The Bible Travelers

Hey everyone!

   Ok, I am going to be posting a story I am writing. Here's the first chapter. Hope you like it!!!!!!

   
The Bible Travelers
      By: Emily Lane
                           
    
     Chapter 1

“Not everyone is born with responsibility; sometimes it just happens.”
                      -Rachel Hendrix


   Jason walked down the hall of Ravendale Middle School to get his math book out of his locker. Oh, he couldn't forget his test. He had to get a good grade today. If he didn't, he'd fail to get straight A's for the whole spring semester.
    Jason Hendrix was 14 and in 8th grade. He had blond hair and green eyes that were so light, they had a gray tinge to them. He was five nine and growing. His mom said he was going to look like his dad someday. His dad. That made him really proud. His father was a soldier and, at the moment, was on a mission in the Philippine Islands. Although the Navy didn't appeal to Jason, he was still as proud as he could be.
    But today he wasn't thinking about the Navy, or his career. He was anticipating handing in a perfect paper. Then there would be no more tests until the fall semester. It was finally time for summer brea;  and, tomorrow was the last day of school. This year he was very excited because he was going on a trip with his youth group to Mexico. They were going to be ding some missions work. It was a week long trip and only six days away.
Jason slammed his locker shut, spun the dial, and hurried off to class. He rushed in and handed his teacher the test. She smiled at him.
    “Another A?” she asked, good naturedly.
    “ I sure hope so, Miss Larson,” he responded.
    “ I'll wish you luck then.”
    “ Thanks!”
   As he slid into his seat Miss Larson called out, “All right, class! Settle down!  This is the last test of the year...” the room erupted in noise. Smiling she went on , “and I know you are all very excited to see the results. I will be posting them on the bulletin board tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. Alright? Good. Now if you will look at the papers on your desks, you will find...”
   Minutes dragged into an hour. When the lunch bell finally rang, Jason gathered all his stuff together and went to the cafeteria. After he had gotten his lunch, he sauntered over and sat beside Lexy Rite, a very popular girl, an open Christian, one of the best runners on the track team, and his cousin.
They didn't look alike besides Lexy's dark green eyes,
   They were good friends. Jason was five nine, broad shouldered and growing. She was five five, and not getting any taller, brunette,and skinny. Plus she was a year younger and in 7th grade. But neither of them cared about their age. They were like brother and sister.
 “Hi, Lexy. What's up?”
 “Not much.” she said, and took a bite of her lunch, and scrunched up her face. “ Lunch isn't too appetizing today, is it?” she commented after downing it with water.
 “ Yeah. Doesn't look much better than the K-rations my dad brought home last time he was here. Doesn't taste much better either,” he added after he had taken a bite.
    Lexy smiled. “ Have you heard from Uncle Roger lately?”
   Through a mouth full of food, Jason said,” No,” After he swallowed, he said, “ he's not allowed to directly contact us while he's in the Gulf.”
   “Oh. Well, when you do hear from him, tell me, won't you?”
   “ Of course.”
   Just then, someone tapped Jason on the shoulder. He turned to see Mr. Harper, Lexy's science teacher, standing there.'
   “Jason Hendrix, Lexy Rite,” he said softly.” Mrs. Wagner wants to see you in her office.”
   “ What's wrong?” asked Lexy, bewildered.
   “ I think Mrs. Wagner should explain that.”
     Jason and Lexy exchanged looks, both shrugged and got up to follow Mr. Harper. He led them to the principal's office; and, Janet Lee, the secretary told them to go on in.
    When Mr. Harper opened the door, Jason was surprised to see both his mother and Lexy's mom sitting across from their principle. The adults turned to face the teens.  Mr. Harper left the room closing the door behind him.
  “ Hi, Mom.” said Jason. “ What's going on. Why are you here?”
  “ Mom, are we in trouble?” asked Lexy, sceptically.
  “ No. But I think that your Aunt Rachel has something to tell you two.”  Jason noticed that his mother had tear stains on her face.
  “ Mom, what's wrong?” he asked as calmly as he could, for the fear inside him threatened to engulf him. His mom looked at him a long second before she answered him; but, it was a significant one. He read pain, and fear in her eyes.
  “Your father was trying to save some civilians from an air attack. He got them all to safety except one; and, he went back for him. He didn't make it back to the shelter.” she said, breaking into sobs.
  “ No. No! That's not true! It was someone else!” Jason said, his voice rising.
  “ Jason, listen-” Lexy's mom said.
  “ No! I won't listen! They had to of made a mistake!” Jason said. He got down on his knees searching his mother's face for something to tell him this was just a nightmare. She just looked up at him with forlorn eyes. Jason stood up and stormed out of the room.  Lexy's mother got up and hugged her daughter.
  “ I just can't believe he's dead.” Lexy murmured.
  “I know. It's hard to believe.” agreed her mom. They held each other a little longer.
  “I'm going to take your aunt home. The principle said you can get out of school early today. They were going to let out early anyway. Do you want a ride?”
 “ No. I'll just walk.” Lexy answered.
 “ Then tell Marcy I'll be a little late. She can go ahead and start the hamburgers.”
 “ OK.” and Lexy was gone.
---------------------------------------------------
   Jason ran as fast as he could throuh the park ignoring all other signs of human life. He almost thought that if he ran far enough that he would get away from this nightmare. Thoughts were coming as fast as the steps he was taking. The faster he ran, the more and faster they came.
   The control office must have made a mistake. His dad couldn't be dead. Not the father he knew. The father who was full of life. The father that so many times Jason had run to when things were at their worst. Not the father who held the Hendrix family together. How could God let that happen? He knew that Jason needed his dad. He knew that his mom didn't have a job. He knew that there were seven mouths to feed. He knew all the financial problems this would cause. He knew... then Jason had a different kind of thought.
   God knew the beginning and end. He knew why this had all happened. He knew everything. And He would take care of everything. All of a sudden, Jason felt a wave of peace, comfort and
love wash over him. He felt like God had told him it would all be alright.  Jason just needed to trust Him.
    Jason knew he did not want to be there when his siblings heard about their father. He had five. Justin, who was eleven, Julie and Janie, eight. Jared, six, and baby Joy. Jason decided on the library. It would be quiet there; and, he could get some books.  When he got there he started picking up books like, “How to Give Yourself a Makeover ”, “How to Make Your Monkey Fly”, and a horror story called “ Return of the Poisonous Purple People Eaters ”. Jason quickly put them on a shelf for some unsuspecting librarian to put away. If he was that preoccupied, then he should probably go home.
   No one talked very much that night. When Jared said his prayers asking God to take care of his daddy their mom ran to her room sobbing. Jason told him not to worry about it. She would be fine soon. Jared looked up at him with innocent blue eyes.
  “ When is Daddy coming home?” he asked.
   Jason didn't answer. He just tucked him in bed. How could he tell a six year old kid?  It was no surprise that they all cried themselves to sleep that night. It was inevitable. Although he tried not to, he found himself crying, too. Out of the darkness, he could hear his brother, Justin, humming a song that their father used to sing to them. Jason lost himself in the familiar notes. It was an old Irish lullaby. His great-grandma had sung it to his dad; and, his dad did the same to all the children. They weren't Irish but the song was comforting, and Jason loved it. Soon he was asleep, and dreaming about his dad.