Fogdog

By John Heath

When the tragic, separate deaths of his parents leave Jed Stone an orphan at seven, he embarks on a volatile path fueled by bad choices. After Jed is befriended by a youth pastor who takes him to see a 1943 Chicago Cub World Series game, an errant baseball lands in the bleachers next to them. Among a stampede of wild fans, Jed snags the baseball and later hides it in a secret place.

As Jed grows older, the youth pastor, Peter, attempts to share the concept of Gods unconditional love with the boy who will have none of it. As Jeds checkered path leads him from reform school into a life of crime, Peter never wavers in his support of him. When a judge orders Jed to enlist in the Marine Corps, Jed entrusts Peter with his secret and asks him to keep the coveted baseball hidden. Despite all of Peters efforts and Jeds heroism as a marine, his choices eventually leads him to dark days and eventually full circle where he will make a decision that shines a much-needed ray of hope on two unsuspecting souls on Christmas Day.

In this inspirational tale, a troubled boy sets out on a coming-of-age journey where he learns about the power of a baseball, Gods love, and his own generous heart.

• Language: English
• Publisher: LifeRich Publishing
• Release date: Sep 14, 2016
• ISBN: 9781489709547

John Heath

John Heath served as an Officer in the U. S. Navy on a four year tour. He subsequently engaged in a diverse career as a founder of a publicly-held corporation (eventually as president) and then as an addictions counselor and treatment center supervisor. Heath has degrees from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania (MBA), Western Illinois University (MSE), and Iowa State University (BS). Now retired, he resides in Bettendorf, Iowa, where he works part-time as a tour-guide in a local visitor attraction. He has edited two other books, “Paths Etched in Time” and “Paths Etched in Time 2”. He has also completed seven marathons since age 50.

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Copyright © 2016 John Heath.

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ISBN: 978-1-4897-0955-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4897-0954-7 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2016915061

LifeRich Publishing rev. date: 9/13/2016

CONTENTS

Introduction

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Postscript

To kids of all ages,

including those adults

who have never

faced or embraced

their inner child.

INTRODUCTION

Fogdog: A bright spot sometimes seen at the horizon as a fog starts to dissipate.

(Webster’s New World College Dictionary)

T his book is entirely a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of my imagination or are used fictitiously. Sorry to those who wish it were otherwise. Keep dreaming. May sugarplums and turtledoves occupy your reverie.

CHAPTER 1

I n October of 1943, it was an overcast day in Chicago. An overhead view of Wrigley Field would show a packed stadium full of fans who were warmly dressed to combat the fall chill. A variety of paraphernalia adorned the whooping crowd. Usually, it displayed a large red C—the logo of their beloved home team, the Cubs.

The wind blew across home plate and out toward right field in gusts of up to twenty-five miles per hour. Players blew on their hands between pitches to warm themselves so they could react to the next pitch. People held radios to their ears and tried to splice audio