Alfred smiled a little.
“I accept your offer on one condition.”
“What’s that?”
“You’ll be one of those in the pews.”
Alfred grinned. “Yes sir.” “Then I accept.”
And then Alfred went on to tell the reverend that he was sure with the right tactics, the church could grow like a weed.
The reverend had to point out that Alfred was going to have to find a new analogy.
EPILOGUE
“AND SO, WITH its prostitutes, misfits, alcoholics, and more, Skary, Indiana, became a refuge for those who had lost their way in life. They saw people for who God created them to be, not for the way life had used and abused them. In many respects, Skary didn’t have a chance at ever succeeding, ever becoming a flourishing town of productive citizens. But three pastors knew that the kind of grace they were offering produced the kind of people who took a second chance and made all they could of it.
“So, on September 5, 1870, Skary, Indiana, officially became a town. And nobody hid in the shadows of the wilderness anymore. Life was built one steppingstone at a time.
“And a young woman named Clara gave birth to a little baby named Jillian. And Jillian grew up and married a man named Stewart Peeple. Together, they had two children, Sissy and Missy.
“Years later, it would be Missy Clara Peeple who would sacrifice everything near and dear to her to try to save the town that had once saved her grandmother and her mother. And on the day she was buried, a woman who was scorned and disliked most of her life, had the whole town show up at her funeral, to pay their respects to a woman hardly anyone understood, but who all now appreciated for what she gave back to the community, which was a sense of hope and purpose.
“Whatever Skary, Indiana, may be in the future, its roots will always be grounded in what it was created to be. And because of that, every person in the town found their own purpose, their own chance to make a difference, their own chance to see that love can conquer all.”
Wolfe quietly closed his manuscript. The gigantic crowd that had filled the community center could hardly be heard breathing. And then they erupted into applause. People were wiping tears from their eyes and shaking each other’s hands.
Ainsley bounded up onto the stage and hugged him with all her strength.
“Wolfe! That was a beautiful story!”
He smiled. After returning from their honeymoon, he’d written it in three weeks. “I wrote it with all my heart. I’ve never felt so passionate about writing anything in my life. It still needs some work, though.”
A man walked up and stuck out his hand to Wolfe. “Sir,” he said, “I think that mighta just changed my life. Me and the wife, we were planning on moving next year. Going off to a bigger place. But I think we’ll stay. Heck, it’s where our roots are.” He smiled warmly at Wolfe. “That was the most inspirational thing I think I’ve ever heard.”
The man walked off, and Wolfe turned to Ainsley. “Inspirational,” he said quietly and smiled. “Yeah, inspirational.”
Alfred Tennison stood at the back of the room, his heart in a pitter-pattered mess of emotions as he listened to his favorite author read once again. He’d never heard Wolfe read with this kind of passion and emotion. In fact, in all the years he’d known him, he thought the guy usually did quite a dull reading of his own material.
He noticed the woman next to him sniffling up a storm. What was with all the boohooing this town did? The woman glanced up at him, noticing his stares. “I’m sorry. I get emotional when I hear such inspiring stories.” She held out her hand. “Hi, I’m Lois. Lois Stepaphanolopolis. Oliver’s cousin.”
“Oh. Um, hi. Alfred Tennison.”
Lois stared at Wolfe on the platform. “Tell you what. The guy ought to be writing inspirational fiction.”
“Inspirational fiction? What’s that?”
“Don’t you know? It’s fiction with meaning and purpose. Stories that give people hope for their future. Shows people God loves ’em.”
“That’s interesting. I’ve been an agent and an editor. Maybe I’ll look into it. I’m sort of out of work.”
The woman laughed. “Well, everybody gets along real well in that industry, and the writers, they’re divinely inspired, hearing straight from God, so they don’t need any editors to tell them what to do. When you’re hearing from the Good Lord, there’s hardly room for a mistake, you know! In fact, I hear the writers don’t even take a bit of money for what they write—they just do it out of the goodness of their hearts—so I guess they wouldn’t need any sort of agent. And I think the publishers donate all their earnings to missions or something like that.”
Alfred sighed. “Oh. That’s too bad.”
Lois moved a step closer to Alfred. “You say you’re an agent?”
“Was.”
“I’ve been looking for an agent. I’m an actress, you see. I do the role of Sandra Dee in the most unforgettable way.”
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I could write another entire book thanking people in my life! With the help of so many, through time, talents, and prayers, I’m able to do this wonderful thing called writing. God knows each of you and your precious hearts.
I’d like to especially thank Dudley Delffs and Don Pape, two fabulously cool people who are an encouragement to me in so many different ways. Your confidence in my work and this crazy town called Skary has done more for my belief in myself than you’ll ever know! And to everyone else at WaterBrook Press who works behind the scenes to make great things happen, thank you for helping to bring Boo Who to life and into the hands of readers!
For Janet Kobobel Grant, my agent, thank you for your wisdom, encouragement, and guidance.
Thanks so much to Sandy, Ron and Barb, and Bill, a group of people who pray for me, for those I work with, and for those who will read this book. Even through your own trials and tribulations in your lives, you remain faithful to pray, and I’m so thankful for every word of every prayer you have spoken. And for the wise words with which you minister to me.
Pastor Paul and WCC, the Flock That Rocks—having the greatest church in the world stand beside me on this adventure is priceless. Thank you for your continued support.
Thank you Sara Lewis, my superwoman baby-sitter, who keeps the kids entertained (not easy!) while their mom works. And thanks Mom and Dad for always being available to help me with the kids. Thank you to the rest of the family who encourage me on a daily basis and are my greatest promoters!
Without my husband, Sean, none of this would be possible. It seems his greatest desire in the world is to see my dreams come true. I am the most blessed woman in the world, and I thank you for the unbelievable sacrifice you made in order for me to write this book. May God bless you beyond measure, in ways you never imagined! And to John-Caleb and Cate, thank you dear ones for letting Mommy go to the computer for long stretches of time!
To God be the glory, and thank You Father for the opportunity to serve You through writing novels. May each reader be blessed in a unique and special way by the power of Your Spirit.
Please visit me at my Web site:
www.renegutteridge.com
BOO WHO
PUBLISHED BY WATERBROOK PRESS
2375 Telstar Drive, Suite 160
Colorado Springs, Colorado 80920
A division of Random Home, Inc.
The characters and events in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to actual persons or events is coincidental.
Copyright © 2004 by Rene Gutteridge
Published in association with the literary agency of Janet Kobobel Grant, Books & Such, 4788 Carissa Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA 95405.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
WATERBROOK and its deer design logo are registered trademarks of WaterBrook Pre
ss, a division of Random House, Inc.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Gutteridge, Rene.
Boo who / Rene Gutteridge.
p. cm.
1. Horror tales—Authorship—Fiction. 2. City and town life—Fiction. 3. Indiana—Fiction. I. Title.
PS3557.U887B664 2003
813′.6—dc22
2004008997
eISBN: 978-0-307-55192-4
v3.0
Boo Who Page 34