Merry Christmas

Twenty-one years ago, the real DTB Cousins spent one of their most unique Christmases ever. Darin was in Australia, Troy was in Japan, and Brad was in Chile. They were all serving missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was one of two Christmases I spent away from my family and friends in the beautiful country of Chile. Although I missed my family and our traditions, those experiences were priceless. I gained a greater appreciation of what is truly important in life. It wasn't the presents that I missed and thought about, it was the family traditions. My parents called on Noche Buena (Christmas Eve) so that I could have the opportunity to partially share that special time with my extended family, albeit long-distance. I also got to experience holiday traditions of another culture, gaining a greater love and appreciation for the people I was there serving. From letters I received from my cousins, I know that they had similar experiences. Merry Christmas everyone!

P.S. As I was looking at the pictures from that Christmas, I remembered that one of the gifts I received was the same shirt I was wearing on the Narrows hike 8 months later. It said: "Someone in California <3's me" and was a gift from Uncle Merlin and Aunt Sally.

Movie theme song

As I was thinking about my blog, and what I should publish, Enya's "Wild Child" started playing. I immediately recalled the fact that I've often thought this would be the perfect song to be playing in the background of the flood scene in The Narrows Escape. In fact, I've recreated the entire scene in my mind's eye with the song playing in the background. In my mind's eye, the camera speed is about 60-75% of real speed as the characters are leaping obstacles, slipping on rocks, shouting warnings, and scrambling to climb to high ground while periodically glancing back at the wall of water and logs churning down the river channel. In any case, it makes for a thrilling scene. Now that it's published, making the book into a movie would be the ultimate success. It's a long shot, but you have to envision something before it can actually happen.
Regarding the themesong, what song would you choose? I'm interested in reading your comments.

Horseshoes

One of my favorite activities from our family reunions growing up was the horseshoe tournament. It still is - probably because I usually do well. We usually have several different tournaments over the course of the reunion including: singles (men), singles (women), singles (youth), singles (kids), doubles (men), doubles (youth), and doubles (mixed). In any case, my early drafts of the Narrows Escape included both a singles and a doubles tournament for the youth. The feedback I got from family and friends who read the early drafts was that there was too much horseshoes. I didn't necessarily agree, but since several people mentioned it, I decided to cut out the singles tournament and just focus on the doubles - mixing in the best elements of both. Several people will tell you that the final draft still contained too much horseshoes, but I wasn't willing to cut out any more.
Here is the original clip:

“Where’s Liz?” asked Devin.

“She’s taking care of the camp for my mom this morning. She’ll come over in a bit,” Amber informed him. She turned to Brady and said, “I guess I get to play you.” Devin handed her the shoes he’d been using, then moved aside to watch their match.

“Well don’t beat me too bad,” Amber begged as she hefted the shoes and adjusted her grip.

“I’m sure you’ll give me a run for my money,” Brady said, humbly accepting the praise.

“Mind if I take a couple of practice throws?” she asked.

“Go ahead,” Brady offered graciously.

Her first throw took a bad bounce on the uneven ground and caromed out of the pit right at Devin. He had to leap up to avoid getting hit. “Hey watch it!” he yelled. “Are you trying to send me to the hospital too?”

“Sorry!” Amber said sheepishly. Unfortunately, she quickly found her range and began schooling her younger cousin once the match began. On successive rounds, she successfully encircled the post with one of her shoes. The pair of ringers gave her a quick 6-0 lead.

On the next round, one of Brady‘s throws finally landed within a shoe’s width of the stake – good enough for a point. Unfortunately, one of Amber’s was closer.

“It looks like we both get a point,” she said, after measuring.

“Actually only the closer shoe gets a point,” Brady reminded her, gloomily. “You’re up 7-0.”

“Hey, all right! Hey Dad, get a load of this! I’m actually beating Brady!” she called out.

“Good for you!” Uncle Marvin called back encouragingly. He was playing his own game on the next pit against Uncle Rob.

“How embarrassing,” said Devin mockingly, slowly shaking his head.

Amber turned and gave him the eye. “And just what is so embarrassing?”

“Losing to a girl,” Devin said with a grin.

“You just wait,” she said. “After I put Brady away, I’ll beat you too.”

“If you say so,” he replied doubtfully. He had faith that Brady would come back. But his admiration of Amber’s skills slowly grew as her lead mounted to 14-2.

“How many points do I need to win?” she asked.

“Twenty-one,” Brady sighed. He looked humiliated, but wasn’t about to give up. Finally he got hot, and tossed a ringer. He started picking up points on almost every round, but it was too late. By the time he battled back to within three, Amber needed only one more point to win. On the next set of throws, Brady would have picked up two more points, but Amber’s second throw aced out his points, giving her a 21-17 victory.

“You better find your stroke before the doubles tournament,” Devin instructed while Amber began announcing to everyone that she’d won.

“She’s good!” insisted Brady.

“Yeah, she’s all right,” Devin admitted. “But, still … losing to a girl…you embarrassed the club.”

“Get lost!” said Brady, shrugging Devin’s hand off his shoulder.

“I’m just kidding!” said Devin.

“Well, just remember that when you lose to Liz,” Brady declared.

“Yeah, right,” scoffed Devin. “That’ll be the day. I could win that game blindfolded.”

“Well, here she comes. So go get your blindfold and prove it,” suggested Brady.

“Well, okay, maybe not blindfolded,” Devin amended. He was sure he would win, but he wasn’t going to get carried away either.

##

Devin wiped his brow again, replaced his hat and congratulated Liz on a game well played. His narrow escape, though, didn’t do him much good. Shane was waiting for him in the next round, after a 21-2 pasting of Brady’s sister Lindsey.

It wasn’t much of a match. Shane dispatched Devin quickly, but not painlessly. Devin was devastated after the loss. After all his hard work, he had only scored six measly points against his brother. That was even worse than last year.

“You played well,” said Brady, trying to console him.

Devin looked at Brady incredulously. “How do you figure? I lost 21-6.”

“22-6,” corrected Brady. “He already had 19 when he tossed that last ringer.”

“Thanks for clarifying that,” growled Devin. He turned and strode away. He wasn’t in the mood to talk about it.

“Well don’t get too depressed,” Brady counseled, hurrying to keep up. “We’ve got to regain our form before the doubles tournament starts.”

“What’s the use!” sighed Devin. “Amber beat you and Shane whipped me. We’re toast.”

Shane's character bio

I've shared character bios for the three DTB cousins, but Shane is the other main character in The Narrows Escape. Here is his character bio:

Shane Arthur Allred

Novel: The Narrows Escape Time & Setting: Summer 1983

Birth date/place: July 20, 1969; Provo, UT

Married: no

Homes: Provo, UT (1969-1970; St. Paul, MN (1970-1973); Provo, UT (1973-1975); Farmington, UT (1975-1983); Northland, UT (1983- )

Hair: blond, wavy Eyes: bright blue Facial: oval

Weight: Height: Build: fairly muscular, strong legs, trim waist, average weight Skin tone: naturally fair, tans well during summer

Unique Physical Characteristic: small scar above left eye

General Health: great

Positive traits: athletic, fast, good hand-eye coordination, natural leader, outgoing, popular, respectful of adults, adventurous, charismatic, smart

Negative traits: overly competitive (especially with Devin), prideful

Favorites: Color: red Food: steak & potatoes Drink: lemonade

Music: soft rock Literature: Hardy Boys, Sports Illustrated Movies: Raiders of the Lost Ark, Chariots of Fire

Clothing: preppy: polo shirt, jeans, penny loafers

Hobbies/Interests: playing sports (particularly basketball), track & field, likes to watch football and basketball (Jazz, Broncos, BYU), hiking and camping, games, girls, amusements parks, the beach, rockets (born on day of lunar landing)

Education: Will attend Northland High; plays on basketball team, track & field; wants to be class president; honors student 3.8 GPA

Religion: LDS

Financial status: does paper route, mows lawns to earn extra money

Politics: Republican

Father: Arthur career: HS counselor (Northland HS) birthday: 2/18/45 car: blue Dodge truck (doubles for camper)

Mother: Jen career: homemaker (audiologist) birthday: 9/7/47 car: maroon station wagon

Siblings: Devin (12/24/70), Kendal (9/25/74), Olivia & Emily (8/1/79)

Pets: dog (Mr. T – because of black stripe down middle of white head)

Home life: pleasant; shares room with Devin, but both boys want their own room; competitiveness between boys sometimes causes contention

Friends: Steve Green (second cousin), Joel Sanders (school)

Favorite possessions: his awards and trophies

Car: no

Greatest accomplishment: helps rescue his sister and dad after mudslide; Eagle Scout

Greatest regret: doesn't really have one

Short term goals: wants to make HS basketball team

Long term goals: wants to own is own business or become an astronaut

Fears: bears

Worst problem: wants to improve relationship with Devin, but both are too competitive

Secrets: unknown

Philosophy: Be the best that you can be

How changing: Has to adjust to new environment (CA), developing friendships w/ girls

Influenced by (Heroes): family and friends – particularly his parents; (Pres. Kimball, Pres. Reagan, Steve Young)

What does this character want more than anything and why? Wants to earn full ride scholarship to college because his parents don't have the money to pay for it.

If you were meeting this character for the first time, what would strike you most about him/her? His charm

Why will the reader care about this character? He is brave.

Why is this character in the story? His relationship with Devin is a major plot line. Also, his disappearance after the flood is one of the key events.

Write a diary entry for this character (entry into the novel): Our house was destroyed by a mudslide, but luckily I was able to rescue my dad and Olivia, so we're all okay. They were stuck up on the second floor, hanging from a window, and I convinced Olivia to jump down to me, so I could catch her. Then my dad jumped down, and I helped him out of the mud. When we got back, a TV reporter interviewed me for the evening news! It was so awesome. The mayor even came over and met me and awarded me the city's medal of honor! Unfortunately, we're going to have to move. We might even go to California, which would be cool, but I'd miss my friends.