A Whateley Academy Adventure

Jade 1 – Coming Out

By Babs Yerunkle

1: Pop goes the weasel

Topeka, Kansas May 18, Thursday

“I’ve had it with you!”

The shove practically threw Jared across the room, slamming him against the wall. Snapshots and cheap posters rained down. Jared looked for somewhere to run, but he was already backed into the far corner of his room.

He was used to running from his father. “Trouble prevention,” as he preferred to think of it; giving father time to cool off. He was often the target of his father’s anger, but this time was worse than any he could remember. Well, worse than anything since the crash that had killed his mother, three years ago. That had resulted in a DUI conviction for his father, and a beating for him sufficient to keep him out of school for a week.

And if Jared couldn’t think of some way to escape, there’d be another fatality tonight.

For Sandra Carter, nightmare haunts her days and the past lies ahead of her. Can the Tao and its Handmaiden shine new light on her way, or must the darkness prove stronger?