Caleb's Sons' Adventures

Sammy's acclaim as a landscape artist was reaching into the international world of art and his show at the Ala Moana Center in Honolulu had been a tremendous success.

His landscapes were attracting international notice, a landscape he did as a young boy while with his Dati, Concho Best, in Nevada, hangs in the main rotunda of the University of Nevada in Reno. It is regularly included in National and International Art Reviews.

Recently, a drawing he did of the Chilean Andes was moved to the National Museum of Art in Santiago, Chile and included in Art Reviews, both in the United States and also in Europe.

His Dati has become Vice President of Best Sons' Engineering, Pacific Basin and Sammy assisted during a recent manpower crisis in creating conceptual sketches for the engineers to work from.

One of those sketches now hangs in the Administrative Center of the University of Mexico in Mexico City.

At his showing, his color and charcoal drawing of Mt. Kilauea in eruption on the Island of Hawaii was purchased by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City for an amount reported to be in excess of $250,000, however, Sammy refuses to confirm that figure.

Sammy's humble beginnings are well known, he was rescued from illegal slavery in Australia, while a very small child, by his Dati and Onkla Paul Duncan when they were on assignment in that country erecting a new power station.

Sammy is part Australian Aborigine and knows little of his parents or his early childhood. Concho Daniel Best adopted him and that is the only family Sammy feels he needs, along with his "other" Dati, Thomas Two Trees.

The Prime Minister of Australia, Sheila McTaig, had written Sammy asking that he come to Australia and do a series of commemorative drawings of the "Wonders of Australia" and Sammy's Life Partner, Cormin Two Trees is excited about the prospect of going to the land of Sammy's birth.

Sammy is not that enthused about not being close to his family, but he decided to ask his Dati, Concho Best about it.

Concho sat down with his son and asked him, "You are an artist, are you not?" Sammy replied that he was and Concho continued, "Sammy, what artists do is create descriptions of great things that please those who look at their work. Not photographs, but what the artist conceives the subject to be. Anyone can take a photograph, but only an artist can capture the life and aura, the very spirit of God's Greatest Treasures. Your artistry brings those treasures to those who will never have the chance to see them in real life, so your drawings bring those treasures to them personally."

Sammy agreed and asked Son James, his Dati's Office Manager, to send a telefax to The Prime Minister that he would come to Australia and do the drawings.

With Cormin's assistance, Sammy gathered all his supplies and assembled clothing to be worn on the deserts of the Australian Outback.

Concho gave him the address and telephone number of Jessie Kerns, a Crafter living in Gawler who had known Sammy as a small child. He suggested that they look the woman up, as she had known them all and had taken a special interest in Sammy.

The day of their departure was sad and Both Sammy and Concho were fighting to keep their tears from running down their faces. Each was all the other had as Family and they were close as any two men could be.

Son had booked Sammy and Corbin in Business Class and they got through Security and walked out to the Premium Class Departure Terminal to await their flight.

The terminal employees were familiar with passengers using the name "Best" and the attendant asked Sammy which one he was. Sammy told her he was Concho Best's son and she smiled, "You are Little Sammy, aren't you?" Corbin giggled as Sammy told the woman he was.

The attendant related to Sammy some of the things he had done over the years in that very same terminal and they all had a laugh over the antics of a little boy.

Their flight was soon called and the two men found their seats on the airplane, settling in for the 14-hour flight to Sydney. Neither Sammy nor Corbin had any desire for breakfast at the early hour they had to leave for the airport, so, by the time lunch was served on the aircraft, they were sufficiently hungry to consider eating the china it came on.

After 14 weary hours, the non-stop flight began its approach to the Sydney Airport, where they were met by representatives of the Prime Minister, who whisked them through Customs and Immigration.

They were taken over to the domestic terminal for the short flight to Canberra, where a small reception was held for them to meet representatives of the local artist community and members of the Prime Minister's Cabinet.

There was a flurry of applause when the Prime Minister noted that Sammy was the individual for whom the Adelaide Power Plant was named.

The Conservation Trust offered Sammy and Corbin the use of their small helicopter to get them around the huge country and, of course, it didn't hurt for the Trust to have its name associated with this son of Australia who was fast becoming a world-famous artist.

Their first stop would be The Great Barrier Reef at Cairns.

Sammy sketched a three-panel display, showing the famous reef in all its glory, the folks at the Silver Diving Facility offered the use of their platform for his use. As Sammy's sketch slowly became a color pencil drawing, people watched in amazement at the work of this talented young man.

A news reporter from the Sydney Times happened to be present when Sammy displayed his three-panel drawing of the famous reef. His picture of Sammy next to the drawings made the front page of the largest newspaper in the country and the editor told the reporter to stick to Sammy Best like a second set of clothes.

Crowds of local people came to see the drawing on display, local art supply stores were suddenly emptied of drawing supplies and local children tried to imitate the fast becoming famous drawings.

When he had completed all he wanted to draw at Cairns, they took the helicopter up through the famous rain forest, where Sammy spent several days sketching the huge trees and the unique aerial rope walkways that threaded their way through the trees.

It was here that Sammy sketched a tree climbing 'roo that would soon become an international sensation with Sammy licensing the sketch to be used by toy manufacturers in Europe and America.

Sammy planned to stay several weeks in Darwin, the quaint fishermen's boats and the docks were a colorful reminder of times long past elsewhere. He and Corbin roamed the northern city, where there was always something of interest taking place. They were especially drawn to the colorful fishing boats and their catch, Sammy would sit on a pier and sketch out plate after plate of the unique culture of Northern Australia.

It was a fateful day that Sammy and Corbin discovered part of their destiny.

Sammy was sketching the wildlands and sand dunes east of the town when they heard a sound that attracted their attention. It sounded like a hurt animal, or maybe a small child crying. They went to investigate and discovered two young boys, who looked to be twins about 6 years old. There was no question that they were part aborigine, they both looked very much like young versions of Sammy himself.

The two Americans sat down in the sand next to the boys and hugged them. Sammy asked, "What are you boys doing way out here?"

One of the small boys replied, "They doesn't wan' us no more."

Corbin's eyes got large and he asked, "Who doesn't want you anymore?"

The boy answered, "Ours Mam an' Pap, theys tol us to git lost and theys left."

Corbin and Sammy were horrified, Sammy the more so as he was remembering parts of his own early childhood. They gathered up the two children and took them back to the car, they had a local driver who was a budding artist himself and had volunteered to drive the two Americans around while they were in Darwin.

Their driver, Daniel Shotz, told them that this was not an unusual thing to happen and recommended they take the two boys to the local Constable. Corbin looked at Sammy and they both shook their heads, "YES".

Daniel drove them to the office of Senior Constable Peter Macklin and they related to the Constable all that they had discovered about the two boys.

The Constable was an observant man and he saw that his two visitors wished to speak to him in private, so he rang for the Matron and told her to take the boys and get them something to eat. Matron Phyliss McDonald was grandmother herself and her heart went out to the little boys, she gathered them up in her arms and took them off, promising them an icy if they finished all their lunch.

As soon as the Matron had closed the door, the Constable said, "OK, what is it?"

Sammy asked, "Sir, the newspapers have reported my story of how I was rescued down in Gawler, is there any way.......?"

The Constable replied, "You are Sammy Best, aren't you? Your Daddy is Mr. Concho Best?"

Sammy smiled and replied, "Yes sir, you know about me?"

Constable Maklin laughed, "I sure do, my Uncle was Constable Lee James and he was the one who helped Mr. Best adopt you. Uncle Lee is retired now, but I know he would want to see you. My cousin, Jerry Lee James is a Barrister and I am sure he would help you adopt those poor little tighs.

Cormin and Sammy looked at each other and both said, "Let's do it!"

Constable Maklin got on the telephone and called his Uncle and his Cousin. They both lived locally and said they would be right over.

When Retired Constable Lee James arrived, he saw Sammy and went right to him, giving Sammy a big hug. He held Sammy's shoulders and looked him over, "My, my, you have grown to be a fine young man, Sam."

He turned to Corbin and asked, "And who is this?"

Sammy quickly answered," This is Corbin Two Trees, my Life Partner. Is that going to be a problem?"

The Constable replied, "No way, besides, from what I read of you in the Sydney Times, I am surprised there is not a whole string of children chasing you down the street!"

He continued, "Your whole life story is in this morning's edition!"

Constable Macklin returned with Matron McDonald, the two boys and another man who introduced himself as Jerry Lee James. He said he was Retired Constable Lee James' adopted son and would do everything possible to facilitate the adoption of the two little boys.

In the meantime, Senior Constable Maklin had the authority to remand the two boys to Sammy's and Corbin's custody, pending a hearing before the Magistrate.

They learned that the boys were Tobias and Tolliver and they were 6 and 1/2 years old! They had to change rooms at their hotel so that they had sufficient beds for the youngsters and as soon as they had settled, Sammy was on the telephone to Hilo. Of course, Concho wanted to speak to the boys, they had never spoken on a telephone before and were a little fearful of the strange voice that came out one end of the handset Sammy handed them.

As soon as Concho finished speaking to the boys, he was on the telephone to Hue in Fairfield; Hue asked him, "What flight are you on to Sydney?"

Concho replied, "Bro, I haven't gotten that far yet...."

Hue cut him off, "Get a seat on tomorrow's plane, we will cover for you while you meet your new Grandsons! GO!"

Somehow, Son had determined what was going on and had already gotten Concho and Thomas seats on the first flight to Sydney the next morning. The only seats available were in First Class, but they had his and Thomas' name on them.

Concho hurried home and fortunately, Thomas was there. He had just returned from a rush trip to Manila in preparation for a large forestry and sawmill job they were getting ready for.

Thomas was tired and a little rummy from his whirlwind trip and he stood there with his mouth hanging open, "Boys, Grandsons, Sammy, Corbin?"

Sammy was trying hard not to laugh at his own Life Partner as the man struggled to understand what was going on. Finally, Thomas had to sit down, his legs would no longer support him, they were trembling and shaking.

When Thomas finally had taken it all in, he was excited as Concho and both men started throwing clothes in suitcases. They may have eaten supper that night, but neither would ever be positive of anything that they did or said.

The next morning, Son James was at their door to take them to the airport, they were still in a daze, but, at least they knew their own names when they picked up their tickets at the airline counter. How they ever boarded the airplane, they never remembered, they were halfway to Sydney before they could speak coherently.

Son had arranged for a domestic flight from Sydney to Darwin that departed just two hours after they were scheduled to arrive in Sydney, so they had to hustle to catch the next flight over at the domestic terminal. They made it just in time, the gate attendant was starting to close the gate as they came up and handed her their boarding passes.

When they finally got to their hotel in Darwin and unpacked their bags, there were a few mismatched socks and shirts that did not work with trousers they had thrown in their suitcases.

Concho had to go out and buy them both new toothbrushes and paste, as well as deodorant.

Sammy and Corbin had asked their driver, Daniel Shotz to pick up Concho and Thomas at the airport and deliver them to the hotel. Daniel was chuckling at how scattered both Sammy and Corbin seemed, he decided, after viewing their parents, that it was hereditary!

As Concho and Thomas were frantically trying to match up sufficient clothing that they could get dressed after taking a quick shower, Sammy and Corbin knocked on their door.

Each had a boy in their arms and ear-to-ear grins on their faces.

Both Concho and Thomas tried to open the door together, nearly knocking each other down in their excitement, they snatched the two little boys out of Sammy's and Corbin's hands and left them standing at the door as they took Toby and Tolly to the couch and sat down with them.

The boys glowed in all the attention and were soon babbling away at these two new strangers who were holding them on their laps.

Both Concho's and Thomas' eyes were leaking as they held the two boys. Neither man had ever dreamed they would ever have the joys of being Grandparents.

At that moment, Concho suddenly realized the emotions his own Dati, Daniel Best, had experienced when he presented Sammy to him!

They all went to supper at the hotel and the two boys, Toby and Tolly, experienced foods they had never dreamed of and the meal was ended with yet another treat that left them trying to lick their bowls, ice cream!

By now, everyone was beginning to run down, Concho and Thomas were running solely on adrenaline and were on the verge of crashing.

On their way to their pillows, Concho and Thomas said, "Goodnight, Grandpa," to each other before they collapsed into slumber.

The others were only seconds behind them, the boys were totally exhausted and Sammy and Corbin were still numb, still not quite believing that they had two little boys.

The next morning, the Barrister, Jerry Lee James met with everyone. He shook Concho's hand and said, "Mr. Best, my Papa, Retired Constable Lee James is in town and will want to get together with you a bit later."

Concho smiled, he had fond and thankful memories of Constable Lee James and asked the young lawyer what he could do to help his boys.

The Barrister told him that someone like himself, The Vice President of one of the most important transpacific companies was involved and was the parent of the men wanting to adopt the two children would go a long way with the courts.

The morning edition of the Sydney Times carried the story of Toby and Tolly and that the two young men, one a world-famous artist and the other his Life Partner, wanted to adopt the two abandoned boys.

All four of them were instant celebrities; Sammy wanted to do some early morning sketching in the boat harbor, so he left the hotel, leaving the boys in the care of Corbin and his own parents. As he sat, sketching in the colorful fishing boats as they left to gather their morning catch, people crowded around him, praising his drawings and telling him how wonderful he and his partner were to take in the two-part aborigine brothers.

The local newspaper, the Darwin Herald, carried a front-page spread of the story and a picture of Sammy working on his sketches. The local Mother's Club took up a collection to insure that Tolly and Toby were properly clothed. They had no way of knowing that Concho and Thomas had taken the two boys to the local department store and about cleaned out the Children's Department of shoes, and little boys' clothing!

Three days later, they received notice that their case would he heard by Magistrate Clarence Rook.

On the appointed day, they made sure that Tolly and Toby were dressed neatly and knew who Sammy and Corbin were and that their prospective Grandparents, Concho Daniel Best and Thomas Alexander Two Trees were also in the courtroom.

As they entered the courtroom, Magistrate Rook looked at them all and said, "This is a closed Court Proceeding, Bailiff, close the Court!"

He then stepped down from his podium and stood by Tolly and Toby, "Boys, will you come with me into my office, so just you and I can talk?"

The two young boys were hesitant, but Barrister James urged them to go with the Magistrate, that everything would be OK.

Sammy and Corbin were as nervous as kittens at a dog fight, but Concho and Thomas has already spoken with the Barrister and they were not concerned.

In a very few minutes, Magistrate Rook led the two boys out and he mounted his podium with Tolly and Toby in his lap. The magistrate said, "Mister Samuel Concho Best and Mister Corbin Thomas Two Trees, step forward, please." When they had both approached the bench, he continued, "Do you both promise to love, cherish and care for Tolliver and Tobias Samuel Corbin Best?"

It did not register with Sammy and Corbin at first, but as recognition dawned on the two men, each literally screamed, "YES!"

The Magistrate whispered to Tolly and Toby, "Now bang the hammer down"

As the boys slammed the gavel down on the Magistrate's desk, Magistrate Rook intoned, "I hereby declare this cased closed, boys, go hug your Daddies!"

Concho and Thomas decided to remain in Australia with Sammy and Corbin, so that they could get to know their two new grandsons. While they were in Darwin, Sammy and Corbin took the boys to the American Consulate and presented their adoption papers so that American Passports could be issued to them.

Their next place to visit was Perth and Sammy called the Prime Minister's office to arrange pickup for them all in the helicopter and transport to that westernmost city.

The family's notoriety had become celebrity status and the reporters from the Sydney Times and also the Perth Daily Register were at the air terminal when they arrived in Perth.

All the attention frightened Tolly and Toby and they hid behind their Daddy's legs.

Gregg Jenkins, the Sydney Times reporter, squatted down to speak to the two small boys, "Tolliver, Tobias, you boys are heroes and boys just like yourselves want to see you and be just like you. You can help other lost boys by showing how happy you are with your two new daddies."

Toby and Tolly came out from behind their Daddies and shyly waved, the reporter caught them with smiles and waving in a photograph that made it around the world over the next couple of days.

Back in Hilo, Son James purchased 50 copies of the Honolulu Gazette and put 45 of them on Concho's desk.

In Fairfield, another 50 copies of the Sacramento Bee were delivered to Mr. Hue Daniel Best's office!

The party spent two weeks in and around Perth, Sammy produced a panorama of Opal Hill Mining District that the Managing Director of the Sydney Times offered Sammy an undisclosed seven-figure sum for.

That drawing was to become a National Treasure of Australia!

Everywhere the family went, young boys rushed up to hug Toby and Tolly and a young couple came up to them all, "Mr. Best, we have been unable to have children and you showed us the way to be a family, we are adopting a little boy and his sister. God Bless you all."

In all, Sammy produced twenty drawings of Perth and the surrounding area. He made arrangements with a local printer to reproduce several of them as quality reproductions. He made a special run of 100 impressions and they were sold in just one day.

So many folks wanted their own copies, Sammy gave the printer copyright permission to produce a slightly lesser quality print that he must sell for no more than $10 Australian.

He was to give half of his profits to the local Children's Orphanage.

The printer would retire as a local millionaire!

Their next destination was Uluru, known by many as Ayer's Rock. This is a sacred place of the Aborigine People and Sammy wanted to spend several weeks there sketching and drawing this special place of his ancestors.

Their helicopter ride dropped them off at The Sails Resort nearby, where they had reservations to stay. There was a large crowd awaiting their arrival, including a delegation of the Aborigine People.

The group of Aborigine Leaders stepped forward to greet them; the group included an old shaman who stared at Sammy.

He went up to Sammy and said, "I greet thee, son of the people." He turned to Cormin and said, "You, also, I greet, with thy parent, sons of the ice people of the north."

He looked at Concho and dropped to his knees, "QUICHEE, you have come back to us, SON OF THE STARS!"

The old man was in tears as he hugged Concho.

Concho was bewildered by all this, he replied, "Old Father, I am of the People of the Andes Mountains."

The Old Shaman replied, "Yes, you are of the Quichee, those who came to us from beyond the sky."

The old man's words were a mystery that would remain unsolved. Of course, they all knew of popular stories involving visitors from outer space, but Concho knew very little of the legends and history of his own people, that had been lost in the mists of time.

The Aborigine Elders helped the old Shaman stand and he continued his tears as they helped him depart the area.

Later, Concho and Sammy would be invited into one of the sacred caves at the base of Uluru. Neither man would ever reveal what they had been shown, nor would they ever discuss their visit.

Sammy spent several weeks drawing the great rock and the people who lived near it.

The drawings of Uluru that he would present to the Prime Minister when they left Australia were to become world renowned and would symbolize that nation on stamps and documents for future generations.

He spent many hours with Corbin and their sons at his side, contemplating the great rock, his final drawing, created just before they departed, was to be his defining work, a masterpiece that would hang in the Smithsonian and would intrigue visitors for generations to come.

They continued on to Hobart in Tasmania. Sammy's drawing of the harbor and boats also became world famous and would hang in the official home of the country's Prime Minister for all of time.

When they returned to Sydney, the boy's passports were ready and Sammy was exhausted. He had created many drawings and travelled many miles doing so. Now, all he wanted to do is go home and enjoy his family. Toby and Tolly had withstood the rigors of all the travel, but they were, after all, but 6 years old and they needed the stability of their own home and a place in which they could put down roots.

They all needed to go home.

They swung through Gawler to visit with Jesse Kerns. She was delighted to see her "Little Sammy" and the magnificent man he had become. She welcomed them all into her home and made much over Toby and Tolly.

She took Concho aside, "Cho, I want to thank you for what you have done for Sammy and I know it was you who had my home repaired.

She kissed Concho and they both had tears leaking from their eyes as they made their way back to the front of the house.

Jesse's brother, Milo Kerns, told Concho that Jesse was very ill and needed an operation that could only be done at Stanford University Hospital in California.

Concho asked, "Why is she not there now?"

Milo hung his head and replied, "Cho, we just cannot afford to send her."

Concho was terribly upset and asked to use the telephone. He spoke with the Operations Manager of Quantas Airlines, "Best Sons' Engineering will pay for First Class transportation of Miss Jesse Kerns and her Brother, Milo Kerns to San Francisco and return. They are to be charged nothing."

Unknown to Concho, Milo was standing behind him, crying.

He hugged Concho and said, "May God Bless you Concho Best."

Concho replied, "Milo, we will also pay for Jesse's treatment and you are staying with her until she is well."

Sammy was also in the room and he said, "No, Dati, I will pay for her treatment." And he wrote out a check to Milo for $250,000 and told Milo that should that not be enough, he would add to it.

It was an emotional farewell from Gawler, Jesse was in her wheelchair, hugging them all, Milo was nearly unable to speak, the generosity of these people was beyond belief and the relief he felt that his beloved sister was going to get the help she needed had almost unmanned him.

Everyone gathered at the airport in Sydney to make the flight back to Honolulu. They had much to be thankful for, but it was a somber group that walked down the passageway to the International Departure Terminal. Each was thinking what had transpired on this trip and what it meant to him.

Two little boys had gained loving parents and were entering an adventure that would take them far from the place of their birth and into a new land, different people and new traditions.

Their parents looked forward to the uncertainty of growing boys and troubled times, while the Grandparents prayed they would see those same boys become men.

The word uttered by the old Aborigine Shaman kept going through Concho's mind, "QUICHEE". What did it all mean? Would he ever know? Who alive today knew about this?

It was all a mystery.

They waited in the First Class Lounge, Concho had upgraded all their tickets to they could travel together.

As the huge aircraft taxied up to the Jetway, two little boys came racing back to the safety of their Daddies' arms, they were convinced the behemoth machine was going to roll right over them.

When they were called to board, Toby and Tolly suddenly had a panic attack; they feared getting into the belly of that huge monster waiting for them.

Sammy and Corbin guessed what was going through their sons' minds, so they picked them up and held them protectively in their arms as they boarded the aircraft. They sat quietly until the pilot started the engines and then they were not so sure they really wanted to go to 'Merica.

As the plane started to lift into the air, they both had death grips on the Daddies' arms. After the plane had reached cruising altitude, the stewardess, wise in the ways of little boys, as she had two of her own at home, found two coloring books and some crayons.

Toby and Tolly were occupied with that until the first of two meals was served. Chicken fingers were a novelty to the boys and they had never before eaten french fries, however limp from the steam table.

With full tummies, they slipped into sleep until it was time for their second meal, a light afternoon snack that was finished by a small cup of ice cream.

Both Sammy and Corbin saved their ice cream cups for the two boys, had the cups been made of paper, they might have eaten them along with the ice cream!

After a long 14 hours, the plane began its descent into Honolulu, where they would spend the night before going on to Hilo. It had been an exhausting trip and they were all anxious to get home.

They spent the night in the Royal Hawaiian and caught the morning flight to Hilo. Son had both vans waiting for them at Hilo Airport, he was driving one and Gil, the other.

Son was a small man, not a great deal taller than Toby and Tolly. He gathered them up in his arms and gave them a joyful welcome to Hilo.

The two boys instantly formed a life-long affection for the little man and he became their champion and their confidant as they grew up.

TBC

Author's note: The Legend of the People of the Stars is an actual legend common to some of the Australian Aborigines and a few of the native tribes of the High Andes.

This ends our story of Sammy and his adventures in Australia. The mystery of the Quichee may never be solved, but this Family will continue and there will be more Engineering Adventures of the Best Sons' Engineering.