Chel & Riley Go Back to School

By Wm. Matthew Graphman

After a long summer filled with adventures, the day has come for Riley and his pal Chel to return to school. With their expectations set high for the fourth grade, Riley and Chel are quickly confronted by challenges on numerous fronts. Chels new teacher, who was also Chels estranged fathers teacher, immediately labels Chel, a troublemaker. Riley encounters more everyday issues like a group of bullies. After several attempts to start a fight with Riley, the bullies resolve to set Riley up to get him expelled even as the school year begins. With Riley in trouble, Chel must become a sleuth to prove Rileys innocence before the principal sends Riley home for the year. A humble school janitor reminds the two of Gods power and presence in their situations. Can Chel learn to forgive the father shes never actually known for the legacy that she will have to overcome? Will Riley listen to Mr. Henry and trust in God or choose to give up?

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jul 25, 2017
• ISBN: 9781546200871

Wm. Matthew Graphman

Matthew Graphman is a twenty-five-year veteran in the information technology world. He studied writing, drama, as well as computers while attending Bob Jones University in the late 80’s and early 90’s. There he met his wife, Wendy, of twenty-five years and started a family. He currently resides in Bloomington, Indiana with his wife and children, Kathryn (Kat) and Ethan. His oldest son, Sean, is married and lives on the East Coast. Matthew has long been a fan of fantasy fiction. His first attempt at writing was brought on by his roommates in college. As a result, he wrote his first - still unpublished - fantasy novel. After graduating, Matthew continued his writing exploits, but his focus was mostly around theater. After developing a series of children’s skits in the 2000’s, he was encouraged to take the skits and convert them into a series of children’s chapter books. To date, he has written five of the fifteen stories in the “Chel & Riley Adventures” series. Taking a break from creating children’s fiction and drama, Matthew decided to reach back, at the request from his daughter Kat, and create a fantasy world that mixed all of her favorite thematic elements. This series is currently outlined to cover five volumes; however, he is convinced that there could be many more stories that evolve out of this new universe. Matthew is a recent winner of the 2016 and 2017 NaNoWriMo challenge. He is currently working on a board game based upon the Silverwood story along with several other projects.

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© 2017 Wm. Matthew Graphman. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 07/25/2017

ISBN: 978-1-5462-0088-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5462-0087-1 (e)

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Contents

Dedication

Chapter 1 - First Day Back!

Chapter 2 - Bullies Abound

Chapter 3 - Between a Locker and Box Full of Bugs

Chapter 4 - Riley Gets Busted!

Chapter 5 - Principal Judgement

Epilogue

About The Author

Dedication

This story is for all the Chel and Riley fans at ICES. Thank you for being there for me and for encouraging me to write more Chel and Riley Adventures. This one is for you. I hope you enjoy it!

Special thanks go to my editing and proofing team:

Melissa Shriner

Christie Smith -- Mother of Tyler, Isaac, and Maverick and 2nd Grade Teacher at ICES

Chapter 1

First Day Back!

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Sweat rolled down into his eyes as the sun’s scorching heat turned his soft-brimmed hat into a miniature oven. Dust billowed all around as his horse, Trigger, galloped at top speed across the open plains. A quick glance to his right revealed that his faithful black and white companion, fur flying in the wind, struggled to keep up. Lazer kept pace, with Trigger, but Riley knew that he wouldn’t be able to keep that pace for much longer. If their target didn’t show up soon, all would be lost.

Riley Conner, last of the great Pony Express riders, carried what was probably the most important delivery of his long and famous career. Strangely enough, this ride was never supposed to happen, but the cargo was too important and the timing so critical that the President of the United States had specifically requested that Riley carry out this urgent delivery.

Just two weeks prior, Riley had hung up his spurs as a sign of his giving up the Great Race. He and his horse, Trigger, had covered more than fifty thousand miles in the last several years, and it was time to sit back and let the younger generation carry the burden. This was not meant to be.

Mr. Conner, Riley remembered the President addressing him as he stepped out of the mega-suite of the Mega Eight hotel in downtown Helmsburg.

Riley extended his hand in greeting, and several of the super-secret agents who surrounded the President stepped forward and inspected his hand.

It’s okay, boys, the President waved the guards back. I trust this man with my life and the nation’s as well.

With that, the secret agents backed away and allowed Riley to reach his hand out toward the President. Accepting his hand, the President pumped the handshake three times as a sign of friendship and trust. As the President released his grip, he looked down at his hand with a smile. That’s a mighty good grip you have there, Mr. Conner.

Riley bowed slightly. It comes from holding onto the reins of my horse, Trigger, day in and day out. It requires a tight grip to keep that powerful beast under control, and I guess after all the miles we’ve ridden together, I’ve gotten pretty strong.

I know all about your record, the President replied. He extended a hand toward one of the agents next to him, and the man turned over a notepad. Looking down at the notes scribbled on the pad he began to read: Fifteen trips to St. Louis, nine trips to Atlanta, twelve trips to Detroit, four trips to New York, two trips to Albuquerque, and … The President paused and adjusted the large rimmed glasses that sat neatly on his nose. Am I reading this correctly? One trip to Hawaii? But that’s in the middle of the ocean.

Yes, sir, Riley replied humbly. Trigger is an amazing swimmer, Mr. President.

Indeed, the President replied as he handed the notepad back to a tall man dressed in a dark blue suit and a pale pink tie. With credentials like these, I know I’ve come to the right man.

Riley removed his felt hat and ran his fingers through his hair before looking the President in the eye. How can I help you, sir?

Mr. Conner, the President began.

Please, call me Riley, Mr. President, Riley interrupted softly.

Only if you call me Donald, the President replied with a cheeky grin.

Riley nodded in response with a grin himself.

Okay, Riley, the country is counting on you, the President turned to another of the agents, dressed in a similar dark blue suit with a bright red tie. He snapped his fingers, The package, the President ordered.

Riley could see the agent’s eyes dart around behind the dark tinted glasses before touching his hand to his ear. Bring out the package. Another guard standing right behind him also put his hand to his ear and repeated what the other had said, Bring out the package. And still another guard standing in the entryway of the super mega presidential suite put his hand to his ear before speaking, Bring out the pack …

The last agent’s words were cut off as a small brown box was thrust into his hands