Wipeout: Faith In Action Series, #1

By Megy Davis

Why Does Growing Up Have to be so Painful?

I'm turning seventeen, been home-schooled … up to now, have led a super- sheltered life. I am soooo ready to take a walk on the wild side this last summer before my senior year … to do anything and everything that comes my way. Hi, I'm Luke. The parents are finally gone for two full weeks … bring it on!

 

Hello South Florida Salt Life! Sun, Sea, Surfing, Partying, and Girls!

What? Sizzling summer adventures are coming to a screeching halt … overnight things are spinning totally out of control! Now I have to battle and pray my way through a confusing maze of new responsibility, romance, a house fire, secrets, lies, and a night in a smelly jail cell … with my face bloody and bruised! How did life get so messed up, so fast?

 

Will my twin Sara, and our friends step in at the eleventh hour … or is it too late for me?

Take a walk on the wild side with me … stay up all night reading.

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Megy Davis
• Release date: Jul 19, 2023
• ISBN: 9781618424150

Book preview

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Wipeout

Faith In Action Series Book 1

Megy Davis

ThirdLoBePress

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Description and Reviews

Why Does Growing Up Have to be so Painful? I’m turning seventeen, been home-schooled and have led a painfully sheltered life and am soooo ready to take a walk on the wild side this last summer before my senior year … to do anything and everything that comes my way. I’m Luke, and the parents are finally gone for two entire weeks!

Hello South Florida salt life! Sun, sea, surfing, partying, and girls! What? Sizzling summer adventures are coming to a screeching halt and are spinning out of control! Now I have to battle and pray my way through a confusing maze of additional responsibility, a fun romance, temptation, a house fire, secrets, lies, and a night in jail … my face all bloody and bruised! How did life get so messed up, so fast? Will my twin Sara and our friends step in at the eleventh hour … or is it way too late?

Take a walk on the wild side with me … stay up all night reading!

What they're saying about Wipeout …

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My daughter and I devoured this book in a few hours. From page one, Davis pulls you into the story, and the characters. A master story-teller. She artfully pulls on your emotions, maintains a fast-paced plot, and she intertwines a powerful message without losing the reader once. ~ Michelle Brown

Luke is happy for the new freedom but keeps digging himself deeper and deeper into trouble. Reminds me of myself at his age … the ending is unexpected, funny and feels good. Worth the read! ~ Tom H

The story is prayerful and powerful without being preachy. The characters are so much like someone we know in our own life. The adventures are interesting, the drama is definitely there, and the Lord’s love and protection shine through at each turn. ~ Eliago

The pace which the story unfolds keeps you turning the pages to see what is going to happen next. I would recommend this book to readers of any age, and am looking forward to reading the rest of the series. ~ Caroline

Please click here to leave an honest review! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CJ3DWVV5?ref_=dbs_m_mng_rwt_calw_tkin_0&storeType=ebooks&qid=1695294537&sr=1-7

Wipeout by Megy Davis

Copyright © 2023, 2019, 2012 by Megy Davis

Identifiers: Library of Congress Control Number: 2023912180

eBook ISBN: 9781618424150

Paperback ISBN: 9781733141727

Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are taken from The Message, copyright 1999, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

Bible quotations and their sources are in Chapter 34.

Published in the United States of America by Megan Davis

Cover design by Mars Dorian

Created with Atticus

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Visit my website at: http://www.megydavis.com/

Email me at: [e-mail]

Insta: megydavis_author_photographer

https://www.facebook.com/SaltOfLifeFiction/

https://www.pinterest.com/megydavis/

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Visit my website for 'a look inside' Books 2-4 in the series~ try before you buy! www.megydavis.com

Need Book Club discussion questions, ideas? email: [e-mail]

If you would like to know when the next Faith In Action Series book is published,

please go to my website and join my email list …

I promise not to bomb your inbox with a mess of emails!

Contents

Prologue

1.At Last! Summer Freedom

2.Trainwreck

3.Helping Sara

4.Home Alone

5.Midnight Fear

6.This Homeless Kid

7.Jose’s Story

8.Forming The Plan

9.Rescuing Pedro

10.Bullwhip Big Dee

11.Sara’s Spectacular Moment

12.Pedro’s Story

13.My First Lie

14.Outta Here!

15.Lost Money, Found Money

16.A Perfect Wednesday

17.Flying Chunks

18.Wacko

19.Jail Cell Smell

20.Owning It

21.Forgiveness

22.Goodbye Savings

23.A Dressing Down

24.Danny’s News

25.Stop Talking About It

26.What About That Money?

27.Purple

28.It Was Always Good

29.Brothers

30.Whose Money Is It?

31.Terrified

32.Fish Fry

Preview Book Two: Pay It Backward

I Am. I Have. I Can !

33.Citations

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Prologue

The deafening explosion jolted Jose out of a deep sleep. His brother Pedro yanked on his arm so hard it felt as if it was separating from its socket.

Get out! Get out! GET OUT NOW! Pedro screamed, dragging Jose toward the ripped metal opening, a gaping crater in the center of the boxcar.

Jose turned to snatch the heavy leather shoulder pouches that sat between them. No way was he leaving these bags! For the first time, they had money. Freedom money. In that split second, Pedro’s grip slipped. His arm slipped out of Pedro’s. In a split second Jose lost sight of his older brother in the shadows of the dim freight car. Panicked circus performers tried to flee, knocking Jose backward onto the filthy, greasy floorboards.

The derailed train lurched to a screeching standstill. Circus performers were thrown around like matchsticks. As Jose struggled to get up, others shoved him farther back into the dark, deathtrap boxcar. Pushing to escape, everybody crowded toward and through the jagged metal hole that had split wide open from the blast.

The suffocating smell of propane warned him of immediate danger— the air so thick he could taste it. Jose didn’t want to die from the next explosion. An explosion he knew would happen any moment. Where was Pedro? At fourteen, Jose knew he couldn’t live without Pedro … the only family he still had. A second explosion ripped through the air from behind. It propelled him forward and out of the car.

He landed face first on the ground. The sharp rocks next to the train tracks scraped deep into his forehead and temple. Another blast, then another… punctuated by human shrieks, sobs, and moans. Hot metal landed on his open hand, piercing deep into it. A stinging, burning sensation spread throughout his palm. Blood oozed onto the gravel. Was it his? He must keep going. If he didn’t, they would capture him. Where had Pedro gone? Once law enforcement identified either of them, they’d send them back to that Miami foster care group home. His stomach knotted, and he became dizzy and nauseous.

Pushing down the sour tasting bile in his throat, Jose yelled, Pedro! Pedro! Which way would Pedro run? Everyone else was running toward the lighted area of the town square. Pedro would run in the opposite direction. Away from the authorities.

Gasping for fresh air, Jose pushed himself to his feet with his good arm. He grabbed the straps of the pouches and ran alongside the tracks. Away from the flames, away from the desperate shrieks, into the gloom. Pedro! Pedro!

He stumbled and fell, landing on top of a warm body. Mama Faye! Her mangled face was just inches from his. Her ever-present scent of patchouli wafted up, instantly bringing up the memory of her warm and toothy smile. Her body was spread across the tracks, and her legs lay at an unnatural angle. Jose whispered her name, pressing his ear to her heart. Dead. He went completely still. His mind went blank. Was this really happening? He pulled himself up, ran into the weeds, and threw up.

What now? He couldn’t leave her here. Mama Faye, so kind, always making sure they had food, if only those rank smelling hot dogs that had been rolling for hours on the warming machine at the circus concession stand. Hot tears wet his cheeks as Jose quickly gathered low-hanging palm fronds. He cobbled together a soft bed in the forest, away from the tracks. Constantly looking over his shoulder for anyone who might spot him, he dragged Mama Faye to the bed with his good hand.

His tears wet both their faces as he cradled her head in his arms. Pain exploded again in his injured hand as he pushed himself up to go. It was nothing compared to the pain in his heart. Dear, sweet Faye. A mother to him and Pedro after their own mother had been killed.

He glanced at the blue and red flashing lights of the police cars and ambulances in the distance. Sirens were blaring, hurting his ears. Shouting people with flashlights bouncing in the blackness were quickly moving in his direction. Now what? What would his mother do? Jose mumbled a verse she had taught him, For it is by grace you have been saved through faith. It fit Mama Faye. She was always telling them that their faith would bring them through this tough time with the traveling circus. That God had wonderful plans for them.

Barking dogs were getting louder, closer. Jose straightened Mama Faye’s legs, then crossed her arms over her chest. Sobbing, he picked up his bags, turned and followed the rails into the musty smelling palm forest. The ear-splitting explosions continued to rip through the night air, lighting his path as he ran. Huge sobs shook his fourteen-year-old malnourished frame. Mama Faye was dead. Pedro was gone. He was alone.

He shouted his brother’s name once more. Many minutes later he slowed to a stop, his legs refusing to move. Crouching behind a small hut near the tracks, he held his injured hand close. In the distance one last blast lit up the sky.

Then a chilling silence.

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1

At Last! Summer Freedom

Listen to this. Dad double taps his screen and reads aloud, A severed hand, bits of human scalp and a heap of gravel were found in the shattered dessert case at Ali’s Bakery on Main Street. While coming through town early this morning, a boxcar attached to the 4:00 AM train exploded, causing loss of lives and extensive damage to the downtown Boca Raton City Center.

He continues, The explosions were caused by propane tanks stored inside the last boxcar. Circus performers had been traveling illegally in the boxcar just ahead of the one with the tanks that were filled with the highly explosive gas. He continues reading to himself, sipping his coffee at the breakfast counter in the kitchen. Mom, Sara, and I sit with him, waiting to hear the details.

Are there any pictures? I ask. He scans the pages, shaking his head.

Wow! he exclaims. Jake at the barber shop reported that human body parts, pieces of luggage, and gravel are strewn up and down Dixie Highway, Federal Highway, and Mizner Boulevard. Did you guys hear the blast this morning? He looks up at Mom, my twin Sara, and me. I shake my head.

The article goes on to say the boxcar full of circus performers was traveling upstate. Apparently, the circus folk hook their boxcars onto the tails of larger freight trains late at night, after breaking down the tents. This practice is illegal, but in that way, the circus boxcars are not subject to strict inspections by the authorities. What a mess! I’m glad we’re leaving town for a couple of weeks. Are you two sure you don’t want to go fishing with us? Lake George is a beautiful spot. Dad looks at us. Luke? Sara?

Nope. I pinch the Bluetooth switch on my headset, and hang it around my neck. Sara, in the middle of texting, shakes her head.

Mom and Dad grin at each other. Well, okay then. Your mom and I will have lots of time alone on our vacation. Maybe we’ll make a second set of twins who won’t ignore us at the breakfast table! Dad winks at Mom.

Gross! Sara says, never looking up from her phone.

Don’t forget to check in with Jonas and Katie every morning and night. They’re a phone call away … so are we. Mom is doing that pinching her skin at her throat thing again. Chief Howell is right next door. I gave him your cell numbers in case of emergency. He has ours too. She dumps a bag of Tootsie Pops into a bowl and sets it on the counter, smiling at me, knowing they’re my favorites. I take a red cherry one and put it in my pocket.

Thanks, Mom. Quit worrying. We’ll be great. Fish fry when you get back? I can smell those river perch sizzling on the grill now. A brother would be perfect, just not another set of twins, okay? I grab a second red Tootsie Pop and bend to give one last tug on my shoelaces.

Of course. Luke, I’d like your room to be totally cleaned and organized when we return. You can’t enjoy living in that mess! She gives me a look that sets me off instantly.

Okay, enough with the never-ending, last-minute orders. That makes three. Cracking my knuckles, I bite my lower lip to keep quiet. Just have a stress-free good-bye and get on with summer vacation. But the words spill out anyway. What’s it to you, Mom? Seriously! You don’t even have to come upstairs to my room. Yours is down here. How do you even know my room’s a mess? And so what if it is?

I have to give it to her. She’s quick. Seriously? Seriously, Luke, I go up to your room three times a week to put your clean, folded clothes on your bed. Maybe I should just forget folding them and throw them on the floor with the rest of the mess. You can sort them out.

Dad stands up. Luke. Apologize to your mother. Clean your room. I nod.

Sorry, Mom. It’ll be clean when you get home. Bye. I give her a quick, one-arm hug, nodding goodbye to dad. I’m outta here.

When I come back from my run, they will be gone. Two weeks of freedom! I can sleep in as late as I want. Eat pizza, PBJs, and chips for every meal. And no having to describe in minute detail where I’m going, or with who, every time I walk out the front door.

Have fun fishing. Text me when you get to camp. I love you. Sara gets up, hugs Mom and Dad, then goes out to the back patio to feed her parrots, Tinker and Bell. They’re shrieking their loud, annoying morning song. If you called that noise a song.

Sara’s avoiding me. Whatever room I walk into this morning, she heads into another. Good! I have her on the run. Of course, she’s pretending not to notice … or care. Does she even know what she did to tick me off? Demanding that I turn down my devil music. As if she’s the boss of my music. I had to literally bite my bottom lip to keep from flipping out on her. But if Mom and Dad heard us fighting, they’d force us both to go fishing with them. No way.

I only get one summer vacation between my junior and senior year. Sitting in a canoe in one hundred-degree heat surrounded by mosquitos with kamikaze stingers is not the way I plan to spend it. Sara will be getting plenty more