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Rankins of Pratt County

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In 1982, 151/2 year-old RUSSELL RANKIN wants a better life than provided by his divorced and irresponsible parents.

He is committed not to replicate the dysfunctional lifestyles and poor decisions of his parents. In response to a domestic complaint called in to police by his mother's latest live-in boyfriend, Russell finds himself engulfed in the formal juvenile justice system. Father, PETER RANKIN, a postal worker and current patient in a substance abuse treatment facility, is unable to provide a home for his son as probation searches for a reliable caretaker for Russell. During his time in detention, LORETTA RANKIN, Russell's mother, disappears with her latest boyfriend. Russell is placed on a one-year period of juvenile probation to reside temporarily with his widowed grandmother, ESTHER RANKIN, in rural North Carolina. Under Grandma Esther's example and caring supervision, Russell adjusts well to his new surroundings.

Loretta Rankin's whereabouts remain unknown, but within sixty days of Russell's relocation, Peter Rankin dies from a heart attack. Family, school, church, and community support Russell as he copes with the loss of his father.

Through uncommon maturity and drive not to repeat his parents' mistakes, Russell eventually learns to accept his father's passing and his mother's absence. A romantic interest develops between Russell and APRIL McNAUGHTON, a bright and opinionated classmate.

The couple soon become lovers. Russell's junior and senior years at Pratt County High School are successful academically and athletically. His accomplishments on the football field earn scholarship offers, but he desires to attend and play football at a smaller college in Virginia where he achieves All-American honors.

Early in his freshman year, April terms her relationship with Russell, as she cannot handle the physical separation between the lovers. After college graduation, Russell enjoys an accomplished, twelve-year pro football career with the Philadelphia Eagles. At age 29, Russell meets SANDRA CARLSEN a popular news anchor for a Philadelphia TV station.

The couple soon marries. Sandra eventually takes a leave of absence from broadcasting to birth the couple's two children. During this time, a mutual decision is made to raise the family in Pratt County where Russell surprisingly takes a high school teaching position while Sandra commences a career as a documentary film producer. In 2007 and after a twenty-five-year void, Loretta reaches out to Russell from Las Vegas where she is dying from lung cancer. In 2009, Russell and April, now a pulmonary surgeon, meet by chance at a local farmers' market. Their meeting extends to private discussion where a shaken April reveals news and "e;circumstances"e; off her recent divorce.

In desperation, April attempts to seduce Russell, who spurns her advances.

The couple part with a sense of melancholic closure.

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Product Details
BookBaby
1098338448 / 9781098338442
eBook (EPUB)
29/01/2021
English
1 pages
Copy: 10%; print: 10%