J 'joey' Guida

Kings in Queens J 'joey' Guida

A short time after my dad's death, my slumber began filling with startling sights and scary sounds. And they were not just random dreams but recurring nightmares. And these night terrors were the inspiration for Kings in Queens, a 106-page novella. My father, a Pearl Harbor survivor, died at eighty-three after a three-week battle with cancer. But my dreams were not of my dad but instead of my best friend, tragically killed when we were in fourth grade. This story describes the ecstasy of school children at recess one day and then their agony the next morning when one student did not return to class. For this story, I try coming to terms with my friend's death, traveling through glimpses of memories, both funny and sad growing up in Queens, New York, and all along paying tribute to my dad, my mom, and their generation. I am also forced into finally accepting a dark family secret.

I have been told this story is a moving experience and well worth your time. After all, two family members and one close friend cannot be wrong. And with such an overwhelming response, I have started a sequel titled Rockaway Beach Blue, continuing my search, trying to reconnect with my long-lost friend.

Thank you for considering my story.