The Gift: A Gift of Self Confidence

By Charles Duane Shiplett

Twelve year old Ellie convinces her brother for his support to
investigate a fireball. As it happens they rescue a spaceman who
rewards each with means to boost their talent. However they
discover boosting takes some doing. Meanwhile, the spaceman
needs them to recover a mis-placed chip, but having the same
idea are ugly yellow creatures from outer space.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Sep 17, 2007
• ISBN: 9781469117041

Charles Duane Shiplett

Charles Duane Shiplett holds a Masters Degree. He was awarded a certificate from a state governor for a course he wrote and taught to distressed young people. He had a previous book published, Putt Some Stuff in Your Personality.

Book preview

Copyright © 2007 by Charles Duane Shiplett.

ISBN:      Softcover      978-1-4257-6951-2

ISBN:      Ebook      978-1-4691-1704-1

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

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Contents

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

Dedication

The gift is dedicated to my twelve-year-old friend Tania who is like a granddaughter. She is the ghost heroine of the Gift and Tania would have, and could have performed all of the deeds therein if she had been there in person. I also express thanks to Amy Laws Davis for creating the original painting seen on the cover.

Chapter 1

It’s coming this way we will all be killed! Ellie screamed at the top of her lungs. But there was no one to heed her warnings. Words bounced off the walls and returned in dire mockery. Undaunted she screamed again even louder. Fear propelled her voice until the nearby hanging picture frame quivered from its vibrations. The blood pounded through her veins giving rise to not only concern for herself but her brother as well. That she was now alone in the house had escaped her mind. Staring out the window her eyes were fixated upon the fireball. It was growing in size and in brightness. She had been watching the fireball ever since it began as nothing more than an oversized spark. In a matter of minutes it had become so huge that not even a glimmer of sky could be seen through the window. Light emitted from it in flashes of brilliant colors. The heat was beginning to stifle the very air that she was breathing. If the fireball had not been so menacing it would have been beautiful, as lights within it brightened in intensity and then burst into noiseless explosions sending balls of fire rolling outward until they disappeared. Heat waves liken to ripples from a coin tossed into water were visible. Shades of orange and red were captivating but as the fireball grew nearer the heat scorched the lids of her eyes. The glass in the window began to take on a wavy appearance. Trying to see through it was useless as it crinkled into bizarre almost creature lookalike images. Creases deepened into patterns of every conceivable shape some less than an inch apart. The eerie shapes continued to carve themselves into the glass until tiny fragments began to break apart and sail away just missing the girl’s head. Gathering her strength Ellie jerked the heavy captain’s chair back away from the sturdy, oak desk until she could crowd herself under the desktop. Feeling somewhat safe at the moment she realized her harbor would only be brief. She cringed and drew deep breaths to boost her strength and to maintain her courage. No sooner had she crawled under the wooden desk for protection than the surface began to peel away into layers of laminated wood. Fear for her brother once again surfaced but she gratefully remembered he had taken his bike to deliver some books to another school chum. However, he could be returning any moment. She did not want her brother to walk into this fireball. To prevent that sad happening she must get away and warn him. It became obvious that the time to leave had arrived when the last strip of thin wood above her tore loose releasing searing heat upon her backside. Being exposed to the burning heat from above, the only avenue open was to run as fast as she could down the stairs. To prepare for the dash to safety she pushed back from the collapsing oak desk. Ignoring the pain she straightened her body until she stood on wobbly legs. She couldn’t help but cry, but her tears dried as fast as they fell from her eyes due to the hot air rushing about the room. Gasping for breath, she forced herself to breathe deeply even though the heated air burned her nose and lungs. With a final effort Ellie regained her determination and slowly began to walk on numbed legs. Weakened by the ordeal her left leg gave way and she crashed against the door. It was all too much for her young body and she passed out lying across the threshold into her room.

When she came to, her brother Eddie was wiping a wet cloth over her face and he held her head in his lap. Ellie what happened? Why did you faint? Speak Ellie. Terror emitted from her eyes as she peered into the curious eyes of her brother. She was so glad her brother was safe. How had he escaped the fireball? He must have come in later for she was alone, but why were she and Eddie not burned to a crisp?

The fire ball where did it go?

There is no fire ball Ellie there’s nothing here but you on the floor all passed out.

Oh Eddie it was awful there was this huge fireball coming toward the house. Everything was beginning to melt even the windows and the furniture.

It must have been a dream there is no fire ball.

Then there will be one and soon Eddie. Someone contacted me. Someone forced me to see it. It must have been a warning. What can we do?

"I don’t think we can do anything, if it’s as bad as you say what could we do? We could warn our parents but they would just give you some pill