Many of the locations, events, and people depicted have roots in reality; many do not. I would like to believe the people who may see some uncanny resemblances to themselves within this book are far nicer than their parallel-universe counterparts. Mark Twain reportedly said "never let the truth get in the way of a good story," although as with many quotes attributed to him, there is no guarantee of its provenance. I have adopted the same mantra here: despite some similarities to what might have happened long ago, this is a work of fiction and not a memoir. All truths are accidental. Without any further ado, sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.