Adventure With Dreams: Adventure Through Life

By Alexander R. Chhin

In a span of six months, Katrina’s world has crashed around her; she’s lost her father, her mother, and her younger sister, Sophie. There is a ray of hope when Katrina is adopted by a middle-aged couple, and she attends a new elementary school.

It’s at the new school where Katrina meets her best friend Nancy. They discover they have something in common and share a special bond: both of them are orphans, and they have been adopted by loving families. The two are able to share their feelings with each other, and they become a real team. Finding courage and determination, both learn to go on after losing the special people in their lives.

Adventures with Dreams shares the fictional story of Katrina and Nancy and how they beat the odds, approached the world positively, and became accomplished in life. It shares an example of how a person can bloom into a beautiful butterfly, even in the face of tragedy and unfavorable circumstances.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu Publishing Services
• Release date: May 1, 2015
• ISBN: 9781483430157

Book preview

Adventure

with Dreams

Adventure through Life

ALEXANDER R. CHHIN

Copyright © 2015 Alexander R. Chhin.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted by any means—whether auditory, graphic, mechanical, or electronic—without written permission of both publisher and author, except in the case of brief excerpts used in critical articles and reviews. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this work is illegal and is punishable by law.

ISBN: 978-1-4834-3014-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4834-3015-7 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015906315

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Lulu Publishing Services rev. date: 04/22/2015

Contents

Acknowledgement

What You Will Find in this Book

Book 1 - Despair

Chapter 1: Birth of an Angel

Chapter 2: Beginning of Dark Times

Chapter 3: All Hope is Lost

Book 2 - A Spark of Hope

Chapter 1: A New Friendship

Chapter 2: The Strongest Bond

Chapter 3: The Promise

Book 3 - New Beginnings

Chapter 1: Rekindled Determination

Chapter 2: Changing Times

Chapter 3: Where There Is a Will, There is a Way

Acknowledgement

IF IT WASN’T FOR THE support of my loved ones, I would have never been able to write this book, completed it and get it published. Thank you all for always supporting me in everything that I do, I will always be truly grateful to everyone.

My wife, Mrs. Julie S. Taing, is the most important person I would like to acknowledge who played a big role in the publication of this book. Without her love and undying support, I could never have come this far. Thank you Julie for standing by me as always, I love you.

This book is a tribute to the memory of my parents Mr. Chhin Moy and Mrs. Ngath Tuy, without whose positive views on life, I could never have achieved my dreams. I would also like to dedicate this book to my mother in law Ms. Ny Moy, who passed away on October 14th, 2014. Without your continuous encouragement, I could never have made it this far. Thank you for being a beacon of hope in our lives. You will be missed forever and may your journey rest in peace.

A shout out to everyone else who stood by me during the hassle of getting this book published. Your encouragement and comfort is what helped me understand that anything is possible when you have your loved ones with you. You guys are the best family ever! I want to tell you how much your love means to me and how I am eternally grateful to all of you!

Like hundreds of others out there, I also understand that life can be tough. There will always be highs and lows in life, but my message to all readers is this, Don’t give up. No matter what happens. Stand firm in the face of every hurdle life throws your way, and overcome them together, with your friends and family.

Thank you all, and God bless!

What You Will Find in this Book

THIS IS THE REAL LIFE struggle and adventure of Nancy and Katrina, two orphan girls who beat the odds and become accomplished in life. It is about all the difficulties they faced which made them stronger in the other end. But why tell you this story and what is the purpose behind its publication? Simple, I want you to know that no matter what life might throw at you, getting past the hardships is not only possible, it is very much attainable. With a positive approach towards existence and having, the right people in your mind would make all the difference in the world.

Adventure with Dreams is about love and loss, friendship and steadfastness, dreams and disappointments of two little girls who grow up to be strong and powerful women. Even though they lose their parents at a very early age and have to go through the experience of living in an orphanage, these two little girls don’t give up on life. What they realize is that with their love for each other, they can get through anything. They know their strength and they know that after every dark cloud, there is a bright and shiny day.

These are the sentiments that I want you to absorb from this book. The stories within are meant to give you hope, courage, motivation and the will to battle through even the most difficult of times. I believe that by the time you put this book down, not you will have tears in your eyes, but you will also be smiling because there will awaken in you a renewed sense of joy and appreciation for life.

So let us not keep you waiting any longer and travel the road of adventure with Nancy and Katrina. Remember, if they can do it, so can you!

BOOK 1

Despair

CHAPTER 1

Birth of an Angel

IT WAS A PLEASANT DAY in summer when the chirping of the birds woke a very sweaty Tina. She looked at the window and smiled, for it was a beautiful day. She thought to herself, Any day now and caressed the large baby bump that was her tummy. Nine months ago, when she had given the happy news to her husband, he was overjoyed. And now, as she lay by his side, she couldn’t help but wonder what she had done to have been blessed with such a wonderful man as her husband, Eric.

She got out of bed, located her slippers, and turned to walk toward the washroom when suddenly; she gave a loud gasp and looked down at her feet. Immediately she looked at her husband and said, Honey! Honey, wake up!

Her husband awoke with a jerk and said, What’s wrong, sweetheart? Are you okay?

She looked at him with terror-struck eyes and said, Honey, I think my water just broke. It’s time. Her husband immediately leapt out of bed and started dressing fast. It was only when he heard his wife giggling behind him that he realized he was trying to wear his pants backward. Tina smiled lovingly at this sight and said, Calm down, honey. It’s all right. We just have to get to the hospital on time.

After seeing the reassuring smile on Tina’s face, her husband calmed down enough to put his clothes on—properly this time! They both went out the garage door, where Tina’s husband helped her get into the car and then immediately opened the door to the garage and got in the car himself.

They drove to the nearest hospital, where Tina was immediately rushed into the labor room, and Eric remained outside. He was terrified that he would faint at any time, so he sat down in the waiting area, praying, hoping that everything will be okay. After an hour had passed, a nurse walked into the room and up to Eric and said, Your wife is waiting for you.

Trembling all over, he stood up and went into the room, where his wife was resting with a little bundle of joy in her arms. He went and sat by her side to look for the very first time at the face of his child. Tina smiled at him and said, Meet our daughter, Eric. Won’t you hold her?

Tears welled up in his eyes as he took his girl in his arms and kissed her on the forehead. My lovely angel, we will call her Katrina. He gave his wife a kiss on the cheek and a tight hug as he said, Thank you for giving me my angel. Thank you for blessing me with our daughter.

Tina said, Now, don’t you go making me all emotional. They both laughed as she wiped tears of happiness from her eyes.

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Tina and Eric were overjoyed to have been blessed with a baby girl. They loved her, cared for her, and treated her like a princess. She was their whole world. A few years passed, and they were blessed with another daughter, whom they named Sophie.

Tina still remembered how excited Katrina had been when she heard that she was about get a sister. Oh, Mommy, when is she coming? Katrina asked excitedly, eyes sparkling with happiness.

Her mother laughed and said, Soon, darling.

From that day on, Katrina would ask her mother every day when her sister would arrive, such was the extent of her excitement. Tina always felt overjoyed at the excitement she saw in little Katrina. Finally, the big day arrived when Tina and Eric were blessed with their second angel.

When the parents came home, both of them called out to Katrina, who was waiting with the baby sitter. She was in her room, playing with her toys, when she heard her mother say, Katrina, we’re home. Come and meet your little sister.

Katrina immediately got to her feet and ran to the living room, where she jumped in her father’s arms and said, Where is she? Where is she?

Katrina’s father smiled and stroked her hair as he pointed to her mother’s lap. Katrina immediately jumped out of her father’s arms and onto the floor. Cautiously, with wide eyes, she went to her mother but stopped a few steps away. Her mother beckoned her forward and said, Meet your little sister, Sophie.

Katrina was struck with awe as she saw her sister for the very first time. She kept looking at Sophie, lost for words. Her father came and sat beside his wife, and looking at Katrina, he asked, So, what do you think, Katrina? Do you like her?

Katrina looked up at her parents one by one and said, But she is so small.

Her parents smiled and said, Well, of course. When you were born, you were also just like Sophie here.

Katrina looked at her mother and said, No! Seriously?

Tina laughed as her Eric said, Yup.

Katrina gave a wide grin and said, I really like Sophie; she is cute.

Her mother smiled at Katrina and said, Now you must take very good care of her, okay Katrina? You are the elder sister, so you have the important responsibility of looking after your sister, okay?

Katrina smiled and said, Okay.

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The same