At Wheeler Homes Chapter 6

                                  Chapter 6

          Jessica found Gloria outside hanging clothes on the clothes line.

          “What are you doing?” Jessica asked.  “I thought you had a clothes dryer.”

          Gloria rolled her eyes and said, “We do, but it isn’t working.”

          Jessica sighed and said, “What a bummer. Can I help?

          “Sure!” Gloria said.  The girls made short work of hanging out the damp clothes.  It was still early in the day, and a little breeze was blowing.  It wouldn’t take long for the clothes to dry.  Jessica was still trying to think of a plan to get to go to church with Gloria next Sunday.  She was bothered because she had several problems that had to be solved before she could get to church.  She had an idea on one of them.

          “Gloria,” Jessica began, “Do you think that I could ride to church with you this Sunday.  My dad has to work this Sunday at the tire shop and we only have one car.”

          Gloria said, “Well I usually ride on their bus that comes by.  It’s actually a lot of fun on the bus.  The bus captain sings songs and helps us learn memory verses and the ride seems to go by real fast.”

          “Really!” Jessica said.  That might be a lot of fun, she thought.  “Do you have to pay to ride their bus?” She asked.

          “No,” Gloria laughed, “They like to pick up kids for Sunday school.  Just be out here at our school bus stop at about 9:15 Sunday morning.  I’ll be waiting for you.”

          Jessica thought for a moment and said, “Can James and my mother come too?”

          “Sure!” Gloria said.  “I’d better get going and get supper started or my mother will be cranky.  See you later.”  And she disappeared into her house.

          Jessica thought as she went back towards her own house.  She still had to convince her mother to go to church.  And she really didn’t like sneaking behind her step-father’s back and going to church while he was away at work.  She thought, If he found out, he would be really mad.  No, her best plan would be to ask him if they could go to church.  But first, she would have to butter him up.  And she knew just how to do it!  Jessica eased into the back door, listening to see if her parents were still arguing.  As she came in through the back door, all was quiet.  Her mother was busy in the kitchen with supper and her step-father was in the living room watching TV.  Jessica ‘s first target was her step-father.  She walked up behind the couch and said, “Daddy, would you like a glass of tea?”

          Howard looked back with a puzzled look on his face.  “What are you up to?” he asked.

          “Oh, nothing,” Jessica said as she pulled a glass out of the cabinet.  “How was your day today?” She asked and filled the glass with ice from the freezer.

          “Okay, what’s up?” Howard demanded.  “Now you really are being too nice.”

          Jessica filled the glass with tea and brought it into the living room and handed it to her step-father.  “Well, I was thinking about something that we talked about the other day.” She began.

          Howard smiled and said, “Alright, out with it.  What are you getting at?

          “Well,” Jessica slowly began, “Remember we talked about me going to church with Gloria this Sunday?”  She quickly added, “Remember I said that I could get all of my work done on Saturday?”  Jessica’s mother poked her head around the corner with a curious look on her face.  Gloria continued with confidence, “Daddy, can I go to church this Sunday with Gloria?”  There.  It was out.  Jessica stopped and let her words sink in.  The suddenness of Jessica’s request caught Howard off guard.

          At first he looked disgusted, but then his face changed from indecision to resignation.  He raised one finger in warning.  “You can go,” he began, “If you get all of your work done on Saturday.”  He tried to keep shaking his finger at Jessica, but she was all over him, hugging and thanking him.

          Then she straightened up and continued, “Can James go too?”

          Howard had softened.   He said, “Sure, if he wants to.”

          Jessica tried one last time, “How about mother?”  With that, Jessica’s mother peeked around the corner from the kitchen.  Jessica continued, “I’ll help mother get your supper ready for when you come home from working at the shop on Sunday.  It will be ready and on the table when you walk in the door.”  She added, “I promise!”

          Howard knew she had him.  He sighed, giving in and said, “Your mother too.  All three of you can go.”

          Jessica started another round of hugs, but her step-father protested, “Hey, watch the tea!” and they all three had a laugh.  What they didn’t know was that at just that moment, Gloria was praying.  And while Gloria was praying, Gloria’s heavenly Father was working.  God is always working, you know.