Lost and Found

By Gary Parker

Here is a brilliant collection of short stories where the truly lost are truly found.
Urban settings, inner-city youth, from peer-pressure to drug trafficking and then to the awakening of a brighter day. You will feel the emotions of the characters and be glad at their overcoming.
Very inspirational and encouraging to all who are looking for a way through this hip hop dance.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Gary Parker
• Release date: Jan 15, 2016
• ISBN: 9781311294081

Gary Parker

Gary A. Parker became a Spirit filled believe at a hippy Jesus People commune named The House of Emmanuel in 1969. The Jesus People movement began at an Assembly of God church in California and remained associated with them. The House of Emmanuel attended the Nooksack Valley Assembly of God. He has since fellowshipped with independent and denominational Pentecostal congregations, and currently attends a Messianic Jewish synagogue named Adat Hatikva.

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LOST AND FOUND

By

Gary Parker

LOST AND FOUND Smashwords edition

Copyright 2015© by Gary Parker

Smashwords License Statement

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not 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 reader. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. All characters are totally from the imagination of the author and depict no persons, living or dead; any similarity is totally coincidental.

Selfpublished at Smashwords with help from

Midnight Express Books

POBox 69

Berryville, AR 72616

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

All thanks to the Most High for giving me vision and the ability to perform.

To Kathy, whose motivation inspires me daily.

Sister Souljah, after reading The Coldest Winter Ever I knew I would become a writer.

And, to my Mother, your seed was not wasted.

Acknowledgement

Book 1

Book 2

Book 3

Book 4

About the Author

BOOK ONE

The Belly of the Fish

By: Gary Parker

Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out of the Fish’s belly. And said, I cried by reason of mine afflictions unto the Lord, and He heard me, out of the belly of Hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.

Jonah 2:1-2

INTRODUCTION

Sometimes as believers and even as none believers. We find ourselves in situations or positions that we choose not to be in. We find ourselves in places where there is pain and suffering, a continuous state of frustration , and even shame.

Two questions we always ask ourselves, how did I let myself get here? and how do I get out? well, to answer the first question is easy, We took a wrong turn. Whether we did it knowingly, or whether we did it by mistake, We made a wrong turn, We made the wrong move, We said the wrong thing, We took the wrong attitude about something. O yes, there is always a right way to get to where you are suppose to be. But it’s when we go against that right way, We find ourselves in frustration, struggling to overcome what seems to be a terrible burden, finance, relationships, pride, and even health can become a heavy burden when We make wrong turns.

But there is one thing, that the Believers must always remember, that even though you find yourself in a really bad situation, or a position that you can’t seem to get out of. You can always call on God for help, even out of the Belly of Hell.

THE WORD CAME

Kelvin! where do you think you are going, his Mother asked.

Momma, I told you that I was going to the park with Damieon and the fellows, he said this after putting his jacket on.

No, what you told me was that you would go to Church with me today. She stopped him at the door and said, Now the service starts at 2:00, you be back here at 1:00, so we can get ready. You know I don’t like you hanging out with that boy Damieon. He’s always into trouble, frowning she ask him Didn’t Damieon just get out of jail?

Kelvin wondered how his Mother always knew everything that went on, He said, Yeah, but they let him go because they had the wrong guy. You know how the police always be hassling us in the neighborhood.

She grabbed him by the arm and said, What do you mean us? Have you been in trouble with the police?

No, Momma. I’m just saying you know how they is.

She let his arm go and said, Well, you better have your butt back here by 1:00.

Kelvin said, Okay Momma I’ll be here. He was glad she wasn’t stopping him from going out. He asked, Do you want anything from the store?

Smiling, she said, Boy, you just asking me that because you need some money. Here, take this five dollars and I want my car washed when you get back.

Thanks Momma, I’ll see you later.

* * *

As Kelvin drove around the block, He saw Damieon at a gas station, getting out of a brand new Lincoln Navigator. Damieon was taking care of business as usual, and the brother he was doing business with looked as if he had escaped from a Refugee camp. Kelvin pulled over and got out.

What’s up Damieon? You riding slick these days.Kelvin said while checking out the ride.

Damieon answered him by saying, Nah, man; this just my Mother’s boyfriend’s car. He let me push it today.

Kelvin, bending over to get a better look at the wheels, said He’s got that thang sitting on some 24’s ain’t he? your Momma’s boyfriend must be balling?

Damieon looking all around said, Yea, he’s on. Then he said, Say Kelvin, we still on for that Boomer’s game tonight? You know them Gilbert twins gone be jumping around like Bonny Rabbits.

Kelvin said, I wouldn’t miss it for the world, but what about this morning? I thought we was going to the park for some action. He was moving around as if he was shooting a basketball.

Nah Bro, I’ve got some other business that came up at the last minute and I’ve got to handle it.

Kelvin looked disappointed, but said, Ain’t no sweat man, because I’ve got to be home by 1:00 anyway. My Momma wants me to go to church with her and I promised her I would go. But, I’ll catch you about 8:00 for the game.

Damieon was already getting into the car, and said I’ll be there, burning rubber as he left the lot.

Kelvin just shook his head as he thought of how Damieon was always in a hurry to get somewhere.

***

Ouch! Why did you pinch me ? Boy, if you don’t wake up in here I’m going to do more than pinch you.

Kelvin whispered but Momma, he been preaching more than an hour.

Stay awake! she said.

Before Kelvin could doze off again, he noticed that it looked as if the preacher was pointing his finger straight at him. He was saying something about being in the company of Fools. Kelvin thought to himself You sho right, because I must be a fool to be sitting here for two hours listening to you.

The next time Kelvin’s Mother woke him up it was time to leave and Kelvin couldn’t be happier because he had a game to go to and a date with one of the Gilbert twins.

As they were on their way home, Kelvin could tell that his Mother was disappointed with him because of the way he acted in church. He said, Momma, I’m sorry for falling asleep in church but you know how boring some of that stuff is to me.

His Mother did understand, so she said, Yea baby, I know the service can be long sometimes, and also boring. But we must listen and pay attention because God just may have something he wants us to know. And, believe it or not, we always need God’s help, so try to pay attention next time.

When Kelvin saw that his Mother wasn’t mad, he said Did you see that lady with the feathers in her hat? Man, she really had the spirit; she was jumping around like a chicken with its head cut off.

His Mother laughed and said, Yeah, that was kind of funny, but we really shouldn’t make fun of how people act when they be in the Spirit, even though she did look like Big Bird. Ha, ha, ha and don’t you tell anybody I said that. They both laughed at that.

As they pulled the car to a stop in front of their house, Kelvin and his Mother could see Damieon and another boy sitting on the hood of his car, trying to hid the small bottles of coolers. Before they could get out of the car, Kelvin’s Mother told him again that she didn’t like him hanging out with these boys, and to remember to call her if he was going to be out past 12:00.

Kelvin kissed her and jumped out of the car.

When his Mother got out of the car, Damieon spoke to her. She told him Turn that loud music down and pull his pants up!

They all started to laugh, but when she turn around and looked at them, they hurried to do exactly what she told them to do.

Everybody respected Kelvin’s Mother. She was old-school, beautiful and black, with a reputation that forced respect.

***

When Damieon, Kelvin and a thug by the name of Pokey got ready to go, Damieon told Kelvin to sit up front. As they were driving down the avenue, Damieon told Pokey to pass Kelvin one of those coolers. Kelvin enjoyed the fresh taste of the malt-liquor, but when he smelled the foul odor coming from the back seat, he knew that Pokey had fired up a blunt. Weed was not his thang; he hated smoke