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The Stars of Ivondale
The Stars of Ivondale
The Stars of Ivondale
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The Stars of Ivondale

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Who was the man called Zeke, and how did he get his powers? How could he ride the waves of time traveling eighty years into the future and changing the lives of two upcoming country music stars? Read about how two young people fall in love and travel the music circuit performing in front of huge crowds. Going from nothing to being recording stars practically overnight while also being transported back to another time as invited guests in the home of Ezekiel Jones, his wife Flo and their two small children. The book is filled with love, compassion, tragedy and the unexpected. Is it possible to break the time barrier? Who knows for sure? Einstein had his own theory. What is yours? As for me, I don't discount anything. I've had a few experiences myself that I could not explain. Read and wonder my friends.

LanguageEnglish
Release dateNov 23, 2011
ISBN9781465708991
The Stars of Ivondale
Author

J. Lee McPherson

Hi folks. My name is J. Lee McPherson and I live in the southern part of Missouri. My hobby has been mostly singing and playing my guitar at local jam sessions as well as writing songs until encouraging words from my family uncovered in their eyes another talent of mine I didn't know I possessed. I've always liked putting words to music and my family saw something in the way I wrote so encouraged me to try my luck at writing books. Now when I'm not jamming with my friends I'm busy writing fiction novels. In my later years of life I decided to take my family's advice and to try my luck at writing. So in a short span of time I came up with 'The Shadow Dog of Jeremiah', a Christmas story called 'Bobba Long the Bowlegged Snowman', 'Stars of Ivondale' and another Christmas story called 'The Magic Snowball'. Later I wrote a science fiction novel called 'The Storm Shelter', another fiction novel called 'The Legend of Zinnia' and then 'Dream Tracker (The Beginning)'. Now I figure I've finally found my niche in life and I plan on writing as long as I can take the pictures from my mind and with a little imagination put them to words. All my books have been published to Smashwords and some can also be purchased in print. To see all the books that I've completed and that has been published go to my website at: htttp://www.jleemcpherson.com I will hopefully have more books in the near future. J. Lee McPherson

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    The Stars of Ivondale - J. Lee McPherson

    The Stars of Ivondale

    by J. Lee McPherson

    Published by J. Lee McPherson

    Smashwords Edition

    Copyright © 2011 by J. Lee McPherson

    This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

    All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

    Prologue

    A lot of strange things happen in our lives, things that sometimes can't be explained. So it was with Josh Nolan. Josh came into this world naked and crying, just like any other child. He went to school, got average grades and participated in sports, though never took it too seriously. He made friends in school easily, but got in scuffles now and then just like any other kid his age. Josh had a big heart and was always there for a friend, but Josh wanted big things to happen in his life. He was ready to climb that mountain and see the world beyond. Whether he was ready for what lay waiting ahead, only time would tell.

    Chapter 1

    In 1969 Pitsville was a small town of about three thousand people in the southeastern part of West Virginia. Most people who lived in Pitsville just barely got by working minimum wage jobs. There were a few gas stations, restaurants and a couple of motels, but the majority of the folks who lived there relied on weekly payroll checks from the shoe factory that employed close to six hundred people.

    Joshua Nolan graduated from Pitsville High School, but had no desire to attend college. His only interest in life was singing and playing his guitar with the dream of someday making it big in the music world. He bought a cheap acoustic guitar when he was in the eighth grade using money earned from doing odd jobs around the neighborhood. He got to where he was a pretty fair picker and loved to sing the country songs that he listened to on the radio. He patterned himself after some of the top country stars and liked the different styles of music, but wanted his own unique sound. However, Josh was also a sucker for a tear jerker and could put a lot of feeling into a sad song. Josh could lift the spirits of the elderly folks in the Senior Citizens Centers and the Nursing Homes. He also attended several local jam sessions in the area every week and everybody liked Josh. If they requested a Bluegrass, Gospel or a hip swinging tune, Josh had no trouble obliging.

    Josh's parents, Ned and Janet, were both still working at the shoe factory just barely making ends meet. Although Josh got along with his parents well he was just getting burned out with the steady routine of weekly visits with them and doing the same old thing. Josh had also been working at the shoe factory ever since he got out of high school and had got himself a studio apartment so he could have his privacy. He had a few girl friends who shared his apartment off and on but never got that serious with any of them.

    It was Sunday afternoon and the town of Pitsville was deader than a doornail. Josh was sitting in his old pickup in the parking lot of The First Baptist Church with a map of West Virginia in his lap. He was thinking to himself about how he’d been wanting to get out of the God forsaken town he’d lived in all his life. All he saw were people barely getting by living in shacks that were mostly owned by the big shots that ran the only factory in town and paid slave wages. He was only twenty three and he figured if he didn’t get out now he’d be stuck there the rest of his life, barely existing. He’d rather be dead, he thought, so he raised his right hand holding the pencil and let it come down point first. The hole it made in the map was just above a little town in southern West Virginia called Ivondale.

    That’s it! he said aloud. That’s where I’m headin’. I’m sellin’ my pickup, taking’ my guitar and hoppin’ the first freight outta’ town. That train goes right through Ivondale and I’m gonna jump off right there. I don’t care what it’s like. Any place will better than this hell hole.

    Josh had dreams of being country singer and songwriter. He'd written a few songs and felt he was just as good a singer as some of those big stars. He just figured he’d keep writing and singing till one day he’d be in the right place at the right time and Shazam! He’d be an over night sensation! But as soon as he convinced himself of that, he'd knock himself out of the saddle, sayin, Who am I kiddin’? There’s a million out there like me. I’m just a grain of sand and probably would be washed right back out to sea. This town is the sea to me and I’m gonna drown in it if I don’t get out. So, Ivondale, you may not be much of a town but it’s as good a place as any to get a fresh start.

    After selling his old pickup to a neighbor, Josh packed just enough clothes to get by and started walking with his guitar strapped to his back. It was only a half mile to the railroad track and he planned on waiting for the train and hopping on the first open box car he saw. It was two in the afternoon and he knew if the train was on time it would be coming through in about an hour.

    He came to the track, set his back pack on the ground, leaned his guitar against an oak tree and then just laid on the ground using his back pack for a pillow. It was the middle of June and the shade beneath the oak tree felt good. He was daydreaming and just about asleep when he heard the whining of the train whistle in the distance. He sneaked behind some bushes and the train started slowing down as it came closer to the city limits of Pitsville. Josh could read the sign going into town from where he stood. It read 'Pitsville, The Town of Friendly People.' Josh thought to himself, Yeah, it's the pits all right just livin' here.

    Then Josh saw it, an empty box car with the door part way open. As it came closer to him he started running along side the train. He threw his back pack into the opening and then grabbed hold and just when he felt himself losing his grip, a large strong hand gripped him like a vice and hauled him aboard. Josh hit the floor with a bang, but was thankful he made it in one piece and that he didn't roll on his back and crush his guitar. He got up and dusted himself off then turned around and saw the biggest dark skinned fella he'd ever laid eyes on.

    Well, let me introduce myself. You are lookin' at Ezekial Jones but everybody calls me Zeke. I'm headin' to the East coast 'cause I wants to see the ocean. What's your name, youngun', and where ya headin?

    Hi Zeke, my name's Josh. I guess I'm headin' to a little town a little ways from here called Ivondale. Not that I've ever been there. I just wanted to get the blazes outta that rat hole I was livin' in. I just closed my eyes, poked a hole in my map and that's the spot I picked. I said, Ivondale it is."

    Well, whatcha' doin' with that guitar there. Can you play that thing? asked Zeke.

    Well, I can play a little. Then Josh took off on a song that he'd finished writing just a few days before. He called it 'Slavetown Blues'.

    Say, that sounds pretty good. You sure don't think much of your home town do ya Josh? So you felt like a slave in that town did ya? My mama was a slave, ya know, and she had to put up with a lot more than livin' in a town with lousy jobs. I remember her tellin' me when I was a little feller that she'd get whipped for just battin' her eyes 'cause the slave owner was an evil man.

    Ah Zeke, I guess it does sound like I complain about that rat hole back there too much but I guess what it's all about is the fact that I just wanted to spread my wings and find out what it's like out there in the world. I've got too many things I wanna do before I die and I just decided I wasn't gonna hang around that town one more day.

    There ain't nothin' wrong with that Josh. I don't blame ya one bit. I reckon I woulda done the same thing. Say, I play guitar a little too. Maybe a little different style than you but do ya mind if I hit a few licks?

    Josh handed Zeke the guitar and was surprised how good Zeke was. He played blues but, where Josh played with a country flavor, Zeke played the kind that came from the deep south and Josh really liked it when Zeke started singing with his rich baritone voice.

    Sing some more Zeke. I really like your singing. So Zeke sang one about a man who came home a drinkin' and beatin' his wife one too many times and she waited at the door the last time. The man barged in on her. She was holding' a long barreled rifle and pulled the trigger. It was called 'Dirty Scoundrel Blues'.

    While Josh and Zeke were talking, Josh noticed the town they just went through was called Hinkleton and he knew the next town coming up would be Ivondale and the train would get there in about ten minutes.

    I'm gonna' be gettin' off in a few minutes Zeke, 'cause Ivondale's coming up. It's been good talkin' to ya. Say! Why don't you get off with me and help me check the town out. You're not in that big a hurry to get to that ocean are ya?

    Well, I don't know. I had my mind on seein' that big ocean. I'll tell ya what, maybe I will get off and see what the town looks like just in case I come back this way. I don't have a lot of money to be spendin' on them motel rooms though. I been kinda savin' my money for when I get to where I'm a goin'.

    Don't worry about it tonight. I've got a little bit that will last for a week or so. Hey! The train's starting' to slow down. Let's get ready to jump off this sucker while we got the chance.

    Just as the town came into sight Josh and Zeke stood at the opening of the boxcar ready to jump. It looked like the time was right, for there was a big thicket of grass about a hundred feet ahead. It came up pretty fast and they both jumped out into the open air and landed in the middle of the grassy area.

    Josh stood up making sure he had his back pack and that his guitar was alright. When he saw that everything was intact he helped Zeke to his feet and saw that he was also intact. Zeke didn't have a back pack, but had what looked like a gunny sack.

    They started walking up the railroad track until they saw a street with a lot of houses. They came up to the street and saw that the sign read sixth street and that it seemed to go into the main part of town, so they proceeded to walk in that direction. They hadn't walked but about six blocks when they spotted a small motel with a vacancy sign. It appeared to be an old established motel with the name Clear Haven Motel on the sign.

    They walked in and saw an elderly man sitting behind the desk reading a book. He looked at the man and said, Hi. I'm Josh Nolan. We'd like to get a room for a couple of nights while we check out the town for work. We don't need anything fancy, just a plain room with a couple of beds would be fine.

    'Hello, I'm William Sanders. I just started my shift so I'll be here all night and then Becky will be here in the morning. I do believe I've got a room and I think it's about what you're looking for. Now, we don't rent this room too often as it don't have any windows but one little rear window that faces a block wall so we can rent it at a reasonable rate which is eight dollars a night or fifty dollars a week."

    That's fine, sir.

    Alright then. Just sign here and I'll give you the key. It'll be room 119, the desk clerk replied.

    When they left, the desk clerk had a puzzled look on his face and said to himself, Now that was strange but I guess It takes all kinds.

    The desk clerk was right about the room. It was small and with two beds and not much else but a little TV attached to the wall and a small bathroom with a shower, but it would do.

    The first thing I'm gonna do is take a hot shower, said Zeke, but you go first Josh. You did pay for the room so you get first dibs.

    Nah, go ahead. I'm going to just lay here on this bed, relax a little bit and watch the local news. Maybe I can find out a little about Ivondale if they got a local station, said Josh as he began changing stations on the TV.

    Later after they both cleaned up and were lying down watching the local TV station Zeke asked Josh, Did ya find out anything about this town on TV, Josh?

    Well, I know they got their share of crime just like any other town I guess. There's a new restaurant opening up tomorrow with a breakfast special. That sounded pretty interesting but we'd have to find the place. We'll just get up in the mornin' and walk down sixth street till we get in town I reckon. We can always ask somebody if we don't find it. I think it was called Shirley's Country Cookin' or somethin' like that. Ya like bacon and eggs don't ya Zeke?

    I like it fine, Josh but you don't have to buy me nothin'. Shucks I can buy my own breakfast. I don't have a lot of money on me but charity only goes so far with me my friend. I like to pay my own way. I do appreciate your friendship and I know you mean well 'cause you got a big heart. That's why I'd like to talk to ya for a minute if I can. Will ya let me do that Josh?

    Sure Zeke. You seem kinda serious all of a sudden so let's hear whatcha got to say my friend.

    I just want you to know, Josh, that I can see good things coming your way.’Course you may have to take a few falls along the road ya take but that's natural. Nothing comes easy. Just keep treatin' people Josh like ya treated me. I was a complete stranger and you offered your hand like ya knew me all your life. That returns blessings Josh. Did ya know that my friend? You do one good deed and you'll get ten back. That's just the way it works. The man upstairs wrote it down that way and it can't be changed.

    That's all good Zeke but why are you tellin' me this? said Josh.

    Because Josh, tomorrow you may see things in a different way but I will tell you now that what I have told you tonight will stay with you even when I'm gone but I will always be nearer than you think, said Zeke.

    Josh, ya know back there in that boxcar when I asked to play your guitar. Well, you thought you were listening to some blues but what I was doin' Josh was embedding sort of a code into the guitar. Then when you play a certain chord progression I will hear it and appear before you. I know you want to live a good life with respectful ways. I saw that you had a good heart the day I pulled you up into that boxcar. However my friend nobody makes the right choices all the time. What I am going to do Josh is show you this chord progression and you will brand it in your mind. Then when you are in trouble I will come to your aid."

    There will be a slight problem though Josh. There will be a few times that you may have to appear before me. I just thought I would prepare you when you feel the door to this world shut and one open to another. Now if you enter my world Josh the only way you can return to the one you came from is to play the chord progression backwards. That's the way it'll work, Josh. Sorry I couldn't make it easier for ya but once you learn it you won't forget.

    I know that you think I'm a lunatic, but let me show you the chord progression. What have you got to lose but just a few minutes of your time? Well, hand me your guitar. Don't sit there dumbfounded!

    Josh slowly hands him his guitar still not believing his ears and listens while Zeke goes through the chord progression. It was only about four bars long in four time, but had several minor chord variations, with a little extra something Josh didn't quite get that required fast movement with his small finger. Josh asked him to play it five times then said he would try it. It took Josh two hours but finally he had it down pat even the little finger movement.

    Now I'm going into the bathroom and I want you to wait five minutes then you will play the progression perfect and we’ll see what happens. Upon saying this, Zeke walked into the bathroom and shut the door. Josh didn't know whether to call the funny farm or to do what Zeke said. Finally he thought, what have I got to lose? Then he started playing the chord progression just as Zeke showed him and he did do it perfectly.

    Well, that was a waste of my valuable time, he said aloud. Then something weird started to happen. Josh felt a cool draft spinning in the air and then saw a shape taking form right before his eyes and there was Zeke sitting three feet from him on the other bed grinning from ear to ear.

    Good golly, Zeke! How did you do that? You're not a magician are you? I don't much believe in that magic stuff but you did somethin' weird just now and I'm startin' to get scared and I don't scare easy.

    You don't have to be scared, Josh. Everything I have told you is the truth. I am what I am and that's all I can tell you right now. I will tell you again and this time you will know it is the truth my friend. You have learned the progression and I said when you are in trouble to play it and I will appear. I also said that there may be times when I can't come to you and at that time you will come to me. You must be prepared, for it will be a strange experience for you. You will become accustomed to the transformations after a period of time and take it for granted. The biggest challenge for you is learning the chord progression backwards but it will come. Just work at it. I have faith in you so don't let old Zeke here down. I call you my friend, for that is the truth, and friends stand by one another. Ain't that right Josh?

    I can't believe I'm sayin' this but you're right Zeke. Friends stand by their friends. Hey! It just hit me. That's why Mr. Sanders couldn't see you ain't it? Man I hope people don't think I'm crazy when they see me talkin' to you out on the street or when we're havin' coffee somewhere.

    Ah, you'll learn soon enough Josh when to speak without people thinkin' your elevator don't go all the way to the top. Just kinda whisper when ya feel it's necessary and besides I can't be drinkin' coffee in public no way. I can have a cup when we're alone somewhere like right now, and Zeke instantly produced a cup of coffee from mid air.

    Hey, could I have a cup? Black if you don't mind, then Zeke produced another cup for Josh.

    Now don't be askin' me to do that all the time. I've got better things to do ya know.

    Oh yeah. Sure Zeke. Sorry about that.

    That's okay Josh. Now I'm gonna leave your good company. Now don't forget to work on that chord progression backwards. It'll be harder but you'll get it. I'll pop in from time to time and check your progress but for now I'll be sayin' good night. . . . Josh, then Zeke slowly faded away until there was nothing.

    Josh played the chord progression several more times and then he felt his eyes getting very heavy. He laid his guitar on the other bed then laid back and fell into a deep sleep with pictures fading in and out of his head, singing on stage with some of the top stars in the country and even with Zeke himself. He saw himself driving a big pink Cadillac just like the idol of millions had, but then Josh saw in his dream a different Josh that started stepping on people to get ahead. He saw himself changing into something other that a decent human being. The more money he made the more friends he lost and greed was swallowing everything decent about him. He appeared as a man gone crazy with power and he saw himself laughing at everybody below him and he woke up that way, laughing in a way that left him scared and shaking.

    He glanced at the clock and it was eight in the morning. He couldn't believe it was that late. It seemed like he had just gone to sleep. He turned over to Zeke's bed to see if he was awake.

    The bed was empty and it appeared as if no one had ever slept in it. He called out, Zeke, where are you? Are you in the bathroom? Zeke!

    Josh jumped up from the bed and looked all around and saw no sign of Zeke. He even opened the door and asked a couple sweeping up trash in the parking lot if they saw anybody come out of the room.

    No sir. We haven't seen anybody, at least since we've been here and that's been about a half an hour.

    Josh walked back into his room and sat on the bed and, like a sledge hammer, it hit him what Zeke had said the night before. Josh was not quite sure if he'd been dreaming or awake. He slowly picked up his guitar and went through the chord progression. No sooner had he played when the air started getting cold and spinning just as it did before and, like last night, there

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