• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • ABOUT
  • BLOG
  • EVENTS
  • SHOP
    • REBEL MILLIONAIRE
    • THE CONTENDERS
  • CONTACT

Peg Cheng

Author + Blogger + Teacher

April 15, 2016 By Peg Cheng

SEVEN DUDES: Chapter 1

I’ve been working on my suspense novel, SEVEN DUDES, for a little over two months, but really, this story has been at the back of my brain for the last 11 years. It’s gone through many, many reiterations in my head and in my journal, and I decided this year I needed to write it.

To keep myself motivated to write, revise some, and then move on, I’m going to start posting one chapter per week.

How many chapters will I post? In honor of the title, I’m committed to posting the first seven chapters.

Keep in mind this is the first draft and everything is still in flux. Here goes!

SEVEN DUDES

A novel by Peg Cheng, Draft 1

Chapter 1: Doc

He was running and pulling his mother’s hand. He pumped his legs as hard as he could but it felt like he was moving through a trough of hardening cement. The harder he tried, the slower he became. He was only fifteen but still, he should have been able to run faster.

Damn legs. Run. Run!

The hand holding his mother’s hand was sweaty and it started to slip. Suddenly, her hand was jerked out of his. He looked back and a man wearing a plaid shirt had grabbed his mother from behind. “No!” he screamed and started back for her.

She called to him, “Don’t stop, Doc! Go!”

Then the Plaid Man covered her mouth with his hand and pulled her back into the darkness. Doc ran in slow-motion towards her departing figure, screaming, “Mom!”

He jerked up in bed, both arms outstretched. His eyelids flew open.

Light was just starting to peek through the drapes on the windows. Doc rubbed his eyes. He touched his face and felt the sweat pouring from his brow and the rough stubble of his beard. He fell back onto his pillow.

He wasn’t fifteen. He was thirty.

Mom wasn’t lost. Mom was dead.

Peg Cheng is the author of The Contenders, a middle-grade novel centered on the question, can enemies become friends? She is currently writing another novel that is a re-imagining of the Snow White fairy tale set in 1980s Seattle. Peg is also the founder of Prelaw Guru, a law school application consulting company, and the author of The No B.S. Guides for prelaw students.

Photo of Martin Starr by Larry Busacca, Getty Images

Filed Under: Seven Dudes

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Brenda says

    April 16, 2016 at 8:27 AM

    Great last line. I wanted to know more the minute I knew a fifteen year old was holding his mother’s hand and running.

    Nice first chapter! Thanks for window, I will enjoy the view of, the seven..

    Brenda

    • Peg Cheng says

      April 16, 2016 at 8:34 AM

      Thanks for the kind words, Brenda! Really appreciate it! ๐Ÿ™‚

  2. Laila Atallah says

    May 28, 2016 at 6:59 PM

    I have to agree — really love that last line, in particular. I wanna know MORE! Off to read the next installment.

    • Peg Cheng says

      May 29, 2016 at 8:18 AM

      So glad to hear it! Thanks for reading on, Laila. ๐Ÿ˜Š

Primary Sidebar

Categories

Archives

Looking for something?

Latest Posts

Why I Created My NOODLE TACO Zine & Why You Should Create Zines Too

What I Was Able to Do After I Quit Social Media

Visit Me at Olympia Zine Fest on Sept 4!

I’m Back

Living the Intuitive Life Can Be Hard

Cubs Cheng’s Olympics Experience, Day 5

Cubs Cheng’s Olympics Experience, Day 4

Cubs Cheng’s Olympics Experience, Day 3

Cubs Cheng’s Olympics Experience, Day 2

Cubs Cheng’s Olympics Experience, Day 1

Footer

What people are saying…

Lizz Zitron, College Professor

The Contenders is the middle grade novel you’ve been waiting for: diverse characters who are funny and real. Eunice and her friends and family feel so real–they are flawed, kind, complex, a little mean at times, and just wanting to find their place in the world. Highly recommended for every middle school collection.

Jas Hothi, Author + Entrepreneur

I’ve done my fair share of personal finance reading and, well, Rebel Millionaire is probably the single best thing I’ve read. Why? So effortlessly simple and effective. As I’m about to turn 31, this is just the nudge I needed to start saving and investing for my future. Thank you, Peg, and Plaid Frog Press!

Laila Atallah, Career Coach

What I love so much about your writing is how personal it is. It gives me permission to accept and love my own humanity, while also giving really helpful tips and mindset shifts, and next steps too.

Copyright © 2023 ยท Workstation Pro On Genesis Framework