Cast Of Characters

(Ages are as of the beginning of the story)

Main Characters

The Livingston Family
Greg – father of Jamie and Melissa, age 39
Andrea – mother of Jamie and Melissa, age 38
Melissa – main character, narrator, age 12
Jamie – a little over two years older than Melissa, age 14

The Jeffcoat Family
Frank - father of Andrea, Melissa’s maternal grandfather (Grandpa), age 61
Susan - mother of Andrea, Melissa’s maternal grandmother (Grandma), age 60
Andrea - Melissa’s mother, married to Greg Livingston, age 38
Frank and Susan reside in Long Cane, SC

The Clark Family
Bob – father of Sarah, age 40
Colleen – mother of Sarah, childhood friend of Andrea, age 38
Sarah – Melissa’s longtime best friend, age 12

The Thompson Family
Jason - father of Colleen & Brandon, Sarah’s maternal grandfather (Granddad), age 62
Cynthia - mother of Colleen & Brandon, Sarah’s maternal grandmother (Granny), age 60
Colleen - Sarah’s mother, married to Bob Clark, age 38
Brandon - two years older than Colleen, married to Laura, age 40
Laura - married to Brandon, Colleen’s sister-in-law, age 39
Jason and Cynthia reside in Long Cane, SC
Brandon and Laura reside in Savannah, GA

The Addison Family
Gordon - father of Tammy, Daniel, and Steve, age 43
Amy - mother of Tammy, Daniel, and Steve, age 39
Tammy - same age as Melissa, longtime friend from school, age 12
Daniel - two years older than Tammy, age 14
Steve - three years older than Daniel, age 17

The Preston Family
Carl – father of Derek and Jennifer, age 40
Janet – mother of Derek and Jennifer, age 39
Jennifer – same age as Melissa, age 12
Derek – two years older than Jennifer. Age 14

The Rayner Family
Kent – father of Penny, Pam, and Peter, age 41
Maggie – mother of Penny, Pam, and Peter, age 39
Peter – five months younger than Melissa, has a crush on her, age 12
Pam – almost a year older than Peter, age 12
Penny – more than three years older than Pam, age 16

The Thomas Family
Bradley – pastor of Hidden Valley Community Church, age 42
Doris – Bradley’s wife, age 38

The Walcott Family
Brent – father of Kari, Mike, and Julie, age 44
Terri – mother of Kari, Mike, and Julie, age 42
Julie – a half year younger than Melissa, age 12
Mike – two and a half years older than Julie, age 14
Kari – two years older than Mike, age 16

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Other Characters - Adults

Russell Blackmon - farmer & business owner in Long Cane, age 66

The Davidson Family
James – father of Jimmy and Hidden Valley Community youth minister, age 29
Beth - mother of Jimmy, age 27
Jimmy - James and Beth’s son, age 3

The Formon Family
Larry - father of Alicia and Kevin, entrepreneur, age 42
Elaine - mother of Alicia and Kevin, entrepreneur, age 39
Alicia - a year older than Melissa, in private school, age 13
Kevin - two years older than Alicia, in private school, age 15

Kathy Harrison - saleslady from the clothing boutique at the Albany mall, divorced, age 54

The Meyer Family
John - co-owner of Forest Acres Campground, age 50
Erica - John’s wife, co-owner of Forest Acres Campground, age 49

The Miller Family
Matt - father of Ethan, Luke and Katie, pastor of Southside Community Church, age 40
Sandra - mother of Ethan, Luke and Katie, age 40
Katie - cheerleader for Southside Middle School, age 12
Luke - junior varsity football player for Southside High School, age 14
Ethan - varsity football player for Southside High School, age 16
The Millers reside in Southside, SC

The Pervitt Family
Tom - regular visitor at Forest Acres Campground, age 33
Nancy - Tom’s wife, regular visitor at Forest Acres Campground, age 30
The Pervitts reside in Peeksville, SC

The Saxe Family
Harry - uncle of Doris Thomas, age 63
Joslyn - Harry’s wife, aunt of Doris Thomas, age 59
The Saxe family resides in Southern California

Lisa Stanton - Hidden Valley School District B-team cheer head coach, JV and Varsity assistant coach, not married, age 31

The Tanner Family
Phil - father of Krystal and Kenny, age 49
Roxanne - mother of Krystal and Kenny, Hidden Valley School District Varsity and JV cheer head coach, age 48
Krystal - attending Carolina University, age 22
Kenny - attending Carolina University graduate business school, age 24

The Taylor Family
Andy - father of Anna and Andrew, professional photographer, age 39
Lori - mother of Anna and Andrew, age 36
Andrew - three years younger than Anna, age 9
Anna - middle school cheerleader, flyer for Melissa’s stunt group, age 12

The Thornton Family
Tom – father of Belle and Hidden Valley Community music minister, age 43
Rachel - mother of Belle, age 40
Belle - one year older than Melissa, age 13

Nikki Wilson - Andrea’s college freshman year dorm roommate, age 39

The OCS - Office of Community Services at Carolina University
Connie - age 46
Heather - age 55

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Other Characters - School Age

Janie Baker - middle school cheerleader, age 12
Tara Brooks - a classmate of Melissa’s, age 12
Tony Burton - Jamie's friend from the game room, age 14
Jack Crider - junior varsity cheerleader, age 14
Julio Cruz - high school student, age 17
Rory Garner - classmate of Jamie, age 14
Kathy Green - middle school cheerleader - back spotter for Melissa’s stunt group, age 13
Brenda Hall - Jamie's ex-girlfriend from early in the story, age 14
Billy Harper - a classmate of Melissa’s, age 12
Emma Jackson - middle school cheerleader, age 12
Trish Johnson - middle school cheerleader - base for Melissa’s stunt group, age 12
Becky Jordan - Melissa's longtime friend from school, age 12
Amber Kirkland - junior varsity cheerleader, age 14
Brian Lloyd - Jamie's friend, age 14
Leann Marshall - middle school cheerleader, age 11
Alejandro Moreno - high school student, age 17
Barry Norris - a grade ahead of Melissa, age 13
Deb Parker - middle school cheerleader, age 12
Robin Perry - middle school cheerleader, age 12
Kelly Rendell - junior varsity cheerleader, age 15
Mary Richardson - middle school cheerleader, age 11
Aaron Riley - classmate of Penny and Kari, age 16
Craig Scott - varsity cheerleader, age 16
Mandy Shaw - classmate of Penny and Kari, varsity cheerleader, age 16
Justin Stewart - classmate and friend of Peter, age 12
Allen White - classmate of Penny and Kari, age 16
Jerry Wise - middle school cheerleader, age 12

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Schools

Hidden Valley Intermediate School
4th - Andrew Taylor
6th - Leann Marshall, Mary Richardson

Hidden Valley Middle School
7th - Tammy Addison, Janie Baker, Tara Brooks, Sarah Clark, Bill Harper, Emma Jackson, Trish Johnson, Becky Jordan, Melissa Livingston, Robin Perry, Deb Parker, Jennifer Preston, Pam Rayner, Peter Rayner, Justin Stewart, Anna Taylor, Julie Walcott, Jerry Wise
8th - Kathy Green, Barry Norris, Belle Thornton

Hidden Valley High School
9th - Daniel Addison, Tony Burton, Jack Crider, Rory Garner, Brenda Hall, Amber Kirkland, Jamie Livingston, Brian Lloyd, Derek Preston, Mike Walcott
10th - Kelly Rendell
11th - Penny Rayner, Aaron Riley, Craig Scott, Mandy Shaw, Kari Walcott, Allen White
12th - Steve Addison

Westside High School
12th - Julio Cruz, Alejandro Moreno

Ashland School - Private
8th - Alicia Formon
10th - Kevin Formon

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Cheerleaders

B-team - Hidden Valley Middle School
Janie Baker
Kathy Green
Emma Jackson
Trish Johnson
Melissa Livingston
Leann Marshall
Deb Parker
Robin Perry
Mary Richardson
Anna Taylor
Jerry Wise

Junior Varsity - Hidden Valley High School
Jack Crider
Kathy Green - Beginning with 9th grade
Amber Kirkland
Kelly Rendell

Varsity - Hidden Valley High School
Craig Scott
Mandy Shaw

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Background Information

The families reside in the fictional town of Albany, SC, unless otherwise noted. The Livingstons and many of their friends live in the Hidden Valley subdivision. The Addisons, Formons, and Taylors reside in the affluent Pine Hill subdivision.

The children of the families residing in Albany attend the Hidden Valley District schools. The exceptions are Julio Cruz and Alejandro Moreno who reside in the River View subdivision and attend the rival Westside District schools.

Melissa Livingston, Sarah Clark, Pam Rayner, Peter Rayner, and Julie Walcott are in the same grade. Pam is around six months older than Melissa and Sarah though. Julie is the youngest of the four. They have grown up together as friends and classmates. Melissa and Sarah have always been much closer as friends though. During the first four chapters, these characters are between twelve and thirteen years old, and in the seventh grade.

Tammy Addison and Melissa are in the same grade and are good friends at school but don't live close to each other. Tammy is very popular among her classmates.

Carl and Janet Preston moved to Albany about six months before the story begins. Melissa befriended their daughter, Jennifer, during cheerleader tryouts during their first spring semester together. They are in the same grade.

Anna Taylor is also in the same grade with Melissa, as well as part of her cheer stunt group. Their friendship has mostly revolved around cheerleading and gymnastics.

Becky Jordan is a bit of a stuck-up snob, but she is in the same grade and has always been friends with Melissa.

Kari Walcott is a little older than Penny Rayner, but they are in the same grade and are close friends.

Mike Walcott and Jamie Livingston are the same age and grade, as well as being friends.

Andrea and Colleen grew up together in Long Cane, which is an hour drive from Albany. Colleen is almost a year older than Andrea. Both of them met Maggie and Doris while attending Carolina University. Terri Walcott was a childhood friend of Maggie Rayner.

Bradley Thomas is the pastor of the main characters’ church - Hidden Valley Community Church. His wife, Doris, became close friends with Andrea during college. Also serving on the church staff are the Music Minister, Tom Thornton, and his wife, Rachel; and the Youth Minister, James Davidson, and his wife, Beth. The Thorntons have a daughter, Belle, who is about a year older than Melissa; and the Davidsons have a son, Jimmy, of pre-school age.

Andy and Lori Taylor own and operate a photo studio. Their daughter, Anna, is a cheerleader and a member of Melissa Livingston's stunt group. They also have a son, Andrew, who is still in grade school.

Larry Formon used to own an IT company which he sold. Independently wealthy, he now owns a specialty business which he operates together with his wife, Elaine. They have two children, Alicia and Kevin, who attend a private school.

Forest Acres Campground is near the fictional town of Peeksville, SC, which is about a one hour drive from Albany.

Carolina University is a private college located near Charleston, SC, well known for its business administration program. It is a two hour drive from Albany.

(continued in Prologue)