The Adventures of Romy

By Penelope Foote

A warm-hearted early chapter book. Great family read-aloud. Romy was a gypsy boy, eight years old with bright eyes that missed very little. Life moved at a slow, easy pace for Romy’s family. Their home was a brightly painted gypsy caravan faithfully pulled by Seth, their old carthorse. He had been walking the country roads for so long that Romy's Pa reckoned he could do it blindfold now. Their backyard was the fields, streams and winding roads that led them into the country villages and then out again.

Romy was a happy boy but for one thing. He longed for a puppy. Then one day, he makes a find that will change his life. Follow Romy's joy and tears as the adventures unfold. Great family reading.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Penelope Foote
• Release date: May 30, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476365008

Penelope Foote

Penelope lives with her husband on their farm in Whangarei, New Zealand. She has five adult children and eight grand-children. She loves riding her Clydesdale/Appaloosa horse and driving him in her wagon. Other interests are sailing, gardening, milking her house cow and helping her husband in their family business making cast-iron woodstoves.

Book preview

The Adventures of Romy

Written & Illustrated by

Penelope Foote

Published by Penelope Foote at Smashwords

Copyright 2012 Penelope Foote

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com

This book is dedicated with love

to my granddaughter

Sharni Rose Foote on her 8th birthday

24th February 2009

Table of Contents

THE RIDDLE OF THE CROWS

THE MARBLE GAME

THE WHITE FEATHER

THE SACRIFICE

NEW BEGINNINGS

THE FIDDLE

THE PURCHASE

CHANGES

LOST AND FOUND

About Penelope Foote

Adventure One

THE RIDDLE OF THE CROWS

The Crows

Romy was a gypsy boy, eight years old with bright eyes that missed very little. Life moved at a slow, easy pace for Romy’s family. Their home was a brightly painted gypsy caravan faithfully pulled by Seth, their old carthorse. He had been walking the country roads for so long that Romy's Pa reckoned he could do it blindfold now. Their backyard was the fields, streams and winding roads that led them into the country villages and then out again.

Romy was a happy boy but for one thing. He longed for a puppy – not just any old dog like the ones that sometimes followed them at a distance, slinking close at meal times, stealing what they could and then vanishing into the night. He wanted a shadow – a shadow that followed him everywhere, that ran when he ran, lay down when he lay down, played with him and worked with him.

His pa said it was all he could do to feed his family with his fiddle–playing without having another mouth to feed and he told Romy to get the idea right out of his head.

So Romy stopped talking about it, but he still dreamed, and his eyes were always watching and waiting.

And then one day he heard them. The crows were cawing and screeching. What had disturbed them? He had watched crows for years and he knew now that something was up. Quietly slipping away from the hustle and bustle of the campfire, Romy moved carefully towards the birds. Maybe they were fighting over something shiny, like a piece of jewelry, or a watch! He had seen that happen before.

He crept closer and closer to the noise… and there they were – a band of big, black crows, cawing and cackling, gossiping and arguing, crowding in closer and closer; but to what?

Then he saw something that made him forget all about jewelry or treasure, and he ran at the crows screaming and yelling.

Winner Takes All

Fiddle music swirled and twirled on the night air and Romy’s father stamped and laughed as he played.

Pa, can we play our game tonight? Romy waited tensely. Would Pa do it? Was he in the right mood tonight? Yes!

Come on then boy, give me the clues. Winner takes all! This was it. Romy licked his lips which had suddenly gone dry.

Something I found off the road, Pa. Three clues and three guesses is all you get. He gave a nervous little cough and began…I saw the crows circling round. I looked below, guess what I found?

A watch! his Pa shouted. Romy shook his head.

Look in my heart, look in my mind. There lies the clue you need to find.

Some coins, some gold coins! Pa yelled.

Romy shook his head. The crow’s riddle, pa’s fiddle, Romy’s heart, that’s where to start.

I’m lost, Pa said slowly. Have you given good clues, real clues?

Yep! Romy’s voice came out shakily.

Well, is it a… a ring?

No, said Romy, and getting up slowly he began walking towards the bushes down by the creek. As he came back, Romy watched his pa's face with eyes full of dread.

What? his father exploded.

Winner takes all, Pa! cried Romy.

But the clue, there was no good clue! shouted Pa.

Yes there was, there was! yelled Romy, as tears began to run down his face.

My heart, you should have known my heart! Pa stared furiously at Romy, then swung round to Ma. She nodded at him and smiled a sad–but– happy kind of smile. There was a long silence, and then Romy heard the wonderful sound of Pa's laugh.

You’re right boy. It was a good clue and I should have known your heart. Winner takes all!

Romy whooped with delight, and danced and leaped in the firelight, clutching a tiny, wriggling, raggle–taggle puppy tightly in his arms.

Adventure Two