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    The Tale of Nottingswood
    The Tale of Nottingswood
    The Tale of Nottingswood
    Ebook78 pages51 minutes

    The Tale of Nottingswood

    By J.R. Young

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    About this ebook

    Somewhere between the twisted worlds of Tim
    Burton and the bouncing meters of Dr. Seuss,
    you'll find the upside-down town of Nottingswood.

    Having cast out the majestic Guardian who was
    once their protector, the people of Nottingswood
    built the Great Wall to block out the sun. Now,
    holed up in their houses, Nottingsfolk are content
    to let their town decay into a colorless wasteland.

    Until one day...

    A curious cry from the center of town catches
    the attention of a pair of twins who guard the
    Great Nottings Gate. Lured from their hohumly
    home, this Brother and Sister stumble upon a
    Creature that has the power to change their
    lives forever.

    Follow this daring pair as they defy the shadowy
    Order of Voices, dodge the meddling Ms. Grouse,
    and face the austere hand of The Judge on an
    adventure that neither they nor you will ever
    forget.

    The Tale of Nottingswood, by J. R. Young, with illustrations by Amelia Grace, is a fictional novelette written entirely in verse, but formatted in prose for easy reading.

    Nottingswood is an exciting and dramatic story perfect for the whole family to enjoy. Whether read aloud together--with each person playing a part--or read quietly curled up on the couch, The Tale of Nottingswood excites both the heart and the mind.

    The book is rated at a 7th/8th grade reading level, and, much like Harry Potter and other popular juvenile fiction, the story is as delicate and deep for the adults as it is for the kids.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherJ.R. Young
    Release dateJan 5, 2015
    ISBN9781311398062
    Author

    J.R. Young

    J. R. Young is the not-so-alter-ego of inspirational speaker and performer, Justin Young. The Tale of Nottingswood is his first fictional novelette. He lives in Virginia with his patient wife, active children, and annoying cat who refuses to let him do anything without her permission.To download his free eBook for parents and educators on how to communicate with a teenager, visit http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/262331.

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      Book preview

      The Tale of Nottingswood - J.R. Young

      The Tale of Nottingswood

      by J. R. Young

      Illustrated by Amelia Grace

      Copyright © 2014 J. R. Young. All rights reserved.

      Illustration Copyright © 2014 Amelia G. Housworth.

      All rights reserved.

      Distributed by Smashwords

      This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this ebook with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      Ebook formatting by www.ebooklaunch.com

      DEDICATION

      To my children: may you always live in light.

      ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

      Forever grateful to my wife, Ashley, whose patience with me is unfathomable; to my parents, Pat and Tom, for allowing me to take over their home office; and to Chris and Amanda whose eyes and vision enlighten my own— Remember the Golden Mean.

      Table of Contents

      Prologue

      Part I

      Part II

      Epilogue

      About The Author

      About The Illustrator

      Join The Conversation

      Share The Inspiration

      Educators

      PROLOGUE

      This is a story unlike any other 'bout a humdumly Sister and hohumly Brother who shared a small house throughout every season, and lived out their lives of strict rule and reason.

      There was no heart for there was no love, no visions of hell or heaven above, and childhood dreams carried on through the years could not be remembered in spite of their fears that all was not well in Nottingswood where no man stands where no man should.

      Until one day....

      THE TALE OF NOTTINGSWOOD

      PART I

      A cry was heard throughout the town where old men fight the up and down of aged bones, the cantankerous sort, who drown their pain in pints of port.

      The cry wasn't sharp, but shrill to the ear. T'was not the least pleasant for mankind to hear, but it caught the attention of the Brother and Sister that they set about town to find and to dister the thing that was crying so loud and so shrill - then they spotted the source at the top of the hill.

      At the top of the hill at the center of town, right there on Main Street, the sun would shine down all for two hours only, and that was at best, while the town stayed inside at The Judge's behest.

      Stay out of the light!

      Now that was her order, and Brother and Sister had never ignored her; but when the clock struck midday, this wailing did sound, and this tale is about the thing that they found.

      And what did they find? Just a worn leather basket containing what seemed like a young baby's casket.

      But it wasn't a casket, just a box after all; still there was something amiss about this object so small. Though not small at all for its size was deceiving, and the creature inside was still haply breathing. Yet breathing I fear is not the right word for a cry so loud it was outright absurd.

      The Brother and Sister looked on it quite curious. It wasn't upset, or bewildered, or furious, just simply awash in a fit of conniption, and around its neck there hung an inscription.

      The Brother bent down to read it aloud, his voice barely heard by the gathering crowd.

      Now what does it say? Sister cried, Please do tell.

      But her attention averted when her nose caught the smell of a gathering stench, but she cried just the same, Brother I beg you, please tell us its name.

      The Brother stared dumbly, his brow quite perplexed as he pondered the plate that carried the text.

      It's no name at all, but simply instruction:

      Change me, I'm soiled.

      A simple injunction.

      What unusual timing and how could this be? The inscription was read at a quarter past tea when all were ensconced in their own occupation, no time for each other or chance jubilation.

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