Chapter 1

I grew up in the Valley of the Sun; Phoenix, Arizona to be more precise. My mother, father and older brother and me; we lived at what was then the most northern part of Phoenix; in a small house on a very large tract of desert land. My childhood was anything but normal. You see, my dad was a drunk, an abusive drunk at that. As soon as my brother turned eighteen, he left the house at joined the Marines. After serving for four years, he returned to Phoenix, and went to work for the Maricopa County Sheriff's Department. I was thirteen when he left home; I became the target of my father's abusive ways. Mom tried her best to protect me whenever she could, but she was not a strong woman. One night I came home late for supper. My father tried to beat me; mom got in between us. He shifted his anger on to her, hitting her repeatedly. I ran to the phone and called the police. By the time they arrived, mom was lying in a pool of blood; dead. My father was taken away in handcuffs and pleaded guilty to a second degree murder charge. I was sent east to live with my mother's sister and her family in New Jersey.

Surprisingly, I did well in school, got good grades, but was exceptionally shy around girls. I was a computer geek. I didn't have a pocket protector or thick black framed glasses with tape in the middle. In fact, I was pretty good looking, small in stature, about five foot seven and one hundred thirty five pounds. I just found more comfort in reacting with my computer than with people, especially girls.

Chapter 2 »