

“It was so close, Renae. I was convinced it was him.”

“Maybe he was doing an impression to scare you?”

“Pretty dang good one. He had me going,” Jacob said, peeking out the window again.

“Honey, it’s fine. You’re fine. We’re fine,” Renae said. “It was inevitable that Officials would make their return to Carrolton. Just be glad they’re out of hiding now, and we can stop wondering.”

Jacob took a deep breath. As always, his wife was right. He had been looking around corners and watching his back far too long. For them to finally make their presence known would be a relief. He could recall when Edwards would have his two cronies sit in the school parking lot just watching them, he wouldn’t feel fear. He knew where they were. Now, he could have that same relief. It was the one thing this unknown badge didn’t realize. He thought the pressure would cause apprehension. It would be quite the opposite. Their visual presence was a relief.

“You’re right, babe. Thanks.” He smiled and walked away from the window back toward the gym. “Will you be by for a workout after work today?”

“Yes, that’s the plan. I’m getting in the car now. See you later, love.”

He blew kisses into the phone and ended their call.

His visitor may have left, but he sure left an impression on Jacob, reminding him of his past. The past that doesn’t exist anymore. He needed Renae to remind him of that; what are wives for. But we shall see what this Official means from interjecting himself back into Jacobs life again and how it will impact his son Michael.

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Monday is Memory Monday
We remember an important event that occurred on that Monday or sometime that week.

Tuesday is Two Twenty-Two Tuesday
A weekly vlog where I talk about writing or something that’s been on my heart, all in two minutes and twenty-two seconds. — I am way behind on this… sorry.
This is posted on my YouTube channel.

Wednesday is when I post my blog for the week.
I speak from my heart on various topics from writing to faith.

Thursday is This or That Thursday
A weekly two-option poll that raises the question, do you like this, or do you prefer that?
I host this on this on Twitter, IG, and Facebook.

Friday is Fun Fact Friday
I find and share interesting or obscure facts on my pages.

Saturday is for Weekend Writing Warriors
Saturday is for Snippets from a current piece or past work.

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In His Exciting Service,

Jeff S. Bray

Check out amazing established and emerging writers at Weekend Writing Warriors. Each week we post new snippets from either published works or works in progress for each other to comment on. Gain insight into how the mind of a writer works and a behind-the-scenes look at works before they hit bookstands everywhere.