ITCHIWAN

'Don't!' ... a muffled scream from the subconscious often unheeded in our youth.

'What's the worst that could happen?' ... the superseding rationalization - the muffler.

In 1968, four thirteen year old boys of diverse racial background meet on Cape Cod and form an unlikely bond which lasts a lifetime or two or three - two Wampanoag twins, Amos and Vern (poor - 'monigs' to some of the year round white townies), an Irish Catholic kid from Southie, Timmy (middle class summer cottage people) and a WASP, Brett (of rich second and third home snobage). You would never find these four's parents socializing together at a cookout. But in the summer of sixty eight, the boys were inseparable. They did things, which led them to try other things and as a result, find something, which ultimately leaves them having opened Pandora's Box, a box which will take them 24 years and two lifetimes to close ... or so they think.

They unleashed a little known Wampanoag Indian legend, Pukwudgees - evil, vicious, homicidal, midget Indians that brought down giants, fed Wampanoag babies to crows and who's stories were used throughout the ages to keep Wampanoag children close to home. However, Pukwudgee was a Wampanoag term of derision, similar to nigger. To themselves, they were Itchiwan, a tribe to be feared and respected. Their leader, Pomarat and his men were skilled killers, legends, and later, scourges to their own tribe. If he engaged you in conversation, Pomarat would send a cold chill of unease up your spine. He oozed evil and his swift, unanticipated actions soon after would confirm it.

Simple story line? No, not quite. Enemies become friends and friends become enemies. Poor become rich, middle class become dead, and the rich, well ... stay rich. It is a story of human nature, be it evil midget Pukwudgees, Wampanoags, Irish Catholics or WASPS. It's a story of diversity before there was social media, cell phones or the manufactured term "diversity". Broadcast media was limited to 'The News' at 6:00 and 11:00 on the three major networks and PBS. The wonder of this story is you get lost in it and don't want to come out. The characters embrace you through dialogue. You become attached to them. You ultimately empathize with protagonists and antagonists alike and understand their point of view and ask yourself, "What if I were in their shoes?"

Buckle up for a fast pace thriller that includes, a golf shot of a lifetime, a sunrise fishing charter, an alleged witch, Bill Cosby, the former Wharf Tavern in Boston, Rockefeller Center in NYC, a shillelagh and a sling shot, up and coming Southie mobsters, pro football, Samuel Bellamy, and of course, mom, blueberry pie and the girl he left behind. This story is whacked.

ITCHIWAN - adults still love a good bedtime story. But now that you're grown up, nobody reads them to you anymore. Treat yourself. Let me tell you a story ...