Puff: A Novel

Front Cover
Harper Collins, Feb 1, 2005 - Fiction - 288 pages

Meet John Gullivan, age thirteen, obsessed with the moles that dot most of his body. Meet his brother Gully, who can't stop laughing at them. Now meet the brothers ten years later, in the middle of the most ferocious blizzard anyone can remember. Set in an Irish working-class suburb of Boston in the 1960s and 1970s, Puff centers on a quest as the soon-to-be-orphaned brothers, posing as rescue personnel, attempt to steer their dilapidated van through insurmountable snow, all to score a bag of pot.

Trapped in their own ruse and forced to act the part of the saviors they are pretending to be, the brothers run into an endless stream of foes and obstacles: the cops, their childhood priest, a knife-wielding maniac, and the ill all stand in the way of their elusive high. A raucous caper, Puff is as hilarious as it is heartfelt and will resonate with old and young alike.

 

Contents

Mole
1
Ten Years Later
12
Full
26
Oath
39
Newsprint
53
Rounds
65
Puff
79
A Turn for the Worse
89
The Trouble with Girls and Boys
113
School Crossing
127
Fists
142
Red
158
Vows
173
The Red Skull
214
Squirrel
237
And Leave the Driving to Us
255

Love Is in the Air
99

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Page 190 - And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse ; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
Page 190 - Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple : and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters : and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
Page 190 - These are they, which come out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Page 213 - I looked at my brother and he looked at me and we both dropped our papers and went close to Ma's discolored cheeks. A barely audible breath. A moment later, another. Another moment. And nothing. Nothing. Nothing. "What do you think?
Page 73 - Forgive me Father, for I have sinned . . . It's been seven days since my last . . . since my . . . last . . . since my . . ." Then she blurted out: "Can't you See?
Page 133 - But I knew that voice. I just couldn't put my finger on it.
Page 7 - Jesus jumps down off the cross, pounds his chest, bares his teeth, rips the cross out of the ground as if it were no more than a...
Page 42 - I know," said my brother, looking straight ahead, "is that we have exactly one hour and forty-five minutes to make it to Braintree.
Page 142 - I opened the door a crack and peered down the corridor. I saw the flashlights drawing closer, heard the shouts, might have heard: "THERE THEY ARE!

About the author (2005)

Bob Flaherty was born and raised in Boston and its surrounding towns and now lives in Western Massacusetts with his wife Annemarie, with whom he operates a birthday party business. They have 3 sons. Bob has, at various times, been an actor, a director, a cartoonist, a sportscaster, a talk show host, a tour guide, a storyteller, a disabled bus driver, a master of ceremonies, a hanger of gutters, a singer of national anthems and a baseball coach.

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