The Tindou Tablet

By P.R. Newton

The first double digit birthday is an exciting milestone for all kids, but for Oliver his tenth birthday is the start of a great adventure as he travels the universe and learns about his special place as Keeper of the Tindou Tablet and protector of the dinosaurs.

• Language: English
• Publisher: PRN Publishing
• Release date: Aug 9, 2015
• ISBN: 9781926505046

Book preview

The Tindou Tablet

Illustrated Middle Grade Novel

by P.R. Newton

Copyright © 2015 P.R. Newton

Illustrations by Pauline Brewer

ISBN: 978-1-926505-04-6

DEDICATION

To D & T for providing the inspiration for all of life’s great adventures.

The Tindou Tablet

By P.R. Newton

The first double digit birthday is something exciting for all kids, but for Oliver his tenth birthday means the start of a great adventure as he travels the universe and learns about his special place as Keeper of the Tindou Tablet and protector of the dinosaurs.

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CHAPTER 1 - Oliver

Why? A brief and simple question that has driven humans to take on great quests and haunted many brilliant minds to the point of genius… and insanity.

To ten year old Oliver there was absolutely nothing more frustrating than not being able to answer that, seemingly simple, question.

Why do we have fingernails?

Why was the Earth created?

Why can no one prove if aliens exist?

Why are the dinosaurs extinct?

At this precise moment, a more immediate and pressing ‘why’ question was haunting Oliver… Why are my parents threatening to send my Papa Eddie away?

Oliver crouched down, shifting his weight carefully to avoid the squeak in the third stair. He leaned his head closer to the door, pushing his shaggy hair to the side as it fell into his eyes. His parents’ voices were muffled, but if he made his breath quiet and soft, he could hear their words.

I know he’s always been very independent and private. He’s always preferred to be on his own, but this has been going on for too long, and it’s getting worse. The other day, I went looking for him. He wasn’t in his shed. He wasn’t anywhere. I drove around for almost an hour looking. Finally, he wandered in here, acting like everything was normal, swearing up and down that he was in his shed. Said he must have dozed off. I banged on that door. He wasn’t in there, sleeping or otherwise. His mother’s voice had that shrill tone to it that meant she was upset. He could picture her chin getting all dimply and quivering as she sucked her lips in, making a thin line of her mouth. Her eyes would be big and watery. It was the way she got when she was trying not to get all emotional.

I know, I know, but what can I do? The doctor says it’s probably Alzheimer’s disease. It’s affecting his memory.

Oliver could be in danger. Thankfully he’s old enough now, he can be trusted, but your father could do something, like leaving the stove on, and burn the whole house down. We can’t expect Oliver to take care of Eddie. It’s not right, he’s just a kid. His mother’s voice broke as she sniffed loudly. She was crying. Oliver couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen his mother actually cry. She always held it together, keeping her emotions sucked in behind her thin lips and shaking chin. The sound of her sobs made Oliver’s stomach twist up in a knot of fear and worry. This had to be big for her to get so upset.

When she continued her voice was a sniffling whisper. I think it’s time to consider putting him in a home.

Oliver’s breath caught, his foot slipping, thumping into the step below where he crouched. Turning, he scrambled up the stairs, his heart racing.

Turning into his room, he quickly and quietly closed the door, then placed his ear to the wood, listening for the telltale thudding of his parents’ feet. When the hall remained silent, he breathed a sigh of relief and flopped to the floor.

Knuckling wet eyes, he stared at the ceiling. Papa Eddie was the only person Oliver felt he could trust in the world. Yes, he could be forgetful, sometimes disappearing, but he always came back. He always took care of Oliver, listened to him, and understood him. When he was with Papa, he felt happy. His mom worked long hours and his dad was always traveling for work. It seemed like they rarely had time for him. The only one who had always been there for him was Papa. His parents couldn’t send Papa away. Clenching his teeth, he slammed his fists down onto his thighs.

I have to do something, he whispered into the darkness of his room.

*****

Why is this game so hard? Oliver growled at his handheld game the next afternoon as he attempted to destroy an invading alien race with his powerful fighter jet. His thumbs tapped out a rapid rhythm on the controls as he quickly swooped and soared through the skies, shooting alien ships. He had been playing for days to get to this level and the aliens were taking over, swarming past all of his defenses. With flashing red lights and a shrieking alarm, his jet nosedived, spinning to the ground, defeated by the invaders.

Stupid game. It’s so unfair. They made those aliens way too hard. I have a level fifty fighter jet; there’s no way I should lose.

I’m sure you’ll get it next time. You’ve been playing lots, perhaps it’s time for a break, Papa Eddie said as he reclined in his worn threadbare blue chair reading a magazine. It is your birthday, after all. Why don’t you do something fun?

Oliver snorted, slamming his back against the side of Papa’s chair. Like what? It’s all boring.

Papa took a deep breath, his nose whistling softly as he blew it out. That doesn’t sound like my Ollie. What’s going on?

Oliver looked up at the clock on the back of the old yellow stove in his Papa’s basement apartment kitchen. I overheard my parents fighting last night. They were saying you’re sick. And… and… and you need to move to a different home, he stammered, his voice softening to a whisper as he sniffed, fighting back tears.

Papa sighed as he rested a comforting hand on Oliver’s shoulder. His voice was gentle as he spoke. I’m sorry you overheard that. Sometimes parents argue, and it can be hard to understand for kids, but it’ll be alright.

Oliver sniffed, turning to face Papa, his cheeks flushing dark red against his pale skin. So is it true? Are you leaving me?

Papa Eddie leaned forward, his deeply lined face sad and thoughtful. Someday I might need to go somewhere where there are people to take care of me. I’m an old man, and life’s catching up with me, but I’m not ready to go yet. We have a birthday to celebrate.

Some birthday. It’s just some stupid cake and pizza. Nothing special.

A little birdy told me there is going to be far more than just pizza and a cake. It is going to be the best meatball pizza and a chocolate cherry cake, which we all know is the best cake ever, plus an evening of epic battles on your fancy game thingamajiggie with your best mates, Billy and Eric.

It’s stupid! No one cares! I don’t care! Oliver exclaimed, looking down at his game intently so Papa would not see the tears in his eyes. When he spoke again, his voice was barely more than a whisper. How can I care about any of that if you’re leaving me? You can’t go. I’ll take care of you.

Papa got down onto the floor, moving carefully on creaking joints as he eased himself down. Placing his hands over Oliver’s he squeezed gently to try and calm Oliver’s hands that gripped the handheld so tightly they shook.

There is something I was planning on sharing with you tomorrow, but I’m thinkin’ it would be better if I shared it today. I don’t like you talking like this, thinking such negative things. It’s not right. I know you’ve got yourself a busy brain with lots of thinking going on up there, but on your birthday you shouldn’t be getting all worked up and fussing about me. You’re a special kid who deserves to have an equally special day. Papa cleared his throat, taking a wheezing breath after all of his quick words. Letting go of Oliver’s hands, he rubbed his palms on heavily worn jeans excitedly. What if I told you dinosaurs are not extinct?

But Papa, they are extinct, Oliver sighed, rolling his eyes. Everyone knows that they died off millions of years ago when a meteor hit Earth but I don’t see how one meteor could kill all of them. It makes no sense. His voice trailed off, eyes staring into his hands as he fiddled with his