Autobiographical Fiction
(Fic)
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A coming of age fiction based on fact story. In 1970, A kid from the wrong side of the tracks wins a full scholarship to an Ivy League college in Philadelphia. He learns that education from the streets and hard knocks is a lot more valuable than what he learns in the classroom. "Sounds interesting!"
The Spring of 1969 was a tense time for a variety of reasons. The oldest of seven children in a military family in Norfolk, Virginia, the Vietnam War was a dominant factor for Aaron. The high school experience had been a blur. His parents always pushed getting into college, but as neither had attended college, they could do little to prepare him. They were also in no position to provide financial support. The good news was that his strong grades and academic activities had landed him offers of admi...
Chapter 1
Know What You are Getting Into!
Chapter 1 ACE - DRAFT EXCERPT Lesson 1: Know what you are getting into! The weekend before school began, Aaron’s parents drove up to Philadelphia with most of his possessions and a package from Penn that contained his reporting instructions. On Monday morning, Labor Day, Aaron’s Uncle John drove him to Penn and following the instructions, delivered him to the ancient “Quad.” The ivy-covered wall...
SPECIAL COMMENTARY For a fiction-based-on-fact book, the facts are real. This research can be especially time-consuming, and sometimes impossible, when the setting is 50 years ago. Music is a key feature of this work. Over the last two days, I have been in touch with Billboard Magazine. The purpose was to locate lists of top songs for the time period of “A Cheap Education.” Their Research Contact was kind enough to point me in the right direction, although I did need to...
Chapter 2
Do Your Homework!
Chapter 2 ACE - EXCERPT Lesson 2: Do your homework! Uncle John arrived on campus just after Aaron’s last class on Friday. They quickly unloaded the fan, a small stepladder, the paint supplies and a surprisingly large compact refrigerator. The one Steve had was a cube rated at 1.5 cubic feet. His uncle brought him a 3.0 cubic foot model. In a surprise, his uncle also...
Chapter 3
Approach New Relationships with Optimism
Chapter 3 ACE - EXCERPT  Lesson: Approach New Relationships with Optimism and Caution Sunday morning was a slow start for Aaron. He tired to get up a couple times so he could start on the mountain of homework, but it took him until nearly 10 to get some coffee and get rolling. In the early afternoon, he took a break and called Sarah’s home number. The yo...
Chapter 4 ACE - EXCERPT Lesson: Keep on Trying Aaron had plenty on his plate for the rest of the week. He knew he needed, not just wanted, a girlfriend. Without revealing his sad experience with Sarah, he decided to consult with Steve, the senior. “Steve, quick question. Any suggestions for meeting some gals who actually want to go out? The gals here do not seem that interested.” ...
CHAPTER 5 - EXCERPT Lesson: Try New Things  Aaron had a promising start to his Saturday. He had set the alarm and hiked up the street to be at the radio station by 8 AM to get some additional training. The student on the FM board smiled broadly when Aaron entered the FM control room and stood up slightly, “So you’re the fresh meat around here?” Aaron, happ...
Chapter 6
Relationships Can Be Tough
Chapter 6 ACE - DRAFT EXCEPT ONLY Lesson: Relationships Can Be Tough Having started the week with both a hangover and a sore foot, Aaron struggled to get through his classes much of the week. However, he was generally feeling human by Wednesday, and telephoned Dr. Penny’s office manager. Indeed, he was expected to test another patient on Thursday afternoon after class. As previously agreed, he would receive ten hours pay for that week for...
Chapter 7
Reaching Out Can be Fun
EXCEPT - DRAFT ONLY  Aaron faced the challenge of making money in a way that he had not anticipated. At about age 12, his father had given him an old manual typewriter and a book on learning how to touch type. Aaron had become a fast and accurate touch typist by the time he started high school. In fact, he made money typing papers for other students. He also recalled a scene from the 195...
Chapter 8
Survival Takes Determination
Chapter 8 ACE - EXCERPT ONLY Lesson: Survival Takes Determination The next major milestone would be Thanksgiving, immediately followed by finals. That was about a month away now. Penn had switched from the old system of the semester break at Christmas and then students returned for final exams. The new system meant staying at school until nearly Christmas, but completing all his course work. This seemed so logical to Aaron, he was not sure why the other schedule was ...
Chapter 9
Momentum for First Home Stretch
Chapter 9 ACE EXCERPT ONLY Lesson: Momentum for First Home Stretch Once identifying the listings for various art galleries, theaters and other venues, this was just a starting point. First, Aaron had to determine if this was a location he could reach on public transportation. Due to the SEPTA system, he could reach most city locations and many suburban locations. However, when time and cost was factored into the equation, some would be beyond reach for him. Second, i...
Chapter 10
Taking Chances
Chapter 10 ACE - EXCERPT Lesson: Taking Chances Aaron did not mind going to the art galleries and openings on his own. However, he did want to do more work on finding dates for the upcoming theater review opportunities. He had Marlene lined up for the first production. Now, to find a date for the other production. Patrice Hill had made quite an impression on him. While there was a pretty good age gap, it was about the same gap he had with Marlene, who had already ag...
Chapter 11
Wrapping It Up
Chapter 11 ACE - EXCERPT Lesson: Wrapping it Up The theater production he saw with Patrice and the Peale Gallery opening were his last two reviews for the year. While the major theaters would have Christmas productions and the ballet would do its traditional “Nutcracker” performances, these were not the kind of shows that he would be invited to review. The small theaters and the galleries would not have more openings until next year. He delivered th...
Chapter 12
You Can’t Go Home Again
Chapter 12 ACE - DRAFT ONLY Lesson: You Can’t Go Home Again After the long bus trip to Norfolk, Aaron was pleased to see his father waiting for him at the Trailways bus station as darkness fell on the short December day. He had just a few days of clothing with him, as he figured he could do laundry as needed, unlike the once weekly trips to the laundromat at school. He piled into the passenger front seat as his father slid into the driver’s seat of ...
Chapter 13
Everything Takes Work
Chapter 13 ACE - EXCERPT ONLY Lesson: Everything Takes Work The first order of business for his Fall 1970 semester would be to restock his dorm room with food since he would no longer have a meal contract at the Cafeteria. He had eaten part of the food his mother provided him during the bus ride. After unpacking and removing many of his belongings from the locked closet in his dorm room, he had eaten more of the food. He consumed the little that was left for br...
Chapter 14
Focus on the Tasks at Hand
Chapter 14 ACE Lesson: Focus on the Tasks at Hand He had thought it through over the semester break and now to make it a reality. As the break in period for the semester was over, he requested a meeting with the WXPN student leadership team. He went to the meeting with a list of features and potential guests. As a non-profit radio station, it operated under more stringent public purpose rules than regular radio stations. The station had to show that it was cont...
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