Shadows in the Sun

Prolong

Jack O’Neil

Jack O’Neil was born May 3, 1935 in Jacksonville Florida. Jack quickly grew fond of sword fighting and at the age of 6 he joined the Jacksonville Fencing Club. Jack’s skills quickly grew in fencing handling a blade like he was born with one. During his days in elementary school Jack’s view on life changed. He started to see the world as cruel and evil and begun to lock people away from him.
Jack, of course, continued fencing becoming the top of his class at the age of 7. His grandfather, Hyrum, was a kind pastor who taught Jack about Jesus and finding truth in the word. Jack begun to read the Bible and learn as much information as he could to try and guide him through his years to come but yet Jack wasn’t happy still as though as it appeared something in his life was missing.

April 19, 1944: I have just finished reading the story of Elijah and Elisha. A story in whence Elijah is sucked up by a whirlwind to heaven and Elisha takes his place. I have looked over this story again and again and yet I couldn’t help but wonder what my purpose in life would be. I just couldn’t focus in school or in my studies today for this story riddled in my mind. I can’t help but wonder to myself what my purpose is and so I have no choice but to make one for myself.

Jack continued his path to try and find truth in the word and so he basically isolated himself from everyone else at the age of 10 taking it upon himself to try and solve life’s greatest question “why are we here?” In the fifth grade Jack turned 11 and met Brittany Moore who was being bullied on by some older kids. Jack and Brittany became friends, in fact it appeared that Brittany was Jack’s only friend.

When Jack turned 12 he won the junior division in fencing and made it to Nationals until he broken his arm and had to return home. Jack felt cheated of his victory for he was at the last round before advancing to the World tournament. Of course a broken arm didn’t stop Jack from perusing his goal of finding truth in the word.
Jack headed off into the woods every day looking and searching and enjoying nature.

July 12, 1947: Nature; a great mystery and also a place of wonder. I have searched far and wide and alas found a place I may be able to call my own. I have begun to build a small clubhouse to call my hideout so I may be alone to study and grow to my fullest. I refuse to take part in the childish games the other children are doing. I will not fall until my truth and purpose has been discovered.

Jack did return to his spot almost everyday and there he would read and write and train. With a goal in sight Jack started to push himself to his limits shutting out everyone in his life so that he may peruse it alone. From time to time though Jack would talk to Brittany and just hang out with her but yet when he turned 16 Jack entered the Expert Fencing Tournament. Jack defeated his opponents in the Districts, States, and Nationals and alas he went to the World Tournament.
There Jack faced down Matthew who defeated Jack in a 5 to 4 match up. Jack was beaten not defeated for he continued to grow stronger and faster mastering parries and thrusts. And yet Jack’s fondest memory was when he was 16 and he went down to his grandfather’s place for the summer down in South Florida with Brittany. Jack and Brittany spent all their time swimming in the lake and going out on a boat.

June 10, 1951: What a hot summer day down in Florida this clear and sunny day. Brittany and I have spent every moment together either swimming in the clear lake, riding the boat around and finding a quiet spot to sit and talk, or taking Brittany down the dirt roads on the dirt bike. I wished this day would never end and yet I do know that this day will never come again. Brittany has become a very good friend that I could always count on and yet she has this passion about her that makes me wonder every now and then about the truth of the word and maybe just maybe I found it.

When Jack returned from his grandfather’s he would be entering in one last fencing tournament. This time Jack now at 17 was defeated at Nationals for a stupid mistake Jack knew he could have avoided. After Jack graduated High School he packed up his bags and departed Jacksonville never to return heading for New York City.
Finally arriving Jack got a job as a carpenter and he met Jennifer Hanson as she returned home from a modeling job. Jennifer and Jack moved around the city, Jennifer was showing Jack around the city so he wouldn’t get lost.

Brittany Moore (this part was written by Princess Lyla)

Brittany was a kind and gentle girl. Since she was a little girl she loved helping people, it always seemed like nothing in the world could bring her down. Her mother send her to study dance and gymnastics on a local club. Her father on the other hand was a martial arts enthusiast and got her private lessons with a sensei, without her mother ever knowing. She has a younger sister May who was born two years after her. She has a deep love for her family and has always treasured her friends.

Brittany is no stranger to tragedy and personal loss. When she was 8 years old she lost her father in the WWII. She was devastated by this but got over it quickly. She felt she needed to be strong for her mother and sister. By the time she was ten she met Jack O’Neil. Jack was an 11 year old kid who befriended Brittany when no one would, he showed Brittany how to be strong and face anything, he helped her see that if she was strong enough and put her mind into anything she wanted then she could accomplish anything. It seemed that Jack was Brittany’s only real friend, but to Jack, Brittany was his only friend. Brittany always felt something else about Jack than just a mere friendship. And even though he doesn’t know it. She is always hoping he’ll realize her feelings for him.