FOR THE LOVE OF BIG BALOOKA: A Tale of Faith, Family, Friendship and Forgiveness

By Kathleen M. Barrett

"For the Love of Big Balooka is a middle grade novel in which forgiveness abounds as a supportive family helps an animal-loving girl rescue a dog." —Foreword Reviews
The summer is coming to a close and a new school year is beginning. Rising fifth-grader, Meg Wilson prays to be kind to those classmates who taunted her in third and fourth grades. She also prays "for a powerful purpose" for this year. Her purpose become a reality, when she witnesses a crime against a neighborhood canine named Josh.
It is a South Florida stormy night, a frightening confrontation with the dog's abuser, and parental objection that propels Meg into action, as she enlists the help of her younger brother, Ryan and her two best friends, Lindy and Alex to help rescue Josh. Meg must put her young faith to work to forgive, even the likes of Josh's abuser, W.C. Verner. But who is this Big Balooka? What is his fate? And, how does he become a hometown hero? Discover the serendipitous nature of answered prayer.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tablo Publishing
• Release date: Oct 2, 2020
• ISBN: 9781735707020

Book preview

Chapter One

A Lazy Summer Day and a Yelp for Help

It was a lazy summer morning in mid-July, just three weeks before school would begin. Eleven-year-old Meg Wilson read everything she could find about animals and veterinary medicine. The number of books she read during the summer would go toward winning a prize with her school’s summer reading program. A grand prize if she read the most. Her goal was to read fifty books before school began.

This rising fifth-grader loved animals of all kinds and she hoped one day to become a veterinarian. Her weekly visits to the public library included borrowing books about the care of canines, felines, equines, bovines, and birds. Quirky, but true. 

The previous summer she had started her own pet-sitting service. That summer, a teal blue parakeet and an orange tabby cat were her first customers. She planned on the care of animals being an important part of her future work. But for now, Meg loved and took care of her one and only pet, a jet-black, Netherland Dwarf rabbit named Misty. 

Today, Meg buried herself in books. Well--almost! Her younger brother Ryan walked down the hallway to her bedroom and tapped on her door. He could hear a garbled voice that said something like, S pen ome in. 

Pushing the door open, he found Meg with reading glasses down to the tip of her nose and a pink pencil in her mouth. He then realized the garble was actually Meg saying, It’s open, come in.

Meg was nestled under her bed covers with hardcover books of various titles surrounding her. Her Bible was on her lap. Other books were either tucked under her knees and elbows under the covers, or at the foot of her bed stacked in short piles. She had just picked up her journal from her nightstand, when Ryan entered. Now with pencil out of mouth, she was gripping it as though it were going to run away. Her strokes were fast and energetic.

Ryan laughed, Lois Lane, at it again. 

A comic book buff, Ryan thought Lois Lane was a good name for his sister. Now, he understood why his dad called her by that name. Lois Lane was the fictional character and award winning news reporter with the Metropolis newspaper, the Daily Planet. Lane also had a crush on the original superhero, Superman. At that moment, with glasses pushed back up on her nose and Meg scribbling in her journal, she fit the description of a hard-working newspaper reporter. One difference Ryan thought, Meg has a crush, but it's sure not on Superman.

Hey, Ryan. What’s up? Meg asked, never looking up from her journal.

What’s up with all these books? he replied, touching and counting each and every book as he walked around her bed. Looks like the school’s library exploded all around you!

Not now, Ryan! You’re annoying me! I’m doing research and I need to concentrate, Meg retorted.

Sorry. 

Ryan hung his head and began to shuffle out of her room. Meg realized that although he was interrupting her concentration, he must have come in for a reason. 

Ryan was two years younger than Meg. They got along like brothers and sisters usually do with lots of teasing and name calling. Still, their bond of friendship was true. They knew they could count on each other in any situation. 

Ryan, wait! I’m the one who should apologize. 

In a burst of carefree joy, Meg threw off her covers. Books tumbled all over the floor when she stood up. She stepped over them and wrapped her arms around her brother. 

Sooo, so sorry for calling you annoying, she said in a gushy voice.

Okay, okay! Gosh, stop hugging me. It’s creepy! Ryan squirmed.

Meg finally let go, smiling and placing her hands on her hips as she gave Ryan her full attention. 

So why’d you come in here?

I was out riding my long-board and I heard a dog yelping. Sounded like it might have been in trouble. I wanted to tell you ‘cause, you know, you want to be an animal doctor and all. 

What! Hurting animals hit Meg’s hot button. 

We can go out together. I’ll ride my bike and maybe we can find out where that yelping was coming from, she replied. 

Cool. I’ll wait for you downstairs. Mom left breakfast in the oven for us and a note saying that said she and Dad went to the post office. They’ll be back in a half hour.

Meg slipped on her flip-flops, brushed her hair quickly, and ran outside. She hopped on her bike still wearing her pajamas.

Chapter Two

Sun Showers and Shadows of Things to Come

Two heads are better than one, and four ears can definitely locate a yelping dog, figured Ryan. He waited for his sister in their front yard as long as he could, then hopped on his long-board and wheeled down the street. He was curious about the dog’s yelping that seemed to come from nowhere.  

Meg grabbed her umbrella and slid the loop over her handlebars. Showers were predicted, and not uncommon for this time of year in South Florida. Florida is known to be the wettest state in the country and also the lightning capital. The heavy clouds hung in the sky like a giant water balloon about to burst open. 

She hopped on her bike and pedaled fast trying to catch up with Ryan, who was already long-boarding down their street.

Hey, Ry! I thought you were going to wait for me, she yelled.

Yeah, but you were taking too long. Come on. Catch up!

Meg pedaled faster and then coasted right up next to her brother. He looked at Meg’s umbrella dangling from the handlebars. 

You know you won’t be using that umbrella if it starts to lightning, don’t you? It has a metal handle and tip. 

Duh! Of course, I won’t be using it if there’s lightning! 

Truth is, Meg thought lightning only hits the highest point in an area. She didn’t think about metal being an attraction, but she couldn’t let her brother believe he had one up on her. 

As they wheeled up and down the streets of their neighborhood, they heard many noises: lawn mowers revving up, hammers banging, a car  going down the street with a noisy muffler, and kids shouting. But Meg and Ryan never heard one dog yelping. Not one!

Where did you say the yelping was coming from, Ryan?

Well, I’m not sure exactly where, but I am pretty sure it was on our block.

Hey, look over there, Ry. 

As they were turning back onto their street from Dunes Road, Meg spotted a U-Haul truck and a green van at the only brick house on their block. 

Looks like we have new neighbors.

I wonder if they have kids our age? Ryan remarked.

Just about that time, Meg and Ryan’s parents drove down the street on their way home from the post office. Mr. Wilson stopped and opened his window, Say, what are you two rascals up to this morning? 

Hi, Dad. Hi, Mom, they said in unison. 

Not much. Just exploring our neighborhood for unusual calls for help, Meg said casually. Oh, and if you’re wondering, I didn’t have time to change out of my pajamas. 

Mr. and Mrs. Wilson looked at each other and raised their eyebrows. 

So, our Lois Lane and partner, Jimmy Olsen are at it again, Mr. Wilson laughed. 

Oh, yeah I remember that character, Jimmy. Yeah, he, Lois, and Superman. They were a team, Ryan added. But Dad, listen, I heard a dog yelping earlier this morning. I thought he might be hurt, so we wanted to check it out, Ryan explained. 

Hmm, interesting, remarked his mom.

Mr. Wilson poked his head out of the car window and looked up at the sky, Well, that dark cloud looks like it’s going to break open soon. Call off your mission and come on home. He smiled and closed his window as he pulled away

Yes, Dad, they said, again in unison.

Ryan, if you hear that dog again, or see anything suspicious, let me know. 

Ryan nodded in agreement and said, Let’s get home now, Meg. Or, you can stand here and open your umbrella, he teased. 

Ha, ha, very funny, Meg said sarcastically. Race you home!

Once the family was home together, they would spend the remainder of Saturday doing chores. The promise of pizza and game night spurred everyone on to do their best work.

Meg wrote her to do list: Clean my room. Do my laundry. Load the dishwasher. Tend to Misty. Tending to her rabbit was priority. She did that every day, but on Saturdays, she took extra time with her, cleaning her hutch and playing with her. 

Besides, Meg thought, Misty is a good listener.

Sunday morning, everyone looked forward to attending church services. Some Sundays they would actually make it on time, but most times, Ryan would make them late. Wait a minute, for this or that he would say, as everyone waited in the car. Patience and punctuality were virtues they were all working on. 

The next several days passed with the weather forecast looking grim. A tropical disturbance was brewing in the Atlantic. 

Pretty early in the season for any kind of real storm, Mr. Wilson had mentioned earlier in the day.

But rain didn't dampen Meg’s spirit for adventure. She had almost three more weeks and a lot more books to read before she would begin fifth grade. Her reading count was already up to forty-nine books. Meg seemed to find wonder and adventure of some kind on every page she turned. Books about traveling to far away countries as a missionary were on her shelf. Saving lost or hurting animals were her favorite kinds of books. She had visions of building animal clinics all around the world one day.

Some of her classmates called Meg a dreamer and told her that she could never do the stuff that she read about in books. Meg knew differently. She knew anything was possible, and so she kept her circle of friends small, her hopes high, and her library card active. 

Meg’s best friends, Lindy and Alex were on vacation with their families. She could hardly wait for them to get home. 

I wonder how many books they’ve read?

She suddenly recalled a life lesson her pastor taught, about not comparing ourselves with others.  Kids, it really doesn’t matter what your friends are doing. Just stay in your own lane and be the best you, you can be, he said.

After Sunday lunch, Meg settled down in the family room, turned on the news station with the sound on mute and began reading book number forty-nine. Thirty minutes and five chapters later, she glanced up from reading