Adventures of Tibby: Nature’s Awesome Extraterrestrial Guardian

By Mark McCall

“Tibby, if you don’t put those guys and their boat back into the water this instant, you’re not getting any pizza tonight!”

How else could you possibly gain the ultimate influence necessary to control your thirty-inch tall, omnipotent celestial sidekick? Better have a can of Coke(R) to go with that pizza, too.

Here you go world, ready or not! Tibby, a cat-like extraterrestrial from the Spirograph Nebula in the constellation Lepus, has arrived to protect and perfect the twenty-first century flaws of flora and fauna within Florida’s Everglades.
Tibby is approximately five earth years old, but contrary to that, in certain respect, rates beyond being a super genius. He also has untold and unparalleled powers that he is not always cautious about using.

By happenstance, or so it seems, Tibby meets Everett L. Tobias -- “Toby” for short -- by intervening in a life-threatening incident in his professional life. At that time, he introduces his psychokinetic talents in a mind-boggling manner, then later interacts in the personal life and preservation efforts of Toby – a bachelor, biologist, and wildlife conservationist who was born and raised in the Florida swamps with unique beginnings of his own.

Paradoxically, Tibby surrenders to his unguarded emotions, which win out for not yet being fully matured before his birthing and acceptance of any heritable and primary assignment on earth. As a result, he holds fast to an orphaned, precocious childlike character whose interests ironically end up more in catering and assisting to the personal life and needs of Toby than in the support in his work. Subsequently, Tibby is adopted and avails himself to serve as liaison to Toby and aids in supporting the ongoing conservation efforts of the Sea Manatee, as well as other forms of wildlife.

Tibby’s superpowers, his candor, his intelligence, his ignorance of human nature, and his innocence, is a composite of his puerile character. The cohesion that melds them all together is his need for parental guidance, discipline, and love.

Interwoven among the book’s imaginative parody of events and “what’s gonna happen next” curiosities are specific animal, biological, and ecological facts that lend authenticity and realism to the story. Readers will soon find they are not only being highly entertained but educated about life in the Everglades, and before long, they will realize they have some of the same concerns that are troubling Toby and Tibby as they move from one unique “nature adventure” to another.

Tibby is a wild and awesome example of what can happen when a supernatural power takes control of life in a way never before imagined -- and always in a benevolent manner. Readers young and old alike with an interest in fantasy fiction will find this book -- the first in a series of “Adventures of Tibby” books -- to be a fast-moving, adventurous, and delightful read.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mark McCall
• Release date: Sep 19, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301408474

Mark McCall

“THE ADVENTURES OF TIBBY” is Mark McCall’s debut as a fantasy-fiction author with cutting-edge potential as a storyteller. His vivid imagination and talent for expression launched a desire to satisfy a ten-year old dream of writing a series of novels about “Tibby,” a sweet-natured and awesomely talented alien character sent to Earth to be Nature’s Guardian.His vocational background includes thirty years in retail management and ten years of intermittent work in construction, law enforcement, and insurance sales. The writing of many reports for the latter two jobs seemed to stimulate a latent desire for continued prose. His varied work background, plus his various personal escapades and unusual “wild happenings”—coupled with a dominate flare and liveliness for satire and sarcasm (one never trailing far behind the other)—has now provided him with a wealth of life experiences and research from which to draw for his writing.Mark, a husband and father of three, was born and raised in San Diego, California. He moved to the South in 1986 and currently resides in Kentucky with his wife, Kimberly.

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Nature's Awesome Extraterrestrial Guardian

by

Mark McCall

Copyright 2013 by McCall-Co Productions

All Rights Reserved

Tibby and all related characters and elements are TM of and © by McCall-Co Productions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, recording, or otherwise without written permission of the publisher.

Published by McCall-Co Productions

http://AdventuresOfTibby.com

[e-mail]

This book makes references to Coke, which is the abbreviated name for Coca-Cola, by The Coca-Cola Company; Ajax, by Colgate-Palmolive; Mr. Clean, by Procter & Gamble; Lysol, by Reckitt Benckiser; Windex and Pledge, by S.C. Johnson; Froot Loops by Kellogg's—whose product names and company names are all respective registered trademarks.

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Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. No part of this ebook may 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 person you share it with. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy.

Disclaimer

The story of "Tibby" and any and all ideas contained within this script are fictional and whimsical conjured figments in identity and behavior, intuitive imaginings of the author that are in no way related to any person, place, or pet on the known inhabited earth, living, deceased, or otherwise considered to be holding on by a mere thread.

Any factual and realistic data and information that has been introduced as a form of reality and identity in baseline to the story may be outdated, incorrect, in error, or goofed up—as in keeping with the dubious information networks akin to hearsay, conjecture, rumor, and thusly probably collected via the Internet, phone texting, and or from the little kid down the street with the runny nose—and is purely coincidental and should in no way be allowed to detract from the open purity and innocence of this novel written strictly for the purpose of entertainment.

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Contents

Prologue

Introduction

Chapter One: The Infallible Female Perspective

Chapter Two: Danger in the Call of Duty

Chapter Three: The Acceptance of a Clod

Chapter Four: The Conspiracy

Chapter Five: An Unexpected Alliance

Chapter Six: The Weekend

Chapter Seven: The Trip to Zeke’s

Chapter Eight: Oaks, Articles, and Nematodes

Chapter Nine: Sunday—No Rest for the Weary

Chapter Ten: The Amazing Boat Ride

Chapter Eleven: The Monkey Who Wouldn’t Be

Chapter Twelve: Vulcan Mind-Meld TV

Chapter Thirteen: Treat her like a Lady

Chapter Fourteen: Amore, According to Tibby

Sneak Preview of Next Book in the Series

About the Author

Prologue

AT A TIME BEFORE TIME, eighteen-point-six light years away; a translation (as close as possible) to a galactic event as recounted by the sacrosanct leadership council and Ancient of the known Se-ru-tan Sna’i-dra’ug:

"As foretold: Behold, the stellar evolution of a solar nebular disk and formations from accumulating gaseous vapor and condensing matter.

"Then this hard matter and massive various clouds of gas meld together within the whirling turbulence and turmoil of a burning core, becoming the kernel genesis of a new star.

"Gravitational pull and pressure from the collapsing cloud causes it to churn. Inherent motion rotates, then magnetizes, and aids a cataclysmic collision of various minute particles and smaller spheres of matter, gathering and mounting exponentially, ensuing the processes of terrestrial development, thereby making initial planetary formation possible.

"Larger growing matter rapidly attracts accompanying substance, compounding and melding them together; developing, condensing, more and more under tremendous immeasurable pressure. Suddenly, a larger, particular mass mixture of superheated organic substance is dramatically imploded by yet a similar significant planet; this one, little more than half its own size, which not only becomes conjugated into a singular, larger swirling massive world, but the volatile impact sets it upon an ideal axis of tilt.

"Fortuitously does their collision give birth to a moon that parts away from the whirling molten furor, yet propitiously remains within its orbit to aid the future and purpose of gravitational needs, and moreover establishes and begins the records of Almanac ... fascinating ... superb.

"Thus bear witness to either a collision of providence, or one of prophesies. Consider how these numinous events and the curiously shared elements assemble and converge together at the ideal prescribed universal location in such a prudent and exacting manner; and then consider the advantage of incalculable time and opportunity, offering the necessary shifts and balances, bringing the entire formula of these combined celestial ingredients to a climactic fruition, stimulating the ideal spark ... a spark of LIFE on a planet to be named EARTH ...

"Albeit, given to the open benefits of time and happenstance, replete with evolving change and adjustment, it is all seemingly in well balance of form and intriguingly orchestrated with such collective and exacting structured format ... as if done by either cosmic, or more so, divine intervention.

"Beyond the elucidation of science and prophesy, only one’s heart and convictions make decision to such profound declarations, clearly and conclusively.

"Too much remains imperil not to insure a plan that will protect the purpose and value of all that has been assembled in the blessing of this new world of life.

"Therefore, a hidden sentinel—all-powerful, unassailable, unassuming, uncorrupt, steadfast and innocent; a keeper of the balance—shall we dispatch as a safeguard.

"It shall be during the aftermath, but the period of time still further away from life itself as they will come to know it. Long before the all-important foundation of the perpetual and prevailing natural world is laid, when land masses shall be created and formed with a shifting tumult, let it be their Precambrian Period, when meteors still plummet the earth, that such a safeguard is given.

"Henceforth, he will lay in wait as necessary, even unto forever, as should a time come to pass when a given toll of allegiance will announce and summon that extreme measure should intervene. Then let it be done."

* * *

Such as it was: Cryogenically housed in ovum and protected in just one of the untold number of meteors; singular, idiosyncratically classified to modern science as a type of geode, it did serve to be a time capsule for the purpose of holding and developing one, solitary, unique life form ... for now furtively known only as a gift sent from Nature’s Guardians.

The subsequent formation of the world took place exactly as the Ancient of the Se-ru-tan Sna’i-dra’ug had described. The land masses formed, and changes of the earth and its evolution followed in all the necessary given courses, concluding it exactly as the history of mankind and his world has been thusly recorded.

After the untold number of millions of years has expired and the advancement to present-day and modern conditions has achieved all known indigenous varieties of species, life as a whole has come to reside together within a relative and respective union of comfort and acceptance.

However, it has been said, A little change never hurt anyone ...

Introduction

AT FIRST APPEARANCE, he definitely looks feline, although adjunct to that, no one would say Tibby is not an animal. One thing is apparent, he is definitely not human. What one can say is that he has super intelligence, extraordinary physical and psychokinetic capabilities and most unusual powers that he is not always cautious about using.

It is his special abilities that causes him to be viewed in a different way. It’s more than just the confirmation that this is a highly evolved life form—it’s also his own special unique character that’s combined inside an innocent and childlike being, all of which makes him so appealing.

Aside from his initial low tolerance level, he has to be the sweetest and most helpful, caring, and gifted creature I have ever had the pleasure of encountering, an absolute joy to have near me. I wasn’t made aware of this loving disposition at our first meeting, mind you. However, make no mistakes about his true character, as he can be a terrifying opponent. His size notwithstanding, with no measure of uncertainty, he is absolutely no match against any man or beast.

My initial introduction was, to say the least, a crash course into a bizarre and exciting reality. Neither would I have believed that my being a wildlife conservationist and zoologist in the Florida Everglades would ever have been so severely life threatening, but I was otherwise challenged when I met Tibby. In fact, I was scared beyond belief.

Tibby immediately changed my life forever, and I have come to realize, because of him, that there is an existence and ability that goes far, far beyond science and logic. So much for my being a man bound by science and logic.

My coming into contact with Tibby and witnessing the use of his powers made the unreal real and the impossible possible, causing that life change I spoke of—and all this happened in a manner of just a few days.

I have Tibby to thank for all of that, as well as for the saving of my life. I’ll never forget the first day, and how this whole thing came about. It started on a Friday morning ...

<><><> CHAPTER 1 <><><>

The Infallible Female Perspective

GOOD GRIEF! NOT AGAIN! This was the second time this month that I’d stepped sleepy-eyed into the shower and turned on the hot water faucet only to be blasted awake by a spray of cold water.

Defiantly squeaking the faucet back to the off position, I stepped out of the shower and grabbed the nearest towel, one with pink flowers that I soon discovered was barely large enough to wrap around my waist. No matter, except for my own modesty, which forced me to clutch it tightly as I stomped out of the bathroom and made my way to the other side of the house.

As usual, I was totally preoccupied in thought, and due to the late hour I unwittingly and habitually stopped to open the front door and let the sunshine into the room. Typically, I did this after my shower, not when I was undressed and running late. I continued to the laundry and service room to switch the circuit breaker back on for the hot water heater so I could at least take a lukewarm shower. Muttering to myself, I painstakingly started checking from the beginning of the breakers while reading the faded written index on the inside of the panel for confirmation as I scanned each breaker, one after the other. OK, let’s see here ... right panel, third breaker from the bottom ... yup, it’s tripped all right.

Looking around for something with which to insulate my wet hand, I grabbed a dirty shirt from the laundry basket, and with a characteristic flip and click, I reset the old breaker. Ha! I exclaimed with triumph as the panel buzzed slightly under the load, powering up the water heater circuit. 

Quickly heading back toward the bathroom, I wove my way through my shamefully dirty kitchen. As I bounded past the overflowing dirty dishes and overstuffed trash basket, I inadvertently stepped on a used sticky napkin, which disgusted me. Anxious to get back into the shower because of the time, I was clumsily hopping through the living room, trying to pull the gooey napkin off my foot and keep hold of my too-small towel when I was suddenly caught unawares by a loud voice at the open door.

Morning, Boss ... beatcha.

Aahhh! Sam I was so startled I almost lost my grip on the towel and had to catch myself from falling in mid-hop.

It was my assistant, Samantha Carter, who goes by Sam for short. Apparently she’d been standing at the screen door for who knows how long, watching my peculiar performance. Uh  ... uh— I stood there motioning in her direction, stammering, trying to decide whether or not to explain my odd behavior as I gestured back and forth with the hand that wasn’t desperately trying to tighten the towel around my waist. Gimme just a few minutes to shower— the hot water heater ... I, uh, well, it was the breaker actually— I nervously kept pointing first in one direction, then the other.

Sam finally intervened in my behalf, fanning her hand through the air with dismissal. It’s all right, she said as she turned to sit in a chair on the front porch. I’ll wait out here. Take your time. Before you hurt yourself, for crying out loud.

I whisked myself quickly off display and headed back to my bathroom. It didn’t take long for me to finish my shower, get dressed, and make a cup of coffee. In less than twenty minutes, I met her outside. As I stepped further out onto the front porch, I let the screen door slam closed behind me and yawned grossly as I stretched, being careful not to spill my overdue cup of coffee. Looking around, I saw yet another beautiful day here in Whitewater, a nondescript and unincorporated community nestled right in the middle of the Southwest Florida Everglades.

 Boy, Toby, you really know how a girl likes to be greeted first thing in the morning.

Oh, good morning, Sam. I’m sorry that I didn’t know you were already here ... uh, earlier, when I had to go flip the breaker, and I was trying to ...  and you were at the door, and uh, there I was, hopping around on one foot, you know—

Sam waved off my concerns. Oh, don’t worry yourself about that. I really didn’t see anything—

Oh, good, good, I interrupted with a sigh of anesthetic relief.

Anything worthwhile, Sam continued after a deliberately long pause, except maybe that cute girly pink-flowery towel you were parading around in. Very fetching, by the way.

I whorled my head around with fresh concern. I thought you said you didn’t see anything

I didn’t, I really didn’t ... except for that. I mean, come on, how could I not? She was giggling a bit now. "Oh, and then of course there was the hopping-and-jumping-on-one-foot thing while your pretty towel flipped up and down in the air, which was all quite entertaining."

Oh, was it now? I was thoroughly embarrassed and mentally searching for my own sarcastic defense as I said, Really, you liked that, huh?

"Sure I did. No butts about it, professor. You might have a backup career as a table dancer."

Now more than ready to change the discussion, I cast off her teasing by initiating a direct change of subject that was contained within her statement.

Ha ha. That’s funny, Sam, oh yeah, that’s cute, very cute. Spare me any additional morning comedy ... all right, moving on here. What time exactly did you get here this morning anyway, or did you even leave? And quit calling me ‘professor,’ will you?

Everett L. Tobias was what mother called me. Dad called me little Tobias, then Toby for short. The title of professor was a leftover accreditation of my most recent previous profession.

Sam stood up from the lounge chair, removed her Ray Ban Lady’s Aviator sunglasses, and hooked them on the outside of her shirt pocket. Please ... tell me why you dislike being called professor, especially when you worked so hard to become one?

Feeling only slightly obligated after her seven months of employment, I decided maybe it was time to share some personal information with her. Oh, I don’t know ... after terminating my interests in full-time teaching at the University, I decided to never associate my title of professor with my given or last name anymore, that’s all.

What were your reasons for that? she asked, knowing I wouldn’t volunteer this information otherwise.

"Well, it didn’t take me long to become very unimpressed with the lofty and arrogant behavior of persons with titles and letters associated with their name, and I decided I wasn’t ever going to become like that. Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. probably said it best when he wrote, ‘The world’s great men have not commonly been great scholars, nor its great scholars great men.’"

Sam nodded in agreement. I can definitely respect that. But don’t you ever miss the University?

Maybe. Just the academic parts. When I moved on with my life, believing these personal values, I learned to appreciate the fact that greatness and honor in one’s deeds are more valued and better remembered than personal academics. So, that’s what started my driving force for my work here in the field. A demonstration of actions speaks louder than words kind of thing.

I think that’s really neat. But what kept you from going abroad somewhere else with your work?

Perceiving that Sam thought she was on a roll here, I decidedly put the brakes on by rearing upright and sighing noticeably. What is this? ‘Meet The Press’? Come on, we’ve got work to do.

 Oh come on yourself, she whined. It’s just me you’re talking to. I’ve never asked you anything personal up to now, so what’s the big deal anyway?

I don’t know— I still felt somewhat hesitant, but for reasons I can’t explain, I continued just the same. The thing about that, Sam, was in spite of being aware and accepting that there’s wildlife all over the world that desperately needs support, I chose to stay and work in Florida because I’ve been more than casually acquainted with it. I grew up in it, all my life. I’m consumed with it. That obsession alone helped me more than anything to maintain a lifelong concern for nature, and to that cause I have since decided to try to make a difference right here where I live, an appreciation and thankfulness, and giving something back to my own homeland, if you will.

It sounds like from the beginning, even as a little boy, your work chose you, before you chose the work.

I stopped to give pause to the poetic sense of that. I’ve never thought of it that way, but you’re exactly right. I’m sure that’s precisely why I have such strong personal attachments. That’s pretty observant of you there, Sam.

She beamed appreciably over my compliment. At this point of my talk, I gestured to our surrounding outdoor environment. Just look at all of this. This part of our country has more lush, subtropical conditions that offer a greater abundance of flora and fauna than what you’ll find anywhere in our entire United States. Adversely, man’s encroachment upon it is the single most reason why there are so many endangered and threatened forms of Florida wildlife, and also why the list continues to grow longer every year.

Sam quickly interjected, Oh, you already know how well acquainted I am with that subject. She certainly was good in her field of expertise. Being very animal conscious, she had always made a point of knowing all current mammal statistics concerning the Florida endangered species list that were endangered, threatened, or listed as species of special concern. This of course does not include the numbers of fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, corals, crustaceans, insects, mollusks, and the untold number of plant life.

Noticing it was already past time for us to get our day started, I suggested that we head to the lab and pick up where we left off yesterday, but it didn’t do me any good. We stepped off the end of the porch onto a wooden walkway that’s an extension of the ramp leading to the lab. Sam surveyed the lab building as we slowly walked toward it, persisting with her inquiry. What was this thing originally? Why didn’t you buy something bigger?

She was referencing our work building, and I chuckled to myself over her veiled disgust, typical to how a woman would behave toward a hand-me-down building. It was a portable, rental type trailer-office building, I said. You know, probably from a construction site, the kind that’s more of an oversized hallway than a building. It was all that my decided portion of annual federal grant funds could afford.

Why don’t you just apply for more federal grant money, then? I’ll bet you could easily qualify for several grants.

Because, I’m one of those few who will not exaggerate my research criterion in order to advance additional funding, and neither will I squander my federal finances on personal conveniences. That’s no different from lying and cheating, and I have a problem with that. One of the reasons anyone who is legitimate and honest can’t get any increase in government financial aid is due in part to the funds spread out to people involved in ludicrous and bogus research—real idiots.

Sam nodded. Yeah, I remember reading about some of those silly and outrageous research grants.

Becoming inspired with my topic, I ranted on further. I always said if I were doing that, I would be the first one to get caught. Anyway, I took another meager portion of personal funds and got a super deal on that forty-five-foot Reefer semi-trailer parked on the side here. It was used to haul frozen foods. I had it backed at a right angle to the sliding door of the laboratory portion of the rental trailer because this could immediately add thirty-four-hundred cubic feet of space. I’m still looking for a couple of those RV roof air conditioners to install to help keep the heat down so we can begin to put the extra trailer to use, maybe add some windows—

I wasn’t allowed to finish my point, as Sam had just rolled her eyes into oblivion. Yeah, right, I can just see you trying to install a couple of air conditioners and windows, and then trying to run the wiring and switches and lights and everything. Just exactly what was your time frame for this task? To be completed by the turn of the next century?

I laughed. Now why would you think that?

Because, she censured, you’ve already had this trailer here for how long now?

I paused for a moment, immediately sensing the trap. I don’t know ... I can’t remember ... I was looking at the floorboards of the walkway, trying to avoid the question by playing dumb.

Boy, you’re pitiful at lying. Come on, tell me the truth, how long has it been here?

A couple of years, maybe, I said sheepishly.

Sam squinted her eyes. "A couple? How many couples in total?"

Four years I guess, I said, now feeling the pains of defeat.

"Four years! She looked off in the other direction, one hand on her hip, the other gesturing in the air, You see, now how did I guess? That’s why I know if we’re ever going to get to use this extra space without getting cooked in it, you better start thinking about some kind of handyman or contractor to get this done. You don’t have any time to try to do it yourself. You’ve already proven that. Obviously feeling herself on a roll, Sam expanded her interrogation. Whatever happened with you fixing up your house? You’ve talked about that a few times, too, haven’t you?"

My thoughts raced quickly as we slowly walked up the eight-foot-wide porch-like ramp to a combined office and laboratory, which I call the lab for short. Giving consideration to how my easy and uncomplicated life here may have bred my long-term complacency, I stopped, turned, and stared at my older nondescript house with so many fond memories and then thoughtfully and contentedly responded to Sam. My home? I’ve lived in that house all my life. I was born and raised in that house. I mean I was literally born inside that house, not in a hospital or a taxicab. I was an only child, and I was delivered by my father.

In total amazement, Sam asked, "You were born in that house? Delivered by your dad?"

"I sure was. He had come home from work, and mom had barely started cooking dinner. He had finished taking his bath, when boom, she went into hard labor before he could finish getting dressed.

"There was no time for trying to move her or call the local doctor, so dad delivered me right in their bedroom on a clean, fresh pillowcase while he was still barefoot. He used one of his shoelaces to tie off the umbilical cord in two places, and then, snip, he cut it in between the middle of the ties. Mom always said he was ‘cool as a cucumber’ through the whole thing."

That is unbelievable, Sam said, her mouth open with astonishment.

When he felt sure mom was all right, you know, stable, he phoned the local doctor to come to the house and check her out, just to make sure. After almost an hour, the doctor finally got here and told them she was just fine. Even the doctor was flabbergasted.

I’ll bet, ‘cause I’m flabbergasted just hearing about it now.

I hadn’t spoken of any private things to anyone since before my dad passed away, and it felt good to reminisce out loud, finally having a chance to release. Because Sam seemed sincerely interested, I offered some additional, personal family history. Dad was really quite a man. He was a roofing contractor by trade, and an excellent carpenter. And believe it or not, he served as a type of constable right here in this community.

Really? A constable? That’s awesome.

Yeah, he was the only man petitioned to service by everyone at a community meeting, too. He didn’t apply for it. He was elected by merit. Folks knew they needed someone trustworthy to settle issues and grievances, tender service of process, keep the peace, and offer law enforcement. He also represented the people to the state on their tax essays, land sales, rezoning, and arbitration hearings—all voluntarily.

He didn’t get paid for any of that work?

"Nope, and he didn’t care, because he cared more about the people and their fair treatment. Before that, when he was younger, I think he did some kind of undisclosed work for military intelligence as a civilian during the Cuban Missile Crisis, even though he was never officially in the military. He was superior in hunting, tracking, and survival. He was also a well-educated man. Never got a degree, but he had some college. Even when he delivered me at birth, he had no formal first aid training that I ever knew about. But there wasn’t much of anything he couldn’t reason out from all the personal reading and studying that he did. This I’m sure is what appreciated his value for education—enough to