This is my first written story, composed when I was in sixth grade. My pal Mike Daugherty and I came up with the story together, and we each wrote our own versions. I suspect it was strongly influenced by the Tom Swift, Jr. series that I was very fond of.
I’ve been keeping this sole copy safe all these years, and recently found it (again) while going through mountains of stuff in my office. It’s in the form of a staple-bound booklet, with an actual dustjacket, featuring a drawing by yours truly. Here it is, unchanged from when I wrote it, circa 1961.
There you have it! Figalite, by the way, was named after my cat Figaro. And Samalite was named (I think!) after Mike’s cat Sam.
I wonder if my friend R. Michael Daugherty, who is now a respected classical music composer, still has his copy.