Paradigm Parallax
Hey everyone, the version I shared on my Patreon page is longer than this but I figured I would share a snippet of it on here for free, while I’m working on the rest of the novel. The outline remains the same but filling out the narratives with multidimensional (no pun intended) characters and realistic settings can be a tough process. This has been a tremendous project that has been a source of inspiration in helping to get through the tough times, despite the challenges life throws our way. So a tremendous thank you to everyone who has shown support and I wish you all the best this week!
Also, if you would like to see the full length of the excerpt, simply click here and subscribe.
A low fog settled over the town while dawn approached. It casted an evanescent shadow over the changing topography; entangled within rays of sunlight that peeked over the coastal horizon. Carol sat at the edge of her bed and watched through her window the colorful display of light, which shimmered languidly in the mist. After a morning's jog, and a shower afterwards, Carol threw on some clothes before she made her way downstairs from her bedroom and into the kitchen. She rummaged through the cupboards for anything that could be considered breakfast.
"There is some leftover quiche your mother made yesterday in there. It's behind the ham, on the second shelf," her father offered while yawning, when he entered and found Carol shifting a bunch of items around inside the refrigerator.
"Is she angry that I was not around to see her when you two came in last night?" Carol asked when she pulled out the omlette pie and placed it on the kitchen counter top centered in the middle of the room.
"Well, she was more annoyed that you didn't arrive yesterday morning as planned."
"That was beyond my control," Carol sighed. "She knows the baymore ferry tends to have delays."
"I know," her father shrugged and walked past her to a cupboard, while he lazily rubbed his unkempt tuft of bedhead. "She's a stickler for punctuality, we both know she can't help it."
"That is fine and all when it comes down to giving a class lecture, but when is she ever going to start treating me like a daughter and not some student in her hall?" Carol asked as she watched him pull a bowl and some cereal from the cabinet and rested them next to her meal.
"That's not for me to answer but for you to ask your mother one of these days." Mr. Sparks unwrapped the leftover quiche, cut a slice from it, and stuck it into the microwave for her. "But you know that her fastidious nature come from a place of love, right?"
"Maybe, but she becomes incredibly unreasonable whenever everything is not in its proper place. It can get pretty maddening at times," Carol insisted. She grabbed a bottle of milk from the fridge, and after she had filled it with cereal, poured some of it into her father's bowl. Her father grabbed a spoon from the utensil drawer and sat next to her after she took a seat on kitchen stools.
"She's swamped with university work and all sorts of other projects, but I do understand your position, honey." Mr. Sparks took a bite of his cereal right when the microwave's timer signaled that Carol's meal had finished heating up.
"I swear, dad," she shook her head and retrieved her food from the microwave oven, "You are such a pushover when it comes to mom."
"Hey, when it comes to this family I am not stupid enough to take sides," Carol's father said in jest as she returned to her seat, but then a warm smile adorned his slightly wrinkled features. "But only because I love you both."
"Don't get all sappy on me, dad." Carol scolded him but grinned before she took a bite of her breakfast. "I have a full day ahead, so, unfortunately, I will not be able to make it up to her right now. Maybe we can all catch up for dinner, later?"
Mr. Sparks sat there in silence for a moment, as he chewed on a fresh bite of his cereal.
"Alright, but let us know for sure. Do you need to borrow the car for anything?"
"I was thinking that since I got such an early start to the day, I would walk the town for a bit and visit some of the old haunts. Afterwards, I might stop by the library for some additional research into my thesis, before filing the necessary permits at the clerks office."
"My baby...so grown up," he wiped a pretend tear from his face, but Carol could see he was actually a little choked up at the thought of it all.
"I told you not to get all sappy on me, dad." She gave him a slight shove, before she took her finished plate from the table and over to the sink for a quick wash. "Anyway, I better get going. I will see you guys later!"
She quickly snatched her purse from the table and gave her father's hair a playful rub.
"Good luck with everything today," he called out to Carol, after she had made her way out the front door.
The town was busy that morning with heavy traffic everywhere Carol went. Streets and avenues were filled with vehicles[…]
