B. R. Fleming

Summertime Blues B. R. Fleming

"Summertime Blues" by B. R. Fleming follows the coming-of-age story of Peter Bennings during the '60's from an optimistic, dream-driven thirteen-year-old to a floundering, anger-driven seventeen-year-old. A typical teenage boy, he's curious about life, about girls, about sex, about how he fits in. He daydreams about playing drums in a rock band, playing the "new" music of the British invasion and psychedelic rock, and looks forward to his life as a Microbiologist. But, as Peter encounters disappointment and the shattering of his dreams, he escapes into music, booze, and sexual adventures. As a faithful archetype of the coming of age story, the question, then, follows, What does Peter learn from this journey? Without much help from his family, he must discover the answers to his questions on his own. In the process, he loses his once naive approach to life and stumbles through his teenage years. The '60's are sometimes referred to as a "simpler time," but that simplicity rests only in technological terms. As J. D. Salinger infamously created a complex and tragic character in Holden Caulfield, so too does Peter's voyage reveal a complex character searching for himself and for the answers to his life questions. And this excursion will surely evoke memories for those who recall the shift in music and for many teens today who can relate to Peter's conflict with the absurdities of dealing with adults.