10
Wednesday, Gigget was having a busy day at work when her phone beeped a notification. Probably another raccoon on the porch. The kids had moved their pumpkins back to the steps in hopes that the cameras would keep them all safe.
It was no raccoon. Fez Ponderosa was smashing the kids’ pumpkins all over the steps and walkway to the front stoop.
Gigget snapped a few time-stamped photos and called the police non-emergency number to report the vandalism.
Soon, an officer was at her workstation. She shared the video and pictures and filed a report.
He departed to search for the man.
She debated sending a message to Bing. Maybe after they’d arrested Fez? Or didn’t they do that? He’d probably get a ticket. She decided to wait until later. Maybe she should consider a restraining order. That would probably only serve to aggravate him more. And she’d read that many times, that didn’t stop the problem.
Now she needed to deal with Djoni and Amoretta, who would be heartbroken at the destruction. She sighed and returned to her work before her boss realized how distracted she’d been.
Once she punched out, she picked up the kids and headed home. They had the mid-week children’s ministry program tonight.
Once the kids were in the car, she broke the sad news. “I’m so sorry, children. But someone came and smashed our pumpkins again.”
Amoretta released a dramatic sigh. “Really? Why?”
“I don’t know why, honey,” Gigget replied and immediately realized that wasn’t the full truth. Fez was angry that she wouldn’t go out with him. She couldn’t explain that to the children though.
“I bet it’s Mr. Ponderosa,” Djoni stated matter-of-factly. “He’s upset because you like Mr. Twinkle and not him. Maybe you should bake him a pie out of the smashed pumpkins as a gift. Maybe he’d stop then.”
“Djoni, that’s a naughty thought. We have no proof of that Mr. Ponderosa feels that way, so we shouldn’t be judging. We’ll clean up the mess and try to salvage the seeds, and maybe another day we can roast them as a special treat. Would that be OK? I’m not about to take smashed pumpkin all over our steps and bake that into a pie.”
“A little dirt wouldn’t hurt. You always told us a little dirt wouldn’t hurt and when we fall, we are to get up, brush off our clothes, and get moving again.”
“Yeah, Mommy,” Amoretta added.
“Sweethearts, a little dirt on your hands or clothing will wash out. I don’t encourage you to eat dirt. We wash our hands before we eat. We wash dishes before using them again and how often do you need to take baths?”
“Too often,” the children replied in unison.
But Gigget’s grin disappeared when she saw the mess Mr. Ponderosa had left behind.
“Let me get some pictures of this for the police before we clean up.” She snapped some photos while the children stood with their arms crossed.
Djoni was the first to move. “I’ll go get the shovel from the garage. Do you want that in the compost pile?”
“That would be good. Thank you, son. I’ll go inside to get dinner started. Remember you have children’s ministry tonight.”
“Yippee! I need your help to rehearse my Bible memory verse,” Amoretta said.
“I’ll be glad to do that after you help your brother get this cleaned up. Get that bucket from the garage to put stuff into and the wagon to take it to the compost. Make sure you hose down the porch and everything before returning the tools to the garage.”
“Yes, Mom.” The two children headed for the garage together.
Gigget entered through the back door, and went to the foyer to grab the mail from the front door slot.
One had no stamp or return address, just her first name on the white, legal sized envelope. She set it aside to get the hamburger browning on the stove.
A blast of cold air preceded the children as they came in the back door and took off their coats.
“ Brrrrr. Is it going to snow, Mom?” Amoretta asked. Her cheeks were rosy with cold.
“I haven’t checked the weather forecast. It feels as though it could, doesn’t it? Go wash your hands. Am I to assume if I look out the front door, I’ll see a clean porch and steps?”
“As clean as I can get smashed pumpkins, Mom. Eww, they were kind of gross. Maybe next year we should get all the junk out and carve them?”
“Maybe.” Gigget returned to browning the hamburger. A premixed box of noodles and spices was not normal fare, but on a night like this when there wasn’t a ton of time, she kept the quick meal on hand. Frozen green beans cooked in a few minutes rounded out the meal.
Amoretta came dancing into the kitchen. “Here it is, Mom.” She struggled a bit. “I think the book is Is-a-i-ahh.”
“I think it’s pronounced I-zay-yah, sweetie.”
“Oh! I’ve heard of that one. Isaiah 41 verse . ‘So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am Your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’”
“That’s a great verse. What do you think it means?”
Amoretta tilted her head to one side as she pondered the question. “It makes me think of when there’s a thunderstorm at night and I get scared, and you let me climb into bed with you and I’m no longer afraid. I feel safe.”
“That’s exactly it. When bad things happen—”
“Like smashed pumpkins?”
“Yes, like that. We can have faith and trust that God is with us. He will give us everything we need to get through the scary stuff.”
“Mommy?”
“Hmmm?” Gigget asked.
“Who takes care of you when you’re scared?”
Gigget stirred the contents of the pan and put the lid on top to let the food simmer. She turned around and dropped to one knee in front of her daughter. “That’s a great question, honey. Sometimes I do get scared or worried.”
“We could help you,” Amoretta suggested.
Gigget gently touched her daughter’s cheek. “That’s very sweet of you, but adult problems and fears do not belong on the shoulders of children. I have to do what that verse says and trust in God.”
“Is that easy?”
“It should be. You trust in me, right?”
Amoretta nodded her head.
“That’s easier to do when I’m here, isn’t it? If something happened somewhere else when I wasn’t around, would you feel as comforted in knowing I love you and would protect you?”
“No,” she pouted.
“Exactly. But God is always with us, isn’t He? So even when I’m not there to help or protect you, and I’d never knowingly put you in harm’s way, God is there watching over you.”
“So, He’s like a wall around me to keep me from being hurt?”
“Kind of. Sometimes bad things will happen because people make bad choices, and we can end up being hurt by the choices we make or the choices others make; but even when things are bad, God is with us.”
“Oh.”
Gigget could tell that her answer wasn’t quite what her daughter wanted to hear, and while it saddened her that she couldn’t protect her children from bad things, she had to be honest with them. “Why don’t we try working through that verse together?”
“OK”
“Isaiah 41:. ‘So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.’”
Gigget worked with her daughter, all the while grateful that God was the One who had sustained them and helped them. The Lord had put people in their path who blessed them without recompense. Puck’s generosity came to mind. And her heart welled with gratitude, especially thinking of another man who offered help…Bingle Twinkle.
~*~
Bing got home at around ten that evening after working part of second shift due to someone being sick. The overtime boosted his paycheck, but he was beyond tired. He heated leftovers and ate. Then he shuffled to the bathroom to shower before crashing into his bed. “Lord, thank You for the energy to make it through this day. Help me to rest well. Be with Gigget and her children. Keep them safe from harm. I love You and am so grateful for the way You have always been with me.”
His eyes closed, and he drifted to sleep.
Gigget, with a sweet smile, rosy cheeks, and a sparkle in her eyes drifted into his dream. He smiled back.
And then, an ugly dragon appeared and snorted fire. Gigget’s eyes grew wide with fear, and her children clung to her. Bing jumped between them and the dragon and ushered them into a storm cellar. The roar of the dragon was followed by a blast of heat as he shut the metal doors behind them.
The roaring continued as they sat in the dark. Bing fumbled along the wall for a light switch. One lonely bulb gave little light to the room.
“Is everyone all right?” he asked swallowing his own fear.
“We’re OK,” Gigget said. Her eyes were wide and the two children clung to her legs. “You didn’t need to jump in to help us.”
“He was roaring at me, too,” Bing protested.
A tiny smile appeared on her face. “Oh, so you’re claiming self-preservation?’
“That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.’
Bing began searching the small space for anything to defend them. His stomach growled.
He turned around. Only dust-covered bottles of water were there. No food or weapons. The space was small and adequate as an emergency shelter. Not even being used to store canned goods. He sat on a wooden box, defeated.
Gigget held out a plate with a steaming piece of apple pie topped with vanilla ice cream that was starting to melt. “Here. You need to eat.”
He accepted the plate, his mouth instantly watering. There was even a real fork. He took a bite and groaned with pleasure.
A tiny smile formed on Gigget’s lips.
“I’m scared,” Amoretta whined.
“Me too,” Djoni whimpered.
“I suggest we pray,” Bing said.
Amoretta perked up. “I memorized the perfect verse! Isaiah 41:. ‘So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’”
Bing stared at the child in astonishment. “That’s the perfect verse.” He set his pie next to him. “Why don’t we hold hands to pray.”
Gigget’s warm hand in his sent a tingle through him. Danger! Danger! And not from the dragon. Amoretta’s hand became swallowed up in his big mitt. They all bowed their heads.
“Lord, we’re scared but grateful we are safe from danger and that You are always with us. Give us wisdom and free us from this place to one of safety and peace. We trust in your perfect timing for that to happen. Amen.” Bing raised his head.
A tear trailed down Gigget’s cheek. He reached over to brush it away. “Now, now, Ms. Wicket. All will be well.”
She shrugged and offered him a small smile even though her eyes were still wet with unshed tears. “Maybe so, but I’ve never experienced someone praying for me like that before. Thank you.”
Warmth spread within his chest. “You are more than welcome.”
Another muted roar reminded them of their situation. Amoretta grabbed his hand again. “Mr. Twinkle, you will protect us, won’t you?” she pleaded.
“To the best of my ability, but not even I can withstand the flames from that dragon.”
“With God all things are possible, aren’t they?” Djoni challenged.
Bing startled awake drenched in sweat.
It was a wonderful and horrific dream, but what did it mean? He rose to strip the bed and put on fresh sheets and got in the shower. He was due back at work soon enough anyway, and he doubted he’d be able to get back to sleep now.