Porkington Returns

By Margaret Rodeheaver

Porkington is on the move!

Swinson has found a new job in the city, so Porkington and Swinson are moving into an apartment together. Porkington does his best to help Swinson settle in, but there's nothing he can do about Swinson's co-worker. She is anything but welcoming!

Meanwhile, Porkington struggles to overcome bad memories. Can friends help him put his past behind him? Maybe he needs to get away from it all?

Porkington finally goes on an adventure and learns what a real vacation is like. But Swinson is also haunted by his past. He and Porkington must embark on another adventure – and this time it's a matter of life and death.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Margaret Rodeheaver
• Release date: Aug 25, 2019
• ISBN: 9781732783782

Margaret Rodeheaver

M. M. Rodeheaver lives in a not very old house and has never seen a ghost. She likes coffee and cinnamon rolls, and is a pretty good whistler. You can follow her on Twitter @MMRodeheaver. Learn more about her at www.MargaretRodeheaver.com 

Book preview

Praise for Porkington Hamm

A clever and touching story.... Porkington is a gentle and articulate soul who just happens to have floppy ears, a funny nose, and a preference for dressing very formally. It is a fable of sorts – light but thought provoking.

– Amazon reviewer

The tale as a whole is charming. I am waiting for the sequel!

– Amazon reviewer

Also by M. M. Rodeheaver

Porkington Hamm

Haunted Holiday – A Christmas Cookie Ghost Story

Porkington Returns

Porkington Returns

by

M. M. Rodeheaver

Pares forma Press

MacoN, Georgia

Copyright © 2019 by Margaret Rodeheaver.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written per-mission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher at the address below.

Will Way Books, Inc. / Pares Forma Press

212 Will Way

Byron, Georgia 31008

www.margaretrodeheaver.com

Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.

Book design © 2017,  BookDesignTemplates.com

Cover illustration by Jen Smith, www.thesheepandthemoon.com

Cover design by Rebecacovers

Ordering Information: Special discounts are available on quantity purchases by bookstores, associations, and others. For details, contact the publisher at the address above.

Macon / Margaret Rodeheaver — First Edition

International Standard Book Numbers:

Print  978-1-7327837-9-9

Ebook  978-1-7327837-8-2

Printed in the United States of America

For families, born and made.

Contents

Chapter 1 A Place to Call Home

Chapter 2 Back to His Roots

Chapter 3 Personal Problems

Chapter 4. Shopping

Chapter 5 Voice Lessons

Chapter 6. Working Out

Chapter 7. Friends and Enemies

Chapter 8. Captives

Chapter 9. Thoughts and Feelings

Chapter 10 Checking Out at the Library

Chapter 11. Friends and Family

Chapter 12. Lucky Cats

Chapter 13. Tickets and Mail

Chapter 14. Train to the Coast

Chapter 15. At the Beach

Chapter 16. An Unexpected Swim

Chapter 17. Art and Life

Chapter 18. Doubts, Dreams, and Decisions

Chapter 19. A Friend in Need

Chapter 20. History Lesson

Chapter 21. On Campus

Chapter 22. Freedom

Chapter 23. Into the World

Chapter 1

A Place to Call Home

Anyone who happened to walk by apartment 403 in that old, well-kept building off Park Street on the first Saturday in March might have heard strange noises coming through the open door. There was a lot of banging and grunting, a couple of not-very-nice words, and a big scraping sound followed by several enormous sighs.

I thought for a minute we weren’t going to get it through the door. But it was worth the effort. What do you think, Swinny? Porkington Hamm sat in his favorite old easy chair looking happily around.

A grunt of assent came from deep in the comfy sofa where Swinson McHoag had just collapsed. I think I pulled something in my back. He groaned, and sat up rubbing his side.

Glad you waited until we got all the furniture moved in, Porkington said. What do you think, Tom? He looked over at his friend, who stood with his hands on his hips.

I think I’m going to miss that easy chair. But it looks really homey here. And I’m glad I kept the rest of this old furniture in storage, and didn’t give it all to the thrift store like Beth wanted me to.

Tom Major was Porkington’s oldest friend. He had given a lot of his old furniture to Porkington and Swinson to help them get set up in their new apartment, just one floor down from his. His wife Beth’s things, which now furnished their apartment upstairs, were more stylish, but this old stuff was certainly comfortable.

With another grunt Swinson got up from the sofa and sauntered out to lean on the balcony rail. I can’t wait to get some furniture out here, he said. It was a pain hauling everything up on the elevator, but I sure love this view. I can see all the way across the park to the library.

We can look for a little patio set at Double-Take, Porkington said. Double-Take was the thrift shop down the street. I want to go back and buy that lamp I saw. It would be perfect here next to my chair.

Tom sat down on the sofa near Porkington. I hope Beth is almost ready with lunch, he said. I’m hungry.

Porkington nodded. You look worn out, Tom. Sorry to take up so much of your Saturday.

Oh, no problem, old friend, it’s just.... It’s just.... Tom raked his fingers through his wavy brown hair, and lowered his voice. I have to tell you something. It’s about Mrs. Hamm.

Porkington stiffened. Mrs. Hamm, his mother, worked in the animal science department at City University where Tom was a professor. What about her?

There was a pause. Then Tom let out a breath and his shoulders slumped. She’s dying.

Dying! Porkington said. Swinson came in from the balcony and took a seat on the other end of the sofa looking from Porkington to Tom.

Tom leaned his elbows on his knees and stared down at the carpet. She’s been slowing down for a while, but in the last two days she’s really gone downhill. I’m going to check on her later today. Just thought I should let you know.

Porkington closed his eyes, remembering the last time he’d seen his mother. Mrs. Hamm was not like Porkington. For that matter, Porkington was not like most people.

Porkington began his life in the normal way. Normal, that is, for a piglet. Mrs. Hamm was a test animal in the City University Animal Science department, where she and others like her tested animal fodder. Porkington’s life changed forever when Tom’s friend Morty, a physician-scientist, gave him a dose of experimental stem cell serum which unexpectedly transformed Porkington into a person.

Tom rose and patted Porkington on the shoulder. I’ll go see how Beth is coming with lunch. I’ll give you two a call when it’s time to eat. He left, gently pulling the door closed behind him.

Do you think you’ll go with Tom and see her? Swinson said, looking sympathetically at Porkington.

I don’t know. I feel like I should go, but...it was sort of traumatic the last time. He looked around the apartment, not really seeing.

I’ll go with you, if you like. Think about it, anyway, Swinson said. Family is hard to come by, and not to be thrown away lightly.

Chapter 2

Back to His Roots

That afternoon Swinson shelved books in the living room while Porkington unpacked boxes and sorted linens. As he walked mechanically between his bedroom and Swinson’s with an armload of pillows and blankets, he wondered about his mother. He was saddened by what Tom said about Mrs. Hamm’s condition. He was going to go with Tom to see her, and Swinson was going with them. It had all been decided over lunch.

As soon as Tom came down to meet them, the three rode the bus to campus and then walked to the swine barn. Any other time Porkington would have been interested in the vegetable plots nearby. He would have thought about how he could use the fresh vegetables to make soups and salads for Mugsy’s café, where he worked. Now he followed Tom silently into the low building, with Swinson trailing behind them.

The three kept their heads down as they walked through the entrance, past the educational displays about animal husbandry and the posters for swine fodder. There were no classes in the barn on Saturdays, and the place was almost deserted. A radio set to an oldies station played somewhere in the distance.

It smells good in here, Swinson commented.

Corn and soybeans, Porkington said. He had an excellent nose.

A student in rubber boots holding a shovel approached and called out. Hey. I don’t think you’re supposed to be.... Oh, hi Professor, she said, recognizing Tom.

Tom waved and walked over to her. Hi, Junie. We just came to check on Mrs. Hamm. He talked softly with Junie for a moment. She nodded, and moved off to continue with her work.

Come on, Tom said, and led Porkington and Swinson toward Mrs. Hamm’s pen.

Mrs. Hamm lay on her side. For a moment Porkington thought she might already be dead. Then he saw her belly heave with uneven breaths. He walked a little closer.

Tom entered the pen and crouched down. From the pocket of his jacket he pulled a small boiled potato. Hey, Mrs. Hamm. I’ve got something for you. How are you doing today? There was no reaction. He stroked