Time Warp at Peter's Hill

By Barry Phillips

History projects can be a real pain, especially when the one who has to do the project thinks that history is dead and boring and has his mind somewhere else.

Its just that history is history. Its just names and places that dont exist any more.

Well, we may have to come up with a way to make it more exciting, replied his teacher.

Yeah, like that could ever happen.

But something is about to happen that will transport Scott into a fun, exciting, and possibly dangerous time and place. His ideas will be changed forever.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Nov 6, 2015
• ISBN: 9781491781791

Barry Phillips

Barry Phillips is a long time resident of Alabama and is a graduate of Southeastern Bible College. He had been active, for years in the Boy Scout organization as a leader on the troop level and a trainer on the district level. He is a member of the Smoky Mountain Association and has enjoyed hiking and motorcycling through the National Park and many surrounding National forests. His country background, love of history, and camping experiences help in writing an outdoor adventure story

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Copyright © 2015 Barry Phillips.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Certain characters in this work are historical figures, and certain events portrayed did take place. However, this is a work of fiction. All of the other characters, names, and events as well as all places, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

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ISBN: 978-1-4917-8180-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4917-8179-1 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015918040

iUniverse rev. date: 11/05/2015

CONTENTS

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

CHAPTER 1

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…Five, four, three, two, one, zero -- ignition. We have ignition. The giant rockets burst to life sending mountains of smoke towering high above the spacecraft. Vibrations from the mighty rockets shuddered through the craft and Scott felt a rush of excitement flow through him when he felt them. Slowly the giant craft lifted off the pad. We have lift-off, the voice sounded in his ears.

At an ever-quickening pace, the rocket climbed higher and faster into the sky.

Wow! thought Scott as he was pushed further down into his seat. Just think of it -- the first boy to go into space. If my friends could only see me now, I bet that they …

Scott? Scott!

Yes, sir? Scott answered, finally coming back from the hazy world he had been visiting.

Do you have any idea where we are?

Scott deeply wanted to come up with a smart answer like School?, but knew better than to do it. He wasn’t the greatest student to ever walk the school halls and knew that being smart to a teacher was not the best way to keep on the principal’s good list. Besides, his dad would not understand another note from school. So, he resisted his urge and said. Ah, no sir."

Please come up to my desk, now!

Scott walked slowly up to the desk where Mr. Gibbs sat.

Son, what are we going to do with you? You always seem to be drifting off into another world. You know that your folks aren’t going to like the grades you’ve been getting. What’s the problem?

I don’t know, Scott answered, wishing himself that he could come up with the right answer. It’s just that history is so … so dead. It’s past. All those people lived so long ago. They don’t seem to be real. They’re just names and the places where they lived don’t even exist anymore.

I agree with you, said Mr. Gibbs. If all history is just a list of names, places, and dates, then it is rather dull. But, I found that, for me, the best way to make history enjoyable is to use my imagination and try to put myself in the time I’m studying. I try to learn enough about the people -- how they lived and what they went through -- so that I can almost see myself in their place. That’s what makes our history come alive.

Class! Mr. Gibbs exclaimed, raising his voice so that everyone could hear. Scott has brought up an interesting problem and I think it’s something that we all have in common. Instead of the usual history report for this six weeks’, I would like you to pick a period of time in the history of our country and, after doing your research, write your report in the first person. That means, write it just as if you lived in that period of time and that you came here to tell us about your life and what you did to make history. Think about it for a day or two and, if you have any questions, see me later.

Mr. Gibbs was the kind of teacher that any kid would love to have. He understood that sometimes history can be a little dull and he did everything he could think of to make it more interesting. He would have his classes play history games like HISTO, which was a game like Bingo only using history facts instead of letters and numbers.

He wasn’t a pushover though. He liked to play games in class, but everyone knew that he was very serious about learning. There were no excuses accepted for late or missing homework. The dog ate my paper or My little sister hit the delete button were not excuses to try. When problems did come up, Mr. Gibbs did not hesitate to call the offending student’s parents, and this worried most all except the few who were perfect students. Scott and Michael did not fit into the last group.

Just then the bell sounded meaning the end of the school day and freedom for both the captive kids and the teachers. Scott went back to his desk and gathered up his books and joined the line of eagerly exiting students. Once outside, a rush of joy spread through him as he realized that the week was finally over and the weekend of adventure was about to begin.

Hey, Scott! A voice rang out behind him. Wait up!

The voice belonged to his neighbor and best friend, Michael.

Michael was fairly new in the area. He and his family had moved from Florida a couple of years before. His dad had been in the Navy and had ended up in Pensacola until his aunt died and left them the family farm in north Alabama.

At first Michael had fought the idea of moving so far inland. After all, being a beach bum, as he called himself, was a pretty good life. His folks lived off base and within five blocks of the beach, which made it easy to get there. By the time he was ten, he was allowed to go there by himself as long as he did not go into the water. He had learned early that if he wanted to do things away from his parents, he had to be trusted. So, he was careful, no matter the temptation, not to go into the water without their being around.

Later on, he would tell Scout that, although it was fun being at the beach, he enjoyed the base pool better. There were no jellyfish there.

He and his navy brat friends would have a lot of adventures in the scrub brush areas around base. The trails were almost endless and they could hook up with some scout troops who camped out on the base and act as guides.

The prospect of moving from there to Alabama did not set well with him.

What’s up there? he asked. There’s no beach, no sand, and no fun. All my friends are here. I’ll be all alone.

There are other things in life than beaches, was the reply. I’m sure you’ll find new friends. You always have.

That was true. Being a part of a military family did have its disadvantages. They did move around a lot and he was getting to the age where he wanted to have more permanent friends.

And a farm. What do we know about farming?

Hey, his dad came back. "I haven’t always been in the navy. We worked on your aunt’s farm many times. Besides, when I retire in a couple of months, I’ll have to do something. We’ll just have to pray that God will provide a new friend for you. It’ll work out.