Mentors' Glory
by
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“It’s Over!”
The snowstorm passed during the night and we awoke to a beautiful morning. The sky was light blue and the sun was already up when we headed to the same restaurant for a hot breakfast. We wanted to connect with Route US 80 west, but it seemed that we’d driven further south than intended and had missed it entirely. Everything was covered with a beautiful blanket of fresh snow. We brushed the snow off our car and trailer and laid out our plans to connect with Route 80 west by traveling local and state roads. The locals told us that although the snow was deep, all of the roads in the direction we were headed would be plowed.
The plows were out and high snowbanks walled the roads. The countryside reminded us a lot of New Hampshire. The hills on the way to Route 80 tested the snow tires on the Rambler. I learned to drive a little faster than usual in order to get a good head start when I saw a large hill ahead. We noticed we weren’t the only ones on the local and state roads: there were lots of trailer trucks driving in both directions. The wind was blowing some of the snow back onto the roads, making them narrower in some places than they’d normally be. The plows had basically done a good job of pushing most of the new snow up and over the already high banks.
We’d been driving all day; it was now nearly sundown. We topped a large hill, and as we headed quickly down the other side, we saw another hill just ahead with an 18-wheel trailer truck coming down it toward us. The road ahead appeared icy and narrow, barely wide enough for the two of us to pass each other. As we headed up the long hill, I noticed another trailer truck coming up and gaining speed behind us. I tried to gradually increase our speed––without losing tire traction––in order to stay ahead of him.
I quickly looked over at Marjorie and saw fear in her hazel eyes. The 18 wheeler wasn’t slowing down. We knew we were in serious trouble. I tried to keep the Rambler close to the right snowbank without plowing into it. However, the Rambler started sliding over into the left lane of the two-lane road. The oncoming truck was quickly approaching, and we were in its lane. If I failed to get back into my lane, we would be run over. I tried everything: increased speed, slowed down a little, turned the steering wheel left then right, but nothing worked. I couldn’t get any traction to move us out of its way. For a split second, I visualized us being crushed between the two trucks.
The 18 wheeler was now almost on us, while the trailer truck behind us was within yards of our U-Haul. I turned to Marjorie, who had her eyes shut tight praying, and said, “It’s over!” Our eyes met and together we said, “I love you.” Feeling helpless, I lifted my hands from the steering wheel.
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About the Book
One’s teen years are often difficult. And when a teenager leaves home—no matter the reason—it can be more than difficult. It can be dangerous.
In Mentors’ Glory, fifteen-year-old Jacob leaves his home in Rochester, New Hampshire, in 1957 to find summer employment. Authors David E. Plante and Lorraine M. Plante take readers on Jacob’s journey as he hitchhikes down the Eastern Seaboard. Hitching rides make Jacob a conspicuous target for the perverted, and an incident in Georgia almost leads to more than he can handle. He survives the summer adventure only because his protector, Christ, is actively involved in his life and provides Jacob with mentors to guide and help him in spite of his naïveté. As he matures from an independent and strongwilled teenager to a young man with a family, Jacob once again finds himself—this time with family in tow—on the road, looking for a job.
Mentors’ Glory, the sequel to Kids Don’t Build Boats, tells the real-life story of a young man in search of himself. While he faces danger along the way, Jacob is confident of his safety because he relies on God’s promise to never leave nor forsake him. Included in God’s special gift s to Jacob are timely mentors who provide sanctuaries, employment, and advice as he continues his search for a meaningful, productive life.
About the Author
David E. Plante and his wife, Lorraine M. Plante, have both worked in corporate America: David in finance and Lorraine in the legal field. This is the second book they have written together. They have lived in seven different states, and they currently reside in Florida.