Patrick Carlin

Highway 23: the Unrepentant Patrick Carlin

It's June 1952, two years into the Korean War. Eddie Flynn, a 20-year-old New Yorker stationed at an air force radar site in Michigan meets Joan Whitman at the annual Perch Festival in Tawas. Joan from St. Clair Shores is fighting back against her father's attempts to push into the country club set. Her mother loves and understands her. Jill delights in thwarting Fill's efforts to thrust boys from "the proper social strata" upon Joan. Bill's current project is a Yalie due for a large inheritance on his 25th birthday. At her father's request Joan had dated Roddy twice. She thinks he's a jerk and is not looking forward to receiving his frat pin at her 18th birthday party. Eddie is the answer to Joan's dilemma. Eddie is a rhythm & blues fan who only wears his uniform off base if he's hitchhiking. With his ducktail haircut slathered in Dixie Peach hair pomade, wearing his Levis, a Pendleton shirt and black suede loafers he doesn't look like the average airman wear "civvies". Eddie declared himself "cool" when he was ten years old. Joan and Eddie cruise through July and August in her black Chevy, a stick shift with a hot engine and zebra skin sear covers. Labor Day brings electrifying news to the young lovers. Two major problems that must be dealt with.