Ollie & Joey: Go Left or Right

By Alyssa Reaves

In the second book of the series, Ollie & Joey continuously find themselves at a crossroads. Will they use their newfound sixth senses to decide which direction to turn? Laugh with them as they travel through time, meet underwater friends, discover what their parents have been hiding - all while solving a century-long problem! Warning: they can't do it without you...

Whether you are beginner or veteran reader, Ollie & Joey is a great, family-fun series everyone can enjoy. What makes the series so unique is that the reading level increases as the series continues. This challenges minds while inspiring great conversation in between chapters. Ollie & Joey is all about tackling real-world topics that captivate you in a comical way. Enjoy the journey here in Book 2!

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Jun 19, 2023
• ISBN: 9781736118030

Book preview

Title

Ollie & Joey Go Left or Right Copyright © 2023

Second Edition

by Alyssa Reaves

All artwork is owned by the author.

Edited by Alicia Broussard

First Printed and Published by BookBaby

This is a work of fiction. Any references to events, people, places, or experiences are entirely from the author’s imagination. Any beings, living or dead, or events and references, past or present, are completely coincidental, so take the time to love, connect, learn, and grow from this read.

Keep in mind, all rights are reserved, as well as the right to reproduce this book, including any of its illustrations, or portions of this book’s art or text in any form. Brief passage reviews may be done, but must pay full homage to the author whenever quoting or referencing this book, its story, or artwork in any form, on any account.

This book is part of the Ollie & Joey ® franchise.

Collect the whole series and merchandise as you explore more of their world online!

www.ollieandjoeybooks.com / @ollieandjoeybooks

ISBN 978-1-7361180-3-0

LCCN 2022919003

Dedicated to my dad.

Love,

Dismissit

Keep Track

A Poem

A Latte Fix

A Goose For Autumn

A Hotel Room

A Week Ago

A Few Days Before That

A Time Back In The Hotel Room

A Time To Be Awake

A Past Time

A Continual Deliberation

A Rather Intriguing Epiphany

A Revelational Day In 1925

A Continual Lesson

A Drive Home

Sometimes life gives you limes

Sometimes it gives you a goose

Put them together and get

A miraculous boost -

A colorful, refreshing flavor

Full of coal and joy -

A time you will create -

A time you cannot toy.

Take time to chew -

Take time to enjoy -

The large bowl you cooked - then topped

With green and white bok choy.

Stand up and be true,

Prove your ethics clear

Commit and hold yourself accountable

Commit and hold your loved ones dear.

Stand true on your moral ground -

Even amongst enemies -

Don’t dare betray

Study for your tomorrow

As much as you pray for your today.

Did you do the right thing? No? Yay?

Whatever pours out of your pitcher -

It’s your lime goose lemonade.

A Latte Fix

Where in the world did those boys go, Justin? I seriously don’t know if we’ll be finding them any time soon in all this traffic of people! Aria tried on a Santa Claus hat from a nearby display case to ease her tension. It was the night of Christmas Eve, and Aria and Justin were regretting taking their children out for dessert after dinner. They thought the local café would be the only place free from the holiday rush. Given every other parent had the same idea, it proved itself to be like any other spot in town. The way the café was decorated was something just short of a carnival. Since the crowds made finding a place to stand still challenging, Aria and Justin knew they needed to use agility to find someone to take their order.

Aria, you know the boys tend to stick together. Don’t inherit a spirit of worry you complain your mother consistently practices. I mean, yes, this place is big — but not to the point where we won’t be able to find them. We’re here to have a nice time, so let’s have a nice time. Justin smiled and hugged his wife. With his everlasting commitment to keep her calm, he always made sure to end constructive feedback with an embrace. So, let’s go surfing now!

Surfing?

Yes. Surfing through this crowd! There has to be someone nearby who can take our order.

That’s what we’ve been trying to accomplish this whole time — and I don’t see it becoming reality until at least half of these people go home. I mean, I see servers, but they can’t see me.

Yeah, well, let’s just relax and stay blessed despite all this mess. Justin let out a big exhale before leaning back and causing a display case behind him to slowly tilt. After quickly realizing the disaster he was about to create, he caught hold of the case, brought it upright, and began trying on a pair of Christmas tree sunglasses that were on their way to the ground.

Justin, put those back, Aria laughed. You can’t try on the things they have on display!

You just tried on the — nevermind. Let’s just get you your latte.

Again, I don’t think we’ll find a —

Hi, there! Can I help you? A small woman with big hair suddenly stood before them. She wore candy cane patterned stockings and a Christian cross around her neck. Her bright red lips somehow paired well with her lime green painted fingernails. Her brown clog shoes, however, stood boldly as the eyesore of the day. The squeakiness of her voice made you mistaken her for a real life elf, and her pearly white teeth shined brightly against the knee-length, fuzzy red robe she was wearing. She held a pen to her notepad, and looked at Aria and Justin with a big smile.

Woah! Where did you come from? I mean, um — hi. I’ll have a medium pumpkin spice latte with one of those gingerbread cookies and… Justin turned to face his wife.

I’ll have a sweet potato pie with an eggnog latte, Aria replied.

OK, the woman cheerfully bounced as she scribbled into the notepad. Would you like the whole pie or just the slice?

Slice, Aria nodded.

And would you like the eggnog as it’s regularly made or spiked with nutmeg and sweet cream?

Oh, spiked! Aria smiled.

OK…and oh, gosh, sir, I just remembered we’re out of gingerbread cookies. She sucked her teeth in dismay.

Oh, well just —

I could get you the loaf instead. It’s heavily gingerbread flavored, she smiled.

OK, that’ll be fine… Justin’s tone was hesitant. The girl nodded as she scribbled more notes down before disappearing into the crowd.

Why are you so obsessed with gingerbread? You seriously don’t want to try a different flavor for once? Aria frowned at her husband.

I need to taste other people’s gingerbread to compare it to my baking. It’s a baker’s thing, Aria, he chuckled.

Hey! A little girl hollered near them. She was wearing a delicate lace dress with matching lace socks. Her curly ponytail was tied high on her head with a red ribbon. You stepped on my foot! It hurts! She hopped up and down on one leg.

I’m so sorry! Aria replied, bending down to her aid. The girl sprinted away so quickly, the red ribbon in her hair fell off. Aria picked it up and tried getting the girl’s attention, but she was too far gone.

What’s in your hand? Justin squinted at Aria.

The ribbon she dropped. I need to find her so I can give it back.

Ribbon? I didn’t notice anyone with a ribbon. I guess just hold onto it and we’ll give it to her when she comes back.

How do you know she’ll come back?

She has to give us our order.

I’m not talking about the waitress, Justin — I’m talking about the little girl.

Oh? Well, let’s try and get away from the crowd so you can find the café’s Lost and Found. Like sea otters do while sleeping, Aria and Justin held one another’s hand so they’d stay together while fighting through the waves of people. The crowd was growing by the second, and unsolicitedly moving them forward. They swiveled around so much, you would have thought they were doing a dance of some sort. You know, all the movement we’ve been doing is similar to how the wind moves and helps the ocean create waves! Justin was yelling. He was competing with the volume of chatter in the room.

What did you say? Aria yelled back without making any eye contact. She was busy tightly clutching the ribbon while staring at it intently as though doing so would help trigger a memory of some sort.

I said, we’re moving to the same kind of rhythm that the waves do in the ocean!

Justin, I honestly can’t hear you over all this noise! They spent a couple more minutes getting pushed around before finding a place to hide near an ice skating display. It was full of mechanical dancing ballerinas, dancing on real ice.

Here you go! One pumpkin spice latte with a gingerbread loaf — and one nutmeg and sweet cream eggnog latte with a sweet potato pie slice. The waitress cheerfully handed them their order. Aria and Justin were impressed by the waitress’ ability to find them at their new location.

Oh, and can you put this in the Lost and Found? A little girl in a purple lace dress with a white sherpa coat dropped it. Aria handed her the ribbon.

Sure thing — and wow — she sounds fashionable! I sure do miss those days when I wore ribbons in my hair, don’t you? The waitress sighed as she put the ribbon in her apron pocket before accepting the large bill Justin handed her. She began fetching for change when he motioned for her to keep it for herself as a large tip. She smiled and nodded before disappearing for good.

Wow! This is delicious and this is even more delicious, Justin said, sipping his drink and taking a bite from his loaf of bread.

What is? Aria yelled as the room’s energy became even more lively. She resorted to keeping her eyes closed while focusing on slowly sipping her steaming cup of peace.

This is. Justin held up his drink and pastry, but Aria’s eyes were still shut. Aria?

Oh, my! Justin, my latte is simply amazing!

What did you say? Did you hear me?

Huh? Aria opened her eyes to her husband in the middle of taking a big bite from his gingerbread loaf. Confident she wouldn’t hear him any time soon, she shrugged and resumed sipping her hot beverage. All is well, dear. You have selective hearing anyway.

Oh, well, I heard that.

Case and point, she laughed. Now, let’s go find Ollie and Joey.

A Goose For Autumn

I…I don’t understand, Joey said, staring at the sandwich before him. Given all that had just occurred, Ollie and Joey were as excited as they were fearful. They had just completed their first training course, during which they had time traveled and met a young girl who Mr. Tender just confirmed was their grandmother. Was the adult version of her aware they had been working on honing their sixth sense abilities all this time? Does Grandma Jade, herself, have any sixth senses she’s been hiding from them? They didn’t know which question to focus on analyzing as the rapid flashing of the internal submarine lights begged them to make their next move. Ollie and Joey knew that meant returning to their driving seats. Mr. Tender remained calm as he cleaned various dishes and made no eye contact with them. Ollie and Joey hopped out of their barstools and began pacing the floor.

What really is all of this and when can we get out of here? Ollie asked. Mr. Tender who continued his focus on drying off recently washed plates.

I don’t think he’s gonna help us, Joey whispered.

Earlier you said you saw black all around Mr. Tender, right?

Yeah, Joey nodded.

Well, you’re gonna have to quickly figure out what that means because my watch is doing a countdown, as we speak!

So, uh, do you need anything from me? Mr. Tender nonchalantly leaned over the counter and looked at them.

Yeah — an explanation! Joey cried.

Again, I can’t give that.

You can’t or you won’t? Joey squinted his eyes.

I’m just your average submarine bartender who is here when you absolutely, positively, bickabively, bonively need it.

There’s nothing average about that, Ollie mumbled.

Can you please explain a bit more? Joey tried keeping eye contact with Mr. Tender while resisting Ollie’s efforts to pull him toward the submarine’s steering wheels.

We have twelve seconds, Joey! We need to go! As they finally sat down in their seats, the screen on Ollie’s watch read, And Floor It! Anxious to make a decision, Joey pressed on the gas pedal fiercely, causing the whole submarine to shift forward. The fish swimming by instantly scurried out of their way. As they slowed down to a normal speed, they oohed and aahed at the sight of whales and various schools of fish.

Ya know what? I’m just gonna say it. At this point, we deserve a self-driving submarine because I’m too old to be stressed like this, Joey sighed.

You’re eight years old, Joey, and too entitled for your own good, Ollie rolled his eyes. Where are we going anyway, Joseph?

Oliver, the fact you think I can answer that question is beyond me — and why are you not helping me drive this thing? Ollie then pressed a button that caused the foot pedals beneath him to rise closer to his feet so he could help his brother. They both drove the submarine for several minutes until seeing a puffer fish across the way. It was standing still in front of a sign that read, Left or Right.

Oh no, not this again, Ollie whined.

Let’s go right, Joey said, turning his wheel accordingly.

No! Ollie yelled, turning his wheel in the opposite direction. They then saw a bottlenose dolphin who swam above the sign, and revealed another sign that read, Up or Down. The boys looked at one another, remaining silent and seated in magnificent confusion. So, are our dogs gonna come and talk to Joey or something? We need them to offer some kind of help. Ollie turned around to face Mr. Tender, hoping his response was not assembled with convoluted elements — but surprisingly, he was gone. In fact, the submarine they were seated in was nowhere around them. They were suddenly standing in the middle of a lively hotel that was filled with upbeat jazz music. Women wore flapper dresses, had feathers in their hair, and boas hugging their shoulders. Men wore earth-tone suit vests, shiny jackets and pants paired with either bowler or derby hats. Men who went without a hat showed off their nicely slicked back, gel-infused hair. Many people were dancing while others were enjoying various beverages. There was a dedicated section to where bellboys hauled luggage, and another area where hotel staff members checked people into their rooms. Ollie and Joey were the only kids present.

So, uh, which direction did we end up choosing? Joey looked at his brother who only shrugged in response.

Now, what are you two pals doing here? A tanned-skinned man with a pipe in his mouth bent down to the boys’ eye level. His slicked back, black hair had waves to it like the ocean. He wore a white suit that he styled with a red bowtie. His dark brown shoes matched the color of drink in his hand.

Um, we just… Ollie began.

Goose, what are you doing bothering these poor boys? A woman with