Reaching High
by
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Mary stepped around the side of the house as they drove up and only then did Bill slow up the old truck. "Why what is the matter with you two? There must have been something to cause you to come flying around the curve so, you nearly took out one of my laying hens there," Mary stated with a wrinkled forehead showing her concern. "Nothing," Bill said filling his arms with the groceries. Mary’s eyes followed him as he went around to the back door, and she was still starring as he turned to look one more time at her, relieved she was OK, but not wanting to tell her anything. "Sam, I found several good worms here in the flowers, I saved them for you to fish with," she said, never taking her eyes off Bill. Sam thanked his mama and took the can of worms and headed down the road to find Albert, they hadn’t been fishing together in a long time. As Sam walked up to the yard of Albert’s home he heard the yelling and crying and turned to leave, knowing this was the wrong time to be there. Before he could get away, Lola Bell came through the door sobbing, holding her head. There was blood running out her fingers. Sam heard Albert’s Pa cursing and the sound of things breaking in the house. Albert came around the side of the house and ran toward Sam. "Let’s get out of here!" No questions were asked and the boys ran as fast as they could down the road, skimming under the barbed wire fence at the far side of the yard and dodging the thistles growing throughout the pasture. Cows scurried from their path as they made their way to the creek and slid down the bank. They pulled themselves up on the far side of the bank by a rope that hung from a sweet-gum sapling. Sam followed Albert through a narrow trail leading into a grove of canes. Less than fifty feet away the boys came to a clubhouse made of pine and sweet-gum logs. Albert sat down on a log and began crying, tears streaming down his cheeks. Sam sat nearby doodling in the dirt with a twig, not knowing what to say. Finally Albert said, "He’s so mean! It ain’t the first time he ever hit my maw. If he hurts her again I’ll do something bad, real bad! I’m glad mama ran out of the house when she did." "What happened? Why did he hit her?". "Paw just come from Mount Vernon. He’s been up there helping Uncle Luke build a new hog pasture fence. He came home drunk, when he’s drunk, he gets mean." He got mad because there was nothing cooked to eat, just left over biscuits from breakfast. Maw didn’t think he was coming home 'til dark.
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About the Book
Thirteen year-old Sam Douglas doesn't like school much. He likes working on the family farm (especially when his father lets him drive the tractor), fishing with his best friend Albert, and hunting squirrels and deer. Sam dreams of flying and hopes one day to be an air force pilot. In this compelling coming-of-age story, we trace young Sam through the days as spring ripens into summer, when strange things start to occur in the neighborhood. First the local doctor's wife dies under suspicious circumstances then Albert's father is killed by a snakebite. But perhaps most disturbing, just as they enter the Thanksgiving season, Albert disappears without a trace. Could the series of sinister events be connected with Mylan, the stranger who repeatedly appears in unexpected places? Author Joe Massey authentically evokes life in a rural southern community in this richly textured and consistently engaging narrative. Sam is an appealing, vividly three-dimensional character who speaks in a voice full of folksy eloquence and earthy candor in this tale of a young man's awakening.
About the Author
Joe T. Massey was born and raised in rural Mississippi. Having lived and experienced much of the lifestyle displayed in his book, Reaching High, he writes of a culture which is dear unto him. In 1972 Joe enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served six years. It was there his desire to write, began to grow. He realized the need to save his family history that could one day be forgotten. Working for a major aircraft company, later in life as a manufacturing manager, he began to write articles for the company newspaper. He enjoys writing poems as well as his book. In 1999, he ventured into his own business but still writes as time permits. Joe understands many people have different concepts of the south. After living in Seattle for ten years he longed to once again return to the south. He wanted to bring his family back to the roots where he grew up and let them enjoy the atmosphere and culture of the southern heritage. He desires to let the world understand the quality of life which southern living has to offer by painting beautiful scenes upon the pages of his book, Reaching High.