Chapter Three

   Getting Lost

    ‘’Kendra!’’ Tobit said happily. I smiled, out of breath. ‘’What are you doing here?’’ I asked curiously. 

Tobit is my best friend… not by choice, however. My mom and his mom took us on many play dates together. He was a good and loyal friend. 

Tobit's smile faded. ‘’I… I…’’ I gently took him to my bed. ‘’Really, what happened?’’ Tobit shuddered. ‘’The thing is, the storm was really bad where we live. The roof is so rusty, and now it threatens to blow off. Our low ceiling is leaking rain steadily. Our beds are soaked… worse yet, my dad is still driving home from work. I hope he comes home

soon.’’ I blinked. ‘’You’re lucky you even have a dad,’’ I said sadly, resisting the urge to be rude. Tobit noticed my expression. ‘’I’m sorry, Kendra. I know you miss your dad.’’

My dad died in an airplane crash a few weeks ago. My mom was heartbroken, but she tried not to show it. Rocky was the worst. He cried loudly in his dim room every day and comes out puffy-eyed and sniffling.  

We’re fine now, but I miss him.

Tobit hugged me. ‘’Tobit, what have you been doing?’’ Tobit barely glanced at me. ‘’Thinking about my dad and

helping Mom around the house.’’ I sighed. He’s not going to stop talking about it. ‘’It’s his birthday today,’’ Tobit went on. ‘’Tobit-’’ I said, really wanting him to stop. It was my dad’s birthday a week ago, and it’s a sore topic.

‘’We made him ice cream cake, but it melted…’’ Tobit said. I had a flashback of giving my dad ice cream cake two years ago. It was chocolate, his favorite… Even though we don’t celebrate birthdays, I wanted to make him something special. I blinked back a tear. ‘’Tobit, stop it-’’ I said, but he interrupted me. ‘’We were supposed to go to the jungle gym,’’ Tobit said in a daze. ‘’Tobit-’’ ‘’And we were

supposed to- oh.’’ Tobit sadly hugged me. ‘’I’m sorry, Kendra.’’ I shook my head. ‘’It’s fine, you can call me Kendy. I know you miss your dad, Tobit-’’  Tobit interrupted me. ‘’No, I’m sorry, Kendra. I should’ve paid attention.’’ We shared a smile. 

‘’Lovebirds! Come have lunch!’’ Rocky yelled. I shook my head. Rocky could be so annoying.

We went to the dining room and saw everyone seated. Tobit’s sister, Lydia, was around Rocky’s age and his best friend.

‘’Well, we’re all here,’’ Mom said, ‘’So let’s pray.’’

    ‘’Father, we thank you for this meal and let it give all of the nutrients we may need. Please help John (Tobit’s dad) come home safely. We love you. Please deliver us from this evil one. Halleluyah.’’

    ‘’Halleluyah,’’ we echoed as we dug into the delicious pasta and bread. Mom looked at the sky. ‘’Looks like the storm’s clearing up already. How about we go for a nice walk?’’ 

    Tobit’s mom, Rebecca, shuddered. ‘’Should we, Bethany?’’ 

    Mom gave her a comforting smile. ‘’It’ll be alright. Come, let’s go!’’ We put our shoes on and went

outside, cherishing the quiet wind.

We were lost.

‘’Did we take the wrong turn?” Rebecca mused. 

Mom shook her head. Suddenly, it started to rain.

We were on this beautiful trail near our community. I told Mom we should go on the trail we always go on, but she wanted something different. Now we were lost.

I was getting close to the edge of the path with Tobit, seeing if I can see another route. 

BOOOOOOOOOOM!

The thunder startled me and made me slip down the side of the path! ‘’Kendy!’’ Tobit reached out and grabbed my hand. 

    ‘’TOBY!’’ I yelled. 

    ‘’MOM!’’ we both shouted. 

    Rocky appeared next to us. ‘’Don’t worry, it would be okay-’’ Rocky grabbed our hands, but it was too late.

We slipped down, down, down.

        Chapter Four

 The Abandoned Church