To See the World: A Flip and Loopy Adventure

By Alvin Ray Kessinger

This is a story about two Irish boys who wanted to see the world and search for some adventure and excitement. They got a job on a cargo ship on its way to New York City. Halfway across, the ship sank. They landed on an island, and before they were done, they had more excitement than they could handle.

To See the World: A Flip and Loopy Adventure is an action-filled adventure with suspense and humor. This is a good book for the young and not so young.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Covenant Books, Inc.
• Release date: Apr 3, 2024
• ISBN: 9798891127913

Book preview

Table of Contents

Title

Copyright

A Note from the Author

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

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

About the Author

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To See the World

A Flip and Loopy Adventure

Alvin Ray Kessinger

ISBN 979-8-89112-790-6 (Paperback)

ISBN 979-8-89112-791-3 (Digital)

Copyright © 2024 Alvin Ray Kessinger

All rights reserved

First Edition

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.

Covenant Books

11661 Hwy 707

Murrells Inlet, SC 29576

www.covenantbooks.com

This is a story of two young Irish men, who left Ireland to see the world. In search of excitement and adventure, they found more than they bargained for.

A Note from the Author

I, Alvin Ray Kessinger, was born on July 1942 in Butler County, Kentucky. It was in a small shack that my daddy built.

On a rocky hill farm, my daddy died an old man; I was four years old. He was just forty-eight. We moved to Morgantown. The first place we lived was in a little shack that sat at the lower edge of town. We lived in a few other places around the county, then we moved to Indianapolis, Indiana.

Although I grew up in Indianapolis, I went back to Morgantown many times to visit relatives and always called Morgantown my hometown. I have always wished that we could have stayed and made our home in Butler County.

I am going on eighty-two years old and still call Morgantown home. But to be fair, Indianapolis has been my home for seventy-four years, and it has been good to me. Since I moved here in 1949, I have seen it change from a dirty little town full of smokestacks to a beautiful city to be proud of.

Over the years, I have written some songs and a few books. I must admit that none have made me a lot of money, but I have enjoyed writing them and hope to write a bestseller or a hit song someday.

Check out all my songs on my website.

Contact author and songwriter Alvin Ray Kessinger:

Email: [e-mail]

Website: www.arkessinger.com

Chapter 1

Off to See the World

Flip lay back on the bank of the river. He had rested his head on the root of a tree. Loopy was sitting at his side. Flip thought, The fish must be asleep. They had not had a bite for a long time.

The river was dark-green and moving very slowly. He had been fishing in this river as long as he could remember. To his left was the dock he and Loopy built two years ago. It had a rowboat tied to it. He wondered, Maybe we should take the boat out. They may bite better out in the middle of the river.

He thought, If I had a big boat, I could sail down this river and across the ocean. I could go anywhere I wanted to. He would watch the barges as they went up and down the river. I wonder what things they are bringing to the towns on the river.

His mind wandered off to faraway places. He had studied about them in school. He had heard the old men in town talk about them. He had never been anywhere out of the valley. He had lived in the same farmhouse that he was born in. It was just a few hundred yards from where he was sitting.

He was now twenty-five years old. He had reddish-blond hair. He was six feet one and weighed about 180 pounds. He was very handsome and muscular, and his eyes were light green.

He thought, There is a whole world out there. The only place I have ever been is to visit my grandmother. He had heard people talking in town. They talked about big cities in faraway places.

His eyes moved across the landscape. He saw the beautiful green meadow. He also saw rolling hills in the distance that were covered with trees. It seemed that they touched the sky. The sun was making its way across the sky. It was about to go down behind the trees on top of a hill. It was a beautiful spring day in Ireland.

He thought, I am glad that I was raised here. It surely is a beautiful place. However, I want to see more than just this valley. I want to see the places I have heard about. I want to have some excitement in my life for a change.

He wondered if the people in those cities could see the sun now. Or was it nighttime there and were they looking at the stars?

He looked at Loopy. He was sitting there, holding his fishing pole in his hand. He was expecting a big fish to bite at any time.

I don't think he has moved since we got here.

Loopy was a small man, not even five feet tall. He was about twenty years old. He had brown hair and eyes and was not very good-looking. He had a personality that made everyone like him.

His family had died when their house burnt down. His mother had carried him out. She then went back for his little sister. They never came out again. Loopy was about five at that time.

He wasn't very bright. No one wanted him. This was farming country. He was so small, and everyone thought that he wouldn't be any help. After all, the work was hard on a farm.

Loopy is one of the hardest workers that I know. He has a lot of heart. I talked my dad into taking him in as his own. Ever since, he has followed me around like a puppy. I don't mind; he's like a little brother. My parents call him son, and he calls them Dad and Mom.

Flip said, Loopy, I have made up my mind. I am going to leave the valley.

Loopy said, Where are you going?

Flip said, I don't know, but I'm going to see what this world has to offer. I'm going to see some of the places that they talk about in town.

You can't go without me, said Loopy, laying down his pole. I want to see the world too.

Flip said, We may never come back here.

Loopy said, I don't care. I want to go with you. You won't leave me here, will you?

Flip said, No! I won't leave you here.

At that moment, Loopy's pole flew through the air and into the water. Flip thought he was going to jump in after it. He might have if he knew how to swim.

That night, they told their father and mother about their plans. They didn't like the idea. However, their father told them, You are men and should make your own decisions about your lives.

Flip and Loopy got up before sunrise the next morning. They did their chores and ate a big breakfast. They went into town to talk to some of the elders. There were several old men sitting in front of the general store. Flip knew all of them.

As he walked up to them, they all said hello to him and Loopy.

Flip said, Loopy and I are leaving in a few days to travel around the world. We wanted to get some advice about where to go.

One of the men said, Go to Paris.

No! said another, Go to Hong Kong.

Another said, Rome.

And yet another said, New York City.

Flip thanked them all for the information and went on his way.

Then the day came when it was time for Flip and Loopy to leave. They said goodbye to their father and mother and began their journey to see the world.

Chapter 2

Off to the Big City

Flip had saddled his horse. He and Loopy were riding double. It was about fifty miles to the ocean. The nearest big town where they could get a job on a ship would take two days to get to riding double. They would sell the horse when they'd get there. That would give them some money to live on for a while.

After a full day's ride, they stopped to make camp. Loopy gathered some wood while Flip unsaddled the horse. It didn't take them long to get a fire started. They were both very tired and ready for a good night's sleep.

Their mother had sent along something for them to eat. So, with full bellies, they settled back to get some sleep.

Flip had just gotten to sleep when Loopy woke him up.

Flip, did you hear something?

What was it? asked Flip.

I don't know, but it came from over there by the bushes.

Just then, they heard someone say hello in the camp.

Flip replied, Hello, come on in.

At that time, in walked a man. He looked like he had been through very hard times. He was a very big man. Flip figured the man to be about forty years old. He walked over and sat down by the fire.

Do you have any food? he asked.

We have a little. We'll share what we have with you, said Flip as he picked up the bag with their food in it.

The man snatched the bag out of Flip's hand and said, I'll just take it all. I haven't eaten for days.

As the man ate up all their food, he asked, Where are you going?

Flip said, We are just traveling.

How much money do you have? said the man.

We don't have any money, said Flip.

Don't give me that, said the man. Nobody travels without money.

Then Loopy said, We are going to sell the horse when we get to the city.

No, you won't. I'm taking your horse when I leave, said the man.

Flip stood up, walked over about six feet from the man, and said, I think you better go now. You have worn out your welcome.

The man stood up; he was at least a foot taller than Flip. He was also a heck of a lot bigger.

Flip had only been in two fights in his life,