D. Candis Paule

When bratty 5-year-old Byron Reed acts out the night before a family trip, his mother makes him sit in the time out chair. When Byron awakens to an empty house, he assumes his wish to have no family has come true. But his excitement sours when he realizes that two con men plan to rob the Reed's residence, and that he alone must protect the family home.

Misdiagnosed with a terminal illness, a computer nerd dates his hospice worker, while suspecting someone is out to get him.

On its last leg homeward, from Pearl Harbour (Hawaii) to San Diego, the USS Constellation hosts a jolly 'tiger cruise' for USNavy, Marines and USNAF relatives, mainly minors ('Navy brats'). Attitudes and emotions vary from simple joy to open frustration, the worst brat being XO commander Gary Dolan's daughter Maddie, who wants him to refuse a promotion to command for a shore job. Then the news of the WCC terror crisis changes everything, as the crew is recalled to war footing.