Skid: A Novel (The Occupational Hazards, Band 3) - Softcover

Gutteridge, Rene

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1400071593 ISBN 13: 9781400071593

Verlag: PRH Christian Publishing, 2008

Inhaltsangabe

The third book in the Occupational Hazards series, a laugh-out-loud novel about a group of strangers flying from Atlanta to Amsterdam

Blissfully unaware that Atlantica Flight 1945 from Atlanta to Amsterdam is about to make aviation history, First Officer Danny McSweeney focuses his energies on navigating the turbulent personalities of an eccentric female captain, a co-pilot with a talent for tactless comments and conspiracy theories, and a lead flight attendant with an outsized attitude that definitely exceeds the limits for carry-on baggage.

On the other side of the cockpit door, the unscheduled in-flight entertainment includes a potbellied pig, a jittery diamond courier, and the recently jilted Lucy Meredith, whose personal mantra of “What Would Oprah Do?” will be challenged by the sudden appearance of her ex and his new traveling partner. On her left sits Hank Hazard, whose unusually polite but constant requests--prompted by his covert role as a spy for the airline--test the limits of the crew’s customer service.

But as Lucy and the rest of the crew discover, Hank’s odd behavior is linked to a quiet faith that may play a key role in the fate of everyone on board. Especially when an unexpected traveler sets this already bumpy flight on a course toward the unfriendly skies.

Über diesen Titel

Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

Rene Gutteridge is the award-winning, best-selling author of twenty-four novels, including the Boo series, the Storm series, and the novelization for The Ultimate Gift, as well as Scoop and Snitch, the first two Occupational Hazard novels. She lives with her husband, Sean, and their two children in Oklahoma City.

Auszug. © Genehmigter Nachdruck. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.

Chapter 1

“This is going to be a tough crowd.”

Forty children gathered on the large concrete patio that overlooked an acre of gardens, while three high-strung adults swung their arms in big, round motions, trying to get a grip on the situation.

“Now, kids, the clowns are afraid of loud noises, so we have to be quiet,” tried the mother of the six-year-old with more friends than a politician.

“Great,”Mack said under her breath. “That’s what they need. Motivation to stir the waters.”

Hank only nodded. He was in his mime costume already so he couldn’t speak, but he didn’t have to. Their task was clearly laid out in front of them. A bead of sweat trickled down his temple, smudging his makeup. He was glad they stood in the shade of the house.

Despite the black “blinky” marks on either side of her eyes and the wide, red clown smile, Mack’s expression turned sour. “What mother invites forty six-year-olds to a birthday party?” she moaned. “Did you hear what they did last year?”

Hank shook his head.

“The father built an actual pirate ship here in the backyard, with two decks and pirates in costumes. It even made cannon sounds.”

Hank thought that sounded cool.

“I heard the kids made the adults walk the plank.”

Birthday parties had come a long way. They did a lot of them, but usually it was just one or two of the Hazards making an appearance, and the parties consisted of ten or so children. This woman had hired the entire family. Now they knew why.

Hank’s other sister, Hayden, stepped out the back door and stood next to them, surveying the children below.

“You okay?” Mack asked her. Hayden tried to smile, but Hank knew it was getting to her. Their oldest brother Mitch, the ring leader–literally–had the stomach flu and wasn’t sure he could do a cartwheel without vomiting.

Hayden had volunteered to step in and help. “The makeup is making my skin itch,” Hayden whispered.

“Didn’t you put on that lotion first?” Mack asked. Hayden sighed. “No. I forgot. I’ve also forgotten exactly what I’m supposed to be doing. It’s been a while.”

Hayden had stepped down from performing when they’d realized she wasn’t an anxious child, just terrified of clowns. It had taken years to discover this, but once they got an official diagnosis, her parents allowed her to work in the office booking events and keeping track of bills.

The family business did well, especially in the warm months. They had everything they needed and plenty left over, which they donated to children’s hospitals, always making special, exclusive clown appearances when they delivered the check. The children couldn’t get enough of it.

At least those children. The ones squirming on the patio didn’t seem quite as enthusiastic. While Hayden, Mack, and their sixteen-year-old sister Cassie discussed what kind of act they would have to throw together to get these kids’ attention, Hank marveled at the beauty all around him. The house stood three stories high, with exquisite stone work, a marble banister that could be seen through the front or back window, and what seemed like two hundred feet of flower gardens.

A rich, deep green lawn rolled from the steps of the patio like lush carpet. Bright pink and red roses climbed white lattice walls, while full arches of ivy framed paths he wanted to explore. A gazebo peeked through the foliage.

His parents had taught him the dangers of loving money. They lived off what they had and never borrowed a dime for anything, including the van they used for transportation to all of their performances. The siblings were paid good wages for their work, and Hank never felt he had anything to complain about. Yet standing in what seemed like an oasis, he couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to live with this kind of luxury. His gaze moved to the outdoor fireplace that crackled nearby. It wasn’t nearly cold enough for a fire, but he supposed the slightly cool breeze could justify it.

He tuned back in to his sisters’ conversation. “Great time for Mitch to get sick,” Mack sighed. “He’s the one with the best magic tricks. We’re going to have to make a pig fly to impress these kids.”

“We don’t have to impress them,” Hayden said. “Just entertain them. A lot has changed, but at the end of the day, kids still love to be entertained.”

“Hayden, it’s been a while since you’ve done a kid party. They’re not that easily entertained, and their attention span is all of about three seconds.”

Hayden turned to Hank. “Maybe Hank could do some of those magic tricks with the smoke bombs. Kids like bombs, don’t they?”

Hank smiled. The smoke bomb trick was usually a hit. But it involved some time and he wasn’t sure they could sit still that long.

Cassie gestured toward the mother who had finally managed to get all the children to sit down. “Look how beautiful she is. I wish my hair would do that. It would do that if Dad wouldn’t have a cow about hairspray. You can’t even see it, but somehow he always knows when I’m wearing it.” Cassie actually whimpered.

“Did you see her nails?”

Mack turned to her. “Cassie, you’ve got to focus. We have to be on today. This is the first time Mom and Dad have taken a vacation–well-deserved, mind you–and we promised them we would handle everything. We’ve got to pull this off, or they might never leave the house again.”

Mitch came out, trailed by the two youngest of the Hazard family, Holt and Avery. A pea soup-colored skin tone bled through his chalky, white makeup. “Are we ready yet? What’s the holdup?”

“Forty six-year-olds who won’t sit still,” Mack said. She pushed on her clown nose. “This is going to take some muscle.

Are you okay? You look terrible.”

“I just can’t jump, roll, bend down, or raise my hands over my head.”

Mack scowled. “Great. You can stand there and wave, then.”

“We’ve got plenty of lawn,” Cassie said. “Maybe Avery and Holt can do their acrobat routine first. Get things rolling. Literally.”

They rolled around like bowling balls. Hank nodded in agreement.

“Good idea,” Mitch said as he held his stomach. “Is it hot out here? I feel hot.”

“Mitch,” Mack said, “go lie down in the van. We can handle it. The last thing we need is you throwing up on kids whose clothes cost more than we’re making today.”

“No. Mom performed three days after her hysterectomy. I’m in, just not in an excitable sort of way.” Mitch raised an eyebrow as Mack frowned. “We’re supposed to be bright and cheery.”

Mack adjusted her nose. “Yeah, yeah. I’ll turn it on when I need to.”

The mother in charge of the party clapped her hands and in a voice sounding as though royalty had just arrived, she introduced the clowns with, “Children, I give you…THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH!”

Hank suppressed a smile. That was one way to set them up for disappointment.

Avery and Holt bounded onto the lawn from the patio, back hand-springing their way across the grass with as much grace as Olympic athletes, but it brought little reaction from the kids, who sat slumped on the concrete...

Details zur Ausgabe

• Verlag: PRH Christian Publishing
• Erscheinungsdatum: 2008
• Sprache: Englisch
• ISBN 10: 1400071593
• ISBN 13: 9781400071593
• Einband: Taschenbuch
• Anzahl der Seiten: 336
• Kontakt zum Hersteller: Nicht verfügbar
• Verantwortliche Person: gpsr@libri.de; gpsr@libri.de; ; Europaallee 1; Bad Hersfeld; 36244; Deutschland