The Innocent Pirate - Softcover

Reed, Barry

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1426915632 ISBN 13: 9781426915635

Verlag: Trafford, 2009

Inhaltsangabe

The Innocent Pirate is set in rural Heard County, Georgia, during the late 1960's. The fictional characters in this book are written using local social color. The country was in civil turmoil as the Vietnam War raged on and many in our society called for the release of patients from mental institutions. During this period, the very social fabric of our country was falling apart as children were increasingly being born outside of marriage or became the victims of broken marriages. The main character, Dewey, is mildly retarded and a victim of social engineering called eugenics, where upon he was denied any hope of having children. At fifteen, he was thrust upon his widower grandfather, Al, who was a retired Navy Chief living on a farm. Dewey befriends a group of children who live in the nearby Robins Nest Trailer Park. Many adventures take place as Dewey spends his first summer on the farm with his grandfather. He becomes an unlikely hero, witness to horrible acts of human destruction, and an unexpected provider of justice. Everyone fourteen to one-hundred years old will enjoy this period classic as it stirs their imagination and old memories.

Über diesen Titel

Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

B.G. Reed served in the Navy, Coast Guard, and Air Force for a total of twenty years before he retired as a Non-Commissioned Officer. He has been a 911 Paramedic for over a decade. He grew up in Georgia and resides in Heard County, Georgia.

Auszug. © Genehmigter Nachdruck. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.

THE INNOCENT PIRATE

By B. G. Reed

Trafford Publishing

Copyright © 2009 Barry Reed
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4269-1563-5

Contents

Chapter 1 - The Pirate Sets Sail............................1Chapter 2 - Life on the Farm................................13Chapter 3 - Dewey Makes Friends.............................23Chapter 4 - Complacency.....................................33Chapter 5 - Dewey Becomes a Hero............................42Chapter 6 - Dewey Loses His Secret..........................58Chapter 7 - Dewey Learns to Tie Knots.......................73Chapter 8 - The Blue Blanket................................87Chapter 9 - The Hero's Reward...............................98Chapter 10 - The Challenge..................................108Chapter 11 - Broken Sword...................................119Chapter 12 - What is a Bad Person?..........................130Chapter 13 - Hard Birthday..................................143Chapter 14 - Tick...........................................158Chapter 15 - Dewey's Justice................................171Chapter 16 - The Counterpoise...............................184Chapter 17 - Providence.....................................198Chapter 18 - Helix..........................................212Chapter 19 - Leeway Corrected by Legacy.....................226

Chapter One

The Pirate Sets Sail

IMMEDIATELY after Al arrived at the hospital, he was told to have a seat in the waiting area, as someone would be with him shortly. Al tried in vain to find a comfortable position on one of the hard wooden chairs that were lined up in a row along one of the walls. Al sat up straight, not only out of habit, but because there was no other position the straight backed chair allowed. His back was beginning to stiffen after such a long day of driving and sleeping in an unfamiliar bed at the hotel the night before. It wasn't long before pain began to creep down the right side of his lower back, through his hip, and down his leg. He knew his sciatica was now beginning to act up on him. Determined to block out the pain, he just sat there waiting as patiently as he could, while occasionally mumbling unkind unflattering things about the person who made the chair and having to wait for so long.

While he waited, he mulled over the notice he'd received in the mail several days earlier. Apprehension and dread were mounting ever greater as he thought about the indignant reason for his visit so far from home.

About the time he'd decided he'd had enough, a nurse, who was all business, came and asked him to follow her down a long hallway. They came to an office with the words 'Superintendent' and 'Dr. Douglas Perley' boldly printed in gold upon it. Al couldn't help but notice a fat lump of a human being wearing a red cape with a blank expression sitting in a chair just outside the office. He was looking at a book with bold colorful pictures that was obviously a children's book.

He hesitated before he went into the office when something the boy was wearing caught his eye. On the knot that held the cape together in the front, was an old large woman's brooch. It was a sterling cross with a large fake pearl in the center. The pearl had obviously been chipped and the cross was tarnished. It looked familiar, but he quickly dismissed it as he continued into the office.

"Thank you, Mr. Hewin, for driving all the way out here. I realize it's a long way from home." Dr. Perley came from behind his desk and extended his hand.

Al Hewin shook the superintendent's outstretched hand that resulted in a momentary cringe on the doctor's face.

"May I offer you a cold refreshment or coffee perhaps?" asked Dr. Perley, as he wore a benevolent smile while he waited for an answer.

Al shook his head to show he wasn't interested. The fact that Al was still hurting from the pain in his back and right leg, not to mention the anticipation of his reason for his being summoned, caused him to be in no state of mind or condition for cordialities or pleasantries.

Trying not to be conspicuous as he took in the man before him, Al immediately started 'measuring' the man. He could tell he was a blue nosed Yankee by his proper English, demeanor, and the way he was condescending in his tone. He wore an expensive gold watch on his right wrist and had engraved gold cufflinks on his shirt-sleeves that protruded from his white coat. Al had met and worked for many a naval officer from the north, who were, more or less a carbon copy of the man now standing before him. Once finished, he started looking around the office and realized it was just as he had imagined it would be. All government offices seemed to have been designed and planned to be as bland as all others.

The superintendent's office was large and lined with bookshelves. All of the shelves were overflowing and looked haphazardly stacked with books, boxes and odd sized folders. The older shelves matched the desk, leaving the others to stand out in stark contrast. The once white walls had yellowed over the years. Paint was flaking off the wall near the steam grate, indicating a small leak of steam had escaped during the winter months. Only the large dark stained oak seemed somewhat organized, having multiple stacks of folders and charts piled high in trays marked 'In' and 'Out'. On one corner of the desk was a bowl of unshelled peanuts. Just below it was a wastebasket with pieces of broken peanut shells littered all about it. The superintendent must have just been eating some when Al arrived, because he spotted the man briskly brushing off the front of his white coat with the back of his hands.

The superintendent stood briefly in front of his desk while indicating a chair where Al was to sit. The nurse, who ushered Al to the office, seeing she was no longer needed, gave a quick courtesy smile and departed, closing the office door behind her ever so quietly.

Al couldn't help but notice the little white cap the nurse wore. His mind pondered how it was too small to be practical for shading in sunlight and offered no kind of shelter from foul weather like the hats he wore while working. He'd seen them his whole life and always thought they were more or less a decoration, or even possibly a declaration of authority. They seemed to indicate the only difference between the nurses and the orderlies.

The doctor walked behind his desk. "My name is Dr. Douglas Perley. I'm the superintendent here at the Milledgeville State Hospital."

Al wasn't looking at him as he continued to take in his surroundings. In the corner, he spied a very large bag of peanuts. It was one of those big ones that could be found in any local farmers market. Al mused for a moment over what he could clearly see was this man's self-indulgence before he again turned to look at the doctor.

"That the boy sittin' outside?" Al asked, gesturing with his thumb towards the door. It seemed more an accusation than a question.

"Yes." Dr. Perley took a moment while he stood in front of his chair and studied this hardened individual, noticing his piercing gray-blue eyes, hands the size of baseball gloves, and a grip as strong as a vice; the doctor was still rubbing his hand from Al's crippling handshake. He wasn't sure if Al's directness indicated hostility or just a lack of manners. He realized the man was strong and in surprisingly good shape for a man of his advanced years.

His leathery skin was darkened and weatherworn from many years of working outdoors. His almost white hair was flattened by hair cream, possibly to help tame a cowlick....

Details zur Ausgabe

• Verlag: Trafford
• Erscheinungsdatum: 2009
• Sprache: Englisch
• ISBN 10: 1426915632
• ISBN 13: 9781426915635
• Einband: Taschenbuch
• Anzahl der Seiten: 298
• Kontakt zum Hersteller: Nicht verfügbar
• Verantwortliche Person: KreGa Onlinehandel GmbH; 4950000000000; info@krega-onlinehandel.de; ; Birkenweg 31; Brakel; 33034; Deutschland