Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: ASKEW (06/07/18)
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TITLE: Blisters and Babies | Previous Challenge Entry
By Karen Dick
06/14/18 -
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“God is good to let us have this nice family vacation.” I smiled at my husband and he nodded as I brought my arm in from the open window and winced. “My arm is really sore.”
“You shouldn’t have left it out there.” Harry parked the car.
“If we had air conditioning I wouldn’t have,” I answered. “We are the only ones in Southern California without it.”
“Mommy, are we here?” Mindy kicked her car seat.
I stared at the building with chipped paint and torn curtains. “This is our hotel?”
“It’s all I could find.” Harry jumped out and slammed the car door.
Brian yelled, “Where’s Mickey Mouse?”
I turned and looked at my red-cheeked children. “We’ll go to Disneyland after we check into our room.”
When we entered our hotel room, the cool air engulfed us. I dragged my large suitcase with my tender right arm and carried my two-year-old in my left. I dropped the bag, leaned over, and Mindy jumped down. She squealed and ran to the window.
“Where’s Dad?” Brian pressed a button on the television remote. A voice blasted, “The heat will be extreme all week.”
“He’s bringing in your stuff.”
I opened the bathroom door and peeked in. It looks clean.
The room door slammed, and I turned around.
An elderly man stood inside the door staring at me.
I quickly wrapped my arms around my children. “Who are you?”
“Where’s my family?” The man asked quietly.
“You’re in the wrong room.” My heart pounded as the man began to cry.
The door opened behind him and Harry slid through. He stopped in front of the man.
“He needs his family,” I nodded at Harry, and he gently touched the man’s arm. They disappeared out the door.
This perfectly planned vacation isn’t starting out very well. Lord, I want to be grateful.
“Mommy, where’s my juice?” Mindy tugged on my shorts.
“I thought we were going to see Mickey.” Brian switched the channel on the remote.
Harry came through the door and shut it tightly behind him. “That was weird. I’m not sure how he got in.”
“Our vacation has gone askew.” My swollen arm burned with blisters.
Brian whooped loudly. “I found Ninja Turtles on TV!”
Harry patted my arm. “Ow!” I yelped
“Sorry; why don’t we go catch the trolley to Disneyland?”
The children screamed, “Let’s go!”
I sighed. “You go ahead with the kids and I’ll meet you at the trolley station.
Once they left, I breathed in deeply, then gathered juice, crackers, and sunscreen and threw them in my backpack. As I took a step out the door, I hesitated as I noticed my purse. I don’t think I need it; just one more thing to carry.
I could see my family had boarded the open trolley when I walked outside. I ran across the parking lot, stepped up and tripped into the trolley. The driver stared at me as I slowly pushed myself up. I hobbled down the aisle and plopped onto the seat next to Harry. The trolley started with a jerk.
“Everything okay?” smiled Harry.
With effort, I grinned and looked away. A breeze blew through the open car and my hair flew into my face. I attempted to push it back with my right arm, but it wouldn’t bend. It was now twice its normal size.
Harry bounced along beside me with Mindy on his lap. “Isn’t this great Brian?” He nudged Brian who leaned against the wall, sound asleep.
The trolley pulled up in front of Disneyland. My family hurried out while I trailed behind.
“Mommy, I’m tired,” whined Brian as he leaned against me as we stood in line.
“You’ll have fun once you’re inside. I’ll just get the tickets out.” I looked in my backpack, then at Harry. “Oh no.”
Harry scooped Mindy up in his arms. “What?”
I swallowed. “The tickets are in my purse; at the hotel.” A tear slowly trickled down my cheek. “I don’t think I like this vacation very much.”
He patted my arm.
“Ow!”
Mindy cried.
Brian whimpered.
Harry sighed. “Let’s start over tomorrow. Maybe God wants us to rest tonight.”
And back to the trolley, we went.
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11. NIV
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