The Adventures of Sammy and Alistair: Man Overboard!

By Paul Caro

"Man Overboard!" is the second book in "The Adventures of Sammy and Alistair" series. Based on the bible's Book of Jonah, "Man Overboard!" explores what happens when we try to put our earthly desires against God's will.

It's 1963, and Alistair- a young, black man from Alabama- is a year away from graduating high school.

This is his second summer visiting his Uncle Sammy- a rich man living in middle Georgia. Last year's motorcycle trip in "Sidecar" took them to Atlanta where they saved a white man's life despite encountering racism and stereotypes.

This time Sammy and Alistair take a trip to a far-off island in the Philippines, where Tallulah-the missionary they met in "Sidecar" that Sammy fell head over heals for- is teaching orphans and underprivileged children. She needs the two of them to bring her Bibles.

Since Sammy is in love, he's going. Since Alistair is his nephew, he doesn't have a choice.

What happens when they arrive, however, tests their faith against God's will, especially when someone from the mission disappears on a ship with very few clues left behind.

Smugglers, mercenaries, a corrupt mayor, a quirky priest and a budding soccer star lead to an adventure like no other for Sammy and Alistair in "Man Overboard!"

Proceeds from "Man Overboard!" will go directly to Action International's KIDS Home mission that supports bringing Filipino children off of the streets and into shelter.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Paul Caro
• Release date: Jan 6, 2014

Paul Caro

I am a writer, child of God, father of two, husband to one. I am delving into Christian fiction as inspired by His word and His whispers. Won't you join me?

Book preview

Act I

Runaway

It was a miracle Alistair was alive.

Within the last two hours, he could have been shot to death by pirates from two different crews. He could have burned to death on the first boat he boarded. He could have drowned in a fast-moving ocean that was quickly becoming the host of a lightning storm.

Alistair was soaking wet, hiding in the cargo hold of a mystery ship. He has no idea where it came from or where it’s going, but he is safe and alive.

Lord, I don’t know what I did to deserve this, but I’m so sorry, he said in his mind. I ain’t never thought I was gonna be where I am right now!

Despite his circumstances, the last few weeks are running through his mind right now. Four hours ago, Alistair thought he was catching a ride home away from a place he never wanted to be in. He was tired of getting pushed around.

He had just gotten over the first aero-plane ride in his life. He had never been further than Florida; now he’s not even in the country.

Not long before that, Alistair was finishing up school and packing his suitcase to see his Uncle Sammy in Georgia again. He was hoping to go on another ride on that German motorbike with a sidecar. They were supposed to go see his Aunt Celie in Charleston.

At this moment, Alistair Graham Smith is barely catching his breath, trying to balance himself as the ship rocks back and forth through the choppy, unpredictable waves that are taking him God-knows-where. All he has with him is a backpack full of soaked Bibles that were meant to be somewhere else before Alistair decided to run away.

Alistair noticed what looked like a blue tarp crumpled up in the corner of this small, empty square of space below the porthole he crawled through.

"I’ll just throw this over my head, he thought. It’ll keep the rain off of me and get me warm. I just hope those men don’t come after me."

Five Days Ago

The taxi cab pulled up to the Sammy’s front walkway. Out steps Alistair, once again arriving just before the official summer season has begun in the Atlanta outskirts. Alistair pays his driver and tips his hat. He takes a few steps up the walkway before freezing in place and then spinning his head to see the taxi go off.

Hey! Wait! Wait! he shouts, waving his hands and running towards it. The taxi driver hits the brakes hard, kicking up a dust ball that floats to Alistair as he walks through it.

Open the trunk! As the trunk lid pops up, Alistair reaches in and pulls out his suitcase. This time he remembered to pack one, along with some comfort food for that long stretch on the bus from Mobile.

Thanks. Sorry ‘bout that, sir! he tells the cab driver.

Don’t worry ‘bout it, boy, the driver says before pulling off.

Alistair walked toward the familiar maple door. Despite his growth spurt from last year, he wore the same grey pants and dusty brown shirt. They fit a little bit tighter on his body and the seams are starting to rip.

Alistair knocks on the door. As expected, he hears the footsteps of his Uncle Sammy as well as a song.

"Oooh, isn't she pretty, ah pretty, ah pretty, ah pretty, pretty.Oooh, isn't she a doll."

Sammy opened the door and smiled at his nephew. The light breeze normally would blow through Sammy’s tight, curly coif but he was still wearing a black do-rag from the night before. The do-rag and his Silky and Smooth Nighttime Application were the best way to keep his hair together overnight. Sammy looked very much the same as he did last year: a tall but gentle giant just over six feet tall and a pot belly that has shrunk since the Atlanta trip. He still wore the monogramed robe to answer the door.

Come on in, Nephew! It’s been awhile, hasn’t it? Sammy gave Alistair the same hug he did last year at the door: he picked him up and swung him into the hallway. When Sammy put him down, he grabbed his lower back through his black silk robe and grimaced.

What is your momma feeding you down there? You feel 20 pounds heavier!

Ain’t nothin’, Uncle. I’ve just been workin’ hard at the motorcycle shop and swimmin’ in the creeks a lot. Momma says I’m eating her out of house and home now. Both were now in the house walking towards the kitchen..

Well, it doesn’t look like you got fat. Just a little stronger. Maybe you can do some work in the orchards with the other boys and give them a hand. They aren’t the strongest boys I’ve ever seen, you know. But they’ll do for now. How old are you?

17 now. Say, how’s that motorcycle? You learn to ride it any better?

Honestly? I haven’t taken it out much since our last trip. I drove here and there. Made a few trips to Atlanta ever since they finally fixed that detour. Lord knows I didn’t want to go through Red Pass again. Sammy shook his head at the memory as he closed the front door.

Speakin’ of Red Pass, have you heard from that white man we helped?

You mean Breckin?

Yeah, Breckin. Have you seen him around? Did he get better?

Yes, he did. I haven’t seen him lately, but…he did heal up. He even worked out on my orchards for a few weeks! You know, Alistair, he was a good worker. But he didn’t say much except ‘good morning, Mr. Tanner’ and ‘good day, Mr. Tanner.’ And I don’t know if I could call this strange, but Breckin would sometimes…sometimes I think he was talking to himself.

What would he say?

I don’t know. I didn’t always hear him. But I would like to say he was praying! Sammy took another bite from his sandwich.

Maybe he was prayin’ for healin’. I fell off one of those motorbikes I was testin’ out and I don’t pray much, Uncle Sammy, but I sure prayed then. We couldn’t afford for me to be out of work too long!

You should pray ALL the time, Alistair. And couldn’t afford to be out? I just saw you over Christmas and things looked fine.

They were, until February. Big storms really killed our crops so we didn’t have much to trade. I almost quit school to work full time in the motor bike shop it got so bad down there.

Sammy frowned like a disappointed parent. In your last year? Now, Alistair. Why didn’t you call me? I could have helped out!

Momma told me not to call. Said you were the rescuin’ type and we need to learn how to get through it. I did finish school, though, Uncle Sammy. I didn’t make very high marks, but I passed. I was just working so much!

Sammy sighed. I wish you didn’t have to do that. I really wish you would have called me.

It’s okay, Uncle Sammy. I know you would have helped us. But we got through it. She had us going back to church more after I told her ‘bout what happened last summer. Said we were lucky to be alive.

That might be true. God has a reason for everything. And oh, goodness me! Sammy eats the last bit of his sandwich. I didn’t even offer you anything! Would you like me to fix you something from the ice box?

I’m okay, Uncle Sammy. I learned my lesson from last time. I brought a suitcase and I packed extra sandwiches for the bus ride. I’m not hungry. I’m ready to see Aunt Celie in Charleston. She told me all about the shrimp they catch there, and how downtown ain’t nothin’ but pretty cobblestones and this street where all the houses are painted like a rainbow.

Oh, yes! Charleston is a beautiful city. We’ll get there one day. We can see your Aunt Celie sing in her club and have some of that Low Country Boil.

Some day? Why do you say that? Ain’t we leavin’ tomorrow?

Sammy shook his head and smiled. You know me, Alistair. I always have something going on. I guess I forgot to tell you. There’s been a change in plans. We’re going to the Philippines! We’re going to see Tallulah.

Charleston Will Have To Wait

Where is the Philippines? What is the Philippines?

Ahh, Tallulah, sighed Sammy. He closed his eyes for a few seconds and smiled. Tallulah Jones. You remember her, right? She was the wonderful lady we met in Atlanta last year.

The short lady that screamed when she saw you?

No, that was Dorothy. Tallulah was the woman that…

…the one you spilled your drink on! Oh, I remember her. She was a nice lookin’ lady. She didn’t stay very long.

It was long enough, reminisced Sammy. After we left Atlanta I ended up going back the first week the detour was fixed. It was late June, I think. I knew she wasn’t going to be there, but her momma was. I begged and begged and begged for her to give me a way to call or write her or something. And she wouldn’t budge. My goodness, what a stubborn woman! But stubbornness is just another obstacle to me. So I bribed her.

With money?

No, not at all! That’s almost illegal! I bribed her with Silky and Smooth. It took an entire case just to get one little address. But it was worth it. You see, I didn’t tell you when I saw you for the holidays, but Miss Tallulah and I have been writing letters back and forth since last July. And do you know we actually met in person again?

Uncle Sammy. What kind of slickster are you? Alistair laughed.

Oh, just being myself, that’s all. Yes, we met and had dinner the day before she went to the Philippines. She’s been there since February and isn’t going to leave until August. So just last week I got a letter confirming that we can stay with her. Isn’t that amazing? We’re going all the way to the Orient!

Is that the same as the Philippines, Uncle Sammy? And did you already tell Aunt Celie yet?

Sammy’s shoulders slumped a little and his voice dropped in pitch. Oh, yes. That was the hardest part. My ear still hurts from her telling me off. But you know…sometimes you have to do what you must for love. I told her we would go when we get back. Her show is ‘year round.

Alistair grimaced. I ain’t never been on an aero plane, Uncle Sammy. I could get sick. And we’re goin’ over for love?

"You see, love can come in many forms and happen unexpectedly. There’s the love that God has for us, which we all know. There’s the love you have for your family, like I have for you. You can love your friends. You can even love people you don’t know.

"And then there’s love love. A love that comes between a man and a woman that’s so strong it seems holy, because it IS holy. God created love! When you get that feeling, Alistair, you just know it. You know it’s more than those other kinds of love. It’s love love. And I think Tallulah and I have a love love. It transcends oceans. It crosses dangerous seas. It all starts so unexpectedly yet grows into something mightier than any mountain on Earth. It takes over the sky. It…"

"I get it, Uncle Sammy. I get it. You are in, uh… love love with Tallulah. But I don’t know, Uncle Sammy. Can’t you just go by yourself? Can’t you just send me to Charleston to see Aunt Celie on my own?"

Well, I could, said Sammy. But Tallulah made a special request that you come along. I told her how you fix motorbikes and how you like to swim. But she also said some of the motorbikes they have are broken and her mission doesn’t have the money to fix them. She said that the beaches are crystal clear. I’m also bringing her a stack of small Bibles for her mission. We’re supposed to pass them out to some local villagers. Maybe you could help with the motorbikes?

Hmmm…

Sammy put his hand on Alistair’s shoulder. Does that mean yes, dear Nephew, whom I hired for the entire summer as a special assistant for twice the pay an assistant from the city would get?

I guess that means… I told you I ain’t ever been on an aero plane, right? I just don’t want to get sick.

You’ll be fine. You just need to read a few books to keep your mind occupied. And if all else fails, you know how to swim, right?

What? exclaimed Alistair.

Sammy laughed. I’m just kidding! We’ll fly First Class so that it’s more comfortable. We even have a short stop in Hawaii. From there it’s a few smaller connecting flights and…I think a short boat ride to her island. Doesn’t that sound like an exotic adventure?

A plane…a boat…well….okay, Uncle Sammy. I guess we’ll be okay.

Woo hoo! Thank you, Jesus! Sammy shouted. He gave Alistair a big bear hug.

Thank you, Lord. It’s going to be a great adventure with my nephew and my love! Listen, I packed a few extra things for you in the spare bedroom. They are in the closet. I’ll show you.

Sammy led Alistair back to the spare bedroom. He opened the closet door to show him two olive green bags. One was a large duffle bag that was halfway packed .The other was a backpack with multiple pockets, draw strings and straps.

Are we joining the Philippines army, Uncle Sammy?

Oh, no, Alistair. But I talked to some old friends that fought over there during World War II and they said I should bring some military looking bags. They resist water, which is good because it rains a lot there. And you can fit all kinds of stuff in these bags! Look at your backpack. I got it from the surplus store and it’s fully loaded. Even has a canteen hanging on the side. It has a lighter, some Army food, sun screen, bandages, and…

Sammy unfastened the strap to the main compartment.

"…Bibles. I already packed seven small Bibles in here. I found them at the military surplus store