James D. Hand

Drawn to Light James D. Hand

Eugene Pritchard is an overweight bully. A high school dropout, he has no plans for his future and spends his days walking around town, eating candy bars, and pinching himself out of a nervous habit. His low self-esteem is fueled by his dad's contempt for him and his mom's inability to stand up for him. He is content to be mired down in an aimless life.

Things begin to turn around for him when he lands a job at a corner grocery store as a stock boy. He is surprised to discover that he enjoys working and begins to find some self-respect for the first time in his life. He now pinches himself to make sure he is awake. Little does he realize, however, that there are forces working against him, secrets from his past that must be revealed and that will steer his life in a different direction.

Set in the southern Indiana town of Vincennes, this story portrays how a person's genetics and upbringing drive his future. When Eugene finally learns of his true heritage, he can finally begin to plan for the rest of his life.