Mary Sue Holton

Forever Make Believe Mary Sue Holton

Rusty Delaney grew up in Swift Creek, Kentucky, with his best friend, John Cooley. They shared a love of the big woods and all the adventures hidden there. But there was something special about John Cooley...only Rusty could see him. Everyone said he was "imaginary", but to Rusty, he was very much real. When Rusty's daddy finally gave permission for his son to explore a limited area of the woods, it opened up a world of excitement. Stationed in a fort that Rusty's daddy built, the friendship soon expanded to include a stray dog who was given the name Chance. The three of them joined in an effort to rid the woods of "Injuns" and bad men. As Rusty got older, his boundaries were extended and when he turned 7, he was free to roam the big woods as long as he checked in with his mama twice a day. One day they happened upon a cabin far back in the woods and soon became friends with an isolated old man who called himself "Woody" and his dog, Biscuit. Woody had lost one of his legs and hobbled around on a wooden stump. All of Woody's stories were captivating, but it was hearing about the big, bald cypress with a hollowed out trunk that captured Rusty's attention. It was far back in the dry swamp but seemed to call to the young trio to come visit. Unable to contain his curiosity, Rusty and John Cooley made a decision to trek back into the dry swamp in search of the big cypress. It was an adventure that would put all of them to the test in ways they couldn't have imagined. Lost but unable to admit his fear, Rusty drew on the survival skills Woody had shared, and John Cooley's wealth of knowledge. The perils of the unknown made themselves visible as the days and nights passed, and all of Swift Creek searched for the missing explorers. There would be lessons learned in the journey to the big bald cypress that would follow Rusty into adulthood. But even he wouldn't be prepared for the eventual twist that closed the perpetual circle of make believe...