A Boy Named Ray
AUTHOR: Marissa Marchan
In a time when war in the middle east escalates, the real estate market is in the deepest depression in modern U.S. history, unemployment rose to historic highs, violence-infested neighborhoods cry for help, and an increasing number of natural disasters and unprecedented weather events occurred over the past years in the U.S. and in some parts of the world, an inspiration often comes from entirely unexpected places.
In my new book, A Boy Named Ray, we can momentarily forget all the unpleasant worries, fears and concerns, and escape reality to a quiet place, relax, curl up in bed, and indulge in pure fantasy. A Boy Named Ray is a story of love, respect and family values. It's about learning, acceptance, forgiveness, and taking responsibility for our mistakes. It is a wonderful journey filled with exciting adventure and unforgettable characters that will surely become a family favorite. We will be charmed and touched by the story and leave us aching for more and inspire us to put our life in a whole new perspective.
Life can be magical and fulfilling if we live it to the fullest and live it one day at a time. Life is a blessing and full of fun only if we share it with others. Let us follow Ray in his magical adventure and be ready to fall in love all over again.
In my new book, A Boy Named Ray, we can momentarily forget all the unpleasant worries, fears and concerns, and escape reality to a quiet place, relax, curl up in bed, and indulge in pure fantasy. A Boy Named Ray is a story of love, respect and family values. It's about learning, acceptance, forgiveness, and taking responsibility for our mistakes. It is a wonderful journey filled with exciting adventure and unforgettable characters that will surely become a family favorite. We will be charmed and touched by the story and leave us aching for more and inspire us to put our life in a whole new perspective.
Life can be magical and fulfilling if we live it to the fullest and live it one day at a time. Life is a blessing and full of fun only if we share it with others. Let us follow Ray in his magical adventure and be ready to fall in love all over again.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Theo and Mary are good-hearted husband and wife but have disfigured faces and deformities that make them the subject of daily ridicule in their small town. When the townspeople drive them away, they take all their belongings and deep in the woods find an enchanting and magical world, where they set up their home. Soon thereafter, a son, RAY, is born.
Ray is kind and wiser beyond his years. He possesses special gifts, including the ability to speak with the elements and animals. When his parents discover he has great natural powers beyond their wildest dream, they want to uncover the mystery behind it as it slowly begins to emerge. With a series of unexplainable events surrounding them, Theo and Mary learn to accept that their son’s magical gifts come from above. As they witness the miracle from the Lord, it helps them develop not just an appreciation for nature but they learn to love and respect other living things as well.
Realizing their son is exceptionally intelligent, Mary and Theo overcome their own fear of humiliation and send Ray to school when he is five. At school, Ray wins over a group of bullies led by Matt through a combination of his special powers in healing a bird and his friendly nature. Later, Ray, Matt, and two other boys risk danger in the forest to find another boy who has run away from home because of problems with his parents. Ray is able to locate the boy, and then Theo finds the group and assists in their return to town.
The townspeople are so grateful to Theo that they plan a big party in the family’s honor. When told of Theo’s concerns about rejection, the town instead throws open its heart and mind to welcome the family into their community.
Theo gives a speech that brings home to the town the meaning of unconditional love, responsibilities of parenthood, and the knowledge that true beauty comes from within.
READ A FREE SAMPLE CHAPTER
CHAPTER ONE
IT WAS NEARLY MIDNIGHT and the streets were empty but something was lurking in the dark. They walked silently down a long street, and as they drew near to the town gate just when they thought no one was around, suddenly to their great surprise,
“Aaahh! It’s the Hunchback of the Dump and his look-alike bride! Run for your lives!”
The townspeople erupted into a pandemonium of cheers and were having a roaring good time taunting these pitiful human beings. The children pelted them with rocks, eggs, and produce of all kinds as they continued their long walk home. Tears were streaming down her cheeks. She looked at her husband for comfort, but he turned his face away and hid his tears. Then they continued to walk in silence.
These two sadly creatures were Theo and Mary who were born with disfigured faces and deformities that made them the subject of daily mockery in their small town and quiet farming community. Theo, the husband, was hunchbacked and limped when he walked. He had big eyes, crooked teeth, and a very large nose that looked like a giant tomato. Mary, his wife, had big teeth and a hump. Her cheeks were very round and she had a mass of scars including one that ran from her forehead down to her left chin.
They lived in a dilapidated tiny shack next to the landfill. Cardboards covered the holes on the wall. They slept on an old stain-covered mattress they found in the dump. They used an old and rusty portable gas stove to cook their meals, and gas lamps for light at night. To make enough money to survive, they rummaged through the landfill or people’s trash cans. They took aluminum cans, glass and plastic containers, cardboard boxes, and cartons then sold these things at the recycling center and bought what little food they could buy with their money, and almost every day they went to bed half hungry.
One night, while Mary was standing in front of a hot stove preparing their meal, she closed her eyes for a moment and wished that there were baked bread and hot food on the table. Imaged of roasted chicken kept intruding as her thought about food became intense and she could almost taste the hot, buttered bread. Then she opened her eyes slowly, feeling that maybe, just maybe, if she’d close them long enough and opened her eyes, her wish would come true. Realizing that she was being ridiculous, she quickly snapped back to reality then she smiled quietly to herself as an idea came to her mind.
“I wish one day we could have a decent meal like those chicken thighs, wings, and legs that we see on the window display at the restaurant next to the recycling center instead of this steamed cabbage we eat every day,” she said loudly enough for her husband to hear while rubbing her tummy. “Even those juicy hamburgers and French fries would do. And a nice cold drink, too…hmm, just thinking about it makes my mouth water.”
Theo chuckled then rolled his eyes playfully and said, “you never know, Mary. I may surprise you one day and give you not just the chicken thighs, wings, or legs but the whole chicken. And then I’ll add a nice roast beef with it. For you, sky is the limit!”
Mary pretended to be disgusted at what she heard.
“What are you going to do? Steal a chicken and kill it? I don’t like chicken with feathers. I like plucked chicken; juicy, seasoned, and roasted.”
Theo laughed at his wife’s great sense of humor.
“If you have to wish, Mary, wish for something big like the whole chicken; not just the wings!”
Mary smiled. Her eyes gleaming with hope.
“I was just kidding, Theo. Don’t get me wrong; I am not complaining. I am happy that even though we don’t have much, we still eat. Some people are wealthy and they could eat anything they want, but they’re not happy; they’re alone. There are some people who are homeless but at least we have a roof over our heads. I don’t care what people are saying about us. For me, we are the luckiest people in the whole world because we have each other.”
“That’s why I love you so much, Mary. You always know what to say to make me feel better. You always find the positive in everything,” said Theo while putting his arm around his wife’s shoulder. Then they sat down to eat, and even though there was not much food on the table, they happily ate their dinner and the steamed cabbage never tasted so good. They lived a simple life and yet they were very happy living together.
One night as Mary and Theo were coming home from selling their goods at the recycling center, they saw the townspeople gathered around their tiny shack. Theo’s heart was pounding in his chest and knew something was terribly wrong. They quietly hid in the bushes and listened to what the townspeople were saying.
They saw a young man stood in front of everyone and asked, “How long do we let these kinds of people to remain here and be a disgrace to the whole town? Let’s get rid of them. They’re freaks! They don’t belong here with us. We need to start cleaning our neighborhood. We should start with those hideous creatures.”
Mary heard the townspeople cheered and applauded, and she could not help but weep silently behind her hands. They didn’t mean the townspeople any harm. They were very quiet people, working hard, and not bothering anyone. Why would they be angry at them?
“What are we going to do, Theo?” Mary whispered as tears fell from her eyes.
Theo sighed deeply before he answered.
“We are not safe here anymore. I don’t know what they’re going to do if they find us hiding here. We have no choice but to leave.”
“Where do you think we should go?” asked Mary again.
“We would go as far away from here and away from people as we can go. We need to find a place where we don’t have to worry about anyone hurting us again. Don’t worry, Mary. In time, we will find a safe place for us and we will build a world of our own. God will protect and guide us,” Theo choked as he was trying to hide the true pain and sadness he was feeling as best as he could.
Meanwhile, the townspeople made a campfire in front of Theo and Mary’s tiny shack, and they even brought food and drinks as if it was some kind of a celebration. They sat around the campfire, roasted some marshmallows, and told spooky stories while the children held hands to sing and they even danced in circle around them. Then the townspeople anxiously waited for Theo and Mary’s return. But as the night progressed, many soon grew bored and went home. A few people stayed behind and decided to wait. And they waited. But after waiting for seemed like forever, they got tired and finally decided to get a good night’s rest. They all agreed to return first thing in the morning to demolish Theo and Mary’s tiny house, and they would do it even without any consent or permission from anyone. Everyone laughed and they all left leaving garbage everywhere.
Theo and Mary, who were still hiding in the bushes, heard everything the people had said.
They sat patiently in the dark and waited for everyone to leave and as soon as they were gone, they quickly went to their house and packed a few of their things. They quietly pushed the wooden cart and they didn’t stop walking until they disappeared in the darkness. No words were spoken until Mary took one final look at the town and the life they were leaving behind. She let out a frustrated sigh then she asked her husband if he knew where they were going.
Theo paused and sadness crept across his face. He shook his head in desperation not knowing what lies ahead.
For the first time in his life, he was frightened!
-End of Chapter-
IF YOU ALREADY FALL IN LOVE WITH THE STORY AND WOULD LIKE TO FOLLOW THEO AND MARY'S MAGICAL JOURNEY TO THE ENCHANTED FOREST WHERE RAY WAS BORN, THE BOOK IS AVAILABLE NOW IN THE FOLLOWING FORMATS: