The Project

Jake stirred what was already his fourth cup of tea that day. Without looking, he expertly threw the used spoon over his shoulder into the sink, some four foot behind him. He had bought this house over ten years ago as a home for him and Jenny and there should be no reason why the sink should not be where it had always been. He then had his usual imaginary celebration as he heard the metal spoon land perfectly in an unwashed cup already present in the, otherwise, empty sink.

Why, he wondered, couldn’t they make this an Olympic event, or perhaps even, this skill he had developed, could translate itself to another sport. Why not, they’re talking about putting Darts in the Olympics, Darts, next it would be, tossing beer mats or chugging a pitcher of ale. Still, if he wasn’t internationally, nationally or, for that matter, even locally, officially recognised for his spoon throwing prowess, he could at least comfort himself in the knowledge that clearly, he was a genius at it..... Lately, he never missed.

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It had been three days since he had discovered the camera in the kitchen. He had questioned his sanity at almost every opportunity since. Things like this just don’t really happen, yes in movies, but not to the likes of him. He was a normal Joe, he worked when his illness would allow and he tried his best to be a good dad.

As far as he was aware he didn’t have any schizophrenic tendencies whereby he became a secret agent at night. There was no sane reason why the government, he assumed it was the government, anything else would be just too difficult to imagine, would be interested in him.

Since his suspicions had been confirmed he hadn’t dared let Lily come to visit. He had made a whole raft of excuses to Jenny and even she was starting to sound suspicious. Whoever was watching him would very soon suspect that something was up, as far as he knew, maybe they already had. If he was to make a move, it would have to be soon.

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His heart, or whatever it was that doubled for a heart in this fake body, was threatening to jump out of his chest as he approached Jenny’s door. More than once he thought about just getting back in the Generals car and driving away. He’d asked Sarah and the General to accompany him, the General had agreed because he knew that he had to and Sarah had agreed because she had wanted to. They both had agreed though, to wait in the car.

He was now fully aware of what he was and had asked if they could make him look ‘good’ for the day. This would be the first time these eyes, this face would ever see the sun. Sarah had arranged it and today his hand trembled as he lifted it to knock on Jenny’s door, where it had been arranged for him to meet Jenny and Lily. He looked almost identical to the day when he had dropped Lily off at Jenny’s house seventeen years earlier.

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Born in the Sept of 1963, the 4th of 5 children to Jack and Eileen Hope

One daughter, Emily aged 14, without whom, this book would not have been written.

Grew up and educated in Kirkby, Liverpool. A gifted sportsman, a career in sport seemed inevitable.

However, he bucked expectations in 1977 by becoming a professional musician and singer, working in studios and touring.

In 2006, after reading the most amazing story, written by his daughter for a school assignment and after much coercing by her, John began writing an idea he had had whilst recovering from a critical illness in 1994 at which time he ‘died’ twice and was revived by the excellent staff of the ICU in Fazakerley Hospital.

To date ‘The Project’ is John’s 1st novel and has already been touted as a potential Booker Prize nominee.

Two further novels are already in production and are expected to be released next year.

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