Salt Lick, Vol. Ii

Book excerpt: SALT LICK, Vol. II, The Innocents, by Dr. Robert A. (Sunny) Brock, the conclusion of Ali ORileys celebration of life is glutted with maturing parent-child, emotional relationships, and sibling bonding. The same variety of personalities are present which filled the pages of Volume One, however, they are in the responsible summer of life. The comedy, romance and pathos of life reach new plateaus as the families blunder through the early child-rearing years with purpose and hope. As a clan-unit they share their joys and surprises, exploring male-female differences in perspective, finding new levels of patience with each others shortcomings. Again, the Christian message of redemption is folded into real life situations amidst friction and agitation. All the relationships jell, teaching tolerance and patience among the diverse antagonistic personalities. THOMAS and ALI set up housekeeping near a valley lake. The other clan-couples soon follow, building homes around the lake, creating a protective, pastoral paradise and establishing their own town of Cousins, Georgia, between Savannah and Macon. Thomas and Alis cabin is nestled beside the main wagon trail. A mysterious traveler and his two children, running from the east-coast Scarlet fever epidemic, are stranded. The stranger departs in the night, leaving his ill children in Thomas and Alis care. Before the young girl dies, Ali catches her contagious disease. Ali looses her strength and glory due to the ravages of Scarlet fever. The small abandoned boy is given to ELIJAH to rear. One of the many animal episodes occur in the cabin, teaching priority management. During early morning hours, a squabbling wood duck and squirrel fall into the fireplace. The comic bedlam of the chase brings about an accidental fire. This incident sets the stage for empathetic-comedy, and romantic interlude of emotional joy and stress release, which the reader will vicariously share and fall in love with the couple. Alis first born son, SUNNY (Big Foot), enters the story and steals the show to the end of the book. Sunnys two year old, baby-talk is contrasted by his uninformed thought life, which adds classical, innocent joy from his birth to the conclusion. Sunny is born with a club foot. Uncle Elijah builds a twisting box for therapeutic straightening of the foot. The entire clan shares Alis agony, watching helpless as her baby suffers. Elijahs wife is barren from too much cattle driving and horse riding as a child, therefore, he brings several orphans into the clan. Having been raised in a household of twenty-one children, he cannot function well without sibling rivalry and bonding. On a trip to Savannah, promoting his Elijah treasure chest-coffins he obtains custody of a criminal's children, thus enters GEORGE, into the clan family-fabric. George becomes one of Sunnys protector-benefactors. Elijahs wife, HOWDY, develops a jealous battle between herself and sister-in-law. The family squabble results in ROWDY becoming a paraplegiate. Rowdys invalid state affords opportunity to teach forgiveness, patience and tenacity. Thomas takes Ali and Sunny shopping in Savannah. The gala mood ends in tragedy when Sunny gets lost from Daddy at the Savannah Zoo. The helpless anxiety of losing a child pervades the episode. Unknown to the parents, a vagrant child tries caring for Sunny, resulting in much pathetic comedy. The new caretaker, GOOBER, also loses Sunny on one of their many rollicking jaunts. However, Goober in his persistence, rescues Sunny, and after many near death situations, returns him to his mother, who thinks a guardian angel has returned her baby. Then, Ali loses and rescues Sunny. Before leaving Savannah, the orphan, Goober, is convince