This is the
story of four teenagers growing up during the late 1960s and early
1970s. You probably think it’s all about sex, drugs, and rock and
roll! But since the story takes place in Bryan, Texas, a small,
conservative town that does not cotton to such things, at least
not in public, let’s call it a nostalgic recollection of the times.
Larry is a high school senior with an image problem. He is a little
too smart for his own good, and is not a member of the so-called
“in” crowd. But with help from his friends and his music, he is
determined to change that image.
Sam is the same age. Her real name is Susan, but all her friends
call her Sam for some reason none of them know. She and Larry have
been phenomenal friends since they met in the third grade. She knows
the real Larry underneath the image, and is determined to help him
change it.
John is a junior who met Larry a few years back when they found
themselves on the same Little League Baseball team. He and Larry
share an interest in music. Encouraged by Sam, they form a two-man
folk-rock band and dream of fame and stardom.
They meet Julia on her fourteenth birthday. She is just a skinny
little tomboy with a pony tail, skinned up knees, and braces on
her teeth. But the first time Larry looks into those big green eyes
of hers, something changes deep inside him.
Romance? It’s in here. It contains a bit of philosophy. Life and
death, war and peace, religion and politics – nothing is held sacred!
Perhaps you will even be offended by what you read, or maybe it
will just cause you to think. At least you can be grateful there
are no gratuitous, graphical depictions of violence where someone’s
guts are spilled on the ground in sickeningly gory detail. Does
anybody really like that sort of thing?
In addition, there are no gratuitous, graphical depictions of sexual
frenzies where the only point is to over-stimulate your libido,
raising both your body temperature and blood pressure. No, wait!
Maybe there is a little of that, but after all, everyone likes a
little sex now and then! You can rest assured that this is done
tastefully, and is included only because it is relevant to the story
line!
Drugs and alcohol also receive some mention here and there. It might
not be possible to tell a story of the 60s without at least mentioning
such things. You have probably heard it said that those who can
remember the 60s must not have been there.
Music, especially folk songs, protest songs, and rock and roll songs,
was an integral part of the times, and any story that failed to
mention such music could not possibly represent reality.
Maybe the story is about sex, drugs, and rock and roll after all?
See also:
Volume 2 - Crossroads: Heaven In Her Eyes
Volume 3 - Crossroads: Path of Gold