Roger and His Wonderful Friends

By John Michele

Roger is central to all the characters in this story. He is most unusual because of his abilities and the growing central desire he shares, at first, with one special person, Susan. He is not sure what and where his need to know will take him. But it is there all the time, bugging him.

His quest for answers about his life guides to wonderful turns as he and Susan recognize his awareness, somehow of facts, that he should have no knowledge of until he discovers the influence of many historically important deceased spirits with connections to his home and his town.

He and his young friend Susan share a growing need for answers. She promises to always be in his corner. Roger wants to learn more about her life, which allows her to add stories about herself, family, pets, her town Chester and its people, and the good feelings she has about what life is like in her little town.

Eventually, for both, they must agree to take the necessary hard steps. For early on you will discover that Roger is just a handsome Rhode Island Red Rooster. Yes...a rooster.

Parents will enjoy reading and sharing Roger's journey with their children and so will grandparents, who may renew good memories of other earlier times reading stories to their children. This tale has messages for children and for adults. And Chester is a place where old, important American values are lived every day.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: May 15, 2023
• ISBN: 9798887936437

Book preview

cover.jpg

Roger and His Wonderful Friends

John Michele

Copyright © 2023 John Michele

All rights reserved

First Edition

PAGE PUBLISHING

Conneaut Lake, PA

First originally published by Page Publishing 2023

ISBN 979-8-88793-637-6 (pbk)

ISBN 979-8-88793-643-7 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

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

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Roger and His Wonderful Friends is dedicated to the town of Chester, New Hampshire, where my family lived for many joyful years. It is the best of America.

YOUR AUTHOR’S FEELINGS ABOUT WRITING ROGER AND HIS WONDERFUL FRIENDS:

IT IS MORE THAN JUST A CHILDRENS STORY.

I have felt, even from the first day I saw the main street as I do today, a feeling that there is something unique about the place. America as it was and should be. I am sure many similar towns across the country can bring forth the same emotion. Even back then, it was considered, by some, just a little town, but I love it. For it has a beautiful character of its own.

Roger and His Wonderful Friends started in my mind as an animal story for youngsters ages seven to about fourteen. It will appeal, I hope, to many smart youngsters, as well as, their parents, grandparents, and people from towns everywhere. The story I was writing seemed to carry me along as I researched some town history as far back as the Civil War at the Chester Public Library.

This little story is more than a book with lovely cartoon characters. It speaks about loving the gift of life, wonderful friendships, service to and for one another, and a love of where you live in America through the eyes of people, spirits who are long gone, and others who lived during the time of Roger the Rooster. Who somehow desires what we all have, the freedom and the opportunity to pursue our dreams. May it always be so.

Chapter 1

Why

Something about this family, this town, the people, even the history, it’s in me. I don’t understand why, but everyday events and little, unimportant events keep breaking through for no apparent reason. And when I talk with her, she understands me. I am possessed by something, or someone. Why is this happening?

Roger, you are a performer. When you tilt your head, you’re putting on a show for us, just pretending to understand her. After she’s gone with our goods, you give us your made-up stories and fine words while you strut like king of the roost.

Well, I am.

Oh my—don’t let it go to your head, mister. You love the attention we give you because you are the only one left.

The day we arrived keeps coming back: cold, rainy, and windy. Susan.

Roger, wait.

What’s that look, Henrietta?

Yes, Susan is her name. She told me, not on the day we arrived, but later as we started to grow.

One day I heard sounds, looked up, clucked something, and she smiled. We both were amazed. A Rhode Island Red rooster talking with a human. More and more, we appreciated and understood each other.

Henrietta, I have a human friend, so please try to understand what a wonderful gift she and I are sharing.

Roger, you just went off the deep end. You are way out there.

Stop it! I just know she will help me to understand why those little feelings just keep nuzzling into my head.

Remember, it was the big guy who dragged our cardboard box into his farmhouse. He and Susan placed all twelve of us next to the heater, just under the dining room table, where it was nice and warm.

Roger, I do remember the box, food, and water. But why were we moved out so fast?

Because, Tina, Susan’s mom insisted and because her dad was building our new coop, where we are now behind his work shed. Susan said he calls his workshop, ‘Ye Olde House.’ It’s a man’s retreat where he meets his friends, when it is cold feeds his Modern Glenwood Oak woodstove, and shares a beer or two and gabs lots.

"What’s gabs?"

I don’t know, I’ll ask Susan.

What else did she say, or are you just making all this up?

Seems like you are starting to believe me. Look, she told me some about her dad, that he grew up just north of Boston on his grandparents’ little chicken farm with about eight thousand chickens where they sold eggs and fresh chicken meat.

Do you mean they took all the hens’ eggs, sold them along with chicken meat?

Just what I’m saying.

We better watch him, Roger.

Roosters go first. You, girls, are the producers.

"Don’t frighten your five sisters, none of us want to end