Lion Heart & Alessio Book 2: Mission, Peace, Patience, Kindness

By Megan Joy Chapman

GET READY FOR FLIPS!
 
            It's time for another Lion Heart and Alessio adventure
 
 
Jed and Mak are back—and things are about to get a little crazy again!
 
The supercool cousins are off on another set of wild adventures as they transform once more into unlikely superheroes Lion Heart and Alessio.
 
Though armed with special powers, they must rely on God to make wise choices as they undertake a series of tough assignments.
 
Join them as they set out to help family members, learning about peace, patience, kindness—AND GOD’S BIG LOVE.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Creation House
• Release date: Nov 4, 2014
• ISBN: 9781621367567

Book preview

CHARACTERS

PROLOGUE

WELCOME BACK, WINSOME warriors! How’z it? Remember me? I’m Vic—the skate rat narrator dude of Lion Heart and Alessio: The Victory Ride. But I guess you knew that already if you joined me on Jed and Mak’s first adventure to Hawaii and Sin City.

Did you miss me? Well, I missed you, and I’m all fired up for Jed and Mak’s next three missions. Yep, that’s right—three missions!

At the end of book 1, Lion Heart & Alessio sent you a text and invited you on their next two assignments—one involving a hollow leg and the other, snowboarding on a glacier. But the only complaint about book 1 from readers was it was too short! Everyone wanted more!

Ask, my friends, and you shall receive ’cause that’s just how we roll. This book you’re holding in your hot little hands has three adventure missions: Peace, Patience, and Kindness.

If you’re new to the scene and have no idea what I’m talking about—no worries. That’s why I’m here. To keep you posted when things get sketchy.

Here’s a recap to help you catch up:

My bros Jed and Mak are cousins. They love hanging together with their family, playing sports, and have big dreams of becoming pro skateboarders. Jed’s stoked because he’s finally old enough to enter the Victory Ride skateboarding competition with his older cousin Mak. But when he finds out that Mak’s moving to Greece, Jed’s skateboarding dreams kickflip out of his control, so he decides to quit the sport. Total bummer, right?

Well, here’s the cool part. The night Mak and his family leave for Greece, Jed has a personal encounter with Jesus and begins a relationship with Him through the Holy Spirit. It’s actually my fave part of this whole deal, so if you missed it, check out book 1. Jesus actually visits Jed and leaves him a treasure chest. Sounds crazy, right? Well hang loose for a second ’cause I’m just getting started. Ends up Mak had a similar encounter with Jesus that same night and received the treasure, too! I mean, are you kidding me? What are the odds?

So anyway, the treasure chest came with all this rad stuff like a superhero costume, Smartphone (aka The J-phone), new skateboard—and get this—supernatural powers! Long story short, Jed and Mak learn to fly on their new boards and are transformed into warriors named Lion Heart and Alessio. Jesus commissions them to discover the Fruits of the Spirit and share them with their bizzaro family and friends.

As Jed and Mak obey God’s commands, they receive supernatural gifts and use them along with their talents (like skateboarding) to bring God’s victory of salvation into the world. And in the process, Jed and Mak are sent on an epic adventure and the ride of their lives!

Ah, man . . . just talking about this again makes me want to bust out a cheesy victory dance. But you’re probably ready to hear what’s next in the story. So I’ll refrain.

OK, kids, grab some Milk Duds and let’s get this party started.

Laters!

PS.

STOP! WARNING! DON’T GO ANY FURTHER UNTIL YOU READ THIS!

Phew. Glad I caught you before you read anymore. I forgot to warn you that Jed and Mak’s next three missions are a little off the wall crazy. They require you have a slapstick funny bone and warped imagination. I’m sorry, but if you don’t have at least one of these, then you should probably stop reading right here. And let’s not forget the drama! If you don’t groove on drama, adventure, or supernatural awesomeness, then I can’t be held responsible for what might happen if you continue. Like, did I mention the angels and demons? That part can get a bit sketchy.

Hmm . . . you’re still reading. OK, well, don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Now, without further ado, I present to you the continuation of Lion Heart & Alessio: The Victory Ride.

PART 1

MISSION: PEACE

Don’t worry about anything, instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

—PHILIPPIANS 4:6–7

CHAPTER 1

HOCKEY CAMP

Time Zones: 10:00 am Massachusetts (USA), 5:00 pm Ilia (Greece)

AGAIN, TRUMAN! YA think just because ya on summah vacation, ya can waste my time? Think again, buddy. I put ya on the advanced team for a reason. But I can sure take ya off of it! Ya heain’ me? Now, do it again!"

Jed’s summer hockey coach, nicknamed Old Man Hutchins, was in rare form this morning. Blowing his whistle like a madman and yelling in his rough Boston accent was his best attempt at motivating the kids to work harder. But hunchbacked at five-foot-four, Old Man Hutchins wasn’t very intimidating—even with his whistle and gnarly accent.

Teaching the summer hockey camp was Hutchins’ life, and although he yelled a lot, he truly loved his students. So to make up for his daily bark-fest, he’d make sure the snack bar was always stocked with the kids’ favorites. Then every Friday after practice, he’d treat the team to ice-cream and soda.

Friday’s ice-cream party was a big hit with the kids, and they secretly loved Old Man Hutchins, too. But of course, no one on the team admitted it. Instead they’d have contests in the locker room on who did the best impersonations.

They’d warm up together by saying Park the car in the Harvard yard with full-on Boston accents. But to say it like true Bostonians, they’d say it like: Pahk the cah in the Havahd yahd. Bostonians don’t pronounce their R’s.

Once they wore that out with uncontained laughter, each kid would rattle off their best Hutchinism.

Drink lots of watah today, kids. It’s gonna be a scorcha out thea.

I love eatin’ good chowdah and watchin’ the Bruins kick butt.

Fah cryin’ out loud, kids. Ya gonna be the death a me!

Since Jed grew up in the suburbs forty minutes south of the city, he didn’t inherit a Boston accent, but he usually won the contest anyway. He had a lot of practice listening to his Grandpa Holt. Grandpa had a strong one. And the older Grandpa got, the worse his accent became. Grandpa grew up closer to the city, unlike the rest of the family.

Jed wished he’d listened to his mom that morning and eaten breakfast. She was all like, Jed, if you don’t eat your breakfast, you’re going to be tired and grumpy. And he was all like, But, Mom! I’m not hungry right now! I’m sure you know this scenario like the deck of your skateboard. Or in this case, the blade on your skate. Whatever. You know what I mean. We’ve all been there. So now, of course, Jed’s stomach was totally growling and lunch was still an eternity away.

All Jed could think about was how hungry he was. He was so not in the mood for hockey drills or Coach’s mouth. But the team was practicing crossover edges while maneuvering the puck down the ice. And apparently, it was pick-on-Jed-day.

Again, Truman! If ya wannah be a wise guy, we’ll stay heaa all day till ya do it right!

Jed groaned under his breath. What the heck? I just slayed it! Jed wanted to rip Coach a new one and throw his stick across the ice, but Grandpa had taught him better. Instead, Jed shook it off and completed another drill.

Grandpa had a lot of experience with hockey and had worked with Jed on his skills as soon as Jed was able to hold a stick. When Grandpa was a teenager, he was voted Most Athletic from Rivers, a prestigious college prep school in New England. He was also the captain of the hockey team and later became a hockey coach. And Jed’s dad, Sam, played hockey with Cornell University. So with all the extra help and good genes, Jed’s style and form was incredible for his age. But Coach never let up. He was always pushing Jed harder.

Weaving in and out of the orange cones, Jed skated to the other side of the rink with ease. He carved his edges spot-on.

Shaking his finger, Old Man Hutchins skated towards Jed and got in his face.

Ah, man, Jed mumbled, rolling his eyes and dropping his head. Here we go again. But as he dug the heel of his blade into the ice, expecting another reprimand, Hutchins complimented him!

Good, Jed! That’s how I want it every time . . . ya got me? Fast and precise.

Jed appreciated the kudos but not the spit shower from Old Man Hutchins. And Hutchins stinky breath didn’t help. Jed was thankful when Coach finally skated away and focused on the other kids.

Now, let’s see all of ya just like Truman. C’mon . . . move it!

Jed used the sleeve of his hockey uniform to wipe the souvenir spittage off his face. While the rest of the team was busy getting yelled at on the other side of the rink, Jed felt his phone vibrate. He’d worn part of his superhero costume including the Belt of Truth with the pocket compartments. The belt holding his phone was discreet under his bulky uniform.

FYI . . . Remember when Jed and Mak had their first encounters with Jesus? He gave them each a treasure chest containing a Full Armor of God superhero costume and a new skateboard. Jed’s deck is painted like the American flag and Mak’s, the Greek flag. A J-phone, or Smartphone powered by Jesus, is also in the mix so that God can communicate with them via text message. He communicates with the boys in other ways, too, but usually prefers texting when He’s sending them out on a mission. Plus, He wanted to stoke the boys out by blessing them with Smartphones. I mean, what kid doesn’t want one of those?

And let’s not forget the supernatural powers the boys received. Wowee! Not only are they able to fly on their boards, but the boys were also given other miraculous gifts to help them on their assignments. For their first mission to Hawaii and Sin City, Jed received the gift of discernment and Mak was given the gift of great faith.

While the rest of the team was busy taking orders from Old Man Hutchins on the other side of the rink, Jed had an incoming call on his J-phone. Sometimes Mak called from Greece to check in, but it wasn’t Mak. It was God revealing clues for their next mission!

Chapter 2

PEACE DISORDER

Jed’s House, 10:45 am

AND A 5, 6, 7, 8! Pas de bourree, pas de bourree, pirouette . . . jazz hands!"

Ruthie appeared at the foot of the stairwell. Hey, Mama. Whatcha’ doin’? The music her mother was dancing to urged Ruthie to accessorize. Working a black sequined top hat and pink feathered boa, Ruthie hopped on one leg while pulling on her favorite rainbow-striped legwarmers. Her curled pigtails bounced under the lid of the top hat as she plopped herself onto the blue overstuffed couch.

Jewel grabbed herself a towel from the kitchen and dabbed sweat from her forehead. I’m choreographing a jazz piece for the Fourth of July picnic.

Jewel was a dance teacher, and Ruthie was following in the family’s artistic footsteps. Her Auntie Mae in Hawaii was a fashion designer. Auntie Bean, a retired circus performer, and Grandma, a foodie-cook extraordinaire.

Ruthie gasped, wide-eyed, throwing herself back onto the couch. Then with opened-mouth theatrical glee, she clasped her hands together and pleaded. I wanna help! Please! Can I, can I? Ruthie sprung from the couch and took the floor like a pro. Watch me. It goes like this. And a