Chapter One Being Saved
I was sitting on my porch singing a song my music teacher taught me as I wrote in my writing journal. I am I big fan of reading and writing. It is like my special talent! I don? know why but I just am very eager to let my imagination flow all over the page. Julia, my best friend always tells me I am a great writer and that I will grow up to be a sophisticated novelist.
?t? beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Everywhere you go. Take a look in the five and ten, glistening once again. With candy canes and silver lanes aglow!? I sang.
Then Julia called.
?ey, Holly! What? up?? she asked in a casual voice.
?h nothing. Just singing Mrs. Hitson? choir song. And I was about to finish it if you don? mind?? I replied laughing a little bit. ? am joking! So why did you call? Any real reason??
?h, yea. I called because Eugenia is having a surprise birthday party today and it seems as if it was a surprise to us also! So she is having the party at her house. You have to be there at 2:00,? Julia said.
?kay. I will be there in a jiffy!? I replied.
I put my journal down and went inside to put some nicer clothes on. I had my jean skirt on with my brown top that had pink edges and my super cool sneakers. Julia was going to say I looked faberific! Julia made up that word when she was trying to say fabulous and terrific at the same time, so it made faberific!
I live in the country in Massachusetts. It is mostly farm land not very many stores but they have a downtown when you go a long ways down the street. I am eleven and I go to the elementary school close by. I have been going there for about three years. Julia and I met on the first day. I have long curly, reddish, orange hair and a skinny body. My teeth are kind of uneven but I am going to be getting braces soon like Julia has.
Julia has long brownish, golden hair and usually wears it in a pony tail. She has glasses and is just like me with the writing and reading part but likes sports also. I am okay with sports but not as much as Julia.
I walked down Olive Street and saw an old man. He could hardly walk but he was slowly walking with a walking stick. He was coming my way and I was coming his.
?ello, young lady,? he said very quietly.
?o you need me to help you?? I asked him very kindly.
?hy that would be very nice of you,? he said.
I looked at my watch and it was almost 1:30. I had to get the gentlemen to his home before 1:45 so I would have enough time to get to Eugenia? party. We walked not too quick or too fast down Olive Street.
?y house is the blue one over there. 2457,? he said to me.
The goo0d thing was that we were almost there. It was 1:40. I didn? want to just leave him there and let him walk the rest of the way! That would be really rude. We just walked up to the blue house of 2457 and I opened the door for him.
?hank you so much. I really appreciate your help,? he said to me very thoughtfully.
?h you?e welcome. I have a party to go to and if you don? mind I should be getting on my way. Goodbye,? I said to him.
?here do you live? Maybe sometime we could have tea or something,? he asked me.
?h, I live on Pepper Street just over to your right. The address is 2559. Drop by any time! And if you don? mind maybe sometime I could come to your house,? I said back.
?h, that would be most lovely! I don? get many visitors now-a-days!? he replied kind of excited.
?oodbye!? I yelled as I closed the door behind me and headed off to Eugenia? party.
I got to Eugenia? house and I was just in time! It was still dark and I went to hide in her house. I tried to find Julia and I spotted her behind Eugenia? coffee table.
?ou?e just in time!? she whispered.
?ea! I had to help this old man on Olive Street. He wasn? able to get home himself,? I said as I crouched next to Julia.
We heard the door handle wobble and everyone that was invited was here, it must be Eugenia!
She came in and we all yelled, ?URPRISE!?
?h my gosh! Thank you everyone! A surprise party? You all shouldn? have!? Eugenia yelled.
?appy Birthday, Eugenia!? I said to her as the party began.
We put our presents on the table and there were party games set up all around. We played pin the tail on the donkey, freeze tag, and my favorite PINATA! Then it was time for presents. Eugenia was up to my present and I couldn? wait to see the look on her face! Julia brought my present for me.
?his is from? Holly!? Eugenia said as she opened up my gift.
?hat is it, Eugenia?? asked a girl.
?t? a?.. Barbie doll?? said Eugenia looking disappointed.
?hat one is my favorite!? I told her.
?ell then you can have it! I hate Barbie dolls!? she yelled.
My eyes became wet. I couldn? cry, I was eleven! But I thought that who couldn? like Barbie dolls? I grabbed the doll and I ran out the door in tears.
I could hear them all chanting, ?olly likes barbies! Holly likes barbies!?
I raced over to the old man? house to get comforted. I knocked on the door still crying when he opened the door.
?hat? wrong, little lady?? he asked me.
?y friends made fun of me. They all laughed at my birthday gift to Eugenia,? I replied crying even more.
?ell crying won? help you. Come on in and we will have some tea in the backyard,? he replied as he patted my back softly.
?o who is this Eugenia? And what did you give her? Just start the story from the beginning,? he said to me as we had little cookies and tea in the backyard.
?o it started as I left your house and then ran over to Eugenia? party. Julia had put my gift on the table for me. We all hid and yelled, ?URPRISE!? And then played games for an hour or two. After that we opened gifts. She opened everyone else? and mine was last once she opened it she said, ?t? a?. Barbie doll? You can have it! I hate Barbie dolls!? Then I started to cry and I grabbed the doll. Here it is. And after that I came here,? I said to him as I handed him the beautifully dressed Barbie.
?hy it is a lovely doll! Who wouldn? like one of these?? he said as he put a cookie in his mouth.
I was really upset. I used all my allowance for that doll! It was about fifteen dollars! I guess I would keep it but then I thought of an even better idea.
?ou can have it. I want you to keep it so you can remember me always,? I said to him.
?eally? Why thank you. My memory is getting little rusty!? he said as we both laughed.
? forgot my manners! My name is Holly. What is your name?? I asked him.
?ome people call me Mr. Roberts but my children just call me Mark,? he replied.
?ay I call you Mr. Roberts?,? I asked him.
?f course! You remind me of my grandchild, Celia. She was a great little girl but she passed away about a year ago from cancer,? he said grabbing a napkin and tapping his eyes.
? am very sorry, Mr. Roberts. I am sure she is in heaven, talking to you right now. You know that you can talk to her also! She is probably your guardian angel. She watches over you to make sure no harm comes,? I said to him.
?eally? Celia is watching me right now, talking to you?? he asked me.
?es, of course she is. She loves you very much I know it. And she probably misses you as much as you miss her,? I said very softly.
?ow do you get to go to heaven?? he asked me.
?hen you accept Jesus Christ into your heart and believe that he died on the cross for our sins. I have accepted Christ,? I told him.
?ow do you accept Jesus?? he asked me.
?ll you have to do is pray. Like this, bow your heads and close your eyes. Dear Jesus, I would like to accept you into my heart. I believe that you are my one and only savior. I believe you died on the cross, and rose again for our sins. Please clean my heart from all the sin I have done and make sure it is okay for me to come into your presence. I love you Lord and will always believe in you and I will encourage as many people as I can to believe the same as me. Amen,? I said aloud.
?ow. That was just beautiful, Holly,? Mr. Roberts said.
?hank you, Mr. Roberts. Now Jesus is in your heart and always will be. You will for sure go to heaven,? I said to him.
?hank you. Now when I leave this earth I will go to heaven with my granddaughter,? he replied.
?ow! Look at the time! I am sorry but I have to go home,? I said as I raced to the front door. ?ye, Mr. Roberts!?
?ye, Holly! Thank you!? Mr. Roberts yelled back.
I raced home and my mom wasn? a bit worried about me. Thank God! She was just preparing dinner.
Chapter Two Up to Heaven
A few days passed and Mr. Roberts and I were very close. It was like he really was my grandfather. I went to school and everyone was still laughing at me. I really didn? care. I just ignored every single one of them. After my talk with Mark, I felt a lot better about myself.
?olly likes barbies!? some boy yelled.
I just passed him and didn? pay attention.
?olly, did you bring your barbies to play with?? another girl asked.
I just didn? listen and kept walking.
?olly, I am sorry about yesterday. I didn? laugh at you, I promise,? Julia said to me.
I even passed Julia. I didn? feel like dealing with anyone today. I just wanted to get school over with so I could see Mark and have tea again.
?lass, if you want to reduce eight tenths then you will have to divide both denominator and numerator by two. Then the fraction will become four fifths,? my teacher, Mrs. Dutra was saying.
?la-bla-bla,? Julia said to me.
I ignored her even though I thought it was funny. I reduced all my fractions and quickly left. I didn? even say goodbye to Julia!
I went to my house to finish up some homework and then told my mom I was going to Olive Street to visit a friend. I turned on my street and headed for the blue house of 2457. I knocked on the door, nobody answered. I knocked again, no answer. Maybe he was outside so I went through the back gate but there was no one in the backyard. I looked all over the house, no one. Maybe he was out shopping so I left his house and headed for home. It was only 3:00 so I was going to return and 4:00.
I came back to his house at 4:00 but there was still nobody there. I decided to knock on the door of his neighbor? house to ask them if anything strange happened.
?ello, have you heard what has happened the older man living next to you on your right?? I asked a nice young lady.
? heard an ambulance picking him up. Maybe he is at the hospital nearby,? she replied.
?h, no! I have to go there. Thanks a lot for your help!? I said as I ran back to my mom to drive me to the nearest hospital.
We were there and I went to the front desk and said, ?ould you tell me where Mark Roberts is??
?ollow me,? said the lady.
She led me to Mr. Roberts and he was laying in the bed.
?his can? be! Why did you have to go away?? I said to him.
His eyes were closed but I could feel his heart beating.
? am sorry, Holly. I will always remember you. I will watch you in Heaven. And once again?..? he stopped.
?hat?? I whispered.
?hank you,? he whispered to me then I felt his heart stop. He was gone. I started to cry. He was an understanding person. Someone who never doubted me, never said anything negative, and never let me down. He was the best friend a person could have. I sat there for a few more moments then lifted my head and left the room. I will always remember him, forever.
The next day I walked over to Olive street where he lived and I walked by his house. There was a sign on the lawn that said, ?LEASE TAKE EVERYTHING INSIDE! FREE!? I walked inside and I saw the picture of his granddaughter. I picked it up, looked at it, then took it with me home. I thought that if I took something from his house it would be easier to rememebr him by.
When I got home I looked at the picture. She was smiling very brightly and she was wearing a cute bow tie in her hair. It was black and white so I didn? know what color it was but it was still pretty. Her eyes said something to me. Like she was talking. I put it on my dresser and soon it was dusty and later I left it there when we moved. I wanted to go back and get it but mom wouldn? let me. And soon my memories faded and I forgot all about, Mark Roberts, my best friend.
*The End*
