The Miracle Child

By S.J. Armato

Maggie, Molly, and Tim are back in their most exciting adventure yet in book three of The Legendary Adventures of Maggie Golden series.
One day a Carnival blew into their little town; tents, rides and attractions appearing literally overnight. For our three young heroes that was a major cause for celebration, but they had no idea how much this particular carnival would impact their lives.
And then, at the carnival, they met The Miracle Child—a pretty young girl with large yellow-orange eyes (Tim’s heart skipped a beat or two). She seemed a bit awkward, a bit strange, a bit different. Different? What exactly does that mean? Well, she could do things that you and I could not... very miraculous things.
Curious? Find out more about this very special young girl in this all new out-of-this-world adventure. I bet you’ll be glad you did.

• Language: English
• Publisher: S.J. Armato
• Release date: Oct 6, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301065912

S.J. Armato

After 35 years of working at a large publishing company, I went back to college to train for my second career. I now work as an Occupational Therapy Assistant, providing services to special needs school children. I live in New York State with my wife, three cats named Stinky, Cali, and Tippy, and a loopy black Lab named Molly. I am very proud of my two grown kids, my daughter-in-law, and my two amazing grandchildren. I am currently working on my fourth novel.

Book preview

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Book interior and cover design by the

talented and lovely Tina Ann Armato

This book is dedicated to my

Uncle Mike, who took my mom and

me in after my father died. A better

role model of a man you could not find.

There are no words that can convey my

gratitude to this kind and loving man.

All I can say is thank you, thank

you, thank you, Uncle Mike.

Any similarities someone may think

they’ve discovered between the

manufactured events and characters

in this book and actual events and

real people is rather ridiculous...

and just a wee bit funny!



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Prologue

A lone blackbird sat perched upon a section of tattered wooden fence just outside of town. She sat watching the sun set, and she sat just enjoying the peace and solitude of the moment. But, she also sat, head cocked, watching as strange looking clouds drifted towards her.

And very soon, it seemed, the entire sky was filled with these clouds. The little bird wondered in her little bird way if a storm was approaching, but it didn’t feel like a storm. There was no wind, no smell of impending rain, no change in air pressure, no anything... except those clouds. And peculiar clouds at that, with flecks of sparkling colors peppered throughout them. They seemed almost ponderous in their movement through the twilight sky, traveling with a structured unity, and not at all like you’d expect clouds to move.

The little bird was confused because, as I’m sure you are well aware, birds don’t like surprises; and this one was quite surprised and therefore starting to feel quite uncomfortable. But, she stayed and watched, for a conflicting combination of curiosity and fear immobilized her. She thought, perhaps she should take flight. But to where? The entire sky was now filled with these clouds, and to make matters worse, they had now spread to the ground and were blanketing the area in a sparkling, dark, dense fog. So dense, in fact, she could no longer see anything beyond the clouds.

Then, as this fog continued to settle, it began to compress, growing even darker and denser. The clouds were now unmistakably moving from sky to ground. Beginning to converge into a blurry something . An undefined something a near-sighted man without his glasses might believe he is seeing.

And then it began, slowly but surely to sharpen. Condense and sharpen, and it started to take on weight and form as the flecks of this now swirling blend of hues joined together into bands of distinct colors. And quite suddenly, it began to appear solid and three dimensional, no longer an illusion, but something real with weight and depth. A thing that one could touch.

This metamorphosis continued and quickened its pace, and as the movement from the sky became more turbulent, strong gusts of wind began buffeting the land. The little bird was now on the verge of panic as she too was being buffeted by this blustery assault and had to flap her wings to keep from being blown away. The roar of this bizarre storm was deafening.

Then, in a crescendo of finality, and in the blink of an eye, it was over, all was calm again, and the cloud packed sky was once again clear.

But something had changed, had come into sharp focus, had come into being. Something new now rested where only minutes before had been an empty field.

The little bird blinked, then decided this thing had always been here. In fact, she couldn’t remember a time it had not.

Now, her fears having been dispersed along with the clouds, she took flight and soared confidently toward the setting sun; her passing shadow the only witness to the arrival of the colorful carnival tents below.



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Chapter One

It was a bright, brisk Saturday morning in late September, and Maggie Golden and Molly Morgan sat patiently on a pile of leaves waiting for Tim. On the phone he had been so excited he’d had to use his asthma inhaler before he could get all the words out. But all he’d said was, I have s-some great news. I’ll b-be right over. Now, why do people do that? They tell you that they have something wonderful to tell you and then they make you wait!

So, as I was saying, Maggie and Molly waited patiently for Tim to arrive and then they listened patiently while he wheezed away. Finally, and if not a bit fitfully, he managed to cough it out, There’s a new c-c-carnival in town... c-c-came in last night, but no one knew it was c-c-coming... c-c-cause it wasn’t supposed to c-c-come... then today, POP, it just c-c-came... c-c-cool huh? Wanna go?

Well, of course they wanted to go, what kid wouldn’t? Carnivals are cool, filled with unexpected sounds, smells, foods, rides, games of chance, and... let’s face it, weird looking people. And carnivals are fun-creepy and magical, especially at night. Like stepping into another reality. Like stepping through a veil and walking into a wonderfully trashy enchanted world filled with amazing things to do and see. Carnivals are like safely stepping into a world of things going bump in the night.

Oh, they’re great, but not as much fun as a circus, you might say. Ah, well... I think Molly said it best. "A circus is like pound cake; sure it’s good, but it’s like having dessert at my Aunt Milda’s house. Now, a carnival, well, that’s more like biting into a rich, dark, ‘ Can’t-wait-to-stick-my-fork-into-you ’ chocolate cake. It’s almost sinfully good!"

When does it open? asked Maggie excitedly, as she handed a rake to Tim. He frowned and took it reluctantly.

Don’t know. My Dad said they haven’t gotten their permits yet, s-so until they do... but hey, I can’t rake leaves. I have allergies.

But we saw you raking leaves last week, said Molly.

Yeah, well, those were, uh, oak t-trees and these are, uh, m-maple.

There’s a difference? asked Maggie.

Uh, yes, t-there’s, uh...

Baloney, interrupted Molly. You’re just lazy. Wet leaves in Autumn have mold. If you’re allergic to them, you’re allergic to them. If you’re not, you’re not.

Tim turned a shade of red that blended nicely with the foliage. Then to retaliate, he stuck his tongue out at Molly, who returned the gesture immediately, and added thumb to nose along with wiggling fingers. This could have kept escalating if Maggie had not stepped in.

Hey guys, she said calmly, Can we get back to the carnival? She had become very comfortable and adept in her role as peacemaker between her two dating best buddies.

Look, she said. I tell you what, Tim. Help us finish up here and then we can all go check out the tents. OK?

That idea seemed to please everyone. But as he raked, Tim forced a cough a couple of times for effect.

In response, the girls buried him under a pile of leaves and started whacking him with their rakes.

And then the final insult came, as Bernie, Molly’s dog, sauntered over and peed right on that mound of leaves. Bad dog!

Chapter Two

Clerk Kent, the super-efficient town clerk in charge of special permits, had met his match and was quickly becoming exasperated. Mr. Jupiter, he pleaded. " Please , there’s nothing I can do about it. You need to wait your turn. There are people here with appointments and others who simply arrived ahead of you."

"Just Jupiter, no mister. Yes, yes, and I do understand completely, my good man, but, you see, I must get back quickly. There is a child. She is ill. If I might just be allowed..."

Mr. Jup...

Just Jupiter, please.

Very well, fine, just Jupiter. OK, now, Jupiter, I need to make a phone call and then start processing forms. Please take a seat and I’ll be with you as soon as I can.

Jupiter smiled. It was an indulgent smile and the message it conveyed was, you are not getting rid of me that easily . He held up his forms, gently tapped his walking stick on the signature line, and said softly, I have already signed this document, now all you need to do, to be rid of me, is to sign it as well. Simple enough, yes?

We’ve been through this many times, sir. What I desperately need to do now is to go back to my desk, put a paper bag over my head, and scream madly. And then perhaps bang it against the wall. Is that OK with you?

Fine, fine, of course, of course, said Jupiter, somewhat distracted. "Do whatever it is you need to do, my good man. But if you don’t mind, please, could you first just attend to these papers?"

Clerk sobbed. He had no strength left. He could barely lift his pen to sign. But he did.

****

Outside of the town offices, Jupiter paused, and stood for a moment, adjusted his beret and cape, and stroked his long salt and pepper beard. The few passersby on the street felt their eyes drawn to him, for he was a big man, a larger than life man, a flamboyant and colorful man. And he was also a garrulous man with a quick wit and a tongue that could sell water to a drowning man. But these days he kept those powers in check and concentrated on what was important in his life, which was his traveling family and above all, his daughter Wisp. Yes, there really was a child, and she really was ill.

So he stood surveying the streets. Not bad. No Manhattan or Boston for sure, just a small town, but that was fine. In his experience, small towns usually generated big money. Times were hard and yet somehow people always seemed to find money for entertainment, for cheap entertainment, at any rate. Cheap entertainment that disguised the reality of being nickled and dimed to an empty wallet. A hot dog here, a thrill-ride there. It all added up.

But at least the marks, um, the customers, left with a smile. Really, when it came right down to it, that’s what he sold, cheap entertainment that made people smile. It was not a bad way to make a living and at the same time be able to live with yourself.

So, if he was such an honorable man, why then had he pressed the town clerk so hard to sign his papers? Well, because there were mouths to feed and a sick child to tend to. That’s why.

And this sick child needed medicine. He looked up and down the streets and wondered where he might find some helium.

Chapter Three

The carnival tents were being setup when Maggie, Molly, and Tim arrived, so no one paid much attention to them; which was perfect because it meant they could snoop around.

They wanted to get a taste of, and be able to savor their expectations of, the fun they knew they were going to have. Maggie was even making a voting list for what they wanted to do:



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I really w-want to see the Freak Show, whined Tim.

"Oh, you