The Phenomenal Event
Copyright© 2025 by A Well Traveled Man
Chapter 1
Griffin Barrett was Fourteen and lived in Granbury, outside Fort Worth, Texas. He lived with his Father, Richard Barrett, a chemical engineer at Allied Technologies. Four years ago, Griffin’s mother, Ashley Barrett, divorced his dad for the bright lights of Hollywood. She went to Southern California for plastic surgery on her nose after an accident and fell in love with the area. Dad said she met someone with money, and he wasn’t sorry she was gone. Grif, as everyone calls him, agreed.
Mom wasn’t a stay-at-home person. She wasn’t happy unless she was socializing, shopping, attending events, or going to expensive restaurants. Grif’s dad, Richard, inherited a trust from his parents that funded their lifestyle. His dad worked before his inheritance and liked his work. He avoided flaunting his wealth, and Ashley, his mom, went crazy when it happened. She maxed out the credit cards each month until his dad put a limit on them. That pissed her off, and there was constant fighting about money.
Dad laughed when Mom called and said she was filing for divorce. He told Grif his family’s trust wasn’t part of their income, so she couldn’t touch it. Mom hired an expensive attorney, and it took a year before Mom gave up and settled for a fixed amount without alimony. She left the family and was living with a movie producer named Jerry Harper. Dad had hired a PI and had photos of them. Dad got custody of Grif because Mom didn’t want him after finding she couldn’t get the trust money.
But he had to visit his loving mother for a week or two during the summer and on alternating Thanksgiving and Christmas. Things around their lives returned to normal after the divorce was final. Grif attended high school and was a linebacker/defensive end on the freshman team. His best friends were Greg and Nick, and they were on the team, too. Grif inherited his dad’s intelligence and was academically at the top of his class. The school wanted to advance Grif, but his dad rejected the idea.
Instead, he had Grif take college courses online. Dad said he needed interaction with his peers for his emotional development. By taking college courses online, he could graduate from college as soon as he graduated from high school, so that’s what Grif did. Grif also inherited his dad’s build and height, but he inherited his mom’s looks and skin color. Mom’s maiden name was Sanchez, and she was Hispanic.
When Grif wasn’t playing football, he worked part-time at his father’s company. He would help out in different departments because of his computer and chemistry skills. Grif’s computer skills were far superior, but he kept them hidden from everyone. His lab skills were good enough to help with the experiments and testing. With the work hours restricted to sixteen hours a week, he would still go to work and not clock in. That allowed him to work on his computer programming, and he developed into a master hacker.
That’s when the event happened. Grif was working on a computer in a vacant lab when the explosion occurred. It was more of a loud bang when a centrifuge exploded, and he was covered with liquid and then passed out. When he woke up, he was in the decontamination chamber, nude and wet from a shower the emergency personnel gave him. They came in, took readings with devices, and then took his vitals, urine, and blood samples. When he was cleared, Dad came and asked how he was feeling.
Grif lied and said he was fine but tired and would appreciate some clothes. His dad laughed and said, “We’ll get you some scrubs.” Grif said thanks because the female tech was eyeing him like dinner, and they laughed. Grif said he wanted to go home after putting on the scrubs, and Dad drove him home. Upon arrival, Grif said he would lie down and went to his room. He lied to the emergency personnel and his dad about his condition. He felt dizzy and had a tingling sensation all over his body, but didn’t want to undergo extensive testing.
When he woke up from his nap, he ran to the bathroom. The stench that came out of him was gross, and he had to flush several times. He sprayed air freshener and then took a shower, and he felt better. Dad ordered pizza for dinner and asked Grif how he felt while they ate. He said he was fine but a little tired. Then Grif asked his dad what happened in the lab. His dad said Dr. Rodney Bohm put an experiment into the centrifuge and left. The centrifuge overheated and exploded. Grif said the absent-minded professor, and they laughed.
Dad told Grif to take a few days off school and to call him immediately if he experienced any problems. Dr. Bohm couldn’t remember the experiment in the centrifuge, and the fire sprinklers washed away everything. After dinner, Grif went to his room to lie down and fell asleep. He dreamt something was happening inside his body. It started in his head and went down to his feet. Then, the dream ended, and he fell into a deep sleep.
Dr. Rodney Bohm was worried about his health. He had been diagnosed with advanced Alzheimer’s, and he had forgotten what he had done with his latest experiment. He couldn’t find his notebooks or the serum anywhere. Then, a lab explosion destroyed his serum. He couldn’t tell anyone what he was working on, just that it was his experiment in the centrifuge. His customer was the CIA, and they wanted results. After he tested it on rats, his serum showed great results, and he reported it to them.
They wanted to test it on humans, and that was what was in the centrifuge. There was enough for twelve treatments, but now there was nothing left, and Rodney was worried about what the CIA would do. He had to write everything down instead of using a computer. It was an off-the-books experiment, and he couldn’t afford anyone to find out. Rodney was so depressed about his condition and losing his experiment, he went home and drank. Seeing no other option, he put a gun to his mouth and pulled the trigger.
Grif woke up the next morning and ran to the bathroom. It was a repeat of yesterday, so he sprayed air freshener and showered. When he got out, Grif immediately noticed the change in his body. His muscles were more developed, and his skin had a glow. The muscle between his legs was also larger, and he wondered about his height. Grif tried to put on his jeans, but they didn’t fit, so he put on sweats. Then he called in sick to school, ate breakfast, and thought about his dream.
The changes to his body had to be related to the lab accident. Grif knew he needed to keep the changes secret, or he would become a lab experiment. After breakfast, he ordered a Lyft ride to the mall. Then Grif texted his dad that he had a growth spurt and was going to the mall for new clothes. His dad texted back OK, but to return home immediately afterwards. Hopefully, no one will see you there while out of school sick.
When Grif arrived at the mall, he bought shirts, pants, and underwear at the department store. Then he went to the sporting goods store and bought new sweats and exercise gear, including compression shorts. He stopped at the food court, got lunch, and ordered a Lyft ride home. Upon arriving home, he washed his new clothes and did his online college coursework. It went quicker than before, and he wondered what other surprises were in store for him.
Dad arrived home with Chinese takeout for dinner. While they ate, he asked Grif how he was feeling, and Grif said he was feeling better. Dad said, “Good. Then, go to school tomorrow, but there will be no physical activity for three days. I’ll give you a note for gym and football.” Grif said Coach Burden won’t be happy, and Dad said, “Tough shit.” The emergency personnel said it could have damaged your lungs, so don’t take a chance. If Coach Burden gives you a hard time, call me immediately.
Grif told his Dad about shopping, and he only bought the basics. Dad said that was good because he was growing and would outgrow his clothes within a few months. After they finished dinner, they measured his height on Grif’s closet door frame. He was now 5’11”, so he grew three inches. Dad told Grif to bag his old clothes, and he’d drop them off at the Goodwill on his way to work. Grif asked if the accident caused any problems with his part-time employment.
Dad said no and that he could return to work next week. Dr. Rodney Bohm admitted to leaving an experiment running in the centrifuge unattended. Dad said that man is a walking accident waiting to happen. He walked into my lab several times, thinking it was his, and stood there confused. Grif asked if he suspected Alzheimer’s, and Dad said yes, and it’s getting worse. So, avoid him at work, and maybe management will finally do something after the latest accident.
They watched the movie Enter the Dragon, starring Bruce Lee, John Saxon, and Jim Kelly. At the end, Dad told Grif to check out local martial arts studios. Martial arts can help with football and self-defense. But no belts or competition, and try to get one-on-one instruction. It’s not something you want known, or you will be challenged and fights will get you expelled and kicked off the team. So, tell no one, even your friends. They said goodnight and went to bed.
Grif went to his bedroom and performed some of the martial arts movements he had seen in the movie. He closed his eyes and did as Bruce Lee did in the film. After thirty minutes, he was exhausted and lay down on the bed. Grif wondered how he could recall all the details in the movie and fell asleep. Tonight was a duplicate of last night, with dreams of something being done inside his body. The same tingling sensation followed, and he fell into a deep sleep.
After breakfast, Grif walked to school, and his friends Greg and Nick asked what had happened to him. Grif said there had been an accident at Dad’s work, and he had inhaled some chemicals. They asked if he was alright, and Grif said yes, but no physical activity for three days. Greg said Coach Burden wouldn’t be happy, and Grif said, “Tough shit.” Dad will have his ass if he causes me trouble. Nick told Grif to tell the Coach at the beginning of practice so that it could be canceled.
They laughed and said, “Fat chance. “ He went to the school office and turned in the note for his absence. Grif sat in the back of his classes and studied college courses on his computer. He purchased e-books for courses he wasn’t taking online. He planned on testing out of as many courses as possible. Then came the dreaded football practice. Coach Burden said he didn’t give a dam about a note. He ordered Grif to practice or run laps.
When Grif said he couldn’t, the Coach told him to go to his office and that he’d deal with him after practice. Grif did as he was told and called Dad from the Coach’s office. Dad said he would call the school and straighten the asshole out. While he was waiting, Grif hacked into Coach Burden’s computer. The coach had a cameras in the girls’ locker room and recorded them undressing and in the shower. He copied one video and emailed it to the police department. The message said Coach Burden put cameras in the girls’ locker room and records it on his office computer.
Grif removed any sign of his activity and shut off the computer. Then he heard Coach Burden being summoned to the office by the intercom. He figured the Coach would threaten him after his office visit, so Grif had his phone read to record the event. He was right. Coach Burden stormed into the office and told Grif he had been kicked off the team. He told Grif to get out of his office before he beat his ass. Grif said yes, Coach, and went to the office.
Grif asked to see the principal and played the recording. He told Principal Holcomb his Dad would sue Coach Burden and the school. This wasn’t the first time Coach Burden threatened him, but it would be the last. Principal Holcomb asked Grif to give him a chance to fix the problem. Grif said, “You’ve had several chances, and he’s still here.” I’ll let my Dad handle it, and he left for home.
When Dad got home, he told Grif that Dr. Rodney Bohm committed suicide last night. He left a note that Alzheimer’s had taken his mind, and he couldn’t stand it any longer. Grif said that was sad, and Dad agreed. Then Grif played the recording of the Coach kicking him off the team. Dad told Grif to forward it to him, and he would have our attorney handle it.
Dad got Italian takeout for dinner, and they sat and ate. Dad said your mother called and wants you to attend a movie premiere that Jerry produced. It’s two weeks from Friday, so she set up a tux fitting in Dallas this weekend for you. Grif said Fabulous, at least they scheduled it on the football by week. They laughed when he asked if he was supposed to wear boots and a cowboy hat. Then Dad said Jerry’s paying for it, so do it and surprise them. Besides, you’ll make a scene upstaging them, and they laughed.
Grif said, “You know this could affect my holiday visits,” and they laughed again. They finished dinner and watched Fist of Fury, starring Bruce Lee. When it was over, Grif asked Dad if they could get a heavy bag for him to practice in the garage. Dad said it was ok, but told Grif to arrange lessons. He promised he would, and they said goodnight. Grif closed his eyes and imitated Bruce Lee’s movements, strikes, and leg kicks. After thirty minutes, he was exhausted and went to bed. The feeling and dream returned, then he fell into a deep sleep.
When he arrived at school the next morning, his friends Greg and Nick asked what he had done to Coach Burden yesterday. Grif said nothing but told him he could do any physical activity. Greg said when Coach returned from the office, he was pissed and put us through a ringer. Grif said sorry about that, but you know what the Coach says: “It will make men out of you.” They flipped him the bird while laughing.