The Pastor's Son

Apologies and Sacrifices

Joanna races through the halls, but she's struggling. There are still a ton of people in the halls and they don't care about her problem.

She needs to apologize to her brother. She's an idiot.

She remembers talking to her best friend, Cameron, today.

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"Hey, Cammy!" It's the nickname Joanna gave to her female friend. They've known each other since they were in first grade. At that age, Joanna struggled to say her name. So, they agreed on Cammy as a nickname, since she could at least say that.

Cammy smiled, "Hey Jo!" Cammy couldn't say her name either, so Jo became an easy nickname.

Joanna sat down, "I've got a problem."

Cammy listened, intensely. "You know Isaiah, right?"

"Of course! He's like my brother," That is true. Cammy didn't have any siblings, so Joanna is like a sister, and Isaiah is nice to Cammy, so she started to consider him an older brother.

"Well, he's going off to college in Massachusetts!" Joanna was mad. But Cammy was smiling.

"That's great! He got into MIT, didn't he?" Cammy exclaimed.

Joanna was surprised, "How did you know?"

Cammy laughed, "He's been talking about since he started high school! It's his dream college. Apparently, they have an awesome science major. I'm sure he's excited."

Joanna was confused, "I didn't realize..."

"What's wrong?" Cammy was now confused.

"I got all mad at him. I said he was abandoning me. That it wasn't fair. I even locked him out of my room. I haven't talked to him for two days."

Cammy's eyes practically bulged out of her head, "Well, you better apologize then."

Joanna felt tears roll down her face, "I'm an awful sister!" She cried at the lunch table they were seated at. Pushing her face into Cammy's chest.

"You're not an awful sister!" She paused and waited until Joanna looked up at her, "You just love your older brother and don't want to let him go. I'll miss him, too. A lot of people will. He's a great guy. But think about everything he's done for you."

Joanna did. She thought about when she was seven and tripped while she was playing tag with some of her friends at church on the small playground. Her brother ran over, even though he was playing with his own friends. He stayed with her until she was feeling better.

She remembers when she was nine, and he was eleven. She was playing some truth or dare. She was dared to climb a tree, and then a branch snapped when she was several feet off the ground. She fell and she broke her leg. Her brother raced over and yelled at those kids to get away from her. He called their parents. And they called the ambulance. Thanks to him, she was okay.

Joanna remembers when she was ten, and he was twelve. It was after school, some kids were making fun of her. He stopped them. Told those kids to shut up. Because he was older, they listened.

Joanna smiled, "You're right, Cammy! He's done so much for me."

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Now she is racing through the halls and out the door. Only, to discover he's gone. He has already left and gone home.

Without thinking about it, she pulls out her phone and calls him. Isaiah is already home when he answers the call.

"Yes?" She hears his voice from the other side of the phone and breaks down into tears.

"Please come pick me up, it's raining. I'm sorry. I'm awful."

Isaiah races out the door and into his car. He speeds to the school. When he gets there. She is sitting on the grass, sobbing.

He climbs out of his car and helps her to the car.

When they get inside the car, Joanna starts apologizing like crazy.

"I was talking to Cammy today and she said that MIT is your dream college. I'm so sorry. I should've been more supportive and tried to understand you. I love you, Isaiah."

Isaiah chuckles, "I'm not mad at you. I understand that it's not easy for you, the thought of me going off to college. It's not exactly a piece of cake for me either."

Joanna laughs. He means the world to her. "You've done so much for me. I was just thinking about it today. Do you remember when I tripped on the playground when I was seven? Do you remember when I was nine and I broke my leg? Do you remember when I was ten and kids were bullying me? Every single time, you came to my rescue. You do everything to protect me. You're an amazing brother!"

Isaiah smiles softly. If only he could believe that himself.

"I want you to go to Massachusetts and go to your dream college. It's time for me to make a sacrifice for you."

By the time she finishes the sentence, they're already home. They hug each other for a long moment.