Chapter Four
AUGUST 5, 1889
A person does not grow from the ground
like a vine or a tree, one is not part of a
plot of land. Mankind has legs so it can
wander.
—Roman Payne
Geoffrey came down before breakfast and was headed toward
the back door when his mother called him. "No, Geoffrey,
you and Carl may not go to the Thacker's today. Everyone is
coming over here in a couple of hours and I will need your
help."
Geoffrey wasn't particularly happy but he didn't think his
mother meant anything by it. The Bobtails, several of the
other Thackers, and Teacher were all coming to an early
picnic dinner tonight. And then everyone from school was
going to come afterwards for dessert, as a kind of sendoff for
the Bobtails. Well, and him. But he still couldn't really believe
that he was getting to go. And then they would all go off to
the train station!
So he spent the next couple hours moving tables and
36 • BOBTAILS GO TO FRANCE
benches from church over to their yard: he, Carl, and Lily;
which between the three of them they managed to get all of
the tables in the wagon.
And then Robert showed up in that buggy that he always
drove for his cheese deliveries. He had a big box in the back
of the buggy. "What's in that?" Carl asked, running over.
"A bunch of milk," Robert replied. "I spent all day taking
our cows to various families, and since we will be leaving
tonight, Mother told me to bring all the milk that we have in
the cooler. I put it on ice and I put in a bunch of cheese that
we're going to give away to people tonight, because it’s going
to go bad. Carl there's one in there that you should take and
put in your icebox. It has your name on it."
Father had to come out and help them get the box with
the ice and milk down, which they put in the shade. And then
Robert helped out with all of the moving of tables and
benches until everyone showed up for the party.
—
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.
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