If you missed the beginning of the story you can read Chapter 1 here.

Chapter 3

Copyright © SavedGirl

               Crystal walked into school the next day with a bulging binder in her book bag.  She had stayed up long into the night printing information and categorizing it in a binder. Mr. Dakins had said that they could bring any materials that they needed to help them in class.

                The class began with the students dragging themselves in and preparing to be bored out of their minds.  

                "Alright class. Today's lecture is about the origin of the earth. As we all know 8 billion years ago there was a huge explosion and over millions of years life formed."

                Crystal raised her hand, "Sir, were you there?"

                He coughed. "Well all respected scientists say that it happened that way."

                "Were they there?" she repeated.

                "Well everybody knows that-"

                "Sir you still haven't answered my question."

                "Crystal Penning, you are being disruptive. Sit down."

                Crystal sat down amid the titters of the class.

                Slightly shaken, the teacher continued his talk. Occasionally he would glance disapprovingly over at Crystal.

                As for Crystal she was amazed that she had had the courage to stand up and question him.

                After class a student came up to her and said, "Wow, you sure livened up that class. We all expected to be like sooo bored.  You sure changed that."

                When Crystal arrived home she found her father hastily packing a suitcase.

                "What is it Daddy? I thought your leave lasted for another week?

                "There was some sort of mix-up. They need me back now."

                Jason Penning was a pilot who worked for a commercial airline. He was one of their best pilots so he would often be gone from home for long periods of time.

                Crystal swallowed hard. "So we will have to be home alone for awhile?"

                He walked over to her and gave her a hug. "I know it will be hard, honey, but the Lord will give you strength."

                He continued packing while Crystal started making dinner. She was scared. She was secretly terrified of being left home alone. She was glad that she would have Mary to keep her company, but she knew that there would be times when Mary would not be there.

                Also she worried about her father. Anything could happen on a plane. She knew that the Lord was in control but she still couldn't keep herself from worrying. Before the tragedy had happened her mother's rock solid faith had been there for Crystal to lean on. Now Crystal would have to endure the strain alone.

                "No not alone," Crystal chided herself. "I will have Jesus Christ to strengthen and guide me."

                Later that evening when her father left she did her best to fight back tears. As he held her in a bone-crushing embrace he whispered in her ear, "Be strong. Trust in the Lord."

                He knelt down by Mary and said, "You listen to Crystal, Mary. In my absence she will be in charge."

                The little girl nodded her head and sniffed.

                Crystal watched him climb into his car and smiled weakly as she waved goodbye to him.

[Read Chapter 4]