Chapter Two
AUGUST 2, 1889
“Carl? Where are you going?”
“Thackers, Ma. Pa said for me to help.”
"Well, that's nice. See you at supper, then."
"See you," Carl said, and raced down the street, out into
the country, turned at the oak, raced past the new Thacker
place, where the Bobtails lived, and on down the road toward
the horse breeding barn. Mother did not know he was going
to do this kind of work, but Father had said it was Ok. It
wasn't like Carl hadn't seen cats and all, and cows in the field.
He got near and paused to watch a foal with his mother.
The silly foal was almost as big as his mother but he still
nursed! Foals sure were pretty.
"You working here today?" Roger asked Carl, when he saw
him run up.
"Yup. Pretty much every day. Father said so. Help you all
get ready, and learn what I'll need to do."
"Sounds good. And you get to eat dinner with us, too?"
"That's the best part. Who's cooking today?"
"I think Esther. She was busy doing stuff this morning
32 • BOBTAILS GO TO FRANCE
before we left. Dunno what she's making, though. Where you
gonna be?"
"Your pa said for me to come straight to the horse barn.
Guess I'll be helping in both places."
"I'm gonna be at the creek after I get done shovelling this
manure. Ma wants me to fill the kindling pile, so I'll be taking
the wheelbarrow down to the creek to pick up sticks."
Fran.ois watched the passengers disembarking from the ship,
and saw... she looked perfect! A middle-aged woman, dressed
in what had to be French clothing, struggling with two bags...
“Can I help you, ma'am?”
“Oh, yes, my brave boy,” she said, and started handing him
bags.
“Where are we going, ma'am?” he asked, “The Ritz Hotel?”
“The Ritz! Heavens no! The Hotel L'.tranger.”
“Very we!, ma'am. A coach?”
“Good grief, no. That costs, you know!”
“Yes, ma'am. This way, please...”
Carl was exhausted. He had come over early this morning,
worked at the horse barn, and then Mr Thacker had sent him
to the house where Mrs Thacker had put them to work all
day getting ready for the trip. They were going to be leaving
Monday! Mr Thacker had been busy all day yesterday and
today with telegrams, and Mrs Thacker… and Esther… were
keeping everybody busy with packing and sending messages
so they could be ready.
“Little Preacher’s Kid‽” he heard, and jumped up. What
did Mr Thacker want with him?
—
Thank you for coming round Arthur’s Substack. I hope and pray it will be a blessing to you.
Arthur publishes with Wise Path Books and include the children’s/YA books:
The Bobtails meet the Preacher’s Kid
and
As well as GK Chesterton’s wonderful book, “What’s Wrong with the World”, for which ‘Arthur’ wrote most of the annotations.
Quite a few chapters of the Bobtails and No Ordinary School are here on this substack as audio.
I also write as Von, and I encourage you to check out that substack. There is a lot of theology and politics there, as well as quotes, poems, other articles, and links to other Science Fiction. But ‘Von’ also is publishing some serial books and stories. Much more adult and serious books than here, for the most part. Some of them.
Von is publishing the stories:
Contract Marriage
Contract marriage is an adult dystopia examining the issues of marriage. Like 1984 and Brave New World, Contract Marriage treats the relations between the sexes as a fundamental aspect of how a society is formed and, thus, how a society can go wrong.
Unlike those dystopias, Contract Marriage isn’t all horrible all of the time. The characters for the most part have a good time and get along in their society. But the issues of sexuality, of marriage or not, monogamy or not, faithfulness or not, and gender roles… keep coming up and causing tension and conflict and joy and pain.
My desire is that my readers would be thinking along with my characters about these issues and perhaps even arrive at the same place (minus the flying cars).
Article 17
Article 17 is a military science fiction story with aliens and romance. It is set in a future reminiscent of Napoleon era Britain. The war was going very poorly until the military installed a dictator. This story follows one of the dictator’s great men: Cladin Tomirosh, Leader, and thrice decorated hero.
Island People
Island People is a young adult fantasy book centring on a young prince. The book starts with his kidnapping and follows his adventures as he not only escapes from his kidnapper but gains critical allies and friends.
The entire book is scheduled on Substack, and there are several sequels. This is a book I wrote years ago, so it is in a bit of a rough form. Critiques and comments are more than welcome, they are requested.
…and his story ‘The Oracle’ is in haitus, but there are some chapters there. Feel free to check them out.
God Bless you as you read, and may you do all to the glory of God.
Share this post