Samuel

By Michael Hodo and Sophia Thomas

This is the first series of Samuel: A story about finding God's will and purpose in our lives.

Samuel Beckman's journey back to his past began with a simple nagging thought—what if...? Maybe it was the failed Nelson merger, or he was getting older and trying to make sense of his life. He was still unmarried and had not found the one woman who, he hoped, would complete him.

Remembering... a certain girl came to mind: a face, beautiful, young and laughing—captured his imagination. She filled the space around him and made his chest tight with a palpable regret. Could she have been the one to bring meaning and fulfillment to his life? These are some of the questions he pondered.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Michael Hodo
• Release date: Jun 19, 2015
• ISBN: 9781943280070

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Samuel Beckman's journey back to his past began with a simple nagging thought—what if...? Maybe it was the failed Nelson merger, or he was getting older and trying to make sense of his life. He was still unmarried and had not found the one woman who, he hoped, would complete him.

Remembering... a certain girl came to mind: a face, beautiful, young and laughing—captured his imagination. She filled the space around him and made his chest tight with a palpable regret. Could she have been the one to bring meaning and fulfillment to his life? These are some of the questions he pondered.

Samuel decided later that evening to take a road trip back to his past. What he would find, or discover about himself, he wasn't sure—but he was ready to find out. He drove through his neighborhood, passed mansions with manicured lawns and tree-lined streets, and contemplated on the journey he was taking. He hadn't been back to his old neighborhood in over ten years. The trip took an hour and felt like the longest ride of his life.

When he arrived in the neighborhood, he pulled into the shopping center. His expensive convertible car attracted everyone's attention standing in front of Landy's corner store.

He tilted his hat and adjusted his sunglasses as he got out of the car. Some of the people in the crowd recognized him immediately and came over to greet him. He was surprised they remembered him after so many years.

How's it going, Samuel?! I haven't seen you in years! Looks like you are doing quite well for yourself. Nice ride! Terrance said, a former high school friend of Samuel's.

Thanks, Terrance! I was thinking about you guys and thought I would stop by and pay y'all a visit. It's been a long time, he said as he looked around and noticed a flyer taped to the liquor store window next to Landy's. The flyer expressed condolences for Walter Kersey who was recently killed in a robbery. Samuel knew his family but only met him a few times when he was young. Walter was a devout Christian, husband, and father of two boys. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Samuel took a deep breath and walked over to William and put his hand on his shoulder and said: I'm sorry to hear about your uncle, Will. I understand your loss. My grandfather passed away a couple of years ago, and we were very close.

Thanks, Samuel. Uncle Walter was a good man. We miss him and his positive outlook on life. He was fun to be around.

They spoke for several more minutes when William told Samuel he had to leave. He got into his girlfriend's car and drove away.

Samuel continued to trade fond memories with everyone when, unexpectedly, he was interrupted by one of the men in the crowd staring at his college ring.

Cool ring! Is that your school ring? Troy said.

Yep!

"What does Magna cum laude mean on the back of your license plate?" Troy said.

Paul, who prided himself on being a scholar, understood that the Latin phrase meant with great honor.

Congratulations, Samuel! I always knew you could do it!

Thanks, Paul!

While they talked about old times, the sun went down, and the crowd dispersed, leaving behind beer cans and cigarette butts littering the parking lot. Gary, another high school acquaintance of Samuel's, chose to stick around.

Samuel, it looks like everyone is leaving. Wanna hang out together? Gary said.

Sure, I'd like that, Samuel said with some hesitation.

Gary was curious why Samuel came back to the neighborhood. He sounded like the dull corporate type searching for some excitement.

Not too far from the shopping center was the home where Samuel grew up in on Fields Street—across from his old junior high school. The air was brisk and chilly; both men buttoned their jackets and walked in that direction sharing stories, ambitions, desires—and old times. The pungent odor of the river nearby made Samuel's stomach queasy and brought back childhood memories.

His last recollection of Gary was when he spent time in juvenile hall for shoplifting and truancy. He assumed he’d gotten his life together and was doing well. Samuel had been unaware that Gary had been in prison for armed robbery and car theft. He served five years in the state penitentiary for the crime. During that time, his heart became hard because of abuse from the inmates and prison guards. He felt society owed him.

With every passing hour listening to Gary's exploits, Samuel pondered: What did they have in common? They rarely hung out together when they were young and in school. Gary was