Checkers
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
With a deep gargle, a throat vibrated behind Checkers. Checkers opened his eyes. With two, black lips a mouth quivered behind Checkers. Checkers wagged his tail. With a red, tongue, a mouth slobbered behind Checkers. Checkers' ears perked up. With bulging, blood-shot eyes, anger and rage glared behind Checkers. A growling, growling sound allowed Checkers to know that someone or something else wanted his space between the concession stand an the refrigerator. Checkers stood up. With his paws grasping the asphalt pavement surrounding the concession stand, he ran. The raceway dog, Big Boxer, growled and leaped at Checkers. The big, black dog moved closer and closer. Checkers dodged crowds and lines of concession, stand customers. Big Boxer's yellow teeth chattered, snarled, and slobbered. Fat, black lips quivered with rage. The gargling, growling, stinking, hot breath enveloped Checkers. The two dogs raced around the concession stand. "EVIL DOG!....EVIL DOG!....There is the evil dog that attacked me in the restroom!" yelled the lady wearing the bright, orange dress from the concession stand line. The black and white checkered dog swirled around the dress twice. The lady swung her purse hitting Big Boxer square in his blood-shot eyes. Along with Big Boxer, the lady fell and rolled through the customer line. Popcorn, pop, pretzels, hamburgers, hotdogs, mustard, and ketchup flew through the air. Other race fans fell along with Big Boxer and the lady wearing the bright, orange dress. "Another evil dog!" yelled the lady with the orange dress. "Another evil dog!" yelled the lady a second time. Checkers, seeing his opportunity, raced through the open door of the concession stand. The smell of food grabbed and whisked the dog into the smoke filled stand. The aroma did not satisfy his hunger. His ears caught the loudspeakers' description of the race. Checkers followed every word of the announcer. "Car 88 is in the lead. Car 33 is coming in second place. Ladies and gentlemen, we have six laps left. Today's winner is the Grand Champion for the racing season." the raceway announcer said. Checkers stopped in the middle of the concession stand. "Can you believe we have a dog in the concession stand. Someone call security. Someone call security!" a cook in a white apron yelled. A hot spatula, holding a greasy burger, flew by Checkers' head. Flipping through the air, the greasy burger found the mouth of Big Boxer, who entered the concession through the back door. The big, black dog could smell both the burgers and the checkered dog. "We have two dogs in the concession stand. Where is security? Where is security?" another cook pleaded. The cook chased the dogs. He swung wildly at their heads with his spatula. A plate of hamburger patties fell to the floor. Checkers ran. Big Boxer stopped long enough to gobble down some fresh meat. "We have five laps to go. Car 33 is now in the lead!" the announcer blared through the loudspeakers. "Someone grab a fire extinquisher. Hit a dog. Knock a dog in the head. This concession stand is full of dogs. Hamburger-eating dogs will ruin our business. Where is security!" yelled the second cook.
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Book Details
About the Book
He is a dog with unusual hair who became a captive, an escapee, the hunted, and the hero all in one day. Named by his captor, Catcher One of the local dog-pound, Checkers was given a death sentence the moment his paws hit the pavement. Catcher One always boasted, "No dog could escape my dog-pound van and live to tell about it!!!" Checkers escaped. The chase led the escapee from a car crash, through spilled hotdogs on the sidewalk, flowers crushed by his paws, a topsy-turvy jump into a smelly, trash, dumpster to what Checkers thought was the safety of the International Raceway. The tired dog lay behind a refrigerator near the main concession stand. "With a deep gargle, a throat vibrated behind Checkers. Checkers opened his eyes. Two, black lips, and a mouth with a red tongue slobbered and quivered behind Checkers. His ears perked up. A growling , growling, sound allowed Checkers to know that someone or something else wanted his space between the concession stand and the refrigerator. Checkers stood up. With his paws grasping the asphalt pavement surrounding the concession stand, Checkers ran. The raceway dog, Big Boxer, growled and leaped at Checkers. The big, black, dog moved closer and closer. In an instant, Checkers no longer was the only dog in the story.
About the Author
Roger L. Woodson was born and raised in Elk City, Oklahoma. His parents were Lozie and Cleo Woodson who were house paint contractors. Roger's family consists of two older brothers, Ray and Robert and two older sisters, Kay and Judy. Taking the example of his siblings, Roger chose public school education as a career. He graduated from Elk City High School in 1969. Roger obtained a Bachelors of Science Degree and Masters Degree in Public School Administration from Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, Oklahoma. Merritt Public School children have enjoyed him as their Principal and Counselor for the past three decades. As an ordained minister, Roger has been a pastor in churches in western Oklahoma. In 1974 Roger married his wife Brenda. She graduated from Elk City High School in 1973 and obtained a Bachelors of Science Degree from Southwestern State University. Brenda teaches sixth grade at Merritt Public Schools Roger and Brenda's daughter Elissa is married to Randall Snowder. Elissa and Randall have four children: Arissa, Isaac, Zeke, and Graci. Their son Josh is married to Lori Lewallen. Josh and Lori have two children: Noah and Lani. Roger and Brenda's family fill their lives with great love and enjoyment.