Runaway Kite

By Maxine Electra

This book is all about the power of forgiveness and acceptance, for the forgiver and the forgivee--a thing all children should learn, the Golden Rule. Never forget we are all children.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Fulton Books, Inc.
• Release date: Aug 7, 2023
• ISBN: 9798889822677

Book preview

Table of Contents

Title

Copyright

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

About the Author

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Runaway Kite

Maxine Electra

Copyright © 2023 Maxine Electra

All rights reserved

First Edition

Fulton Books

Meadville, PA

Published by Fulton Books 2023

ISBN 979-8-88982-266-0 (paperback)

ISBN 979-8-88982-267-7 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

1

The alarm clock in Roark's parents' bedroom went off, playing Take Me Home, Country Roads. He sat up in his bed and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. He stretched and rolled out of bed. He looked around his new bedroom. Roark laughed when he heard his father, Ethan, singing, Take me home, now country roads. To the place where I belong! It was Monday, the first day of school for him in their new home, in his new school. He dressed in his new clothes, put on his new shoes, and went into the bathroom to brush his teeth and comb his hair. He tried to plaster his brown curls down with water, but they would only spring back up when his hair dried. Oh well. He hopped down the stairs and joined his family in their new big kitchen, at the breakfast table of their new house. Ruth, his mother, smiled as she set his breakfast down in front of him. It was a big blueberry muffin, a bowl of Cap'n Crunch, and a glass of apple juice.

She gave Ethan a cup of coffee and a big kiss. Do you want a muffin? she asked him, smiling.

A muffin would be great, he replied, sitting down next to Amy's high chair.

Muffins, muffins! Amy hollered, as she destroyed hers.

Ethan got real close to Amy's cute face, looked into her big blue eyes, and took a huge bite of his muffin. Umm! he said with a very full mouth.

Amy clapped her little hands and laughed at her silly daddy. The television was on the local news station. They listened to all the news while they ate their breakfast; some news was good, and some was horrible! And then there was the weather. Umbrella in hand, they walked Roark to the bus stop, waiting for the bus with the other kids. Roark smiled at some of the kids as they waited, and then the rain came. Ethan opened the umbrella up, and most of the kids huddled under, getting to know one another. When the bus arrived, Roark smiled at his mother and father and waved at his crazy baby sister, before he climbed on board, so glad there were no embarrassing hugs or kisses in front of the other kids.

Ruth hurried to the bus stop, carrying Amy, with her long brown ponytail flying in the wind. She wouldn't always be able to meet his bus, but this was his first day. They reached the bus stop right in time. Ruth set her squirming girl down and held her little hand tight. Amy bounced up and down excited to see the bus and her brother, of course. The noisy bus pulled to the curb and let out the brakes, whoosh. The engine idled loudly as the door opened, and out came the kids. Some of the older boys were laughing when they saw Ruth and Amy and ran down the sidewalk.

Roark missed the bus! One of them yelled, and they went on laughing.

Oh no, oh no! another one of them said, pretending to wipe away imaginary tears, which made them all really laugh.

After all the kids had gotten off the bus, Ruth picked up Amy, climbed the bus stairs, and looked in. There were only a few kids left for the last stop, but no Roark. Where is my son? she asked the driver.

The driver was a kind middle-aged black man, with an easy smile. He looked up at her and shrugged. Which one is yours? he asked, smiling at Amy.

Roark, Roark Sterling, Ruth replied.

The driver looked back up at the pretty young woman. Oh, the new kid, Sterling, huh? Any relation?

Becoming annoyed, Ruth said, What difference does that make? Do you know where he is!

A little blonde girl came to the bus doorway and said, The mean boys wouldn't let him on the bus, Mr. Hank.

They looked down at her. Which mean boys, Audrey? the driver asked her.

I can't tell you! she said, shaking her head, her blue eyes big and earnest.

That's okay, honey. You run on home now, he said kindly.

Thank you, Ruth called after the retreating child. And thank you, Ruth said to the driver as she got off the bus with Amy.

He waved and called out. I hope you find him soon, good luck! he said as he drove away.

She smiled and waved and ran to her car, with Amy getting jostled in her arms.

Ruth drove along the road to the school, searching for her son.

Where's Roark? Amy kept asking from her car seat.

Around here somewhere, Ruth kept answering, praying she was right. She was almost to the school when she saw two kids sitting on a city bus bench together. One of them was her son, and the other was a tall red-haired girl.

Roark, Roark! Amy hollered from her seat.

There he is! Ruth said, smiling at her baby as