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Copyright 1983 - 2010 by Dan Brady
The manuscript is in the form of a
diary written by a 10 year old, Jan. Throughout the story,
Jan's gender remains a mystery. After a brief introduction, in the
form of a cover letter to Jan's mother you learn Jan's
father was killed in a car accident and Jan's mother moved
back to San Francisco's east bay where she grew up. Jan
tells about Vince, the stepfather, an abusive alcoholic with
a violent temper who has a hard time earning a living. The
mother is acquiescent for the most part; both he and Jan's
mother like to drink and party. Jan has also lost a best friend,
Joey. They had an extremely strong bond; they shared common
dreams with each other. In their magical dreams, they
traveled the world seeking and finding adventures as well as
some ancient mysteries. Jan also loves nature and enjoys the
wind, the world's free toy. The situation at home is matched by
a difficult situation at school where bullies target Jan.
Jan also daydreams in class, has no friends, and is
"different" School problems are exacerbated because Jan
changes schools whenever his stepfather looses jobs or wants
to find a more inexpensive place to live. Ultimately communications from
Joey, dreams and visions have Jan become has Jan learn Vince
is planning murder and runs away. Jan is happy wandering hills
because the stars are always there and the wind is a joy. It
is on this journey that the Jan and Wind learn to
communicate with each other. Wind forewarns Jan of an
approaching ranger and so a tale of pursuit
begins Wind's interventions rescue Jan
several times but the communication is not perfect. Wind is
able to bring papers and money to Jan and so Jan learns that
there is a "manhunt" for him, that his parents are "doing
better" and somehow are able to offer a large reward to
anyone helping to bring Jan home, Jan travels but Wind is never that
far away. In San Jose, Wind saves Jan's life when a drug
addict attempts to kill him. Jan travels to a coastal redwood
forest park and succumbs to illness. Here Jan's cover story
is found out and park officials try to contact Vince. Then a
severe forest fire breaks out, threatening the park, its
rangers and the compound where Jan is being kept. Jan breaks
free, contacts Wind and has it put out the fire, even if in
a bizarre fashion. Unable to escape without using Wind, Jan
does just that and, in so doing, leaves a record of what the
wind can do. In a dream, Joey, Jan's imaginary
friend, and Jan into the titanic ruins of a lost underground
city. They bring back a jeweled and inscribed ring. The ring
allows Jan to see just as in the dream world but while
awake. This is how Jan learns about the American Indian
tracking him. Jan sets up a trap and captures the man, whom
he met actually, after the forest fire and they talk. This
man tells Jan the government is after him and that his life
is in danger. Their plan is to leave California
and make for Arizona where the man has relatives who will
protect them both. The pursuit crosses hundreds of
miles and is ultimately futile Trapped in a desert wilderness, the
chief unveils a last ditch effort. Using chants and a
magical salt he creates a time shelter. To those outside it
looks like an ordinary boulder, to those inside it is a
shadowy hideaway, which prevents contact or capture. Jan
convinces his partner that the satellite photos or those of
aircraft would see this "new boulder" and connect it with
their disappearance. Jan's friend then unveils the further
mystery of traveling into time and they leave this world
behind. The novel concludes with three
entries. The first is by Jan; the next by Jan's mother and
the final entry is by Jan's friend who prefers to be called
Mr. Fish. In the new world there are many
such "boulders", each holding their own travelers. Jan and
his friend stay in this new world for years before Wind
comes to them in a raging storm. They understand from this
that it is in trouble. Jan goes back to find out what has
happened. It is 2012. The records of Jan's talent have
provided science with a basis for creating a weather control
device and a powerful conspiracy has been using their
control over the weather to enhance their power and
profit. Upon Jan's return, when Wind
speaks, there is an immediate reaction and pursuit begins
anew. Ultimately, Jan holds up in the VistaView, a massive
hotel complex on the eastern face of Mount Diablo. It is
there that Jan, Wind, Jan's mom, the Chief, or Mr. Fish, and
the animal kingdom fight a chaotic, pitched battle with
hardened military units. The humans are able to distract
Wind, disperse the clouds of insects and slaughter the
animals, which answered the Chief's call. It is not until
the birds help Jan locate HYDRA, the device used to effect
Wind, that the battle ends in victory. After the carnage is cleared, Jan
stays on with a dwindling number of friends. The world is
changed. Nuclear weapons are removed from the earth and
tossed into the sun, armies can no longer march nor can
navies dispatch ships. War is certainly over. In the passage
written by Fish, several tales are told which clarify how
and why the wind came to be Wind. Finally, the two friends leave the
VistaView. They walk into a nearby town. No one recognizes
them and they eat in peace before they separate promising to
meet again. I am making a diary. I had to wait a long time to do
this, really long. Mrs. Ray at school says I am way beyond
my years. She says I can write very well, indeed. I like
that word, indeed I do. This makes me laugh almost out loud.
On the way home today, I felt I could run like the wind. I
was so happy. I had made up my mind to buy this book, this
one right here. Last summer Tim told me about the kind of
book with blank pages inside - ever since I wanted
one I had to save from my lunch or milk money for weeks
and weeks. Vince said he would get me one of them for my
birthday. Then, when my birthday came, I did not get the
book, of course, he said he forgot. I was disappointed
mostly like always. He got mad when I asked about it. He
gets mad easily. I am learning all the things, which get him
angry so I can avoid doing any of them. Tim said I could
write anything in the diary. That is what they are for. He
said you have to give your diary a name. I do not have a
name for mine yet so maybe tomorrow I will get one My name is Jan. My mom's name is Marie Ann Real and my
stepfather's name is Vincent Real; he tells everyone to call
him Vince. I live in Alamo, California in the United States,
on the world, which goes around the sun, Sol. I am 10 years
old. I like to read. My real dad is dead. He died in a car
accident when I was only almost six. We lived in a real big
city, way back east, New York City. My mom told me a drunken
driver hit dad when he was getting into his car. She took me
back to California. She always said she wanted to come back
here to live. She loved the low brown hills of the East Bay,
hearing the ships and foghorns as well as listening to train
sounds which fade off into the far country at night. She
told me how she loved the wind, even as a child. She said it
was a toy the world gave for free. It could whistle tunes
around corners, make music with chimes, fly kites and worked
to sail ships. I have always loved the wind just as she did
when she was a child. I was born in 1973, August 16. Summer is my favorite
season. I like to go swimming. I am good at pitching a
baseball. I am a good reader too. 3/18/83 I am naming my diary Joey. Joey was my special friend.
We used to play all the time; now he is gone moved away, far
away. His family moved out all of a sudden. He was absent
from school for a few days, I felt, I saw in a dream, his
dead eyes. I used to dream with Joey. We would go to play in
our dreams. He said he dreamt of me too; it was our forever
and ever secret. We swore on it. Sometimes, we would talk
about the times we had in our dreams together. It got so we
could not tell whose dream was whose. I sure wish Joey were
here. He taught me basketball and handball. He showed me how
to catch lizards, snakes as well as other small animals out
in the hills. He got money by selling them to other kids. I
would not do that now; most kids do not know how to take
care of them. Some feed them one time, let someone do bad
things to them, or put them in a jar then forget all about
them. My mom found my diary today. When she cleaned my room,
top to bottom, she found it. I had put it way under my bed.
She told me it was auk to have though Vince would not
understand. I knew, from the way she said, it would make him
angry. I think it is because he writes real sloppy - even I
know he cannot spell or talk the way my teachers say one
should. My mom would not say that, of course. She said he is
my stepfather; he likes being right all the time. She tries
hard to not get him upset. She made me promise to keep it
hidden. I keep it in a space under the drawer of my dresser;
I will not even tell HER about that. Tim says to write every day. I will not. I do not want
to use up the pages faster than it would take to save for
another book; I did the math, believe you me. I am already
starting to save up for the next one! I guess I will say
goodnight to you diary, goodnight Joey, see you in my
dreams. 3/14/8 Dear Joey, It feels good to write to you. You understand about
all the dream things or ways. I wish you were here. Do you
remember the colors? You know I still like to go to them
whenever I can. When I can not I will still go to a quiet
place not far off somewhere but away from people, their
houses then sit down, face into the sunlight listening to
the sounds of the world around me. It could even be traffic,
the other kids playing or the sound of the wind. I like it
when the wind brings things, the smell of wild flowers,
somebody's barbecue, lightning air, grass, or piles of
leaves burning - you remember! I know you do. Do you know what happened today? I wanted to show Tim
about the colors, dreaming or going to the stars. He did not
understand one teeny-tiny bit; he just laughed at me then
ran off. To make it worse he told the other kids. Now they
make fun of me. I trusted him. Now I do not have one friend,
really. Already, in a few weeks time, the bullyboys think I
am weird. Now Tim is "in" with them, nice. I was going to
show him how, up on the roof, it is so quiet you can hear so
much better. When I am up there, Vince thinks I am not home.
I wish we did not have to move so much. I am always new
everywhere. I sometimes go under house, through a break in
the foundation. I stay there beneath the flooring. I dug a
hole so can sit under there; it is the coolest place on a
summer day. I have a camp where I read by candlelight! I
wish you were still around. We moved to this stupid place
because Vince got a job he likes. At least I have you. Ever
since mom married Vince, we have moved a lot. Mom says he
has to go where work is. Now we live in Alamo. It is a small
place not at all like Oakland. There, in a crowded place, I
could be the way I wanted to be. I could hide out in the
open while being myself. This place is different - everyone
looks at everyone. There is no hiding place. We are in a sub
division with about 400 houses. It has its own elementary;
it is bad - everyone knows everyone! Vince got a bonus. He took us all to see a movie. It
was about World War II, a battle in the Pacific war, Midway.
Seeing the film made me want to read about it. Vince
promised to get me a book on it. I like history. I want to
know why wars happen so many times. In school, all we seem
to learn about are dates or places. I want to know about why
they happen; maybe things will balance out, I guess. 3/18/83 Dear Joey: Today at school, I was staring out an open window when
the breeze came in. It was so hot in the classroom. The
teacher was talking about a story we had read. I did not
like the story, so I looked out the window, closed my eyes.
Suddenly I felt cool all over. It was nice. The smells of
all the trees were in it and, I promise you, I could hear a
stream, even smell water! I know there is no stream for
miles around. I started imagining where the stream was. I
looked for it in my head, you know the way we do when find
lost things or that kid one time. I followed the wind's
direction to the stream. Birds were singing there; it was
quiet. The sun was out. I closed my eyes. It was calm and
warm. You remember how we used to feel like we were afloat
and drifting, yet seeing some place we read about? Well, that is when I heard the teacher calling me. I
had to come back. I did not care, except the whole class was
staring at me. I knew I was in trouble for "disappearing"
again. When I said I did not understand the question, the
whole class busted into laughter; she got mad - first at
them, then at me. I had to see her after school. When I did,
she went on talking and talking. All I could think about was
what would happen if I got home so late that Vince would
notice and get mad. It would be worse, far worse if she
called - I knew I would get beat on. So, like you said to, I
prayed and wished and wished and prayed all while I looked
like I was listening. I kept on going back to that stream
too, it was confusing. Then, through the open window such a
bluster came! All the papers in the room started swirling
around, books fell off shelves along with everything else.
She raced to slam down the windows. The teacher got more
upset, but not at me- besides I helped her tidy up. I guess
she forgot about calling. Vince was mad when I got home anyway - even though I
was not too late. Like usual, I peeked to see him, if I
could, before I went in; he had real mean face. He was
scowling at the TV. The front door was open. I stood there a
while before I rushed in. He yelled for me to stop. I only
hesitated. He was bleary-eyed drunk. He snapped into a
growling rage, got up quickly then slipped and fell. I ran
for it. He managed to collar me before I could get down the
hall. He had a hard time keeping a good hold on me as I
squirmed twisted or turned as he tried to smack my face,
"don't you try to sneak on me, boy" I was fending off blows when my mom came up behind him
hollering. He hoisted me up, shoved me into her with such
back hand that she nearly fell over and bellowed, "Take care
of him or I will!" He went back to the TV, put it at full
volume and yelled, "I hope I can watch something for once in
peace with G.D... quiet around here!: She took me up. We cried silently as she carried me to
their room. She whispered Vince had lost another job. Then
she slammed the door behind us. After nice face turned real
mean. She told me through clenched teeth - if I did not cry
or howl she was going to beat me for real this time. I
screamed. She yelled and banged things around before she
went out, slamming the door. He began to yell at her and she
at him. This went on until they left still loudly angry. He
never even asked why I was late. That night the phone lines
went down due to a freak storm. I considered it a lucky
break. Before I woke up this morning, I dreamt I was playing
a musical instrument, a flute of some kind. I did not get a
chance to go to the library to find a picture of it. There
was not enough time, since I had to read what I missed in
class. I promised the teacher I would always read the stuff.
She said if my tests were ok, she would be auk. Joey said
he'd help. That made them easy as pie. 3/19/83