The Storyteller

By Reginald Lewis Jr

Any adventure you could ever find yourself on probably started with reading about it somewhere, either in a book, magazine, or in your local newspaper. And this story begins the same way. Officer Lewis finds himself entwined in the adventure of a person only known as the Storyteller. And through his involvement with others, along this path we call life, his adventure turns from an interesting read into a journey of discovery. Our story will end in the future, where it will run into the past, and an identity of "who am I and where did I come from" will be revealed!

Suspense, adventure, excitement, and, yes, Easter eggs will lead you to discover more than you could possibly imagine with my books.

Stay tuned. Your imagination will be begging for more!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Oct 17, 2023
• ISBN: 9798886856507

Book preview

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The Storyteller

Reginald Lewis Jr

ISBN 979-8-88685-649-1 (paperback)

ISBN 979-8-89130-266-2 (hardcover)

ISBN 979-8-88685-650-7 (digital)

Copyright © 2023 by Reginald Lewis Jr

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

About the Author

Sirens blaring, lights flashing as the three patrol cars pulled up to the old steel mill site.

Officer Lewis, Officer Blake, and Officer Johnston got out of their cars and headed over to the gate.

Officer Johnston said to the other two, The eyewitness said they saw him run in here!

Great! An old steel mill. I have a bad feeling about these boys, Officer Lewis said.

Well, let's go get them! said Officer Blake.

They removed the lock with a pair of bolt cutters and headed in with guns drawn.

Officer Lewis motioned for Officer Blake to go to the right and for Officer Johnston to go to the left. The three of them split up and headed in the same direction, just on different sides but close enough to see each other.

A short distance ahead, Officer Blake heard a sound in front of him; he peered over an old oil barrel and noticed the young man hiding behind a crate. As he moved toward him, his foot hit a pipe, and he fell down. The noise alerted the robber, and he took off, running. Both the other two officers heard the noise and headed in that direction.

Stop! Officer Lewis yelled at him.

But he kept on running, so Officer Lewis gave chase. They were running through an open area in the back of the steel mill. Officers Blake and Johnston were a short way behind Officer Lewis. Just as Officer Lewis was about to overtake the young man, the boy reached inside his jacket and pulled out a small pistol. He turned as he was running and let off a shot. Officer Lewis saw it and tried to dodge the shot. He tripped over a pile of old steel rods, and the bullet found its place right through his left arm. As Officer Lewis hit the ground bleeding, the other two officers ran up. Officer Blake stopped to check on him while Officer Johnston kept after the young man.

Officer Blake radioed in, Officer down. Send back up.

Hey, Lewis, you okay? Officer Blake asked.

No, I'm shot! And a little ticked off! exclaimed Officer Lewis as he tried to get up.

Hey, now just lay still for a minute. Let's have a look-see, said Officer Blake.

Look, if you don't let me up, I won't be the only one needing medical attention, Blake! Officer Lewis said angrily.

Just about that time, Officer Johnston came around the corner, out of breath and a little mad.

Well, he got away! he said.

Great! Did we at least get a good ID on him? Officer Lewis asked.

No! You're the only one who saw his face, sir! Officer Johnston said.

Okay, well, off to the station to get a forensic drawing of him, said Officer Lewis.

Um, you're going to the hospital first, Lewis! exclaimed Officer Blake.

Um, no, we need to get to the station and find this kid before he's able to rob anyone else, said Officer Lewis as they walked back to their patrol cars.

About that time, the ambulance pulled up. And three EMTs got out and came over to Officer Lewis.

Let me take a look, sir, exclaimed a short Black female EMT named Emily.

Looking at her name badge, officer Lewis said sarcastically, Look, Emily, ma'am, I'm able to walk, and I'll take care of it myself.

Well, big boy, it's a protocol for us to examine the wound. Now please, Officer Lewis, just sit here and relax. This won't take too much time out of your day, said Emily.

Boy, how do you mother with the same compassion as you do in your daily job? said Officer Lewis with sarcasm in his voice.

That, sir, is none of your business, said Emily as she poked his arm while tying a tourniquet.

Ouch! That hurt, young lady. Watch what you're doing! said Officer Lewis angrily.

Okay, let's get this one to the hospital before he needs other services! exclaimed Emily.

Um, I am not going to the hospital, period, little lady! said Officer Lewis as the doors shut on the ambulance, and it started to move forward. I can't believe it. You're cop-napping me against my will! Officer Lewis said.

Yes, that's the nice thing about our job. We can take you against your will if we deem it necessary for your safety, exclaimed Emily.

I really don't like hospitals, the smells, the noises, and all those people hurrying here and there with what seems like no particular place to go, Officer Lewis thought to myself.

All my years as a cop and some stupid kid robbing a gas station nails me in the arm with a lucky shot! Officer Lewis exclaimed to the EMT in the back of the ambulance.

Better the arm than the heart or somewhere else, she said.

Thanks for the compassion, miss, Officer Lewis said.

About the time they finished what was being said, they arrived at the hospital.

Now, Mr. Lewis, you need to wait till one of our attendees comes out with a wheelchair! Emily suggested.

That's okay, Emily. I think your hospitality has been enough for one day, and I'm still able to walk, aren't I? asked Officer Lewis sarcastically.

Oh yes, you can still walk, and that choice is up to you, sir, Emily said with a smile.

Officer Lewis didn't hear the driver of the ambulance call ahead and ask for Joe to bring out a wheelchair for Officer Lewis. As the ambulance arrived at the hospital, the rear doors opened and out jumped Officer Lewis. As he was walking backward from the ambulance and waving goodbye to Emily, he didn't see Joe and the wheelchair behind him. He fell into the wheelchair and, with a very surprised look on his face, looked up to see a very large man looming over him.

Welcome aboard, Officer Lewis, Joe said.

Um, I can walk on my own, said Officer Lewis.

Yes, your legs look just fine, but it's my job to get you to your destination, Joe said with a smile.

Um, what's your name? asked Officer Lewis.

Joe, Joe said.

Well, Joe, if you would be so kind as to let me walk—

That's okay, sir. I'll transport you to your destination, Joe finished as he cut off Officer Lewis's sentence.

Look, big boy, I said to stop and let me walk! Officer Lewis said with excitement in his voice, grabbing the wheels and locking the brakes on the chair.

He looked up at Joe and smiled. And Joe looked down at him and leaned real close to his face.

Look, Officer Lewis, this is our job, and you will let us do it, Joe said with a little force behind his words.

You know your attitude is just like someone else I meet today! exclaimed Officer Lewis.

Joe smiled. Yea, that would be the little lady in the ambulance that you so unwillingly gave a hard time to, Joe said.

Well, you are a good guesser. Ever do any circus work? Officer Lewis asked smartly.

Why, no, I haven't, but I can make sure you're placed in a swing if you like, Joe said.

Boy, I've got to say that you and she should get married. You're two of a kind, Officer Lewis said.

We are married, sir, Joe said.

He then released the brakes on the chair and whisked Officer Lewis into the emergency room doors. As they arrived at the nurses' station, Joe said in a rolled-eyed voice to the nurses, He's a live one.

Oh, we know all about this guy. The head nurse laughed. Put him in room 4 and tie him down if you have to, she said with a smile as big as Texas and a wink toward Officer Lewis.

Oh, ha ha, he said as they whisked him off to room 4.

There were two large attendees standing there with straps.

Where the heck do you people come up with these large fellows from, NFL flunkies? Officer Lewis asked.

No, we make them in the basement, just for occasions like this, one of the nurses said.

Funny, and I know you are not about to try to put those straps on me, aren't you? asked Officer Lewis.

Only if you think we need to, sir, said one of the nurses.

Um, I'll pass this time, said Officer Lewis.

Good, then I'll just have the guys wait outside the door till we get done prepping your arm for the doctor to look at, said the nurse.

Fine, I'll do my best to behave then, Officer Lewis said somberly.

They helped him onto the exam table and started prepping his arm for the doctor. There were a lot of people in the emergency room already, and they only had a few people on duty, so the doctors got to the patients in order of emergency. And a bullet hole in the arm is not a death sentence; it just hurts a lot. They gave Officer Lewis a couple of shots to help with the pain and to numb the area. He sat there, quietly waiting for the doctor.

Hey, nurse! Officer Lewis verbally motioned.

Yes, sir, one of the guys outside in the hall said.

Hey, would it be too much to ask for a glass of water and a few magazines to read? asked Officer Lewis.

Sure, I'll do that for ya, and thanks for being so nice, said the very large blond-haired guy.

He was gone only a few minutes and arrived with a stack of magazines and a glass of water.

Here ya go, Mr. Lewis, he said.

Thanks, Officer Lewis said back.

As he was sitting there, thumbing through the pages, he came across a section titled Unbelievable Stories from the Old West. The first two stories didn't intrigue him at all. Then he started reading one story called The Storyteller by Joan Falls from Tree.

It started off:

I remember a story my grandmother told me, about a story her grandmother told her when she was my age when I first heard it. She said it was about a storyteller from their tribe in South Dakota who lived in the Black Hills. She said it all started one winter when Great River, a warrior for the Sioux tribe, and his bride Runs with Two Feathers were in anticipation of their first child. The snow fell deep upon the little Indian camp. The camp was near Sheridan Lake, as it's known now. The soon-to-be mother Runs with Two Feathers and her warrior man lay around the small fire in the middle of their tepee. The harsh winter drove on for three months longer than it should have, and supplies were getting short. Runs with Two Feathers was now in her ninth month of pregnancy. One day, after Great River had left to retrieve firewood and food, Runs with Two feathers started having hard, sharp pains in her abdomen. After he returned, she asked Great River to go and get the medicine man. So as he was leaving the tepee, the winds picked up, and a hot ember was blown to the back of the tepee where the rest of the firewood was stored. Great River did not see it, nor did Runs with Two Feathers. The wood was dry and started on fire about the same time Runs with Two Feathers started having more pains. She noticed the fire only after it was already blazing and tried to get up; she tripped over a stone near the firepit and fell to the ground. The fire, by this time, had already started the tepee poles on fire. As she fell, one of the poles snapped from the fire burning through it. Runs with Two Feathers turned over onto her back as the pole pierced her in the chest right above the heart. She lay there, bleeding and trying to yell for Great River. The rest of the tepee collapsed around her.

Just as the tepee collapsed, Great River and the medicine man came out of the tepee they were in to see the flames and smoke. Great River yelled and took off running in the direction of the collapsed tepee. Several others heard his yelling and came out to see. Great River stopped and tried to remove some of the tepee off his bride. The fire burned his hands and arms, but that did not stop him from grabbing it and throwing it off Runs with Two Feathers. She was already dead as he dragged her from the flames. As Great River held her in his arms, crying, he felt the baby inside of her starting to thrash around due to the lack of oxygen it was not receiving from his dead mother.

Great River looked at the medicine man and asked what they should do. The medicine man pushed Great River aside and pulled out his knife. Great River grabbed his arm and yelled for him to stop. But the medicine man said he had to save the baby, so he cut her belly open. He then reached in and pulled out the baby. He quickly cut the umbilical cord, wrapped him in some skins, and ran him to his tepee. As he ran toward his tepee, Great River could hear his child start to cry. And he instantly felt a sense of relief. Some of the elderly ladies in the tribe came over to where Runs with Two Feathers's body lay. They waited till Great River was ready for them to take her. After an hour, he let the ladies wrap her body in skins to keep her till morning. They placed her in one of the storage tepees. In the morning, they would burn her body in a ceremonial way, remembering her as she was not how she died. After the ladies took Runs with Two Feathers, Great River headed over to the medicine man's tepee to tend to his child. As he entered the tepee, the medicine man and his lady looked at him and said to come quietly as they got him to sleep with some goat's milk. Great River knelt down to look at his son.

The medicine man whispered in his ear, He needs a name.

Great River nodded his head in agreement…

Knock, knock came the sound at the door to the room that Officer Lewis was in.

Come in, he said, laying the magazine down.

Hey, buddy, let's look at your arm, Dr. Smith announced.

Yea, let's do that! exclaimed Officer Lewis.

Hey, Reg, I know you don't like hospitals, and you've always had this tough guy attitude ever since we were kids. But giving my staff a hard time for doing their job is going too far. You need to ease up, or you're going to have a heart attack someday, said Dr. Smith.

Yea, I know, and sitting here reading, I had some time to cool down. You ever had the rush of something happening and then it doesn't quite get finished and it leaves you angry inside? asked Reg.

Yes, plenty of times, agreed Dr. Smith as he began to sew up Reg's arm.

Well, being a cop, I have had a lot of days like that. You start doing something, and you have to stop. And it drives me crazy, said Reg.

Well, as a doctor, I can say this. There will be days like that all throughout our lives, Dr. Smith said as he finished sewing up Reg's arm.

Hey, before I leave, can I take this magazine with me? asked Reg.

Yea, I don't care, and there you go, all stitched up and as good as used! mockingly sarcastic Dr. Smith said.

Just as Dr. Smith was telling this to Reg, his wife walked in with tears in her eyes and a look of worry on her face.

Thank God, you're okay. All I got was a call saying you were at the hospital due to being shot, and I rushed right over, Johnetta, Reg's wife, said.

Hunny, just calm down. I'm okay, Reg said.

Yes, I can see that, but it still does not calm my nerves to know that you were shot, Johnetta said.

Well, I'll leave you two to talk, Dr. Smith said as he exited the room.

Oh, hey, Robert, are you still coming over after church on Sunday? Johnetta turned and asked Dr. Smith.

Yea, I planned on it, he said.

She gave him a hug and thanked him for taking care of her husband. He said, You're welcome, and left the room.

So can you check out yet? Johnetta asked.

Any time, Reg said.

Well, then let's go, Johnetta said.

As they walked up to the nurses' station to check out, the nurse looked at Johnetta and then at him and back at her.

Is there something I can help you with? Johnetta asked.

Oh, no, ma'am, just didn't think this guy would have such a lovely and well-mannered wife such as you, the head nurse said.

Well, thank you for the compliment, Johnetta said.

As they were talking, Reg just rolled his eyes and chose not to speak. The head nurse handed him a prescription slip to be filled for pain. They did all they had to do and then left the hospital.

Love, we need to stop by the precinct before heading home, Reg said.

Okay, will do, she responded.

The ride to the precinct was quiet, and the air in the car was full of tension.

Hun, will you please ask the chief about the desk job you told me you were trying to get? Johnetta asked.

Yes, dear, Reg answered.

They got to the station and headed inside. Reg was thinking about how he was going to word the question to the chief due to the fact he forgot to put it in for the desk position his wife was referring to. Thinking to himself, he was running through the scenarios of answers he would get. Just as he and his wife were exiting the elevator, they ran into one of his least favorite people, Bill, the chief's secretary.

Hey, Reg, Bill said.

Yoo, Bill, he responded.

They headed right over to the chief's office. Of course, Bill was in hot pursuit.

Do you need to see the chief officer, Lewis? Bill asked.

Uh, yea, Bill, I need to talk to the boss. Is he in? Reg fired back.

Yes, he is. I'll let him know you're here to see him. Please have a seat, Bill said.

Reg gave a sneering smile and sat down. Johnetta followed.

Why do you dislike that man? He seems so nice, Johnetta asked.

Oh, he's nice, all right! I can tell you this ever since I started here. He's been on my tail, trying to either get me fired or demoted, Reg said.

How? Johnetta asked.

Well, it all started at the academy. I upped him one too many times in the obstacle course and the firing range. And he's had it out for me ever since, Reg exclaimed.

Oh, yea, I remember you telling me this story, except you called him another name. What was that name you called him? Johnetta asked.

My claim to fame bighead boosting Bill. Said he could outdo anyone at any time in anything. Yea right! After I beat him in everything, he snapped and decided to transfer over to the office clerk position he now holds, Reg said.

Wow, must have made you feel pretty big, ha! Johnetta said back.

No, as you very well know, I am not nor have I ever been a competitive person! exclaimed Reg.

I know. I just wanted to get your goat. Naaaaa, Johnetta said as she made a goat sound.

You're not as funny as you might think, Mama, Reg said as he stuck out his tongue.

Um, Officer Lewis, the chief will see you now. The two of them walk into the chief's office.

Well, hello, Mrs. Lewis. How are you? Bill went on.

Um, fine, Bill, and you? Johnetta said.

Oh, I'm sure I'll be okay, Bill said with a sad face.

Johnetta! Reg said.

Um, talk to ya later, Bill, Johnetta said.

Look forward to it, Mama, Bill returned.

Reg gave her a look of disgust as they entered the chief's office.

Please have a seat, the chief said.

Thank you, sir, Reg said.

So Officer Lewis got shot in the arm. Good thing it only hit ya there. So tell me, did you fill out the required reports on the accident? the chief asked.

Not yet, sir, just getting here from the hospital, Reg said.

Well, then you can go downstairs and get the paperwork, and I'll sit here and talk to Mrs. Lewis, the chief said.

Will do, said Reg.

As Reg left the office, he could hear the chief start talking to his wife. He got on the elevator and headed downstairs to retrieve the papers. After an hour of writing his life away, he asked the secretary if the chief needed a copy.

She said, No, he will get one in his mailbox later.

How long do you think I will have to be off? Reg asked.

The secretary said the usual amount of time for recovery and physiological evaluation was three months.

Reg instantly got mad.

I cannot believe I have to see a shrink for getting shot in the arm, Reg said.

Well, sir, you can take that up with the chief if you don't like it, the secretary said.

Reg turned around and headed toward the elevator. As he was riding up to the second floor, he thought to himself, I shouldn't have got angry at her. She is only doing her job. Reg got off the elevator and headed over to the chief's office. He knocked and entered.

Well, that took forever, Johnetta said.

Yea, a whole lot longer than I would have liked it to have taken, Reg said.

So, Reg, you now have three months to recover. I see you have about four months' worth of sick time built up, the chief asked.

Yes, I believe that's right, sir, Reg said.

I also know that one of those months, you have to schedule a visit with the psychologist, the chief said.

Yea, on that, do I really have to see the shrink? Reg asked.

Only if you want to return to work, the chief said.

Great, a head shrink, just to tell me, ‘Okay, you can go back to work now,' Reg muttered.

And by the way, Reg, your lovely wife said you wanted to talk to me about something else? the chief questioned.

"Yea, we can talk about that