Ditchmen 2

By Joe Ginter

Ditchmen 2 by Joe Ginter

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• Language: English
• Publisher: Covenant Books, Inc.
• Release date: Jan 27, 2022
• ISBN: 9781638852322

Book preview

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Ditchmen 2

Ten Months Later

Before Covid

Joe Ginter

ISBN 978-1-63885-231-5 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-63885-232-2 (Digital)

Copyright © 2021 Joe Ginter

All rights reserved

First Edition

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Covenant Books, Inc.

11661 Hwy 707

Murrells Inlet, SC 29576

www.covenantbooks.com

Table of Contents

Ditchmen 2

Acknowledgments

To my fifth-grade language arts students of the 2020–2021 school year, who were my proofreaders, my advisors, and my inspiration as you smiled, laughed, and contributed regardless the masks. You truly were proof of positive examples of enjoying the struggle!

One of your initial contributions was the suggestion to include the following terminology key:

Fade-in: a process in which the picture emerges from a darkened screen to a fully lighted screen.

Fade-out: the same process in reverse.

Cut to: an editing technique that generally is avoided and left normally to the director to determine abrupt camera transitions. It is used in this book to help the reader with what they visualize next.

Dissolve to: used as a time lapse; not to be confused with cutting from shot to shot.

Series of shots: literally a series of shots run one after another.

Close-up: a shot that emphasizes a detail; for example, a ball or a sign.

Close shot: shows a character from the shoulders up.

POV shot: abbreviation for point of view. It is a cinematic trick used to present a scene so that the audience sees it through the eyes of a particular character.

Fade-in.

Long shot of a church in the town of St. Marys. Population: 8,313; located in West Central Ohio. It is a very early August Friday morning.

Superimposed on the screen are the words Ten Months Later followed by the words Before Covid.

Cut to.

Close-up of the church’s billboard that reads, "Wedding, Friday, August 17, Leslie Greer and Ted Horn.

The high school guidance counselor/youth pastor is marrying the realtor/youth pastor/mayor. Now with both Griners gone, they are the area’s number one power couple.

Cut to.

POV shot of someone discreetly entering the church. Every squeak seems magnified because the church is empty.

From that person’s eyes, we see that they slowly make their way to the audiovisual booth and turn on a computer. This is followed by a few taps and clicks.

Off-screen, Morning Has Broken by Cat Stevens begins to play.

Opening credits are shown at this time.

Series of shots of some familiar places in town including the windmills, Griner’s Farm, prominent ditches, rural Palmer Cemetery, the drive-in, the golf course, and the school. Some not so familiar places are also shown like businesses commercializing the Ditchmen Phenomenon. One sign says, Try our French Fried Ditchmen Asparagus. Another reads, Ditchmen Back Scratchers Sold Here. Streetlight poles are shown with banners connected to them that honor past military veterans. Finally, a banner is shown stretched across the main street, promoting this weekend’s festival. It reads, Back in the Day Days, a Celebration of the Seventies, August 18 and 19.

Cut to.

The church’s audiovisual booth as a hand pulls out the flash drive, resulting in the song coming to a sudden halt. A completely different flash drive is seen replacing the original one.

Dissolve to.

The church parking lot later that August Friday now quickly filling up for Ted and Leslie’s wedding.

Cut to.

The church entrance. A dressed-up Stevie, complete with his motorcycle helmet, prepares to enter. Just as you think he’s not going to, off comes his helmet to everyone’s surprise. He gets some stares from people and some double takes as if they have never seen his face before.

Cut to.

The next surprise is Debbie in the church doorway. Her date who is not Clay eventually joins her. A year away at college has caused them to drift apart. They find their seat.

Cut to.

Sheriff Al, Police Chief Tim, and Principal Greg entering the church with their wives.

Cut to.

The anxious groom, Ted Horn, waiting in a small room, looking for his best man.

Ted Horn. Best man, best man. It’s almost time.

The best man enters, and it is Coach. He looks somewhat dashing for a coach, quite different from his peculiar habit of wearing coaching attire that belonged to his beloved coaching predecessor.

Coach, you look fine. But can we lose the whistle?

Coach. Sure, sure, sure.

Ted Horn. Any minute, the pastor says.

Coach. Thanks again for choosing me to be your best man. I’ve never been a best man before.

Ted Horn. I find that hard to believe. You do have the ring.

Coach. Right here.

Coach inadvertently pulls out a football mouthpiece.

Ted Horn. That’s a mouthpiece.

Coach. Oops, I found that after practice this morning. Gotta be a freshman’s. Here’s the ring.

Ted Horn. Great. And you’re ready for the best man’s toast at the reception?

Coach. I think I just came up with one.

Ted Horn. Good, I think.

The pastor enters and gets them to follow him to the altar.

Cut to.

The entire church attendees standing up as the traditional wedding march Sognatori Per Caso begins to play.

Cut to.

Bridesmaids and the maid of honor coming down the aisle.

Cut to.

The radiant-looking bride Leslie Greer, appearing with her father as they begin their walk down the aisle.

Leslie Greer. Look, Dad, everything is perfect,