“Well, listen, guys, the good news is that God brought Bucky back safe and sound,” Pastor Thomas cut in. “It was just one of those freak things, and God had his hand over you, son.”
“He sure did.” Gordon Humboldt looked at the other pastor with deep gratitude. “What you did just means the world to us. And to me personally.” He put an arm around the other man. “Thanks so much.” He licked his lips. “What group did you say you were with?”
“Assembly of God. We’ve got a congregation of about three hundred here in Bangkok.”
“Is that right? I went to the Holy Land and roomed with one of your pastors, oh, about four years ago. Great experience.”
Pastor Thomas grinned. “I was telling Bucky we team up with you guys every Christmas and do a concert. Sometimes we go around to the big hotels and sing carols in their ballrooms for the rich American tourists who are over here in Bangkok during the holiday.” Everybody laughed.
“Oh!” Bucky suddenly remembered something. “Gordon, I need to . . . I mean, Pastor Thomas paid my taxi for me. A hundred baht. All my money’s up in Dr. Geltje’s place. Could you loan some to me?”
“Oh, no,” the visiting pastor protested. “Don’t worry about it.”
“Hey, we insist.” Gordon dug out his wallet and pulled free a red hundred-baht bill, handing it to Pastor Thomas. “Right now the way I feel I’d give you a hundred times that amount. You ought to stick around and let me buy you dinner before we all take off.”
“If I didn’t have a youth meeting after lunch today, I’d take you up on it.” The Assembly of God minister grinned.
“Bucky!” With feminine screams a group of students burst into the hospital lobby and embraced him. “Somchai just told us you were back!” One by one they hugged him. Several of the girls had been crying, Bucky noticed. Vasana, standing near the back of the knot of young people, was the last one to embrace him, her soft cheek buried against his shoulder in a lingering hug.
“Nice bunch of kids.” Pastor Thomas murmured to Gordon.
“Yeah, they’ve been real special.” The youth director dabbed at his eyes. “And I’m sure glad to have eighteen of ‘em again.”
“Well, listen, I’ve better head out. I didn’t get a chance to tell Sylvia where I went.”
“Let me walk you to your car.”
Pastor Thomas waved. “‘Bye, kids.” He shook hands with Bucky, then, with a grin, gave him a huge bear hug. “That’s how we do it in our church.”
“Sounds good to me.” Bucky said goodbye to his new friend, with Vasana’s slim arm still around his waist.
“Who is that guy?” The usually boisterous Ricki murmured in Bucky’s ear.
He grinned. “It’s a long story.”
A matronly woman came up to the little group of students. “This is Bucky Stone?”
“Yes.” Gordon clapped Bucky on the back. “Safe and sound, thank God.”
“We are so glad you are all right,” the hospital employee nodded. “And I have a letter for you.”
“For me?”
“Yes. The e-mail came to our technology department yesterday.”
Bucky looked at the type. Mom. Tears glistened in his eyes as he scanned the lines.
“From your folks?”
Bucky nodded as he read his mother’s words. “I don’t know if the people there will find you, Bucky, before you leave to come back home. Pastor Jensen found the web site and e-mail account of Mission Hospital there and gave it to me. But whether it does or not, you’ve been in my prayers each day while you were gone. I know God will look after you and bring you home safely. I love you so much.”
There was more, but Bucky could not read it then. His lips began to quiver as he thought about his mother praying quietly in her room back home in Hampton Beach. Holding Rachel Marie in her lap while the two of them prayed for him. His hand fell to his side as he let the tears slide down his face. Vasana, watching quietly, took him by the arm and led him down the hallway away from the group, who stood silently watching the pair.
Chapter Thirteen: Safely Home
That evening, after a meal of homemade garden burgers, all eighteen student missionaries crowded into Dr. Geltje’s small living room for worship. The Danish dentist beamed as she listened to the lively youth songs Gordon strummed on his guitar.
“We used to sing like this when I was a girl,” she mused. “My father played an instrument like your guitar, I remember. So well he played it.”
“These same songs?” For the first time since the night before, Gordon’s eyes had their familiar twinkle.
“Oh, well, no.” The dentist laughed. “The old favorites. I always remember, ‘Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross.’”
“Well, hey, we can do a golden oldie, ‘specially if it’s that one.” Bucky joined in with the others on the time-honored chorus.
As the last notes died away, Gordon looked around at the group, his face suddenly sober. “Kids, you know what we’ve been through these last twenty-four hours.” Benny draped an arm around Bucky’s shoulders as the youth director quietly reflected.
“I just feel like we should sing ‘God Is So Good.’ No guitar, just each of us pouring out our hearts as we sing.”
“Yeah.” Jo-Jo, the playful one, was looking down at her tennis shoes, her eyes moist.
The a cappella music vibrated the small apartment as the boys filled in the bass parts of the song. “God is so good . . . He’s coming back . . .”
After a short pause, the youth director suddenly began singing again: “He rescued me, He rescued me . . .” He glanced at Bucky. The students picked up the words, closing with a final “God is so good,” that faded into silence. Outside they could hear the quiet hum of crickets in the trees surrounding Dr. Geltje’s apartment.
“Better get some rest, guys,” Gordon advised after they finished their prayer circle. “We gotta get up at 4:30 tomorrow morning to get to the airport on time.” He forced a smile. “And most of you are already behind on sleep because of last night.”
“Yeah!” Benny gave Bucky a friendly pop on the skull. “All because of you, ding-dong.”
Bucky had to laugh. “Hey, what happened to all that spiritual glow and love you had for me two seconds ago?”
“Statute of limitations just ran out, sucker.” Benny’s big laugh almost rattled the windows. He peeked at his watch. “I’m just going to beat somebody in one game of Rook before I go to sleep.” He looked around the room. “Who’s it gonna be?”
The big Delta jet gleamed in the Bangkok sunlight the next morning. Still tired from his experience, Bucky wandered aimlessly through the duty - free shops at Suvarnabhumi Airport as he waited for the flight to be called.
Vasana came up to him. “Ready?”
He nodded, a tiny smile on his face. “Yeah.” He looked at her. “Time to go home.”
The long rows of blue seats stretching to the very rear of the DC-10 were already serviced with pillows and neatly folded blankets for the trans - Pacific journey home as they boarded. Bucky, who had wrangled a seat trade so he could sit next to Vasana, buckled his belt and glanced at her. “It’s sure been great getting to know you on this trip.”
She made a little face at him that oddly looked very American. “It sounds like you are saying goodbye when we still have many hours of flying to do.”
“That’s true.” He reached out and squeezed her hand for just a second. “I’m glad.”
Gordon came walking through the cabin, mentally counting heads. “Yeah, we’re all here,” Bucky grinned.
The youth pastor looked at the couple with a smile. “You guys behave yourselves back here.”
“We will.” Bucky folded his hands in his lap and fixed a pious expression on his face. “I promise.”
“Flying from here to the States, we’ll have a real short night,” Gordon reminded everybody. “‘Cause we’re flying west to east, just the opposite of when we came out. And when the sun comes up tomorrow morning, it’ll be Mon
day again.”
“Two Mondays. That’s the pits.” Benny propped himself up, leaning against the seat in front of him as he looked around. The plane’s PA system crackled as the English and Thai announcements signaled the beginning of the journey home.
• • • • •
The plane filled up as they made stops in Taiwan and then Seoul. Bucky and Vasana walked through the Korean air terminal, pausing to watch an American baseball game being broadcast on a huge color TV. “Wow, I guess I’ll come be a missionary here,” he told the Thai girl. “Wouldn’t miss a thing.” He winced as a Dodger clubbed a three - run homer.
The DC-10 was wall - to - wall people for the long final leg across the Pacific Ocean. Bucky and Vasana listened, fascinated, as foreign conversations went on all around them during dinner. Every now and then a familiar Thai word would penetrate the buzz. Vasana, leaning closer, patiently translated the phrases.
The cabin quieted down as evening surrounded the plane. Their little corner illuminated by a single dome light, the couple talked quietly, sharing their college plans and career hopes. He realized anew what a fascinating and uniquely thoughtful person the Thai girl was.
“I hope I can see you again sometime,” he said, thinking ahead to the coming school year at Hampton Beach High. “I know L.A.’s a long ways away, but . . .”
She looked up at him, her large brown eyes not blinking. “Yes, Bucky. I . . . wish so too.” Her slim hand slipped into his.
Twilight turned into an inky darkness as the flight crew turned down the cabin lights. An old gangster film flickered on his movie screen, but Bucky was too tired to pay any attention. He fell asleep with his stereo headphones still on, an old pop hit repeating over and over in his mind from the entertainment soundtrack. I’m so glad I’m livin’ in the U.S.A. . . . Vasana dozed next to him, her head resting on his shoulder.
A Delta flight attendant easing her way down the aisle noticed when he stirred. “May I get you anything?” she whispered.
Starting to shake his head, he then changed his mind. “Yeah, cranberry juice if you’ve got it.”
A minute later she returned with the can and cup of ice. “Here you are.” She paused. “What were you kids all doing out in Bangkok?”
Speaking softly so as to not waken Vasana, Bucky explained the mission trip’s purpose. “Our church and a bunch of others run a whole bunch of these all around the world, so I decided to try one.”
“Pretty good.” The flight attendant glanced around, but most of the passengers were either asleep or watching assorted films. “I don’t know much about your group, though. What kind of a church is it?”
In just a few sentences Bucky described the global church family, feeling a tingle of pride as he summarized the church’s evangelical core of beliefs. “It’s really great,” he added. “My mom and I came to the Lord about four years ago.”
“Interesting,” she commented. “I grew up Methodist, but, you know, when you fly these crazy schedules, it’s pretty hard to keep up with church and all.”
“Yeah.” Bucky nodded. “But it’s pretty important stuff.”
The woman nodded. “I suppose it is.” She stood. “Well, good luck to you all. Have a good school year.”
“Thanks.” He peeled off the headphones and shifted his position slightly, trying not to disturb Vasana.
The pale red of sunrise accompanied the pilot’s announcement that Portland was about an hour away. Bucky stretched and looked over at the Thai girl. “How’d you sleep?”
“Good.” Vasana reached up in a dainty gesture, and brushed Bucky’s hair into place. “Did you?”
“Not too bad.”
A cheer went up from the loaded plane as the wheels touched down in Oregon. “U.S.A.!” a bearded college student sitting just in front of Bucky and Vasana hollered, raising a fist in the air.
Customs took only a few minutes as Bucky dutifully filled out the official form and turned it in. “You kids have a good time?” The agent took a quick look at the suitcase before closing it up.
“Yeah, we sure did.”
“Terrific! Welcome home.” The customs man picked up the bag and put it on the conveyor belt behind him. “That’ll head right on out to Frisco with you.”
Several of the students’ parents were waiting at the greeting area to welcome the mission group home. Bucky gave the Portland kids each a hug, thanking them for their part in the two-week adventure. “Same time next summer?” one of them grinned.
“We’ll see.” Right now Bucky was too tired to think about it.
Hand in hand, he walked over to a huge monitor with Vasana. He paused with her, looking for the gate number for her flight to L.A. “I guess this is it, little missionary. I head over there instead.” He looked at her.
Taking her bag from his shoulder, she gazed up at him. “I was happy to get to know you,” she said simply. “Thank you, Bucky.” She gave his hand a squeeze.
“I’ll see you later. I hope.” Instinctively Bucky leaned over and quickly kissed her. Vasana blushed but didn’t back away. “Bucky,” she murmured, but there was more affection than reproach in her voice.
“‘Bye.” He watched as she went up the escalator and out of his view.
Picking up his duffel bag, he slowly walked toward the other side where his own plane, bound for the Bay Area, was already filling up. Suddenly he stopped, his heart beating faster. A girl, her face turned away from him, was just going through the huge glass revolving door exiting the common baggage claim area. Memories of evenings in Hampton Beach flickered in his mind. Lisa?
For a moment he almost followed the familiar figure. The girl, wearing a sweater just like one Lisa had often worn on cool California evenings, was rapidly walking away. Jumbled thoughts raced through his mind. Lisa in Seattle? Portland? My e-mail to her telling her about this trip?
“Your attention, please. Final call for Delta Flight 1712, departing for San Francisco. Now boarding all rows.”
The abrupt announcement stopped him in his tracks, and he stared through the glass at the busy thoroughfare outside. But the girl was gone. He paused for a moment, then headed upstairs to the counter where an agent took his ticket.
The lush foliage of northern Oregon fell away as Delta Airlines carried Bucky home. Although he stared out the window, he didn’t see the landscape and the August clouds billowing beneath the wings of the 737. Uneasy memories of Lisa jumbled together with his last mental image of Vasana. He remembered her soft black hair resting against his shoulder during the long flight home from Thailand.
He sighed. “Life ain’t never very easy,” he muttered to himself as the aircraft began its descent into the sprawling Bay Area with its crowded freeways and bridges spanning the scenic ocean waterways.
Exiting the plane and heading down to the baggage claim carousels, he looked around. Despite the emotional twists and turns of the last forty-eight hours, he couldn’t help but grin as he saw Dad, Mom, and Rachel Marie standing by the long metal conveyor belt. Home was still home . . . and God was still leading in the life of one tired returning student missionary named Bucky Stone.
“Hi, Bucky!” Rachel Marie squealed with delight as she jumped into her big brother’s arms. “What did you bring me?”
Setting his bag down, he hugged everybody. “Man, it’s great to be home.”
• • • • •
Bucky Stone Book #6
Bucky’s Close Shave
By
David B. Smith
Contents
Chapter One: Endings and Beginnings
Chapter Two: Christ the King High School
Chapter Three: Free Throws and Free Money
Chapter Four: Funeral For a Friend
Chapter Five: More Dirty Money
Chapter Six: Strange Defeat
Chapter Seven: Rainy Thanksgiving
Chapter Eight: High Noon
Chapter Nine: Heart-to-Heart and Man-to-Man
Chapter Ten: Hot Streak
<
br /> Chapter Eleven: The Big Score
Chapter Twelve: Captive
Chapter Thirteen: Clue?
Chapter Fourteen: An Unforgettable Five Minutes
Chapter One: Endings and Beginnings
The bedroom had a musty smell to it as Bucky pushed open the door and set his suitcase down. Turning, he gave Mom a tired smile. “Oh, man, this looks like heaven.”
Rachel squeezed between her brother and the door frame and bounced on his bed. “Did you bring me anything from Thailand, Bucky?”
He sank down next to her, tugging on one of her pigtails. “Sure, kid.”
“What?”
Mom gave the eight - year - old a playful frown. “Give your big brother a break, honey. After all, he just flew nine thousand miles.”
“And boy, are my arms tired!” Bucky said.
“Old joke.” Dad pretended to stagger as he brought Bucky’s second bag into the upstairs bedroom. “I’ll bet even Delta Airlines is tired from lugging this rock collection of yours all the way from Bangkok.”
“Don’t complain, that’s full of presents for you guys.” He pulled his shoes off and scooted over until he had stretched his entire frame out on the bed. “Did any of my postcards get here yet?”
“What postcards?” His sister held her nose as Bucky dangled a sock in front of her face.
“I wrote to you several times.” He shrugged. “But Gordon said they probably wouldn’t arrive until after I did.”
“Well, Gordon was right,” Mom said. “Two long weeks – and we never heard a word. Except for your one e-mail from that Internet café in Chiang Mai.”
“Sorry.”
His mother slipped over and kissed him on the top of his head. “Well, we’d rather have you than a postcard. Why don’t you relax and grab a shower. I’ve got your favorite supper planned, and both Dan and Sam are coming over.”
Bucky Stone: The Complete Adventure (Volumes 1-10) Page 52