The 5th Generation

Dale Jay Dennis

Review

     "Now, there's one final step I'd like to ask the two of you to take," Brother Bates said; turning to Kathleen and Eamonn. "I'd like you to just shake each other's hands."
     Kathleen felt a flash of horror. She saw Eamonn raise his hand up and extend it toward her. She suddenly felt her own hand grasping her thigh.
     "Please, Kathleen, trust me, it'll be all right, " Brother Bates said.
     She clenched her fingers into the stiffening muscles of her leg, and quietly resolved not to go any further with this.
Brother Bates stepped over to her side.
     "Kathleen, what's wrong?"
She felt a tear trickling down her cheek, and her face reddening with embarrassment.
     "Its all right, Kathleen. You don't have to. It's your choice."
She looked down at Eamonn's hand again, still raised toward her. She looked up into his eyes, and saw something that surprised her.  He was crying, too.

     Kathleen McNaughton of Northern Ireland and Eamonn Kelly of Dublin might as well be on opposite ends of the earth. Living on the same island, but raised amid terror and brutal conflict, they have been taught to fear one another. Brought together in a youth conference, they are compelled to see how much they have in common, and their lives are changed forever.

     But not everyone is happy with this situation. In fact, someone is angered to the point of using politics of terrorism to interfere. A  betrayal pushes their faith and endurance to the limit as a distrusting nation looks on.

Table of Contents

Notes on "The Fifth Generation", 7

1. First Step, 11

2. Confrontation, 17

3. Troubling Territory, 23

4. Decision, 28

5. A Journey Begins, 32

6. The Road to Galway, 37

7. Choose Your Generation, 47

8. Testimony, 59

9. Friendship in Ashes, 68

10. "My Lagan Love", 73

11. A Welcome Wait, 79

12. I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go, 87

13. Disowned, 92

14. Reunion, 101

15. A Neighbor's Scorn, 106

16. Commentary, 111

17. Samaritan, 117

18. In the News, 122

19. Learning the Language, 127

20. Unsettling Story, 130

21. Surprise Visitors, 134

22. The Question, 139

23. Revelations, 144

24. Guilty Until Proven Innocent, 152

25. On the Defensive, 165

26. Visitation, 176

27. Statement, 185

28. Verdict, 189

29. The Juror, 193

30. Tir na nOg, The Land of Eternal Youth, 196

Sample Page

     William McNaughton entered the room just as the Elders sat down. They bounced back to their feet.
     "What's goin' on here?" he asked, his eyes fastened on the Elders.
     "Daddy, these are the Mormon missionaries," Kathleen explained.
     "I can see that. It doesn't explain why they're here."
     "I asked them to come-"
     "I told you I didn't want them comin' to this house."
     "Mr. McNaughton," Elder Jenkins jumped in, "Kathleen has expressed a desire to be baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Since she's a minor, she needs to have your permission."
     William stared evenly at the Elders, then looked at his daughter. A lock of dark, thinning hair that he combed over his balding crown fell across his forehead and blended with one of his bushy eyebrows as they furrowed into a scowl.
     "So, they've succeeded in brain-washin' you, have they?"
     "No, they haven't brain-washed me."
     "Then why do you want to join their church?"
     "Because I believe it's true."
     "And what's wrong with the Free Presbyterian Church?"
     Kathleen and the Elders looked at him in silence.
     "You've no answer for that one, have you?"
     "We're not here to debate with you, sir," Elder Jenkins said.
     "Kathleen would like to be baptized. If you deny that opportunity to her now, she'll be able to legally make her own decision about it in a year when she turns eighteen."
     "Not while she's still livin' in this house."
     William raised an eyebrow, then looked at Kathleen again.
     "If you do this, you'll be lookin' for a new place to live."
     "Don't say that, Daddy."
     "What'd you expect me t' say? For the last three weeks we've heard nothin' but talk about the Mormons, and what wonderful people they are, and a lot of other precious nonsense. I've had it up to here." He gestured across his neck.
     "Just because I become a Mormon doesn't mean I'm no longer a member of the family," Kathleen said. William returned a cold stare, which was interrupted with the ringing of the telephone. Kathleen picked up the receiver.
     "Hello," She glanced at her father, "Aye, he is, just a moment." She held the receiver toward William, "It's John Torrance."
     William looked at the Elders, then took the phone.
     "Hello, Aye, it's me, I can't talk now. I'll ring you back in a minute. Right." He cradled the receiver, then turned to his daughter. "I hope you know how disappointed I am."
     "I can't stop you from bein' disappointed, Daddy. But I can't change the way I feel, either."
     William glanced at the Missionaries, then at Kathleen. "Well, I suppose there's somethin' I'm t' sign?"
     Elder Jenkins blanched, "Uhm-yes, sir," He pulled a consent form from inside his scripture case and handed it to William. The older man scanned it over, picked up a pen from a table, and signed his name.

     Eamonn Kelly, is your arm broken?"
     Eamonn looked up at Sister Margaret and shook his head. 'There's nothin' wrong with it at all," he told the nun.
     "Then why are you the only one in class who can't cross himself after the prayer?"
     "Well, I figured since I'm not a Catholic, I wouldn't need to."
     Sister Margaret did not look at all pleased with his answer. "So, you've converted to another faith? Judaism, perhaps, or Islam?"
     "No, Sister, I'm a Mormon. I've been one all me life."
     "But you're not Christians."
     "Sure, and we're good Christians, so."
     "Then why won't you cross yourself?"
     "Cause we don't believe in that."
     Sister Margaret's face was becoming more impatient. Eamonn's classmates fidgeted, and a couple let out muted snickers.
     "Well, we are Catholic in this classroom, and you'll learn to respect that!" And I'll have no more of this cheekiness from you! Seventeen years old, you should be ashamed! Off to the Head Master's office with you!"
     Eamonn walked down the quiet hall of Dublin's St. Patrick's School for Boys to the forbidding door that had "HEAD MASTER" in large, Roman letters painted in white just above eye level. Above it, in ancient Celtic script, was ARDMHAISTER , the Irish word for Head Master. Eamonn seemed to remember the title on the Head Master's office being lower the previous year, and in upper/lower case. Then the new Head Master, Mr. Kennedy, had arrived. Many things had changed then, along with the printing on the door. For one thing, Mr. Kennedy preferred to be addressed as Mac Ui Cinneide , the Irish version of his name. He also preferred to converse in Irish, a task which made most of the students dread going to see him. Even though the ancient Irish language, or Gaeilge , was nominally the official language of the country, few spoke it fluently, and even fewer mastered it. Admittedly, there was little motivation to do so. One newspaper was published in Irish, as were a few books and magazines, and the Irish government sponsored a nightly newscast in the official language. Still, interest was sagging, and Mr. Kennedy had taken upon himself the task of renewing it.
     The only other thing Eamonn knew about Mr. Kennedy was his devotion to Catholicism. This visit did not bode well. He stared at the huge door for a moment, then opened it, and poked his head inside.

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Title: The 5th Generation Author: Dale Jay Dennis Retail Price: $16.98 Available: Now ISBN: 0-88290-571-6 Order Number (SKU): 1963 Pages: 208 Size: 6" X 9" Binding: Hardbound with jacket