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         RIFLE SHOT
                                                       Jon  Thörngren 

        PRELIMINARY JACKET COVER


 In 1953, Richard Carl Harkins and his family join
 the white flight from south Houston, Texas.  They
 settle into a sprawling ranch style house  in an  
 emerging, nouveau riche neighborhood  near what has 
 become the opulent Galleria area (President George
 H.W. Bush country). A female dominated household, 
 increasing family wealth, and a continuous exposure 
 to prejudice gnarl the roots of his childhood.  
 During his senior year in high school, a shooting 
 incident destroys his silver-spoon future. Through
 college, marriage, and divorce, this event mixed with
 his upbringing becomes the mold for a hardened 
 mentality believing success comes by caste and by 
 chance.  Was Richard Harkins a racist, a murderer, 
 a chauvinist, or just the heel print of his environ-
 ment?  Or was he understandable, even forgivable? 

 Historically set in Houston and Dallas, Texas, 
 mid 1940's through 1980's.