Little A: The Small Black Boy & the Magic Shoes

By John Chipley and Tom Chipley

This is a book for boys, boys who love basketball. It is a story about a twelve year old boy who did the impossible, thanks to a pair of magic shoes.
The story takes place in the projects of Memphis, Tennessee. Growing up in the projects of Memphis is hard, but it can also be fun! Every boy plays basketball, and every boy dreams of becoming an NBA star. This includes a little boy called Little A. However, Little A had a secret. You see, Little A was given a pair of magic shoes; shoes once worn by Mr. Boom-Boom. And this is what the story is all about. It is about a young boy, Little A, an old black man, Mr. Boom-Boom, and the story he tells about a pair of magic shoes.
As you read this story, just follow the magic shoes. Theyll take you to the end. They will also take you back to the beginning of a very magical story. Mr. Chip

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: May 19, 2014
• ISBN: 9781496912855

John Chipley

Shirley Nelson Kersey, Ph.D. Readers of the books of fiction featuring Little A, a boy living in the projects of Memphis, are instantly aware that the writer is eminently qualified to focus on this young hero. Only a person who has taught in the inner city schools is able to create a fictional, yet realistic account of the life of a youngster struggling to find himself in this environment. John Chipley, whom the boys fondly have dubbed Mr. Chip, taught in Memphis inner-city schools for over fifteen years. In retirement he offers weekly volunteer sessions that focus on encouraging boys to read. This is a lofty goal, for the boys live in homes and neighborhood environments not structured to develop reading skills or dreams of career advancement. Mr. Chip’s goal surpasses development of reading ability to encourage the boys to enjoy this privilege. Chipley is formally prepared to teach, for he holds both Bachelor and Master of Education degrees. However, the most memorable aspect of his classroom presence is his heart. He cares deeply about each one of his students and is there for them both now and in the future. Through the persona of Little A, Chipley gives the boys a fictional character with whom they can identify. Little A’s life style echoes theirs. While reading this series of books, the boys witness someone they can relate to. Little A is a wonderful fictional character full of wisdom, character, adventure, and confidence.

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© 2014 John Chipley. 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 05/13/2014

ISBN: 978-1-4969-1303-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4969-1285-5 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014908889

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

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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.

CONTENTS

Introduction

Chapter #1 Mr. Boom-Boom

Chapter #2 Mama

Chapter #3 Dr. Miller

Chapter #4 Crazy? Or Just Old?

Chapter #5 The Image

Chapter #6 Octavious

Chapter #7 The Funeral

Chapter #8 Kairos

Chapter #9 Street Names

Chapter #10 The End Of The Story

Chapter #11 The Next Day

Postscript:

tennisshoeX.jpg

To:

Ms. Thornton and

all her 5th grade

students

Binghampton Christian

Academy

INTRODUCTION

This is a story about a twelve year old boy, Little A, who lives in an upper middle class section of Memphis known as Midtown. Midtown is a neighborhood close to the heart of Memphis. It is a neighborhood full of beautiful old restored homes, manicured lawns, large front porches, and the perfume of magnolias and azaleas scenting the air as you walk down the sidewalk. It is a place where neighbors always have time to stop and talk, and children play as if every house is their house and every adult is their parent. It is a quiet neighborhood, locked forever in a quieter time. Two doors down from where Little A lives, lives a one hundred year old black man, who lives with his adult daughter. As a boy, the old man grew up across town in the projects of Memphis, a high crime section known as Binghampton.

This story is about the relationship between the boy and the old man. It is also a story within a story. When the old man was a boy, his street name was Boom-Boom. His first love was basketball. His second love was just to survive. In this story, the old man tells the boy about what it was like growing up in Binghampton, and the magic he discovered hidden in a pair of white tennis shoes that made him famous.

CHAPTER #1

MR. BOOM-BOOM

Mr. Boom-Boom might be the oldest man in Memphis. My dad told me that he is over one hundred years old. He lives in Midtown with his adult daughter, just two doors down from my house. My dog, George, and I go past his house every day on our way to school, or to play basketball. He’s always sitting on his front porch, just watching people walk by. He never says a word. He never waves. He just sits there, watching.

George likes Mr. Boom-Boom. Every time we go past his house old George wags his tail like crazy. George is a very good judge of character. Old George is part pit bull, part lab, and, well, part of almost every breed of dog. George goes wherever I go. It’s always been that way with George and me. I found him at the animal shelter just one day before they were going to put him to sleep. The man there told me that the dog’s name was George, and an elderly couple left him there when they had to move to an old folks’ home. George is an old dog, but his eyes are young and they can talk. George saw me and told me he needed a home. Dad always said I could have a dog once I reached the age of twelve. Well, last month I turned twelve, so I took George home. He’s never left my side from that