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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Write a Coming OF AGE short story (11/20/14)
“Look at Mrs. Jones.” Maria nudged Jenny as Mrs. Jones slowly made her way down the aisle. The ten-year olds had observed a number of memorable sights from their post on the back row in the little church where Jenny’s father was the preacher. They giggled and pointed as they watched the long snake of toilet paper crawling along behind the heel of Mrs. Jones’s shoe. When Jenny looked up, she saw her dad watching her with a stern look on his face.

“Uh oh,” she said, “now I’m in for a good talkin’ to. Though Jenny loved and admired her dad greatly, she still found it hard sometimes to set the good example that he and her mom wanted her to.

That afternoon he sat down with her to have “the talk.” Putting his arm around her as they sat on the couch, he began, “Jenny, I know Mrs. Jones dragging that toilet paper down the aisle was funny, but I can’t imagine you would ever mean to hurt that dear old lady’s feelings. You did draw attention to her though when you and Maria giggled so loud and pointed at her shoe. Poor Mrs. Jones is a faithful Christian, who has endured a great deal of sadness and hardship in her life, and I wouldn’t want my little girl to add to them.

Tears rushed down Jenny’s face, and she said, “Dad, I’m so sorry. I won’t do anything like that ever again. I want to be kind to everybody, like you are, and not hurt people’s feelings.

Her dad said, “I know that, Jenny. You’re my sweet girl with a tender heart. I believe you’ll think hard about it before you make fun of anybody else.

It was just a couple of weeks later that Mr. Haven, a church member, brought a busload of children to church. Jenny watched them come in. Most of the little boys and girls were dirty with uncombed hair and were wearing ragged clothes and worn-out shoes. She felt so sorry for them and wondered if they would have a big dinner when they got home like the one her mother had already prepared. She wished she had enough money to buy them all new clothes.

After the family had enjoyed a pot-roast dinner, followed by one of her mom’s chocolate pies, Dad said, “Jenny I need to talk to you. Let’s take a little walk.”

As they started down the sidewalk, Jenny asked, “What have I done now?”

Her dad smiled and said, “I don’t think you’ve done anything wrong, but Mrs. Haven pulled me aside after church and said that you stuck out your tongue at those little needy children her husband brought on the bus, and . . .

Before he could go any further, Jenny declared fiercely, “Just a minute now, Daddy. That’s a big fat lie. I felt so sorry for those little kids. Mom sews up my clothes when they get holes in them, and she makes me take a bath and comb my hair, whether I want to or not, and you and Mom get me new shoes when I need them. Nobody takes care of those kids like that. Why, I’d love to buy new clothes and shoes for all of them. I would never stick out my tongue at them. Why would Mrs. Haven say such a thing?”

Dad said, “Now just a minute before you get your dander up. I did not believe what Mrs. Haven said. I told her I would mention it to you, but that I knew my little girl’s heart, and she would not have done that. I’m sorry, Honey. Mrs. Haven is just an unhappy woman, and she likes to think the worst of everybody. We need to pray for her. And maybe you’d like to give your allowance this week to a fund for those children.”

Jenny said, “I’ll give two weeks’ allowance to the fund.”

That night before she went to bed, Jenny got down on her knees and prayed, “Dear Lord, I don’t want to, but Dad said we need to pray for Mrs. Haven because she’s unhappy, but I hope You’ll keep her from being so mean. I’m glad that my dad said he knows my heart, and he believed me, even when a grownup lied about me. Bless all those little kids, Lord, and help me to be kind to everybody.”

Jenny’s parents, standing outside her door, just smiled.
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This article has been read 861 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Toni Babcock 
11/30/14
Interesting twist in this story. I was not prepared for an adult telling a lie about the preacher's kid! Well done, and a good reminder to pray for those who sin against us.
C D Swanson 
12/03/14
Captivating read along with an excellent message.

God bless~
Rachel Barrett
12/04/14
This one is my favorite so far. So very real, and so well written.

"The long snake of toilet paper crawling along behind the heel of Mrs. Jones’s shoe" nearly made me hurt myself laughing.

I felt like I was right there in the middle of the happenings. I was so relieved that Jenny's father believed her when she said she didn't stick her tongue out at the kids...

And I LOVED the prayer at the end. So cute and so true.