Team Snow 4: STONE MAN, Adult Tragicomedy/Contemporary

Title: STONE MAN

Genre: Adult Tragicomedy/Contemporary

Word Count: 60,000

Is Your Antagonist hot or cold: 

My antagonist is cold. He is grumpy, miserable, and very bitter toward the world after tragedy leaves him hopeless and wanting to die. As the story progresses, he begins to warm up and see the world in a new light thanks to the young teen he is forced to mentor. 

Query:

Forty-five-year-old Peter Thatcher spends his days collecting welfare checks and staring at his pile of prescription drugs. After the loss of his son leaves him bitter and alone, he wants nothing more than to end his pathetic existence.

An assault charge puts a hold on his plans to kill himself and forces him to participate in the big brother program at his local Boys and Girls Club. There he meets seventeen-year-old Finn, an autistic teenager who has an obsession with the Beatles and an annoying whistling habit. Reluctantly, Peter spends time with him, counting down the seconds until his community service hours are up.

But then Peter begins poking around in Finn’s past and finds Finn has lied about his family. He’s actually a foster kid with a mother in a mental hospital and a father he’s never met. As they embark on an unexpected road trip to find Finn’s dad, Peter begins warming up to Finn’s quirks. At the end of their trip, the answers they find are shocking. Peter must find a way to rise above his self-hatred and revisit his past in order to help Finn overcome his own pain.

STONE MAN is a 60,000 word adult contemporary/tragicomedy told in the vein of The Revised Fundamentals of Caring by Jonathan Evison and Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick.

First 250 words:

Lying was effortless for Peter. Fun even. And Ms. Gale would surely be an easy target. She was short, a bit on the bigger side with dark skin and kind eyes. Manipulating her would be like manipulating Mother Goose.

“So, Mr. Thatcher,” she said. “I guess the real question is, why do you want to participate in our big brother program?”

Peter forced a smile. “It’s rewarding working with the youth. I feel my efforts would be better served here than doing manual labor.” It was either this or picking up crap along the highway, so here I am.

“That’s a good point,” she said, flipping through his file. “I see here you were arrested for assault?”

“I admit it and take full responsibility. I can assure you I am not a threat and want the opportunity to prove I’m a changed man.” The asshole deserved it.

Ms. Gale nodded, the pleased look on her face telling Peter she’d bought it.

“Now, Mr. Thatcher, I want to make it clear that these children are not just community service hours. A lot of them don’t come from good homes and are lacking proper guidance. You need to be there for them. Mentor them. Do you think you can handle that?”

“Without a doubt.”

“I also wanted to point out that typically, we don’t allow those charged with violent crimes to participate.”

“I swear I’m—”

“But, due to the fact that you’re a father, I’m going to give you a chance. Please don’t make me regret it.”