Wm. Matthew Graphman - Chel & Riley Adventures: The Great Mountain Adventure

Chel & Riley Adventures

The Great Mountain Adventure

By Wm. Matthew Graphman

Illustrations by Ben R. Swopes

Booktango

Bloomington

www.booktango.com

Phone: 877-445-8822

2011 Wm. Matthew Graphman. All Rights Reserved

First published by Booktango 12/19/2011

ISBN: 978-1-4567-5591-1 (ebk)

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,
and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

There is always a story within a story, and the Chel & Riley Adventures are no exception. I would like to say Thank You to Julie Swopes Chel for helping to inspire the creative and witty dialog between the two. Thank You to Scott and Dawn Zook who have been a huge part of Chel & Riley over the years providing balance and that rare plot idea that would often times dig me out of a hole. Thank You to Pastor Ben Swopes for stepping up to the plate and helping get the illustrations for this book produced. And finally to my wife Wendy and three children, Sean, Kathryn and Ethan who are Chel & Rileys biggest fans. Your encouragement and support have helped give these stories purpose and you have given me the hope that they will be a blessing to those who read it.

T he summer had worn long in the last couple of days, and the 8 year-old boy named Riley had made it his goal that today was going to be different. Ripping through the mail that had just arrived he spotted a large brown envelope that hed been anxiously awaiting for some time. In it, he knew he would find excitement and adventure for himself and his good friend Chel.

Riley Connor was a busy 8 year-old who was always looking for a new adventure. As he paged through all of the various colored sheets, he paused and wondered how exciting it would be to visit each place. Riley knew that at each one of these locations there must be adventure beyond imagination waiting, but the challenge was to decide which adventure to pick first.

Riley, dear. Came the soft voice of his mother waking him from a dream-like trance.

Yes mom? was Rileys startled reply.

Where were you? Was it neat? she asked, knowing that his imagination had carried him away.

Oh, yes, maam. I was just picturing myself standing on the top of this mountain and looking out over the whole world. I would be so high that Id have to look down to see the clouds and the birds. Rileys face beamed a large toothy grin at his mom.

Well, before you go running off onto your next expedition, Indiana Jones she began, you need to run upstairs and clean up your room and make sure your beds made. Weve got company coming over for dinner tonight, and I want your room to look nice when I show them around. Rileys mom through a wink in his direction.

Sure thing, mom. Riley jumped up from the table. While Im up there, I need to find my piggy bank so I can get my money to pay for the next adventure. I have a feeling its going to cost a whole weeks worth of allowance. But Chel and I are going to have so much fun. Riley sped on up the stairs and out of sight.

Rileys mom picked up the various pages displaying beautiful mountain scenes from far away places. The bottom of each page told of the exciting things that could be done, and the name of each mountain range. Finally, in each corner, there was displayed the price of each Adventure. Concerned that Riley might be disappointed at the offerings, she slipped off to the hutch in the dinning room and retrieved a box of old photographs. Upstairs she could hear Riley throwing his toys back into the toybox.

Spotting the just the right picture, Rileys mom then secured it to a piece of plan white paper with tape that she had taken from the hutch as well. Then in big black letters, she carefully wrote at the top of the page, The Mount Nebo Adventure, and at the bottom, wrote the word, FREE. She then scribbled down the directions on how to get to the nearby hill.

Im done, mom! Have you seen my adventure pack? came the cry from upstairs.

Quickly putting the finishing touches on the flyer, she called out to him, Yes, dear, its in the closet by the back door.

Thunderous footsteps like a stampede of horses rang through the house as Riley ran down the stairs.

Slow down, Rileys mom ordered.

Yes, maam. Riley responded and slightly adjusted his pace so that both feet were not airborne at the same time.

Have you decided where youre going? Rileys mom asked as the boy shot through the kitchen towards the back room where the closet was.

Not yet, mom. Im going to run over to Chels house and see which one she likes, and then well decide. Came his breathless reply.

Will you be gone long? his mother asked.

Shouldnt be more than two or three days, Riley responded.

In that case, his mother began, you may want to grab some snacks out of the refrigerator. She paused as she heard the refrigerator door open. Make sure to get some carrot sticks and applesauce cups out of the drawer.

Mom, I cant find my canteen. Rileys voice was muffled from the hum of the refrigerator.

Rileys mom grinned, bottom shelf, behind the lettuce.

Found it! Riley replied shortly after the directions.

The door to the refrigerator slammed and Riley raced back to the table where his mom was sitting putting all of the adventure flyers back into their envelope. She was careful to put the Mount Nebo flyer at the bottom of the pack.

Riley stopped and gave his mom a hug and a kiss as he took the packet of information from her.

Be sure to be back by dinner time, she pleaded.

Okay, mom. Riley said, as he raced to the back door.

* * *

Two doors up and across the street, Chel Terrance sat in her living room looking board. She had been cooped up all morning waiting for her mom to ready the laundry to take to the Laundromat across town. Chel always tried to be a helpful girl, especially since she received the Lord, but today, all there was to do was wait.

The telephone rang, and Chel heard her mom pick up the phone. Chel then considered her options. Looking at the television set that had a game system connected to it, Chel decided against starting up another video game. Anyways, she would probably be leaving before she could get very far anyway.

Chel wondered what Riley would do in this situation. Riley, was Chels best friend. That wasnt always the case though. There was a time when Chel thought Riley was stuck-up and boring. But that was before The Great Treasure Hunt. Riley invited Chel to go on a treasure hunt with him in a cave not far from their house. In the process, Chel and Riley ran into some problems and Riley almost got killed. But through it all, Riley told Chel about Jesus, and how he loved her very much, and even gave his life for her. Before that adventure was over, Chel had asked the Lord to be her Savior.

Since then, things had been different for Chel and Riley. They were best friends, and they had been on many adventures. She wished they could go on an adventure now, but it seemed hopeless.

Chels mom walked into the living room and spotted the discouraged little girl on the couch.