Hope Takes Flight by Gilbert Morris Read Free Book Online Page A

almost choked on it. But he managed to save his brother from embarrassment. “I’ll have the same,” he said to the waiter. “Apple pie a la mode—with ice cream on top.”
    The waiter kept a straight face and nodded, “Yes, sir. That’s just the way it’ll be.”
    As they were eating their pie and ice cream, Owen asked, “What’s this surprise you got for us, Amos?”
    â€œFinish up and I’ll show you. But I warn you, it’s more for Gavin than it is for you fellas. Hurry up, now.”
    Gavin glanced up, a question in his dark eyes, but he said nothing.
    They rose and pushed back their chairs, and Amos laid a tip down on the table. They were halfway to the door when Peter rushed after him. “Hey, Amos, you forgot some of your money! You left it back there on the table!”
    Gavin turned red in the face and grabbed the money. “That’s a tip, you idiot!” He retraced their steps and placed the coins on the table again, trying to ignore the giggles of the customers at adjacent tables.
    They were all relieved to put the restaurant behind them. Rounding up the women, the men helped carry their packages to the cars. “You can show us your new clothes later,” Amos said. “Now we’ve got to get back to the fairgrounds.”
    When they returned and parked, Amos jumped out and opened the doors. “All right. Time for your surprise, Gavin. You come with me. The rest of you go over to that field, where the crowd is gathering.”
    Owen glanced in the direction Amos indicated and said firmly, “Okay. Let’s go, everyone. Amos is the boss.”
    â€œNow…when’s the last time I gave you a birthday present, Gavin?” Amos asked as Owen led the others away.
    Gavin stared at him and shrugged. “Well…I guess it was my last birthday. Why?”
    â€œBecause I’m giving you your next birthday present right now. Come along.” Amos began to walk rapidly, and Gavin, mystified, followed alongside. He was a quiet young man, not given to much talk anyway, and Amos’s mysterious behavior intrigued him.
    Amos made his way through the crowd and suddenly Gavin stopped dead still.
    â€œA plane!” he said, his eyes glowing. “A real airplane!”
    Amos grinned at him. “I thought you’d like this. There’s going to be a demonstration here, and I know the pilot. Come on, let’s see if we can find him.” He led Gavin over to the plane, and asked one of the men working on it, “Is Mr. Beachey around?”
    The mechanic, an undersized young man with a sunburned face, gestured vaguely with a wrench. “Over there. At that hot dog stand.”
    â€œThanks.” Turning quickly, Amos made his way to the stand, with Gavin close on his heels. As they approached, Amos said, “There he is. Come on, let’s talk to him.”
    Gavin hung back a little, as Amos walked right up to a man eating a hot dog and holding a glass of what looked like iced tea in one hand. He sure don’t look like a flyer , Gavin thought. He looks more like a salesman of some kind .
    â€œHello, Beachey,” Amos said and stepped up to put his hand out. “You remember me? Amos Stuart, of the New York Journal. ”
    The man eating the hot dog paused before taking another bite and regarded Amos steadily through a set of steel gray eyes. He was a small man with a pugnacious jaw and was rather peculiarly dressed in an expensively tailored pin-stripe business suit with a high, starched collar, a two-carat diamond stickpin in his tie, and a checkered golfing cap, which he had on backwards.
    â€œWhy, sure. I remember you, Stuart,” he said. “You did that story on me a few months ago.” He carefully set down the glass and put out his hand. “What are you doing out here, Stuart?” he asked. “Come to see me loop-the-loop?”
    â€œBack home for a family reunion,”