Elliot Finley's Strange and Inexplicable Events: Jus' Plain Ole Daisy

By Pamela Hebert

Elliot Finley's life is a mess: She is a broken but talented young girl who is not doing well in school, is the favorite target of the campus bully, and to top it off, her mother disappears without a trace. Just when things couldn't get more chaotic, Elliot surprisingly receives a drawing book from her teacher for no known reason. With just a few strokes of her pen, Elliot is suddenly catapulted into an ancient rain forest where she meets a mysteriously evil renegade shaman, and a highly protective dragon. These two creatures follow Elliot back into her real world unbeknownst to her, and her life is turned upside down as strange and inexplicable events begin to occur. It seems the Shaman is out to get Elliot because he knows she has discovered his secretly hidden underworld, and possesses the very item he needs to conquer hers. But, he has an even more sinister reason for going after her. Elliot and her friend Murray join forces with the dragon to thwart the diabolical plans of the shaman, and learn the secret of Elliot's missing mother.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pamela Hebert
• Release date: May 8, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310759321

Pamela Hebert

Born and raised in Hawaii, author Pamela M. Oakland Hebert taught for a decade with the Department of Education in Honolulu, where she was an Elementary School Teacher. Ms. Hebert holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Education, as well as a Minor in Art, from the University of Hawaii. Elliot Finley’s Jus’ Plain Ole Daisy is her first novel.

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Description

This tale offers a spellbinding family tale chock-full of magic, kidnappings, adventure, and a colorful cast of good and evil characters. At the same time, it explores universal problems like bullying and low self-esteem that children wrestle with in every day life. They are amply reflected in this enchanting and insightful tale which will enhance the lives of anyone who can vicariously identify with the issues surrounding Elliot's incapacities, and offer up an exciting journey that will free the spirit from the compounded stresses of daily living.

A broken but talented young girl whose mother suddenly disappears, a dragon, a magic drawing book, and a renegade shaman with wicked intentions. Barely noticeable in the school system, some believe Elliot Finley is simply inattentive, but Elliot's teacher recognizes otherwise, and encourages an artistic ability within by presenting a drawing book that will magically transform her world. After her mother's shocking and sudden disappearance, Elliot no longer has time for emotional loneliness and obscurity.

A renegade Shaman and a loving dragon named Daisy draw Elliot and her sidekick Murray into an adventurous world of intrigue as the children slowly realize the identity of their magical and mysterious visitors. The Shaman, who often takes the shape of a crow, continuously daunts Elliot after her first visit to an ancient and magical rainforest.

It seems the Shaman is out to get Elliot because he knows she has discovered his secretly hidden underworld, and possesses the very item he needs to conquer hers. But, he has an even more sinister reason for going after her. He must secure his realms safety by ridding the modern world of any credible witness, including Elliot Finley!

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank those who have helped me along the path: A tribute to my mother, Daisy Elaine (The Dragon Lady), an inspiration to us all, and the staunchest supporter of this book; To my daughter, Jessica, who spent many hours reading and listening.

I would also like to thank my family, The Oaklands, Lisa Luana, and Faye Haraguchi for their feedback, brother Bill (William Wayne) for his awesome poetry, and Celeste Deluze for contributing the photograph of the author.

I would especially like to thank my publishers and editors from Arbor Books, Larry Leichman and Joel Hochman, and editor, Jonathan Cohen, and the biggest inspiration, The Lord above.

DRAGON

I am called Daisy; Please trust only me!

The path will seem crazy, And so it may be!

I am the Old One, the last of my kind.

I was old before birth. In my soul, in my mind Reside ancients and mysteries, wealth to be mined To free you from Soul Eaters: evil defined!

Senses mislead you, hearing and sight succumb to the Shaman; make dark become light;

make bad become good; turn day into night; and the fire dulls the senses for flight or for fight!

But, you must decide—you choose your own fate;

Choose wisely, choose quickly, before it's too late.

To go where I cannot and carry the weights

Of the challenge to evil: the Shaman abates!

And I will be here to give what I can;

I would not be judge if you fought or you ran;

But seek me to help you establish your plan

For the good of your own, and perhaps all of man.

And when you are done, if you do what you might

And overcome foes in the dark, in the night I'll live in your memory, if not in your sight

Then the last of my kind will fly into the light.

—William Wayne Oakland

INTRODUCTION

Elliot Finley was her name. Who would have imagined, after three boys and eight years, that the Finleys would be blessed with a girl? When the Mrs. announced there would be another addition to the family, the family just assumed Elliot would be a boy, and had her name all picked out.

A few called her Ellie, but most everyone called her Elliot, which completely suited her tomboy attitude. Growing up with three older brothers made it necessary to be a little tough, for a prissy girl would not have survived well in this family constellation.

The boys spoiled her mostly, but occasionally they took great pleasure in torturing her as well. One brother especially loved to pin her down and tickle her, and made her laugh so hard she'd pee her pants. He had hoped that she would be bothered enough to go her own way while he entertained friends. Elliot, naïve as she was, did not get the message. She thought it terribly amusing to spy on them, as it helped to pass the time. Being the youngest and only girl often got very lonely.

After many hectic-but-happy years had passed, and the last of the three boys had left home to join the service, Elliot suddenly found herself the center of attention, and did not like it at all. To remedy this perplexing and uncomfortable situation, she would set off on long walks as far as possible from the unaccustomed quiet of the house.

During one of her late-afternoon escapes, she ventured into a well-hidden trail just inside the thick forest at the end of the unpaved road that ran by their home. She made her way through its looming darkness to a slight clearing surrounded by lots of old, tall pine trees. A river ran through it, a fair volume of water rolling gently over the rounded boulders and small river rocks. The sun peeked through the treetops at long, misty angles, and the dusty rays sparkled and danced as they landed on the water, then broke into fidgety bits and pieces of gold.

Elliot squatted down at the river's edge, arms wrapped around her knees, and stared into the glistening waterway. She listened to its soothing, gentle sound, which completely mesmerized her, bringing her solace, even though there was nothing terribly wrong—except, perhaps, that it was the day before the dreaded first day of school.

She stood up, looked around the dense forest, and decided to meander along the riverbank, allowing the smell of the warmed earth and tall grass to fill and comfort her. She came to a large pond off to her right, left behind by the tributary's torrents, and leisurely explored its narrow strip of shoreline. As she stooped to roll up her jeans so that she could completely enjoy the coolness of the water, her gaze was drawn to a soft, golden flicker below its surface.

Her hand disturbed the glassy pond as she reached into its mirrored reflection of the trees, blue sky, and yellow puffy clouds behind her. She tugged at the shiny object vigorously, but the riverbed had a vise-like grip on it, and it seemed permanently wedged. She was determined, though, and continued to pry until the object finally broke free, causing her to flop backwards into the shallow pool.

She raised her closed fist up to her face as sparkling water escaped through the cracks of her fingers, and uncurled her tiny hand to reveal a shiny golden key centered in her palm. Large droplets of water adhered to its surface and magnified glittery specks underneath.

She felt lucky as she hauled herself up from the spot where she had fallen, her clothes soaked and heavy with dripping water. The sun began its westerly descent, and the air cooled rapidly, so she began her trek home, walking briskly with an occasional skip, amused and delighted by the mysterious item she tossed up and down in her hand. The metallic object seemed as though it might have an untold adventure in it. Elliot's mind wandered until she reached her front doorstep, but the feeling of enchantment suddenly drained away as she entered the painfully silent house.

On the table at the foot of the staircase, she noticed a new backpack and supplies, a reminder of the fearful day to follow. Another school year would begin tomorrow, and the thought of it unsettled her. She already missed the morning ritual of the Finley kids scrambling from the breakfast table, bounding into the family's vintage Studebaker, and heading for school. Now she had to go it alone, and stand with the other neighborhood kids that she hardly knew to wait for that nauseatingly yellow bus.

To relieve her sinking spirits, she untied the fine ribbon holding her house key from around her neck, and slid the golden key onto it. They clinked together as she stuffed them back into her shirt; the cheerful sound lifted her from the gloomy mood for which she had been heading only a moment ago.

Elliot! Dinner's ready! her mother announced from down the hall.

Elliot stuck her nose up in the air, and followed the delicious aroma of meatloaf sandwiches and smashed potatoes with gravy, her favorite!

CHAPTER ONE

The first day of school was gray and blustery, and the air was filled with excitement. Most of the children were glad to be back in school. The summer had been tremendously hot, and had run on a little bit too long. By September, almost everybody was ready for a change.

Not every person was happy to be back, though. Not Elliot Finley.

The warning bell rang at five minutes to eight, startling the few that stood directly under it. Children screeched as a flurry of activity filled the corridor, and then shuffled into their rooms to find a seat, leaving the outside hallway quiet and abandoned.

Ms. Nelson's room was very hushed at first. She called down her attendance list, and when Elliot Finley did not answer, she made a note of it. She continued along with the morning business, and the volume of the students' voices increased progressively as the children got busy unpacking their new supplies. They simultaneously compared their treasures, and the goods were then placed carefully into brightly festooned boxes and buried in the dark recesses of their desks.

Once the introductions were out of the way and everything seemed somewhat settled, the first recess bell rang. Everyone waited quietly while Ms. Nelson scanned the room with a discerning eye, and, making sure it was still somewhat tidy, excused them table-by-table until the room had emptied. Then, she sat down at her desk. She listened to the sound of happy shrieking echoing from the distant playground as she stared at the chair that was to have been occupied by Elliot Finley, wondering about her absence on the very first day. School seemed scary at first for some, but Ms. Nelson saw this time and again, and knew that it was best to move on with business as usual. It would not take long before the day-to-day routine would actually become a comfort, and after a short while, all the fears would be forgotten. Those that had felt afraid would look back and wonder what it was they had actually been afraid of.

After the break had ended, she approached the squirming line of bobbing heads outside the door. Suddenly, her eyes focused in on a still little figure sitting on the ground at the end of the row. A striped, hooded jacket was pulled down over barely noticeable eyes that peered out from underneath. Elliot Finley hugged the cold rail, and stared at the empty playground below.

Ms. Nelson stepped aside as the children filed into the classroom one by one. Some looked up at her with a grin, some peered straight into the room and forged ahead as if a surprise awaited within. They drifted into their seats like seedlings in the wind, and when all had settled, there was, again, one empty seat.

Ms. Nelson found that if she read a short story after the children had settled, it had a most calming effect. Today, it was The Teacher From the Black Lagoon! Heads went down on desks, and eyes pressed to the front of the room. The story brought to life, in a silly way, what most children feared: getting that nightmare teacher, the one like Viola Swamp!

From the corner of her eye, Ms. Nelson noticed Elliot scoot closer to the threshold of the door to listen. Progress, she thought, as the story reached its conclusion, and she closed the book. The children smiled gratefully toward the front of the room as they realized just how lucky they were to have a teacher like Ms. Nelson.

When the lessons were done and the final bell declared the end of the first day, it surprised everyone, including

Reviews for Elliot Finley's Strange and Inexplicable Events

[krau0098 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book is definitely a kid's book. It tells the story of Elliot; who doesn't fit in at school. When Elliot's mother goes missing Elliot is even more an outcast at school. Then Elliot's teacher gives her a special drawing pad and suddenly Elliot finds her self able to travel to another world.Overall this is a tale with a lesson; everyone is good at something, have confidence in yourself. It is a well-written tale, but nothing spectacular. It is a story that has been told in different variations before.I think kids would enjoy this story because of it's fantastical nature. It is nice that it is a good fantasy story paired with a positive message. Although the message is pretty darn apparent; there is nothing subtle about its delivery.I probably won't read anymore of these book if future books are released about Elliot Finley; but I could see how younger children might really enjoy these types of books.