Shelter from the Storm. (Chapter 16)

Mac Davenport wheeled his old Ford 4x4 pickup

into the driveway of his home and was enthusiastically

greeted by his mastiff dog Cornelius and his Siamese
cat Kato. Mac immediately knew what they wanted.
 "Yes, lads, I know,"  he said to them as Cornelius
hopped with his forelegs and Kato rubbed against
Mac's calves, "you're hungry. I'm right on it."
 Mac had just returned from the dismantling the track
and getting the fellowship hall back to its original
arrangement with the help of Gary Canfield, Wilfred
Templar and a few other men of the church.  Mac
remained after everyone else left to check the church
and make sure it was secure before heading for home.
 Mac now had one more task to do and that was to
feed Cornelius, Kato and his rabbits.
 Mac undid Cornelius' chain and followed Mac to the
back door with Kato darting ahead and waiting by the
door ahead of Mac and Cornelius.
 "Kato,"  Mac chuckled, "you must learn patience."
   Mac and his 'lads,' as he sometimes calls his two
pets, entered into Mac's small home and Mac began
the task of feeding Cornelius and Kato.
 After he finished with Cornelius and Kato Mac was
getting ready to head back outside to feed the rabbits
when his cellphone rang. He pulled it from the case
he had clipped to his right side, opened it and answered
with, "Hello?"  It was Karen.
 "Yes, Karen?"



Karen Williams was in her room getting ready for bed
when she decided to call Mac.  She wanted to tell him
what a great night it was for everyone including her. It
was also about her concern for Julie Benson and Alex
Hobbs.
 She pressed Mac's cell number which she got from
a church directory which was given to new members
courtesy of Jenny Garrett of the Newberry Community
Church Welcome Ministry of which Mac Davenport
himself was minister.
 "Hi, Mac,"  Karen answered.
 She paused a moment, then answered with,  "I just
wanted to call and tell you what a great night it was
at the pinewood derby. Everyone really had a good
time tonight!"
 Pause.
 "Oh no. Not at all. I love church events like this."

 Pause.

 "Yes, there is. It's about those two kids; Julie and

Alex?"

 Pause.

 "How long will she be there?"

 Pause.
 "Well, anyway, I couldn't help but notice that Julie

seemed a bit preoccupied during the race."

 Pause.
 "I did.  I thought she looked a bit dismayed."

 Pause.

 "Oh, that's great. I'll check my email and I will

definitely pray for them and their mom, too!"

Pause.

"Okay, Mac. I'll see you Sunday! 'Bye!"

 Karen went over to her small desk across her room,

opened her laptop and checked her emails and sure

enough an email prayer request which was sent out

by Gary was on her list. After clicking on it and

reading it, she turned the laptop off, closed it then

went over to her bed, knelt down beside it and

began to pray for Julie, Alex, and their mom.  

Mac closed his cellphone and put it back in its

case and proceeded with the task of feeding the

rabbits.  Cornelius and Kato were still chowing

down on their meals as Mac headed back out.

This concludes Chapter 16.

Shelter From the Storm. (Chapter 15)

At the Canfield home Brian Canfield and Alex Hobbs were in their
room with Alex looking up and admiring his trophy he won at the
Newberry Community Church's pinewood derby. His pinecar
was next to it. They were both getting ready for bed. Brian saw
Alex looking up at the trophy, shook his head and just grinned.
 "Still admiring your trophy and car, Alex?" Brian asked.
 "Ya," Alex turned to look at Brian as he answered him.
 "I did the same thing when I won, too." Brian said as
he patted Alex on his shoulder, "It was a great night for me
as well."

 Over in Dawn and Julie's room Dawn and Julie were talking
about the pinewood derby as well.
 "Alex was so thrilled he won," Julie said of her little half-brother,
"that he clung to his trophy and car like they were his soul
possessions."
 "It was the first time he ever won anything is why."  Dawn
answered.
 "I know it is," Julie answered back, "We both never been to
something like that before."
 Dawn noticed that Julie started to get somewhat uneasy after
she just said what she said. Julie somewhat choked up when
she said the word 'before.' A sniffling sound followed and that
was when Dawn rushed to her side.
"Julie," Dawn exclaimed, "What's wrong?"
"I don't want to leave you ," Julie sobbed, "You've all been
so good to me and Alex and I don't want to leave."
 " You won't," Dawn replied, hugging her, "God has
brought you to us, remember?"
 "I know," Julie sniffled, "I-I thought about how nice it is
being with all of you and then what it was like back home."
 Julie buried her face on Dawn's shoulder and cried some
more.
 Gary and Vera were walking down the hallway to get ready
to turn in when they heard Julie's sobs as they approached
the door to Dawn and Julie's room. Vera was the first to
walk in followed by Gary.
 "Julie," Vera exclaimed as she came to her side, "What's
the trouble, honey?"
 Dawn answered first, "She says she doesn't want to
leave us."
 "You aren't," Vera said.
 "But what when Mommy gets out?"  Julie sobbed,  "She'll
come for us and take us away."
"She can't do that," Vera reassured her, "Children's services
won't allow her to."
 "They won't?" said Julie, looking up at Gary and Vera.
 "No, Julie," Gary put in, "It's a long story, but your mom
is going to be going through a lot, and she won't be able to
take you back, not for awhile, anyway."
 "Oh."
 "Gary," Vera said, looking toward her husband while she
held Julie to comfort her, "We need to all get together and
pray for the kids, their mom, and the outcome of all this
right now."
 "I'll get Brian and Alex,"  Gary replied and walked out of
the room and to Brian and Alex' room.
 Vera went to the dresser nearby and pulled a tissue from
a tissue box that sat atop it and wiped Julie's cheeks with
it and then said, "We're all going to pray for your mom and
this situation she is in and for you and Alex as well. God is
going to work this out, okay, honey?"
"Okay," Julie answered.
 Gary came back in with Brian and Alex and informed them
of the reason for the prayer gathering. Alex looked over to
his half-sister and noticed from the puffiness of her eyes and
the reddened cheeks that she had been crying. Alex then
immediately went over to her and hugged her. "Don't cry,
Julie," Alex said, "It be awright."
 "Yes, it will," Vera added and then everone in the room
held each others hands and Gary lead the family in prayer:


 "Oh heavenly Father, we all come together in Your
precious name and we pray for the situation that
Julie and Alex' mom is in and that you work this
situation according to your will. We also ask that
You protect her and watch over her and also for
your comfort and protection on Julie and Alex
while they are here in our care. We earnestly
pray that you work all this out for your glory.
In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen."


With the prayer concluded and some brief reassurances
from Gary and Vera, Julie and Alex turned in, followed
by Brian, Dawn, and their parents.  Vera bid the girls
good night before she turned and left the room and
then did the same with Brian and Alex as she and Gary
passed by their room.


 Outside the Canfield home and across the street opposite
their home a lone vehicle, a 1980s vintage Chevrolet S-10
Blazer in a dark brown paint scheme was parked by the
curb, its engine running. It stood there for maybe five minutes
sitting there at the curb as the driver, the sole occupant of
the old SUV, appeared to be looking in the direction of the
Canfield home. The driver's figure was obscurred by the
darkness outside save for a street lamp that was still burning
at the house at the right of the Canfields' which barely
silouetted the head of the driver. The outline suggested a male
with a ball cap. Five minutes had passed and the Blazer pulled
from the curve and drove off into the night.



This concludes Chapter fifteen.