FINDING Ti Ming & Tem Po

AuthorHouse

Contents

Part I — Confidence............................1Chapter 1, The Attic.................................3Chapter 2, Golf Camp.................................6Chapter 3, Jack's Secret.............................10Chapter 4, Finding Rhythm............................14Chapter 5, Late Night Mission........................17Chapter 6, Only a Dream..............................19Chapter 7, Practice Round............................22Chapter 8, History Lesson............................26Chapter 9, Champion Golfer...........................32Chapter 10, Lost.....................................36Part II — Respect..............................41Chapter 11, Seeing Things............................43Chapter 12, Green Dreams.............................46Chapter 13, Coming Clean.............................50Chapter 14, Proving Grounds..........................54Chapter 15, Day in the Park..........................59Chapter 16, Another Believer.........................63Chapter 17, Dream Camp...............................67Chapter 18, New Clubs................................73Chapter 19, Helping Hands............................78Chapter 20, Purposeful Practice......................82Chapter 21, Under Pressure...........................88Chapter 22, The Question.............................92Part III — Judgment............................97Chapter 23, Front Row................................99Chapter 24, Sleep Talking............................104Chapter 25, Afternoon Nap............................109Chapter 26, Dinner with a Friend.....................114Chapter 27, Bad Dreams...............................118Chapter 28, Good Advice..............................122Chapter 29, Tommy's Sentencing.......................126Chapter 30, The Search...............................130Chapter 31, Perfect Shots............................134Chapter 32, New Goals................................138Chapter 33, Record Score.............................142Chapter 34, The State Open...........................148Part IV — Perseverance.........................153Chapter 35, Jack Grows Up............................155Chapter 36, Tommy's Gift.............................159Chapter 37, Partnership..............................165Chapter 38, Long Drive...............................169Chapter 39, Q-School.................................173Chapter 40, Home Stretch.............................178Chapter 41, Dreams Come True.........................181Chapter 42, Reunited.................................186Chapter 43, A New Beginning..........................191

Chapter One

Jack Arnold knew he shouldn't be in his parents' attic. He'd been warned several times about going up there. Once, after helping his mom bring down the Christmas tree, Jack lingered in the ill-lit, squatty room. He tripped and gashed his knee on a rusty nail. A trip to the emergency room and six stitches later, Jack was banned from the attic.

But he went back anyway. There he stood, in the cramped space filled with odd-angled wooden beams, strange shadows and peculiar noises. If it weren't for his grandfather's golf bag, the thought of climbing up into the forbidden room wouldn't have crossed the 12-year-old's mind. But he knew the old golf bag was there. And he knew there had to be some golf balls in it.

With golf camp starting that week, Jack wanted those golf balls.

As it turned out, golf balls were the last thing on Jack's mind after that night. He discovered far more than he had counted on up in the dark, creepy attic.

Jack shuddered and nearly let out a scream when he first crossed eyes with the golf gods. A chill ran down his spine and he started to tremble. His heart raced and breath shortened as a burst of dust and smoke filled the room when his grandfather's musty leather bag tipped over. As it did, two small wooden statues tumbled onto the floor.

That moment changed Jack's life forever.

Minutes earlier, he had pushed the upstairs hallway bench over, climbed atop and reached for the handle to the trap door that led into the forbidden room. His mom was vacuuming downstairs, so Jack had an opportunity. He might get caught, but it was the risk.

The dusty bag that held a bundle of hickory-shafted clubs mesmerized Jack. More than once, Jack's dad told him about his grandfather and how he was a talented amateur golfer who squandered his talents. Jack asked his dad what "squandered" meant.

"Son, your grandfather wasted his talents," Jack's dad had said. "He gambled too much and it caught up to him." After a short pause, Jack's dad added, "He finally got what was coming to him."

Jack didn't know what that meant. But he could see his dad's face getting red, which meant he was getting angry. Jack left it alone, but he didn't stop wondering about his grandfather. The mystery made Jack more interested in his story.

But on this night, Jack wasn't thinking about that. He was only concerned with stocking up on golf balls. And he knew right where to find them. When the golf gods tumbled out on the floor in front of him—making a crashing sound he was sure his mom would hear—Jack forgot all about his quest for golf balls.

Jack stood motionless, locked in on little wooden statues. The one with a beard wore a disapproving scowl with hardened eyes. They pierced straight into Jack's and terrified him.

"Who's up in the attic?" Jack heard his mom call. "Jack, is that you up there? What are you doing? Get down here this instant!"

Jack couldn't move. A shiver ran through him and he trembled. The little figures stood upright just a few feet away. Jack shook his head and rubbed his eyes. He looked closer and saw both figures held golf clubs and looked crudely carved from some tree a thousand years ago. Each statue had a name etched at its base. The one whose stare frightened Jack was named "Ti Ming." He had a long beard and flowing robes. He held a golf club like a walking stick and looked like one of the Samurai warriors Jack had seen in the movies. He scared Jack.

The other one looked friendlier. "Tem Po" was much fatter and his bare, rotund belly protruded from his robes. He sported a happy-go-lucky smile and carried a bag of golf clubs over one shoulder.

"He must be a caddie," Jack thought.

"Jack Christopher Arnold, get down here right now!" His mother's voice tightened. Jack turned to scurry back down the attic steps. Before he did, he took one last look at Ti Ming and thought about taking the figures with him. It could have been the poorly lit attic, but Jack thought he saw Ti Ming's frown deepen as Jack inched forward, as if to serve as a warning.

Jack backed away slowly and climbed down the attic steps.

"What on heaven and earth were you doing, Jack?" his mother asked.

"I don't know," he said. "Just looking around."

"Sweetie, you know you're not allowed up there," his mother said. "Remember what happened last time? We'll see what your father says about this."

"Please don't tell Dad!" Jack pleaded.

"Only if you promise not to do it again," she said.

"OK, I promise," Jack said, crossing his fingers behind his back.

"You better grab your golf clubs," Jack's mom said. "We're almost late for your first day of camp."

Chapter Two

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