Rick Bundschuh - Burned. Soul Surfer™ Series, Book 2

Other books in the Soul Surfer Series:

Soul Surfer Bible

Fiction:

Clash (Book One)

Storm (Book Three)

Crunch (Book Four)

Nonfiction:

Ask Bethany FAQs: Surfing, Faith & Friends

Rise Above: A 90-Day Devotional

ZONDERKIDZ

Burned
Copyright 2007 by Bethany Hamilton

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of Zondervan.

ePub Edition August 2009 ISBN: 978-0-310-86581-0

Requests for information should be addressed to:
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Bundschuh, Rick, 1951
Burned / by Rick Bundschuh ; inspired by Bethany Hamilton.
p. cm. (Soul surfer series)
Summary: On a surfing vacation with her family in Samoa, fourteen-year-old Bethany Hamilton has a run-in with an arrogant, angry young man and discovers a Samoan tradition that brings healing and forgiveness.
ISBN-13: 978-0-310-71223-7
1. Hamilton, Bethany Juvenile fiction. [1. Hamilton, Bethany Fiction. 2. Surfing Fiction. 3. Chris tian life Fiction. 4. Amputees Fiction. 5. People with disabilities Fiction. 6. Samoa Fiction.] I. Title.
PZ7.B915126Bur 2007
[Fic] dc22

2006029320

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION . Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All Rights Reserved.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

Zonderkidz is a trademark of Zondervan

Soul Surfer is a trademark owned by Bethany Hamilton

Editor: Barbara Scott
Illustrations: Monika Roe
Photography: Noah Hamilton

07 08 09 10 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

CONTENTS

Most people think that the life of a traveling surfer is glorious. In many ways, it is; discovering cool places to surf and exploring new cultures is fun and exciting. But as anyone who spends a lot of time out on the road will tell you, sometimes being away from home and family can be a bummer... especially if you like your home and family.

Because of this, Bethanys family often tries to plan their vacations around her surfing contests. As busy as they all are, the more remote the place is, the better. Spots well off the beaten path where there are no phones, computers, crowds, problems, or pollution are the best.

So, traveling to the beautiful island of Samoa in the South Seas for a surf camp sounded awesome.

But Bethany and her family soon discover that trouble can find you anywhere even in the most remote of locations.

They will also discover that sometimes its not the trouble but how we react to it thats the true lesson... and gift.

The Hamiltons are a typical family. Noah, the first son, is serious and business-minded. Tim, the second son, is a big goof-off who the last time I saw him had cut his hair into a mullet in order to be so uncool that he was cool. Tom and Cheri are caring, loving parents with more than a hint of old surf dog in them.

Bethany is pretty much like any other young teenager, except that she can surf really, really well. She has her ups and downs. She loves God and yet she still has room to learn and grow as a Christian.

Oh, and she has one arm.

But Im sure you knew that already.

Keep in mind that Im telling you a story but not a story that is so far out that it couldnt have happened. In fact, some of it actually did happen. But like any storyteller worth his salt, I am not going to tell you which is which.

Enjoy!

Rick Bundschuh Kauai, Hawaii

Bethany felt like she had stepped into another world or something like that.

Still groggy from the plane trip from Australia, she blinked a couple of times and pulled her iPod headset down around her neck as she glanced around the busy little airport. Samoa didnt seem like the Treasure Island that her mom was so into talking about lately but it did kind of feel like another world.

A world of giants.

Giants that wore knee-length wraparound skirts or lavalavas as her mom called them. She watched the group of men as they passed her by with their suitcases and grinned to herself. Bet noone would mistake them for girls! She glanced at Noah as he fell into step beside her.

Big people, huh?

I wouldnt want to play rugby against any of these guys, Noah admitted.

You wouldnt last playing rugby against any of the girls! Tim said, eyeing Noahs thin frame with a sly grin.

I dont know the girls are really pretty, Bethany laughed. Might be worth the pain. Her attention was suddenly drawn to the group ahead of them. Had to be surfers, she thought, eyeing the three young guys with their sun-bleached hair and trademark broad shoulders. The youngest turned and said something to one of the older boys. Bethany guessed him to be close to her age. He had long wavy hair and his nose and cheeks were speckled from constant peeling. The bright red shirt he was wearing had the logo of a California surfboard company on it.

Surfers I knew it! Bethany thought smugly.

At least Im not crazy enough to get a tattoo, Noah said as he shifted the board bag to his other shoulder. Bethany glanced back at him, momentarily confused.

Tattoo? She looked between her brothers and frowned. Thats what she got for sleeping on the plane; she always missed the good stuff.

Samoan tattoo, Tim nodded excitedly. Theyre awesome; a lot of geometric design. Really tribal.

Bethany made a face. Only thing I want on my skin is some sun.

Youre not getting anything tattooed, Tim, Bethanys dad said dryly from somewhere behind them as their mom laughed.

Tim grinned. Or how about a Maori tattoo you know, the big ones that cover your face?

Might be an improvement, Dad, Noah interjected.

Dont give him any ideas, Bethanys mom said exasperatedly, and they all laughed as they headed for customs.

Other than the surfboards, the Hamiltons traveled light; each had a carry-on with shorts, bathing suits, T-shirts, and one set of going to dinner clothes. They moved quickly through the line and into the night.

Outside, the warm humid air blew around Bethany, reminding her of home. She turned her face toward the star-spattered sky. Actually it was home, having her family with her. Even though it was almost midnight, she felt the excitement of being in a new place and couldnt help wondering what kind of waves she would catch this trip.

When she looked down again, she noticed a huge, dark-skinned man leaning against the van parked at the curb. He was wearing a flowered aloha shirt, a lavalava, and a pair of well-worn rubber slippers.