Elsewhere : A Novel: Volume I

This story's main character, an adult Joseph Klinger, discovers that his previous parochial grammar school, St. Cleo's Grammar School, had been closed over twenty years ago. He discovers that a construction company is demolishing the building of his old parochial grammar school and is converting it into an assisted-living facility for senior citizens. Joseph also discovered that that no one had ever informed him of the closure of the school. Joseph then seeks to confront his wife about the reason why no one ever wanted him to know about the closure and whether his crisis in that school contributed to the school's closure. The story then returns to the time when Joseph was a child that was starting in a public school in the first grade. Joseph is a child that understands the importance of pursuing his relationship with God. His parents, Perry and Melanie Klinger, encourage Joseph to engage in prayer and in studying about Jesus. Joseph tries to obey the Ten Commandments. He goes to Sunday School. He tries to pray daily. He studies about religious issues. He tries to engage in communication with God. He motivates himself to train for his First Communion. Joseph tries to honor his father and mother. He tries to understand the difference between right and wrong. His relationship with God makes him to be a heroic figure in the story. He tries to be an excellent student. Joseph has irreconcilable conflicts with his peers in St. Cleo's Grammar School in the first half of the story. Joseph's conflicts with his classmates motivate them to attack Joseph at the end of the fourth-grade school year in front of his house. Subsequently, Joseph then attempts to injure himself by taking an overdose of vitamins. His brother, Cody Klinger, then calls 911 to report this. Joseph is then hospitalized in the Effitsville Memorial Hospital and Medical Center. The administration of the hospital then files criminal charges against St. Cleo's Grammar School. Federal investigations into the school's problems then begin. Federal investigators feel that the problems with St. Cleo's Grammar School are so serious that they make it clear to St. Cleo's Parish that they may have to close the school and to convert it to a public middle school. Joseph had been under psychiatric treatment and had been receiving psychological counseling at the Effitsville Behavioral Health Center since he was in the first grade. Joseph's psychiatrist, Dr. Marcus Adams, and his therapist, Ellen Hayes, try to understand why everyone sees Joseph to be such a problem. Elsewhere Volume 2 describes Joseph's life from the fifth grade to his graduation from St. Cleo's Grammar School. Volume 2 describes the events that led St. Cleo's Grammar School to meet its final fate.