The Frontrunner

This fictional novel is written for entertainment purposes only. The story attempts to depict life from varying perspectives. The leading character is Jerome Stanton McCauly II, the son of an overachieving military army colonel who ruled with unquestioning authority. The story introduces a band of characters that can be viewed as misfits of society and the various trials and tribulations faced by the group who referred to themselves as Renegades. As with any group of individuals, there was a stormy relationship during their first times together. However, as time rolled on, there was a norming within the group and a spirit of brotherly love and togetherness that was second to none. The group banded together with a cohesiveness that in a way provided the comfort, love, and attention they did not find in school or within their respective families. They held firmly to the saying, "I got your back" as a way of showing strength and togetherness. The colonel's unyielding manner of parenting was a constant source of family discontent and he clashed often with his son Jerome(Jay). On one particular evening, and after a heated exchange between Jay and his dad, the internal struggle was too much for Jay's mother. She was no match for her husband and felt inadequate in her inability to protect her son. She went into the bathroom and never recovered from her action. Jerome(Jay) moved out of the house and blamed his dad for his mother's action. He then became the leader of the renegades. In a perverse sense he did adopt many of his father's traits in being firm and direct in his leadership of the group. He set rules for the misfits and levied fines for tardiness and incomplete tasks. In a way it was honor amongst the dishonorable. Jay and his cohorts roamed through the small coastal Virginia town with reckless abandon. They were quickly gaining a reputation with the local police and school officials. Their presence evoked fear in others and their absence from classes was actually a relief to teachers and students. Their bark was usually worse than their bite, but it was the nuisance issues that made them unwanted guests wherever they ventured. As time progressed, the group migrated to petty theft and later into drugs as a way of supporting their meager existence. Jay continued his wayward life until a life-altering experience just prior to his eighteenth birthday. His father rushed to his bedside at the hospital which started the mending of their broken relationship. After all, the colonel had lost his wife and could not fathom the thought of losing his only son. Given a last chance at salvation by his father, Jay morphed into a model citizen, entered college, tried his hand at politics, and catapulted to the top. He married his college sweetheart and started a family. He vowed to be a better father to his children and more than ever wanted a close family relationship. He spoke with them respectfully and listened intently to their every word. Family dinner was a lengthy and enjoyable affair even though his children at first thought this to be a fate worse than death. Jay succeeded in his run for a vacant senator's position. He flourished in this position and was a tenacious fighter for his ideals and represented his constituents with vigor not before seen in his state. He was also sought after to serve on powerful committees. His party beckoned him to be their candidate for the presidency, and after deliberation and discussions with his family, he accepted the challenge and ultimately won the nomination. His once hectic life became more busy, yet still manageable. He was surrounded by well-wishers, confidants, aides, and a host of others who were driven to success. Others simply were riding his coattail to notoriety. After winning the party's nomination, and just months from the general election in which he was the undisputed frontrunner........ Click.....it was back and would change the course of history........