by Bob Kranich
(Excerpt 7)
This is a new story. We are first introduced to James the young Brown pelican, and a young fellow who is sketching him on the docks of Key West. James is now going to do some soaring and go up the Keys. He meets a strange White pelican named Smilin’ Sam. Sam talks to James about life and Sam has now left to fly to Cuba. A big dangerous storm is coming.
James just stood there dumbfounded. Did this all really happen? Smilin’ Sam dropped in out of nowhere and now he is gone, just like that! (James didn’t know it, but God works in mysterious ways. He might have sent a pelican angel to guide him.) Smilin’ was right. The wind and seas were picking up.
James kicked his feet a couple of times, jumped up, and with a few strokes of his wings, he was airborne. Because the wind was now very strong, all he had to do was hold his wings out and he was pushed up into the wind currents. It was blowing from the East. There was definitely a storm on its way. It pushed him hard as he soared back towards Key West.
He saw ahead of him yet a little bit lower two pelicans that looked familiar. It’s Mom and Dad! James leaned to the left, dipped that wing and raised the opposite. He then dropped down and came abreast of his parents.
Hi Mom, hi Dad.”
“Hi James, so glad to see you. You heard about the big storm that’s on the way?”
“Yes, I sure did. Where are you going?”
“We’re going to Big Pine Key. Lots of the colony are heading there too. What about you James?”
“What about Grandpa?” James asked.
“He said that he is going to stay at his salt pond,” Dad said.
“I’m going to check on Grandpa first, and then I’ll be along. See you Mom and Dad.”
“Take care James.” they both said in unison, “We love you son!”
James flipped around and swooped up high with the wind pushing him. Down below he could see palm trees bending in the wind and dry palm fronds blowing off the palms. Every so often some faint rain drops blew across his face. It was late in the afternoon and the sun was out of sight behind low, dark, ominous –looking clouds.
James could see Grandpa’s salt pond up ahead. Down below on Roosevelt Boulevard the waves were beginning to crash against the shore. The rain was beginning to pelt his face as he touched down without even circling.
I hope Grandpa is alright he thought as he called out, “Grandpa! Grandpa!” His sounds blew away from him in the wind. Then he saw him a little ways from the pond. He was on a higher point in a pile of stumps and logs. James just hopped up, spread his wings, and let the wind take him right over there next to Grandpa.
“Hi Grandpa. You OK?”
“Hi sonny, how do you like my shelter?”
James hollered, “It looks like you will weather it out here just fine.”
“You take care and I will check on you after the storm,” James screamed, as his words blew away in the wind.
“Stay here and be safe with me James,” Grandpa yelled.
“No Grandpa, I have to do something. Bye.”
James was discerning an uneasiness in his spirit. He jumped up and the wind took him straight across the pond. He was pumping his wings for all he was worth. Then a force hit him and up he went, rain hitting him and wind pushing him. He soared straight up high over the island. It was pitch black. He could see a few of the city lights of Key West and just past it the Navy Yard.
It was then that he saw it. A red flare shot up. It was barely visible. He climbed way up and then dropped, glided, and soared towards it. The direction was in the Atlantic, south of Key West. He had lots of altitude, which helped him get out to it. When he got over the location he could see a large two-masted sailing ship, with one mast broken. The ship was leaning far over. Waves were washing over its deck, and the sails were ripped and blowing in the wind. He circled around it. He could see some figures clinging on to various parts of the boat.
From The Author:
"James the Young Brown Pelican” is a fictional story of a young Brown pelican. He is dissatisfied with the pelican’s normal way of life, just looking for fish and eating. He wants to so something else with his life. He is excited about flying high and a speedy dive. This is a Christian book about faith and you will learn more about the life of pelicans. Since the Brown pelican is found along both the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, you will also learn about the pelican’s life in the Florida Keys and Key West itself.
The book is illustrated by watercolors, sketches, and photos, to include many photos by the great nature photographer, Ron Reznick.
The book is illustrated by watercolors, sketches, and photos, to include many photos by the great nature photographer, Ron Reznick.
