The Healing Gem of Arcadia

By Lara Foster

Adam's dad is sick with a mysterious illness while Clara's dad just up and left her family. Adam's Auntie G gives him a treasure map to find a magical healing gem in Arcadia. Clara is approached by Adam and his friends on a full moon, Queen tide summer night to find the gem and save his dad.

The crew is transported through the

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lala's Life Garden, LLC
• Release date: Oct 4, 2022
• ISBN: 9798986183695

Book preview

Lara Foster

The Healing Gem of Arcadia

A Pacific Northwest Adventure

First published by Lala’s Life Garden, LLC 2022

Copyright © 2022 by Lara Foster

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

Lara Foster asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

Designations used by companies to distinguish their products are often claimed as trademarks. All brand names and product names used in this book and on its cover are trade names, service marks, trademarks and registered trademarks of their respective owners. The publishers and the book are not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book. None of the companies referenced within the book have endorsed the book.

Do not try to re-create any of the scenes from this magical book. Arcadia Rock is a figment of imagination and can be enjoyed safely from the shoreline.

First edition

ISBN: 979-8-9861836-9-5

Cover art by Steve Hernandez

Advisor: Christi Krug

This book was professionally typeset on Reedsy

Find out more at reedsy.com

For Savannah and Colt who helped me fremember without even trying. May you always fremember your access to Arcadia is always and forever.

Contents

Foreword

This is a story about fremembering…

1. Adam & Auntie G

2. What will Clara do?

3. Adam’s worry about Dad

4. Clara’s tree fort

5. Arcadia will do!

6. Cannon Beach Book Store

7. Gathering the crew

8. Knocks in the middle of the night

9. The Arcadia map

10. New friends

11. Jumping in the Jeep

12. Cruising through town

13. The majestic road to Indian beach

14. Asking for help

15. Seeing lights

16. Following the light

17. Sparks fly in the night

18. Happiness on the path

19. Chuck’s fear

20. Going down the path together

21. Team Arcadia

22. Arcadia rock is a portal!

23. Landing in Arcadia

24. Finding Auntie G in Arcadia

25. First kiss!

26. Peppermint tea with Auntie G

27. Adam fremembers

28. Clara meets Gwen

29. Team Arcadia fremembers together

30. Going back home

31. Happy to be home

32. Adam helps his dad fremember

33. Clara’s dream

34. Gwen fremembers

35. Clara’s first day of sixth grade

36. Adam’s magic

Acknowledgments

Arcadia Rock

arcadia

Definition of arcadia

Foreword

This is a story about fremembering…

Dear shining stars,

There are three ways one can fremember:

1) Tuning into all the happy and joyous moments of our lives and feeling them with all of our senses. Matching our deepest darkest fears with our greatest hopes and desires. One must not chase the fear, only bring into focus that which we love and makes us come alive.

2) Free-memory. Tuning into the abundant possibilities of the now free of old stories.

3) Future-memory. Remembering the future and who we really are. Holding visions of these future memories in our today’s for ourselves and others.

Once one learns how to fremember one must share these free memories and how to do so with others.

Your access to Arcadia awaits.

With Love,

Gwendolyn

1

Adam & Auntie G

Adam is picked up from school at Gearhart Elementary north of Seaside on Highway 101 every Friday by Auntie G his dad’s way older sister. She’s basically like a grandma with those crinkly ridges around her eyes and grey hairs poking through her messy bun toppling over like a pineapple on her head. The two have spent Fridays together for longer than Adam can remember.

What beach are we going to today? Auntie G asked as Adam hopped into the car.

Indian! Adam called out. Now that he was nearing the end of fifth grade Auntie G started letting him pick some of their Friday afternoon adventures.

Off to Indian we go! Auntie G called out as the two drove from Gearhart south on old Highway 101 stretching the entire West coast of the United States. They drive through Seaside, to Cannon Beach on up to Ecola State Park and then a little bit further to Indian Beach.

The beach sat secretly nestled amongst the tall standing fir, spruce, hemlock and pine tree’s scaping the south end of the Tillamook Head trail. The spot where Sacagawea a Lemhi Shoshone woman and Lewis & Clark, those adventurer’s from the 1800’s who walked across America, finally found the Pacific Ocean. As if no one had ever seen it before.

Indian beach housed the best view in all of the Pacific Northwest of the great Terribly Tilly Lighthouse that was built in 1881. It was in service for a whole 77 years before its final light was turned off by Keeper Oswald Allik.

Even more fun was that Indian Beach had secret alcoves that Auntie G once in a while showed to Adam.

The two un-clicked their seat belts in the parked car stepping outside to breathe the fresh sea air. Adam loved spending time with his Auntie G, even more so now that his brother and sister were around.

Adam and Auntie G kicked their shoes off once they hit the beach. Running at full speed, with brown curls bouncing under his ball cap, Adam flung his arms out wide towards the sides and didn’t stop running ‘til his toes hit the fresh, cold, deep and wide Pacific Ocean.

Brrrrrrrrrrr!!!!! he yelled out, hugging himself, running backwards for a bit and then skipping to Auntie G. It’s so cold!!!! he exclaimed shaking his whole body like an icicle shivering.

Auntie G laughed, You say that every time sweet boy!

Let’s walk it off, waving his arm towards Auntie G speed walking south on the beach.

Auntie G had never cracked over five foot two inches tall. Adam was an even five foot and with his hat propped up on top of his head he looked about the same height as her.

The sand softened underneath each footstep until they walked toward the ocean landing in the mid line where the sand became harder but they also didn’t have to worry about being snuck up on by waves. Each step in stride with one another Auntie G kept up a good speed walking game even though she was O - L - D, old.

Stop! Auntie G yelled out throwing her sweater covered arm out in front of him to protect from the invisible oncoming traffic.

Look around… she said, I spy something… black!

Adam looked at her, head tilted a bit, ready to pounce… This was his favorite game! He looked toward the ocean. Blue water, white waves, brown rocks, grey seagulls… Nope. He looked down the beach green pine trees, muddy boulders, clear streams. Nope! Then he turned toward the cliff side…

Ravens! he said to an imaginary theater full of people waiting for his punchline.

Auntie G clapped twice, You got it! pretend tickling him in the tummy.

The two started walking together again. Each step picking up pace.

Adam walked a few more steps then jumped and landed kerplat! Feet skidding in the sand, I spy… something grey.

Auntie G looked straight at Adam, not around at the scenery, moved her head to the side and said, You really going to start with a beach rock, again?

Auntie!!!

She laughed shaking her head, wavy tendrils of gray bouncing, then motioned him to come on. The two speed walked a whole hour away up and down Indian Beach playing eye spy until finally resting with a snack at a picnic table up atop the overview lookout by Auntie G’s car.

Adam ate his granola bar in silence.

Auntie G did too.

Adam turned facing the ocean, I’m worried about Dad, he said voice cracking.

Auntie G stood up to sit next to Adam, Me too.

Adam’s Dad had been ill for the last year. First getting injured on a construction job and having to take some time off to recover. Then during recovery coming down with some mysterious illness that had him looking thinner and thinner by the day.

I don’t know what to do… Adam’s voiced cracked calling out more toward the ocean than to his aunt.

Auntie G grabbed his hand and rested it between her well-worn fingers, the wrinkles folding lines around her knuckles splattered with different colored flecks of paint, We just keep on keeping on.

Adam nodded, his hand squished like a pancake, feeling soft and warm yet still worried.

I want to be able to do something for him, but I’m not sure what to do, chin trembling a tad. Adam pulled his hand away and moved his hat down over his eyes.

Auntie G stretched her arms out on the picnic table behind her, a sea falcon about to take flight, The only thing we can do is love him and help him heal. Right Adam?

He shook his head and put his hoodie up over his ball cap, I don’t know. I think there must be more that I can do!

Auntie G nodded, wrapping one arm around Adam’s shoulder, Arcadia… Arcadia may do…

2

What will Clara do?

Tell Clara, I Looooove her! -sang Mr. Matthews. Clara saw a big white light shining like a spotlight on him as he began to dance. The kids in the classroom joined in for the second chorus, Tell Clara, I Looooove her! Before she knew it the entire class was singing out loud, Tell Clara, I Looooove her!. Little white orbs danced around everyone’s heads that only Clara was able to see.

Peeking through blonde shaggy bangs covering half her eyes, embarrassed by the attention coming from all her classmates slightly afraid of seeing that big white light again. She looked up hearing her name, cheeks feeling hot realizing Mr. Matthews was singing again. Clara glanced down awkwardly noticing a sudden surge of delight inside.

She tried to shush the butterflies floating in her tummy squeezing tight into her neon green t-shirt, long boardshorts, and black high-top converse with perfectly tied double knots. Don’t look at me… she wanted to cry out, also secretly hoping her classmates couldn’t tell she really liked the singing!

None of the other kids had a special song like this. Clara didn’t know why, but she suspected. Did Mr. Matthews think she needed extra love or something? Did he think she was a charity case?

Once the singing stopped the classroom started bustling back to normal. Lila was up chatting with Mr. Matthews. Elijah had scooted his chair closer to Clara, where she found herself slunked down, arms crossed with bum slid halfway off the seat.

I love it when we sing that song, Elijah said eyes sparkling at her.

Clara shook her head at him. She could guess why this song suddenly presented itself. Her dad wasn’t around anymore and all the kids had dad’s except her or at least it felt like that.

She first noticed the special treatment in fourth grade. Now, Clara was in fifth grade and ready to be one of the older kids in school next year. Suddenly every man in her life was stepping up to fill that empty hole. Once, Mr. Matthews sat her down during recess and said, Clara, you’re really talented at math. Would you be willing to help the other kids with their math? Clara had nodded yes not wanting to let him down, but really she wanted to say no.

Elijah scooted in closer, Do you think you can help me with my math now? Clara turned her head sideways at him scooting up in her chair silently grabbing her math book and notepad out of her desk. She reached for her favorite pencil that was usually tucked on the front edge, but it wasn’t there. Clara’s chin dropped thinking, Great! One more thing missing from my life!

She turned to Elijah, I need to borrow a pencil. His hand was already holding one up.

Even the parents of her classmates treated her with pity, especially Elijah’s parents, as if she was an orphan, like Oliver Twist, running around the small coastal town of Cannon Beach picking pockets. They’d make sure she’d stay on the straight and narrow, "Clara, let’s think about