Mick McArt - The Bug Boat of Wordishure

This is a work of fiction. Except in references to the Lord Jesus Christ, the events and characters described herein are imaginary and not intended to refer to specific places or living persons. The author has represented and warranted full ownership and/or legal right to publish all the materials in this book.

Tales of Wordishure: Book II: The Bugboat of Wordishure

All Rights Reserved

Copyright 2013 Mick Art Productions

V1.0

This book may not be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in whole or in part by any means, including graphics, electronic, or mechanical without the express written consent of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Mick Art Productions, LLC

www.mickartproductions.com

ISBN: 978-1-62209-727-2

PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Standing in the shade of a large Psalm tree, was a young girl named Allison. Its huge leaves provided plenty of shade and helped her cool off during these summer months. The tree grew along the side of the farmfield where her father and other farmers grew vegetables.

Allison lived in Squintville, the largest farming community in Wordishure. Every morning, Allison and her mother would leave home early for the towns well. There, they would each fill two buckets of water and carry them out to the thirsty farmers. When his wife and daughter arrived with the refreshments, her father received many compliments from the others. Carrying buckets of water was hard work, but it was worth the smile that her father would greet them with.

Today was a good harvest day, so all the farmers, including her parents, went to the castles market square to sell their freshest vegetables. They took Pumpkinbeans, Taterpeas, and even some Achoo Peppers; which, always made Allison sneeze.

Alli, as her mother called her, asked for permission to stay behind today. The young girl enjoyed playing, or resting under the Psalm tree, so her mother agreed. During their breaks from helping out, her mother would sit under the tree and read to Alli from the Bible. Afterward, they would gather the buckets and walk back to the village well to refill them. Along the way, they would discuss what Alli had learned from the reading.

But today was different. Alli had decided to dig a new well next to the Psalm tree. She thought it would ease her mothers burdens and make it easier to refresh the farmers more often. Alli stood up, pulled her long blonde hair back into a pony tail, and picked up a shovel that the farmers had left behind. She put on her tattered pair of gardening gloves; which, matched her faded tan work dress. The dress was a bit worn, but perfect to wear for digging a well. Even the patches have patches, her father would laugh, commenting on its condition. Alli didnt mind. She thought it was comfortable. Besides, she liked the sunflower shaped patches her mother used to cover the holes.

After shoveling for a while, she began to sing a song she had learned while attending Fellowship Church; which, is actually a big ship that sails all over Waterdove Lake holding services. Singing made Alli happy, and it was said that the Psalm trees bore more fruit when listening to songs about Jesus.

Thats a beautiful song, spoke a familiar voice, interrupting her tune.

Alli turned around to see Preston, the gopher, standing behind her. He was one of the many friends that she knew from Fellowship Church. Preston always made Alli laugh, because, while he liked everything clean, neat, and orderly, he was the clumsiest gopher she had ever met!

Alli stopped digging for a moment and rested her chin on the end of the shovel. How did you get that stain on your overalls? she noticed.

Its a Casaba melon stain, blushed Preston, as he stepped down into the hole she had started, I dropped it crossing Oldwood Creek a few days ago. It broke open and splashed me before it rolled to the edge of the water.

Allison hid her grin behind her glove, not wanting the gopher to know that she found it humorous.

Why are you digging a hole? he asked.

Its going to be a well, she replied. A surprise gift to my parents and all the farmers in Squintville.

Digging seems like a lot of dirty work, but I sure would like to help, pondered the gopher. Do you mind if I pray about it?

The best place to pray for a well is at the end of a shovel, answered Alli, brushing away a blonde curl that had escaped her pony tail.

With a big bucktoothed grin and a small salute, Preston said, At your service maam!

Arent you afraid of more stains? she asked, knowing the gopher was dirtlirious.

Preston gestured for her to wait a moment, then reached into his pocket. After feeling around, he pulled out a Knitpicker.

This isnt it, he stated while using the device to get a piece of fuzz from his overalls.

Again and again he went into his pocket and pulled out all sorts of silly objects. There was a small bag of mismatched buttons, a map to his favorite melon patch, and a small rubber ball; each of which he placed on the ground next to him.

Once more, he stuck his hand back into his pocket and dug around even, more determined.

Aha! he proclaimed, pulling out a large wooden spoon. Its my special digging spoon. Now I can help without getting soiled!

Just as Preston said this, he stepped back, slipped on the rubber ball, and landed on his backside with a thump.

Alli hid her laugh again until Preston started to giggle himself. At least the spoons not dirty, he chortled.

Now, that is funny, came another chuckling voice. Alli and Preston looked over to see their friend, Thurston, the prairie dog. He was standing at the edge of the hole, holding a hookstaff over his shoulder. Dangling on the end, was a wooden bucket filled with water.

Thurston loved water, so he carried the bucket wherever he went. Even to Fellowship Church, where it sat with him during service!

Well, Thurston, Im glad you brought your water bucket, Preston commented, as Alli helped him back to his feet, because now I need to be washed!

Where did you come from? Alli asked the prairie dog, while watching him pour water for Preston.

Thurston had a knack for finding water, and this made Alli hopeful that she was digging in the right place. I was on my way to Floatdown River for a swim, and I felt drawn to come this way. Im glad I did, because it looks like you two could use some help.

Alli and Preston loved Floatdown River, it was where all their friends would go swimming, have a picnic, or just float down the river. Thurston, looking ready for a dip, was wearing a red swim cap and an unmatching yellowstriped swim suit. The river was quite a ways off, so they were pleasantly surprised the prairie dog came this far out of his way.

After drinking some cool water from his bucket, Thurston joined them in their task of digging the well. As they dug the hole deeper and deeper, Alli told them the Bible stories that her mother had read to her. Thurston asked lots of questions, even some that she did not know how to answer, but Allison knew the answers were in her Bible. She was always discovering more truths when she read it.

As the hole became deeper, Preston left to get a rope that they could use for climbing in and out of the well, and also for lowering the bucket when they found water. During that time, Alli told Thurston about the well being a gift to her parents and the farmers. Thats when they heard a strange rattling noise coming from behind Thurstons bucket; which, was sitting in the grass.