Worthy

March 25, 8:07 AM

When Chief Brown hung all I did was stare at Scout. This was not possible and it was most definitely not happening. My mom couldn't be dead, she was the strongest person I knew. She has survived everything- from prison to laser tag. How was this even possible? How?
"MK, are you okay? Who was that?" Scout only whispered it but it felt like she was shouting.
"It- it was Chief Browne. He just told me that my father has been put in prison and my mother died about four minutes ago." I said on the verge of tears.
"Your mom died?" She asked.
All I could was nod and then I broke down. Mrs. Goldman must have heard me because she came in to check on us. "Oh my. Honey, honey, are you okay?" She said, again it sounded like she was shouting.
I shook my head and she just gave me a hug and then she let go and walked out of the room. Mrs. Goldman came back carrying a glass of milk and a couple of cookies. "Here you go, see if this will help. Can I talk to you for a second, Scout?" She asked.
"Yeah, mom." Scout said and they both left the room. All I could do was keep crying and crying until I had no more tears left. Scout didn't come back in until my Aunt Alice showed up. It was about three hours later and I had to go to her house. Don't get me wrong, I love my aunt. I just didn't want to go to her house- there were too many pictures and memories of my mom and me. Too many reasons to keep crying.
"Hey sweet girl. How are you doing?" Aunt Alice asked.
"Better than three hours ago." I replied still on the verge of tears.
"Well, that's progress. Progress is good. Let's go, I'm starving." She said and I knew she was trying to make me laugh, but it wasn't working. I couldn't laugh right now- there was too much pain to be laughing.
I didn't realize it at first, but I was starving too. "Me too. Let's go." I said. I followed Aunt Alice to the car and we went to straight to Chik-Fil-A. Mine and my aunt's favorite restaurant. Thank you Aunt Alice. I thought. She really knew how to make me feel better.
"How's this?" She asked after she put the car in park.
"How did you know?" I teased.
"Just a hunch." She replied. "Come on let's go inside and eat. Finally." She said with a smile as big as Alaska.
"Let's go." I said with an even bigger smile.
After we ate we went back to Aunt Alice's house and I went into my room to start unpacking. There was nothing in there, no boxes, nothing. That meant we had to go back to my house to get everything. Back. To. My. House. That wasn't going to work- there wasn't even a bed in here.
"I see that you've found your room. Your clothes are unpacked, your other items are in the boxes are in your closet, and you have a Murphy bed." Aunt Alice said hopefully.
"A Murphy bed? I love it!" I said with an exciting tone to my voice. I had always wanted a Murphy bed, I have no idea why, but I have. The fact that everything was here and I haven't cried at all, it was looking to be a pretty good life with my aunt. I couldn't believe it, it wasn't possible.
"I almost forgot, I got you a present." She looked through a couple boxes and pulled a black leather book. "Here. We're starting family devotions, every night at 7:00 sharp. I wait for no man!" She handed the book to me and it was a bible. I couldn't remember the last time I had a bible in my hand.
"Thank you, Aunt Alice. I love it- it's beautiful." I said.
"It was no big deal. We will go get a devotion tomorrow. I felt we should get one together." Aunt Alice said.
"Aren't we going to church?" I asked.
"If you want." She said.
"Alright, thanks. I think I'm just going to take a nap. I'm really tired and I think I need the rest." I said, mainly just trying to get alone.
"You take all the time you need. I'll be in the kitchen and you can come down there when you wake up." Aunt Alice said.
"Thanks, thanks for everything." I said. Aunt Alice nodded and headed out the door. When she was on the stairs I closed the door and locked it. Then, I pulled the bed down and sat down. There was a coral bookmark in the Bible and I opened it up. There was a highlighted verse.
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." It was Joshua 1:9. I looked up and all I could do was smile. Thank you Aunt Alice. I thought. Maybe living here wouldn't be so bad after all.