Kiss and Say Goodbye

"KISS AND SAY GOODBYE" captures the soul of 1976 at Garvey High, where the heat isn't just from the summer sun but from the spark of hidden desires and whispered possibilities. John Henry James is more than just a senior with his eyes set on graduation—he's got his heart tuned to a different frequency, one where daydreams of Alphonse Patterson resonate with the clarity of a love song yet to be written.

In this tale, it's the subtle glances, the secret wishes, and the what-ifs that color John Henry's world as he navigates the highs and lows of youth. Steamy daydreams of shared showers under waterfalls are his escape—a fleeting moment where the grit of reality is washed away, leaving nothing but the shine of what could be.

Away from prying eyes, John Henry's thoughts of Alphonse are his to cherish, a sacred melody that dances in his mind, far from the harsh buzz of high school gossip. His longing is a quiet anthem of hope and courage in a world still learning to embrace the full spectrum of love.

In "KISS AND SAY GOODBYE," the courage to love openly is as daring and bold as the era itself. It's a tribute to the enduring spirit of first love and the power of dreams that dare to defy the boundaries set by the world.

Join John Henry on his journey of self-discovery and affection, a journey that promises the sweet ache of youth and the radiant dawn of something more. This isn't just a story of the past; it's a testament to the timeless adventure of finding oneself and the joy of a love that dares to whisper its name.

Excerpt

Chapter 1

In a moment John Henry and his classmates saw and heard the car coming, big and candy red--a Deuce-and-a-quarter with its white top glimmering under the sun. Some of the boys climbed the fence to scramble away from their fate. Girls clutched their books, turned their faces, and squeezed their bodies to brace themselves. They were penned between Marcus Garvey's iron fence and a large puddle the size of the High school's swimming pool. The Buick came flying. The motor screamed and whined behind the car's silver sharklike grill. A wave of dirty water washed over them, stinging their faces and soaking their clothes. The car stopped and they saw the tall black boy with a bushy afro looking back grinning and gripping the steering wheel. A gaggle of cheerleaders and basketball players leaned out the Buick's windows. They hooted and pointed their middle fingers before Alphonse gunned the motor and the car whined and roared down Scott Street.

"Alphonse! Somebody ought to kick his a**," a girl shouted at the red whirlwind in the distance.

Excerpt2

Where there had not been a "Cheryl" to grace the nightstand next to John Henry's bed, there was the Mona Lisa-like Melinda staring at him from a silver-colored frame. John Henry felt ashamed to walk naked in front of it. He kept a towel around his waist and ducked on the other side of the bed to put on his pants.

"B*tch, this ain't going to last," Bishop swore as he and John Henry walked home from school. The Plymouth sat idle in King's Manor's parking lot needing a fan belt to stop it from overheating.

"Don't call me that," John Henry barked.

"Child…"

"Don't call me that either. No more of that sissy stuff for me."

"All right, boy," Bishop laughed and turned down his street. "But it ain't going to last as long as there is an Alphonse Patterson in this world!"