Dear Reader,

I originally wrote this story when I was eighteen years old, and it was my first major attempt.  Needless to say, as I practiced writing more extensively, I began to notice some stylistic issues with this text which I have been trying to iron out for the past decade and more.  I think I've done just about all I can for it without rewriting it from scratch.  So, please forgive the awkward shifting points of view, possible misuse of the semicolon, inconsistent capitalization, and excessive verbiage.  It used to be much worse!