The Adventures of Fieora Radcliff

By Jeanne Linton

In the engaging story of Fieora Radcliff, a complex young girl struggling and searching for her own identity in a broken family. Intelligent and resourceful, but also impetuous, sometimes implacable and impish, often pushy and self-centered, Fieora seems to be on a self-absorbed mission to make herself happy while punishing everyone else. She is overweight and overbearing with very few friends. As the story unfolds, Fieora is kidnapped and her ill-tempered behavior will now be unleased on two unwitting and grossly unprepared captors. Facing great danger and uncertainty, Fieora remains obstinate and uncooperative, eventually forcing her inept kidnappers to feel as though they are the captives. Come, read all about it.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jeanne Linton
• Release date: Aug 7, 2016
• ISBN: 9781311059833

Jeanne Linton

I was born in Vancouver, B.C. Married when I was 22 and moved to the midwest with my husband. While living in Michigan I had four children. Although I liked living in the U.S. after I was divorced, I returned to B.C. with two of my children where I have lived ever since, only returning to visit my family still in the U.S. I am retired now, enjoying my life, and continuing to write stories.I have written three young adult novels, a book where the main character is a chicken, but mostly science fiction novels. The science fiction novels ;'Seeds of the Galaxy' deals with the roots of humanity as they are forced from their world because of a changing environment and migrate across the cosmos.My books are listed on Smashwords under Jeannelinton.

Book preview

THE ADVENTURES OF FIEORA RADCLIFF

By:

Jeanne Linton

COPYRIGHT

© Copyright 2016 by Jeanne Linton. All rights reserved

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any way by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the author except as provided by USA copyright law.

This novel is a work of fiction. Names, descriptions, entities and incidents included in the story are products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, events and entities is entirely coincidental. The opinions expressed by the author are hers alone.

Published by: Smashwords 2016

ISBN: 9871311059833

PREFACE

In the engaging story of Fieora Radcliff, Jeanne Linton presents a powerful portrayal of a complex young girl struggling and searching for her own identity in a broken family. Intelligent and resourceful, but also impetuous, sometimes implacable and impish, often pushy and self-centered, Fieora seems to be on a self-absorbed mission to make herself happy while punishing everyone else. She is overweight and overbearing with very few friends. Her father, Randall, an affluent store owner is struggling to raise Fieora alone after his wife, Ginger, has deserted the family several years earlier. Mrs. Minerva is the kindly housekeeper, but certainly no match for the angry bitter Fieora.

As the story unfolds, Fieora is kidnapped and her ill-tempered behavior will now be unleased on two unwitting and grossly unprepared captors. Facing great danger and uncertainty, Fieora remains obstinate and uncooperative, eventually forcing her inept kidnappers to feel as though they are the captives. Immediately following her rescue and dramatic return home, Fieora’s mother suddenly reappears from life in a circus to reclaim her daughter. The brief reunion and a new life in the circus, however, are doomed to fail as a frustrated Fieora balks at her mother’s expectations and runs away. When all seems lost, a chance meeting with a poor Cajun family flips a switch that will change her life forever. Self-awareness and personal growth are powerful forces.

The new Fieora, on a return visit to her father, is moved to the home of the Pringle family where she is asked to help out. Initially she resists the arrangement but ends up attaching herself to the family and discovering her faithful mount, Canterberry.

Many years later she returns to Witherspoon and contacts the Pringle family and experiences a joyous reunion. Come, read all about it.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Copyright

Preface

The Boston Cream Caper

Fieora Joins the Circus

Return to Witherspoon

Fieora and Canterberry

Trouble in Witherspoon

Fieora and Wilma’s Act

Return to Radcliff Manor

The Reunion

Profile of Jeanne Linton

Books by Jeanne Linton

Coming Soon...

Acknowledgment

THE BOSTON CREAM CAPER

A strong autumn wind stirs the leaves as Fieora Radcliff and Dora Chapman stroll along the wooden sidewalk that crispy day in late November. With school dismissed, they’ll spend the rest of the afternoon in Fieora’s bedroom where they’ll finish their homework, listen to the radio, and gossip about that new girl with the red hair. As they pass the General Store, Fieora grabs Dora’s hand and literally pulls her through the front door.

Why are we stopping here? Dora asks.

Fieora heads straight for the candy binds. Do you like the red ones, Dora? scooping jellybeans into the paper sack she took from the pile lying beside the candy bin.

Did your father say you can help yourself to the jellybeans, Fieora? Martha asks.

This is my store, Fieora snaps rudely, I can do as I please!

Randal Radcliff, a skinny little man with piercing black eyes, approaches. His eyes narrow as he glares through the wire spectacles that rest at the end of his nose. What are you up to now, Fieora? he asks calmly.

I’m taking some candy, but this PERSON is trying to stop me, she whines.

Fieora, we’ve had this discussion before. You eat far too many sweets. It’s unhealthy and it must stop. Do you hear me?

From between her tightly clenched lips she blurts out, I like jellybeans. I want jellybeans. I deserve jellybeans. They make me HAPPY. It’s your responsibility to see that I’m HAPPY because you’re my father.

Fieora, it’s my responsibility to make sure that you don’t eat things that are not good for you.

I said I like jellybeans. I said I want jellybeans. If I like jellybeans and I want jellybeans, I shall HAVE jellybeans. If you try to stop me from having them, I’ll hold my breath till I turn blue and die. I will… I will…. I will… she screams defiantly.

That’s enough, Fieora, as Randall Radcliff’s face flushes with anger.

Fieora breathes in deeply three times and then clamps her mouth tightly as she holds her breath. Her face turns red and her eyes begin to bulge. She staggers against the counter as her knees buckle and her cheeks suck in and out. Finally, she falls to the floor in a heap.

Stop it, Fieora. You’re trying to scare me so you can have your way. Stop it this instant, Randall Radcliff demands. He waits for a moment, Fieora, that’s ENOUGH. He pauses, Stop it, Fieora. Stop it this instant, Radcliff demands. He waits for another moment, Fieora, that’s ENOUGH.

Fieora pounds her fist against the floorboards as her eyes begin to spin.

Alright, alright, he screams. TAKE THE JELLYBEANS. Turning abruptly on his heels, he marches into his office and slams the door . . . defeated again.

Fieora picks herself up off the floor. Honestly, I don’t know why he puts us through this. I always win. Shaking her head, He’s so silly.

Fieora, how can you be so mean to your father. He loves you so much and yet you take advantage of him. It was cruel to embarrass him in front of his employee.

Dora, don’t QUESTION results, as she throws several scoops into a paper bag and they hurry down the street toward the small white two-story house with the picket fence. The girls giggle as they hurry through the gate and into the house. I’m home, Mrs. Minerva, as she enters the kitchen. Her eyes light up instantly as she sees the open box on the table, My favorite thing in the whole wide world—Boston cream donuts with chocolate frosting. Fieora reaches for the box of donuts and practically throws a donut down her throat. With chocolate dripping from her fingers, she reaches for a second.

No, Fieora, not before dinner. Put that donut back right now, Mrs. Minerva commands.

Fieora bolts for the staircase with the donut held tightly between her fingers. Just this one, Mrs. Minerva, I’ll eat my supper, I promise.

Fieora, you’re going to blow up like a balloon and your teeth will fall out of your head, the elderly lady yells up the stairs.

Fieora takes Dora by the arm and practically drags her into her room. As Dora sets her books on the bed, Fieora reaches for a tissue to wipe the chocolate off of her arm. I think the new girl’s hair is ridiculous, Fieora scoffs as she flops on the bed and stares up at the ceiling.

But it’s a pretty color, Dora states.

RED! Since when is red a pretty color? Well, maybe it would look better if she cut it. Why, it hangs down the middle of her back.

But Fieora, she IS cute.

What good is cute if you can’t catch a ball? Did you see her miss that pop-fly into center field? She’s clumsy. Sometimes she falls over her own feet. Besides, she thinks she’s ALL THAT, but I know different. Did you catch her making eyes at Casey? As if Casey would give her the time of day, Fieora laughs.

Fieora, I saw you trip her. Besides, Casey was talking to her.

"He may have been talking to her but he likes ME. He talks to ME all the time. I know he wants to be my boyfriend but he simply isn’t good enough. I want my boyfriend to be COOL, but that’s not Casey.

Fieora, he went over to her house yesterday after school, Dora grimaces expecting to be slapped down by Fieora.

Not wanting to be embarrassed by her obvious jealousy, Listen to this song. Fieora bounces her hips on the bed and sings along with the radio as she gives Dora a poke to lighten the atmosphere.

Later, with their homework finished, the girls come downstairs and Dora leaves. Will Daddy be home soon? Fieora asks the housekeeper.

He should be, as the elderly woman reaches for the laundry basket, You may have another donut after you finish your dinner. Starting up the stairs, I’ll be down in a few minutes. With that, she leaves Fieora at the table with her dinner in front of her.

~2~

Witherspoon is a quiet little village that sits on the banks of the Missouri River about fifty miles east of Jefferson City. Although nothing much happens during winter, Witherspoon is a vacation hot-spot in the summer. It’s the pearl of the Missouri, with quaint streets lined with towering black walnut trees and architecture dating back to the early 1800’s. Water sports, fishing, and boating draw tourists from all over the state. The high point of the summer is the county fair when the circus comes to town featuring its big top with high-wire acts, exotic animal shows, and clowns.

Although there’s not a great deal of wealth in Witherspoon, still its inhabitants are happy