twenty-something

Make The Man | A Story By Patrick Raymond
An Introduction

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Starting tomorrow, we're trying something a little different here at Twenty-Something.

Inspired by the "popularity" of 90s-Something, and in an effort to keep more readers (shameless, I know), I will begin posting original fiction on a regular basis.

Every Friday (and some Mondays), I will post serialized excerpts from a story I call MAKE THE MAN.

MAKE THE MAN is a work-in-progress, a labor of love, if you will. It's not quite a novel yet, but it is pretty dang long so far. I'm posting it here for feedback, to keep Yelli happy, and to kick my butt back into writing fiction on a more regular basis.

What is MAKE THE MAN about? It's the story of nineteen-year-old Sam Spencer, his decision to drop out of college in Rhode Island, and his return home to Vermont that summer.

Want more? Fine. Here's the "book jacket description" I put together as an outline when I started writing the story, when I was 20 and the tale was still titled "Meeting Chris Eslinger." Don't hold it against me if this isn't how the story goes:

Sam Spencer has made a big decision: to drop out of college after finishing his first year. He leaves behind a beautiful blonde best friend and a secret "frat-boy-friend," for the comfort of his small town home in Vermont. When Sam finds himself unable to tell his too-good-to-be-true man how he really feels, he finds himself making a drunken vow that he will fall for say "I love you" to some lucky guy before the end of the summer.

At home, Sam's attempts at finding love begin when he reunites with his old buddy Ted (who may or may not still pine away after our hero) and other high school friends -- including Charlie, a newly bisexual senior, and Maddie, his wacky gal pal who suggests they get married for fun. Then there's his family -- his harried mother, sexually ambiguous little brother, and the over-eager family dog.

But Sam's real adventures begin when he meets some newcomers -- like Phil Rayner, the boy who's seemingly replaced him in the hearts and minds of his hometown (and who Sam is ashamedly attracted to), and Ryan, the handsome waiter that Sam can't get out of his mind. On top of all that, there's the mysterious "Chris Eslinger," who Sam knows only through mysterious emails and instant messages...