David, the Big D, and the Playground Goliath
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As soon as Corey went inside his front door I heard a loud crash of thunder. I felt raindrops on my cheeks. I turned to see Aurora dressed in black leather holding her helmet and a large paper sack fully loaded. “This storm is going to last awhile. I packed lunch to take to your house. Would you like a ride home in the Spider?” Sure I wanted a ride. But in a thunderstorm? Is this thing safe? I thought about Kelley. She wouldn’t think twice. “Yes, ma’am, I’ll take a ride.” She pressed a button on the garage door. It opened slowly. Voila! There it was. Two extended front legs came off a smooth leathery body. Tires like round rubber boots about 6’ in diameter seemed to grow out of each non metal leg. The thing crept slowly and silently toward us. I thought about the book I’d left on Louis Gardner’s desk. It told all about the Spider. It moved because blood flowed into its legs. Blood pumped by a heart at different speeds to cause controlled movement. But whose blood? A flash of lightening lit up the Spider. Two hooded eyes opened and glared yellow light at me. Under the eyes there seemed to be a narrow open slot of a mouth that grinned like a thirsty vam-pire. I WANT TO SUCK YOUR BLOOD DAVID! The dark thing stopped next to Aurora. She pressed a remote in her hand and a seat, like a leather recliner, came out of the side next to the driver. She reached in a container behind the driv-er’s seat and pulled out another black helmet which she handed to me. She put the bag of food in the container and slammed it shut. “David, put on your helmet, sit in the sidecar, and strap yourself in for the ride.” It covered my whole head except for cut outs around the eyes and a gaping hole around the mouth and a smaller slot for breathing. Looking cool would take some getting used to. “Spider, code 5.” She spoke into what looked like a large ear on the dashboard. An engine revved up underneath me and tickled my butt. I laughed. I heard a muffled chuckle from the driver. “You’re in for the ride of your life!”
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About the Book
Divorce, The Big D, rudely interrupts Davy’s fourteen-year-old life. Walking to his new school every morning is like walking across a field with vultures circling overhead and coyotes behind every bush. Bullies rule the neighborhood. He misses his beloved dog Doug who now lives with Davy’s father. His mother is depressed and relies on Davy for support, and his older sister Kelley is annoying. One afternoon, a chance meeting with an eccentric old lady in a supermarket leads David to new opportunities to earn money, help his family, and gain the confidence to stand up to the bullies in his apartment complex and school—his own personal Goliaths—who are making his life miserable. Aurora is a tiny white-haired old woman who drives a strange motorcycle. They meet by chance in Food Circus, a supermarket where Davy shops for his mother. Aurora hires Davy for odd jobs at her mansion. She pays him well and also feeds him delicious lunches, but she is the strangest person Davy has ever met and he isn’t sure what to make of her. Eventually, with Aurora’s help, Davy encounters the biblical David who leads him further into the Word of God and inspires him to fight his own Goliaths.
About the Author
Maria Gossett lives near Albuquerque, New Mexico. She is a retired elementary school teacher and counselor. As an active member of her local church, she has taught Bible Hour and Vacation Bible School for several years. She loves sharing the Bible and making God’s word meaningful to children. She enjoys the art and landscape of the Southwest, hiking, acrylic and watercolor painting, time with family and friends, and her Chihuahua.