Blood and Fire - Chapter Thirty

After a few minutes Liz turns around and takes a last look in the mirror.  She even acknowledges to herself that looks prettier than she has in a very long time.

“There you are.  What time will Darcy be here to pick you up?” excitedly asks Char reluctantly adding “I hate to see your suitcases all packed.  I wish that you could just find a way to move here.  I’ve enjoyed your company so much these last few weeks.  I know you have to go back to work, but maybe they could transfer you here permanently.”

“Is that a doorbell?  Darcy is not supposed to be here for another hour” rather nervously asks Liz “I’m ready but I don’t think my thoughts are”.

Quickly leaving to answer the door, Char calls from the hallway loud enough so Liz can hear her from the front room “It’s Jennings and Alice Hammer! How are you? It’s so good to see you again!”

“Well, we’ve got our car packed with all our junk but we thought that we’d stop by for a minute before heading back home to the Silver Crest” explains Jennings stretching in purple sweat pants and a t-shirt that   reads “All of General William Booth’s best men – are women!”

“I’m not sure Mr. Woodhouse has known what to do with us being gone so long” giggles Alice Hammer “He’s called Jennings nearly every day to make sure she has taken her vitamins. I think he’s lonely. He even called this morning to see if she had filled up the gas tank.  On our last trip coming back from Girl Guard Camp, I was convinced that we could go another 40 miles on empty.  Generally, I think they just put an “E” on a car as a warning, there usually is at least a tank left”

“It depends on how long you have driven on the bright red ‘E’ for empty “, interjects Jennings with a sigh.

“Well anyway, we didn’t make it.  We had to call Mr. Woodhouse.  Emma had to drive him out to Dry Creek to get us because he doesn’t drive at night with a gallon of gas so we could make it to the next station”  Looking sheepishly Alice Hammer explains “I didn’t run out of gas on purpose.  I was just trying to find out how many miles I could go on empty before the car stopped.”

Lost in thought Jennings softly adds “Mr. Woodhouse would have come out to rescue anyone” then catching the gleam in Liz’s eye, slightly clearing her throat, Jennings more firmly states “Being a little closer to town for that experiment might have been a little more practical but it was rather an adventure anyway.”

“Yes, it was!” confirms Alice Hammer “Since Jennings was teaching the Survival emblem she had a bunch of supplies in the trunk.  Jennings showed me how to make emergency glow lights out of soda bottles.”

“How do you do that?” quizzically asks Liz wondering how Jennings always finds unique ways of doing something at just the right moment.

“Well, you take a Mountain Dew bottle and drink 3/4ths of it.  This wasn’t a problem because both of us were very thirty in that we were not too far from Dry Creek.  It has got to be one of the hottest places in the division during the summer” frankly acknowledges Alice Hammer  continuing “Anyway, what you do is add a little bit of baking soda and 3 caps of peroxide.  Jennings already had this in her emergency kit in case either of us should hurt ourselves.”

“This sounds interesting.  Then what do you do?” asks Liz.

“All you have to do is tighten the lid and shake.  Then you have a bottled glow stick!” excitedly explains Jennings remembering the good time they had together.  “It came in handing when Alice Hammer was trying to run from a little friendly critter.”

“It wasn’t friendly and it almost got me!” contradicts Alice Hammer “It was huge!”

“It was not … it was just an rambling armadillo waddling his way along the road ..” remembers Jennings giggling to herself.  “I’ve never seen her run so fast in her spandex and sundress!”

“It had huge teeth and was coming right for me!” justifies Alice Hammer “Liz, you would have run too! Unfortunately, it was my favorite sundress with the blue polka dots with little moons scattered in between too. I ripped it when I leaped over the large pothole in the road.  Fortunately, I was wearing tennis shoes so I landed quite well, rather graceful I think …”.

“Alice looked like she was trying out for the Olympics!” jokes Jennings “It wasn’t too long after that that Mr. Woodhouse arrived and gave us a life to the gas station.  He’s a very thoughtful man.”

“Yes, that’s true.  I think he thinks about you just as much as you talk about him” offers Alice Hammer waiting for her chance to tease Jennings a bit “She has a pile of stuff by her door of things that she wants to show him to talk about when he comes over.”

Jennings shakes her head slightly trying and quickly moving her intense eyes side-to-side to give Alice Hammer a signal that she is completely intentionally missing that this is a subject that is not suppose to be discussed to the general public.

Jennings eyes widen and glare at her best friend standing before her.  “Alice Hammer, I think we have taken up enough of their time.  It is time to go” motioning a pointed finger towards the door.

Innocently Alice Hammer ignoring Jennings’ body language continues “Jennings has had a crush on him for years.  But what I think he likes the most is when she bakes cookies for him on Saturday mornings.  She fixes his favorite kinds: powdered snicker doodles, frosted Cameroons, and macadamia nut cookies.  He comes over and stays for hours talking about his favorite talk radio shows.”

A disgruntled Jennings shuffles her tennis shoe over to Alice Hammer and inconspicuously gives it a little tap.  Alice Hammer mischievously continues enjoying the rare temporary power over making Jennings squirm for a moment “You know I wouldn’t be surprised if I hear wedding bells ringing not too far in the distant future.  What do you think Jennings?”

In a tone of authority Jennings reprimands “Alice Hammer there are some things that are meant to be kept between oneself and a friend.  Discussing the dimensions of my love life isn’t a suggested topic of conversation open to review by anyone.”

 “Char isn’t anyone.  She’s knows Mr. Woodhouse and Emma.  I’m sure she could ask Mr. Woodhouse how he exactly feels about you if she wanted to” coyly defends Alice Hammer continuing “She’s going to see him next week at the Divisional Rally anyway.  Maybe if you want her too, she can ask him then for you and she can let you know”.

Standing there in complete disbelief Jennings glares at her for a second.  “This is precisely why I do not want to talk about my love life!  I’m not going to talk to you any more about him” slightly muffed and turning her back to face the opposite direction from Alice Hammer.

“We’ll see about that. You can’t help yourself. You talk about him all the time.  I know more about his laundry, what he has for dinner, and what he reads in the paper than I need to” honestly admits Alice Hammer “Jennings don’t worry about it.  Everybody knows already.  Just yesterday Major Debourgh was discussing the details with me”.

“Major Debourgh, why would she need to know who I’m dating?” excitedly asks Jennings as her temper rises.

“Sooooo … you ARE dating Mr. Woodhouse!” giggles Alice Hammer “I thought so but you just wouldn’t admit it!”

Immediately on hearing this revelation Jennings turns beat red and then quickly looks over to Char being confronted with the reality that her personal life has been exposed. “Char, I don’t know what you are hearing but I’m not sure that I want everyone to know.”

“Are you dating Mr. Woodhouse?” asks Liz coming from behind Char “How exciting!  I’m so happy for you.  The two of you make such a cute couple too!”

In response to her heart being discovered Jennings visibly begins to shake “Girls, please.  Love doesn’t come around very often in one’s life.  I’d like to preserve what tenderness and sweetness that I can in our relationship without too much random gossip destroying its true glow and beauty” seeing that the girls are gushing at her words Jennings decides to add a few more for clarity “In other words, I don’t want him to get too scared of the commitment and back off before I have a chance to convince him that being with me is the best choice he could ever make.”

Liz and Char giggle while Alice Hammer gives her a hug “Don’t worry.  From now on I’ll just keep the secret between the two of us.  But I do need to let you know that I already told Ethel, Mrs. Olson, Mrs. Dashwood, and a just few other Home League members and maybe a handful in the Sunshine Club” adding a sweet smile hoping that the forgiveness will come more quickly rather than later.

“Oh Char before I forget, we brought some cookies for you before we leave town.  I have a feeling this is going to be a long drive” offers Alice Hammer a little concerned about another possible lengthy reprimand in private “But, fortunately I brought some audio books to listen to The Two Widows and the Occurrences on Chawton Lane and The Masterminds of Mansfield Park.

Trying to change the subject Jennings looks at Liz “What are you all dressed up for?  Do you have a date tonight for Valentine’s Day?”

Blushing Liz admits “Yes, Darcy is taking me out tonight.  I’m not sure where we are going.  He wanted to keep it a surprise.  I hope that I’m not too overdressed but I wanted to look nice.”

“You look very pretty tonight Liz” recommends Alice Hammer “I’m sure Darcy will like your outfit and your beautiful spirit too.” Enthusiastically giggling  Alice Hammer adds “ He’s such a handsome young man with such a nice attitude.  If I were thirty years younger, you might find me as one of your competition.”

Jennings looks at her best friend for fifty years in disbelief and rolls her eyes, “You would have had to find a way to ignore Fred first.  I think you both were in love with each other since second grade. I doubt he would have given you enough room to even notice Darcy if he had been around or that you would have even wanted to”.

“Yes, you are so right” smiling and lost in her memories Alice Hammer confirms “my eyes were only for my little snookims since the first day we met.  Some days I really miss him.  But I’m sure he’s looking down from heaven and having a good laugh once in awhile.”

“Well, we can’t stay too long.  We just wanted to drop off the cookies and come by and say goodbye before heading back.” Then looking over to Char and giving her a warm hug Jennings offers “I wish the best to you and Collins, Char.  I hope your marriage brings you many happy moments to brighten each day and that in the difficult times offers enough support to make it through until the sun rises the next day.”

Hugging both Char and Liz at the same time in a giant bear hug, Alice Hammer wipes a tear from her rouged cheek.  “I hate goodbyes even if they are only for a few days.”

 

 

Blood and Fire - Chapter Twenty Nine

Slightly agitated Liz fumbles looking around for the car keys that are buried somewhere deep inside her cluttered purse.  She is borrowing the corps van while visiting in town.  As a plane ticket slides off the front seat and onto the floor, she feels a pang of disappointment that her time with Darcy is too quickly coming to an end.  The last few weeks have been fun and enjoyable with him.  “Maybe I’m just not looking forward to going back to work” rationalizes Liz to herself with a sigh knowing that her thoughts are not true.

Over the last few days life has become just a little more sweeter and happier. Darcy has been very attentive and kind towards her.  They have spent many hours talking and discovering as much as they can about each other.  Liz considers that this has been an exceptional moment in her life and feels that it will be unlikely that a time like this might come again.

Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day, the day of sweethearts and romantics. It’s so nice to finally have someone this year.  He seems to appreciate her as much as she admires him. She follows down the now familiar road to the pharmacy on the corner to pick up a box of Kleenix for Collins who seems to having difficulty with his cold.  Rather than hearing him sniffle all day, she considers a box of soft tissue is well worth the minimal investment.

Passing through the aisles of products, her eyes fall on an organized row of dozens of assorted pink, red, and white cards.   She begins to look under ‘friendship’ cards but they appear rather dull, so she switches over to the title card of “humorous”.  Liz smirks ‘humor’ is definitely a matter of personal taste rather than a general perception. The crude jokes fall flat and the simple one-liners seem to miss their cue.  Thumbing through the stacks of envelopes, she decides to shift her focus to the cards trimmed in faux velvet and lace prints. 

Gently Liz opens the card with the most appealing cover, “To my love, with each day that the sun rises, you bring rays of light into my world, filled with beautiful surprises, and memories bright and bold, take all of my evening sunsets, let us gaze into tomorrow, forever our hands to hold”.

Liz contemplates the card “This may be more than he is ready to hear, but I want him to know how I’m beginning to feel about him before I leave.  I don’t know how much longer it will be until I see him again”.

Just as her thoughts settle in the haziness of her consideration and the romantic purchase filled with high expectation, she hears a much too friendly “Hello!” standing behind her from around the checkout corner. 

“Liz!  What are you doing here?” asks Will Fitz delighted to have the opportunity to run into her while she is alone.  “I didn’t know that you came here”.

“I’m …  I’m … I’m …”  drawing a complete blank and not able to complete her sentence, Liz considers what she should say next.  The only thing coming to her mind is that she has just bought a card for Darcy which she certainly does not want Will Fitz to know about.

“Yes, you’re …. Are we playing a game?  Do you want me to guess?” jokes Will Fitz kindly smiling at her and looking at the red card sneaking through the translucent bag. “Who’s the card for?  Did you buy one for me?”

“I, uh, you know, it’s just for a friend” swallows Liz unable to calm her nerves and looking around the store hoping that something will suddenly stimulate her mind to start another less stressful topic.

“Um … how disappointing …. I hoped that you would be picking one out for me, but unfortunately I can guess who that one might be for” Will Fitz laughs “too bad he met you before I did.”

Looking down Liz blushes slightly and acknowledges, “It’s been fun having you and Darcy around these last few weeks. I never know quite what to expect and it has been highly entertaining.”

“You know, Darcy can’t stop talking about you.  I think that I know more about you than you realize” teases Will Fitz enjoying watching Liz squirm.

“Well, I hope there are a few good things or at least the things that don’t seem to be too offensive” mocks Liz with feigned humility “I hope there isn’t anything about me that is too shocking”.

“No, I don’t think so.  You seem a rather cool and contemplative type.  I don’t think that you would waste too much time on nonsense” accurately surmises Will Fitz but charmingly adds with a twinkle in his eye “I think that there are many sides to you that are just waiting to burst forth”.

“Ummm maybe, I just don’t know what they are yet” jokingly reflects Liz shrugging her shoulders “When you find one of these sides, you’ll have to let me know about it so I can notice it too”.

“So what are your plans for today?  Do you want to grab something to eat?” suggests Will Fitz “There’s a Chicken Hut around the corner from here”.

“I’m starving since I missed lunch this morning” states Liz aware that her stomach is grumbling “Maybe we could call Darcy and see if he wants to join us”.

“Ok. Just a second let me call him” agrees Will Fitz taking his phone out and waiting  for his cousin to answer  “Hey, Darcy.  It’s me Fitz, do you want to meet me for lunch? … Yeah, okay, maybe later”.

Liz is a little disappointed that Will Fitz doesn’t mention that she will also be there and wonders if the response would have been the same if he had.

“It looks like it will be just the two of us today.  Hope you don’t mind my company for an hour or so” conjures Will Fitz knowing that he intentionally left Liz’s name out of the request. “You can ride in my car and I’ll drop you back off”.

After ordering at the counter, Liz tries to find an empty bright red fifties style booth to sit in.  She takes a sip of her Coke and stretches out comfortably in the seat. Will Fitz soon joins her with the waffle fries and chicken wraps.

“So Liz, tell me what are your plans when you return home?  I’m sorry to see that you are leaving but I’ll have to make a visit to Longbourn Citadel sometime soon which I’ve heard so much about” genuinely offers Will Fitz sticking a rather large waffle fry into his mouth all at once.

“Well, I’ll go back to work at the local paper. But other than that,  it will be volunteering at the corps and preparing for Easter events” trying to remember her calendar Liz continues trying to find something interesting to say but failing at her attempt something that Will Fitz might be able to repeat to his cousin as an invitation  “Lydia’s 18^th birthday is coming up in a couple of weeks so I’ll probably be helping with party plans. Maybe you and Darcy could come down then.  You’re more than welcome to attend.  She’s also graduating in June which is only five months away from now and she may need some help with a lot of end of the year things too.”

.”I’d love to come.  Darcy and I can make a road trip if he can find time to take off from work.  He’s always busy but he might find that you would be worth the trip” teases Will Fitz “I might enjoy the company too”.

“So what can you tell me about Darcy while he’s not with us? What do you think of him?” courageously asks Liz wanting a frank reply to judge her current perceptions which are tending to attractively leaning towards his favor.

“Darcy, let’s see … He’s a good guy. Qualities I would attribute to him are that he is dependable, loyal, honest, smart, sincere, and real.  He’s a genuinely good friend.  He won’t leave your side and will be there when needed” contemplates Will Fitz.

“Those are nice things, but what would you say are his weaknesses?” asks Liz wanting a fair and objective evaluation to concur with her hopeful personal plans.

“That’s a difficult one.  If anything, he can bit a bit secretive. At times he can be somewhat of a dark horse. Some misunderstand him to be a snob, but he’s not.  He has a compassionate heart but he just doesn’t want to be taken advantage of.  People tend to cling to him because of what he has and that it will increase their reputation value but not necessarily because of the great guy that he is. But one thing that is true is that he’ll never let you down” honestly replies Will Fitz not exactly appreciating listing all the admirable qualities of his cousin to Liz in the likelihood that it will deplete future opportunities of getting to know her better. “What do you see as his faults?”

“He isn’t always easy to read and doesn’t share what he’s thinking.  I find myself having to guess but I think that I have a tendency to more accurate than not” offers Liz quite pleased at how things seem to be recently between them. “I’d like to hear more about how he is a good friend especially in the case of Dan Wickham”.

“Wickham?  That name is a blast from the past. Let’s see ….what to tell you about Wickham.  You know that he was the son of the General Manager of his father’s business.  He lost his mother when he was young.  He’s only a year younger than Darcy and they use to hang out together while their fathers dealt with business and other management issues.  They were raised together almost like brothers” begins Will Fitz not sure how to continue.

“Did he know Georgianna very well?” curiously asks Liz wanting to know more about Darcy’s sister that seems to do well at just about everything.

“Ginny was quite a bit younger.  She’s eight years younger than Darcy.  She followed them around while the boy.  When they were teens she was more into playing with her Barbies and earning badges as a Sunbeam at least that was the way it was then” states Will Fitz as his voice fades “Ginny grew up to be quite beautiful even as a teen”.

“What happened between Darcy and Wickham?  There seems to be a mutual dissatisfaction with each other now. What made them practically not able to stand the sight of each other?” sceptically asks Liz wanting to know if there is something in either of their characters which leaves them unforgiving and uncharacteristically vindictive.

Will Fitz looks directly into her eyes for a moment unsure what he is able to share with her.  “When Wickham was 16 his father died of a heart attack.  He moved in with the family and was considered almost like a second son.  It was understood that Wickham would go to the same college as Darcy which would be paid for by Darcy’s father which he had put into a trust fund for each of the boys.  He was given all the same opportunities as Darcy which also genuinely pleased everyone in the family. “

“That seems awfully kind of Darcy’s dad.  But it doesn’t explain what happened” notices Liz wanting to know more “Everything so far seems like it should be quite good between them”.

“Well, Wickham was a bit of player in high school and into heading towards adulthood. One day after attending a youth councils he decided that he would like to go to the training school and become an officer.  It was a somewhat of a shock for those of us that were close to him” and then reflecting Will Fitz adds “but it’s true that God can transform lives and make dramatic changes in character and behavior.”

“Just before Darcy’s dad died, he released a rather large trust fund so that Wickham would have money to live on while an officer” Will Fitz takes a deep breath currently struggling with his own personal calling, “Knowing that the weekly allowance doesn’t even meet minimum wage standard although there is a lot of other compensation including a filled house, a vehicle, and other benefits, his father felt that the money would enable Wickham to live a more comfortable life as a pastor.”

“I don’t remember him ever saying he went to training” states Liz trying to recall any mention of him attending.

“Well, something happened but I’m not sure of the details and he dropped out of the training school and decided to enlist in the Navy.  He came back after ending his term about eight years ago and spent a summer working with Ginny at Camp Long Branch He was the program director at 24 and Ginny was 17 working as a dining room girl.    I think she turned 18 at the end of the summer because she has a late birthday.  She was just starting her senior year.  But there was a falling out when the summer was over and I really don’t know all the details of what happened. You’ll probably have to ask Darcy about it” feeling relieved to offer some information but not too much Will Fitz informatively continues “Wickham ending up enlisting again and I really haven’t seen him since then or know anything about his life either. There were rumors that he had married someone on the rebound who had been jilted at the altar, but it doesn’t seem like they are together if he was by himself.  I didn’t even know he had set a foot back into an SA building until Darcy told me he had visited Longbourne Citadel a couple of months ago.”

“That’s really interesting.  It sounds like there is more involved than what I know.  I’ve only heard Wickham’s side of the story which I’ve been think about lately.  It matches in some ways. I’m not exactly sure what to think” confesses Liz feeling perhaps that there are a few potholes along the road of Wickham’s version of the story but not convinced yet of Darcy’s innocence in the matter.

Sensing her doubt about Darcy’s character, Will Fitz encourages her “Darcy is a good friend.  He would never let anyone down.  He was just telling me last month about this friend his that he rescued from a scheming gold digger.  Evidently she was an outrageous flirt and her mother was incredibly atrocious always bragging about how much money her daughter would have once they married to anyone who would listen.”

“Did he happen to mention this friend’s name?” suspiciously asks Liz starting to feel the temperature rise below her ears and her eyes narrowing to accommodate the anger rising in her soul.

“I don’t know.  I’m not good with names.  It was something like Ringo or Bingo. The family was a real trip though. One of the sisters of the girl that he rescued his friend from was always bragging about her talents and how much smarter she was than everyone else but the reality was far from it.  The younger sisters were also a bit boy crazy too and were allowed way too much independence to think and do whatever they wanted to.”

Seeing that what he is saying is upsetting Liz but not sure as to the cause, he decides to let her know that Darcy at least liked one of them  “One of the older sisters evidently was all right for the most part but unfortunately really opinionated on just about every topic under the sun.  From some of the things he told me she did, it sounded like she lacked a lot of common sense.”

Liz can feel her body heat rise by twenty degrees as her eyes start to water “How dare he judge someone’s family like that?  Who is he?  What does he know about them except a few days around them?  Did he ever try to understand them?” furiously asks Liz pounding her fist on the laminate table sprinkled with silver glitter under its surface for special emphasis and affect.

“I don’t know.  But in my history of knowing Darcy, he reads people fairly well.  He’s a good judge of character.  My guess even though I wasn’t a participant in the situation was that he was right about the girl.  He doesn’t often jump to conclusions” suggests Will Fitz trying to soften the blow but not entirely understanding Liz’s tempered response to a stranger’s fate.

“Well, I can tell you he was wrong” states Liz crossing her arms in front of her and leaning back to sulk for a moment in the cherry red plastic cushions of the booth.

“Maybe you should talk to him about it.  I’m sure he could give you more information that I’m not aware of either” offers Will Fitz feeling a bit uncomfortable about being included as a possible target of Liz’s anger and disappointment.

“You know, I think that Char might need some help with Girl Guards’ Valentine Day’s party this afternoon. Thank you for lunch.  It was really delicious and for talking with me.  It helps to settle a few things that I’ve been lately considering” grateful for his insight Liz responds with a self-satisfied smile.

Getting back into her car, Liz looks at the plastic bag in the seat next to her containing the bright red velvet card and contemplates what to do next.

Blood and Fire - Chapter Twenty Eight

Hearing some unwanted chords downstairs, Kitty softly grunts “Ughhh” while throwing her pen down on her daily entry of her journal.  Meticulously describing how Louisa and Henrietta sang a beautiful duet at the recent talent show at school, Kitty finds the disconcerting noise is obnoxiously interfering with her concentration.

Reluctantly grabbing one of her multi-colored plastic crates from the corner of the room which normally holds various knickknacks, photos in crafted frames, silk flowers in matching pink vases, a cup of gel pens, and other assorted items, Kitty dumps the eclectic contents throughout her floral green bed spread and promptly transforms the rectangular container into a practical stepping stool.

Throwing her winter knitted scarfs, Lydia’s mixture of wool hats to match each outfit, and assorted mismatched gloves to the side, she finally finds the ultimate goal of her search.  Kitty immediately places the bright red ear muffs over her head and smiles contentedly to herself.

Kitty plops down on her bed again after scooping up the contents back into its haven to be sorted and displayed at a later and more convenient time.  Lost in the world of words, Kitty is oblivious to anything that surrounds her including her sister’s voice of faux fatal emergency.

“Kitty!  Kitty!  Kitty,  you’re not listening to me!” adamantly stands Lydia directly at the foot of the bed  in front of the quilted seated hope chest with hands on her hips. “Kitty!  Take those dumb things off!  I’m talking to you!  It’s 85 degrees today and I don’t know why you are even wearing them!”

Slowly Kitty looks up from her silent world having noticed a pair of blue faded jeans standing in front of her. Speaking loudly unaware of her volume Kitty replies “What do you want?  I’m trying to write!  Go ask Mary, she’s just playing the piano and we all need a break from that!”

Annoyed, Lydia roughly grasps the ear muffs along with some strands of Kitty’s hair and throws them across the room.

“What did you do that for?  I wasn’t bothering you!” whines Kitty holding and rubbing her head reeling from the few seconds of unexpected torture. “What do you want?”

“I’m going to meet Wickham after school and I need your help flat ironing my hair.  I want to make sure every strand is perfectly straight.  I would ask Mary but you remember what happened the last time.  She got busy trying to read some lame book at the same time and didn’t watch all the steam coming off the iron and accidently fried a strand of my hair” shaking her head in disgust at the memory Lydia continues in a voice of consolation “At least you try to pay attention and understand how necessary and important this is to me”.

Kitty agrees and kindly decides to come to her rescue, “At least your orange tan has finally faded.  The salon did a good job of trying to cover it up” and then absent mindedly Kitty asks “Why do you like Wickham anyway?  Isn’t he a little too old for you?”

“He’s in college, and I will be there next year” frankly states Kitty.

“Yes, but he was in the military first and he is at least ten years older than you.  How much do you really know about him?” curiously asks Kitty not sure if Wickham is really interested in her sister or if it is more of an unrequited love situation like last year with John Thorpe.”

“Whatever.  I don’t think he’s that much older. Wickham likes me. I know it” confidently states Lydia with a tone of determination “He is going to like me before Liz returns from visiting with Char.  I’m sure he has already forgotten all about her and is focusing on me!”

“You know, have you tried searching for him on the internet? The internet is full of information and would probably tell you a lot about him, probably even more than Liz knows” suggests Kitty having already looked herself and wondering how to bring up some facts that Lydia might have missed in the quest of her romantic pursuit.

“I guess it wouldn’t hurt.  It would also give me some ammunition in how to win Wickham.  The more that I know the better off I’ll be able to find things that we share in common with each other” muses Lydia “Where’s your phone?”

“Where’s your phone?” counters Kitty not wanting to share her phone with her sister. 

“Well, if you must know it is sitting in a bowl of rice.  While I was applying my makeup Banjo came running up to be petted and his paw scooted my phone right into the toilet” remarks Lydia and then adds with a relieved sigh, “ Fortunately it wasn’t my Estee Lauder eye shadow that I got from the Precise Kit gift box at Women’s Camp last year. Although I could never afford it on my own, I look forward to receiving the makeup every year”.

“Okay, you can use mine as long as you let me try some of that purple eye shadow.  I like that violet shade. I think it would look good with my eyes” admires Kitty as Lydia looks through her makeup bag and hands her the small blue case.

“Let’s see. Intelius seems like a good search engine to find out ages.  I don’t exactly know how old he is. Daniel Wickham” types Lydia “I don’t think this could possibly be him. It lists the right locations where he has lived but it says that he is 31. It lists an Ariel Shepherd Wickham too. She’s only 19.  I don’t think I’ve ever heard him mention anyone by the name of Ariel.  Maybe she is a sister”

“Why would she have Shepherd as her maiden name then? She lives in Kellynch. Her name sounds familiar.  I wonder if she attends Kellynch Hall?” considers Kitty trying to place a familiar but unknown name “Beth Elliot attends that corps. Maybe you could ask her about Ariel the next time you see her at school.”

“Why bother?  I’m sure she is nobody.  It was probably a mistake on the internet” rationalizes Lydia examining her manicure again.

“I don’t think so.  Whatever is on the internet is true. I do all my reports for school with information off the internet. Anyway, he’s so old.  He’s in another decade even two decades from me” observes Kitty “Why would you like him?”

“It just means that he is mature and manly.  He’s ready to settle down with someone and I’m sure that woman will be me” sternly answers Lydia even more determined to set her claim and ignore any red flags that Kitty is attempting to raise.  “He’s picking me up in an hour so we need to get started on my hair”.

“Don’t you want to try and look up some more things?  Maybe you could look on Facebook?” suggests Kitty.

“I’m not worried.  But there is only one thing.  Don’t tell Liz or our parents that I’m going out with Wickham tonight” Lydia more forcefully states “Promise me that it will just be our secret.  If you tell, I’ll tell them about you denting the bumper on “Maud”.  Liz will kill you for damaging her precious car while she has been gone.  You’ve only had your license a week and I don’t think she would be happy to know you are ‘borrowing’ her car.”

“I don’t know how she could tell anyway, she’s backed into so many things. Her bumper has so many different colors on it from brushing against a lot of places” justifies Kitty “remember, she is the one who always pulls through at the grocery store or parks as far away as possible so she won’t back into anyone”.

“Yeah, remember last month when she went over the curb while trying to turn from the lane and hit the ATM at the bank!  That was so funny!  But I don’t think they were too happy about it” reflects Lydia as both girls share a giggle at their older sister’s expense. “I don’t understand how “Maud” wasn’t dented but the ATM looked a little shook up by the incident”.

A few minutes later, Lydia returns from the bathroom in full make-up and a short black miniskirt with a slightly transparent ruby blouse that has a deep ‘v-neck’ in the front.  She is wearing off-black shear hose with stiletto heels.

“Where did you get that blouse?  I don’t remember seeing it before.  I know mom would not have let you buy it.  How are you going to get passed mom and dad in that outfit anyway?” worried asks Kitty “Where did you tell them you are going?”

“We’re just going out to Burger Palace but I want him to see how attractive I am.  I want him to remember me and forget about Liz or whoever that Ariel girl is” emphatically challenges Lydia “The blouse I borrowed from Mary Crawford.  She said I could have it if I want it but I would have to find a way to hide it from mom or she’ll donate it to the thrift store”.

“It still doesn’t answer my question how are you getting out of the house and how are you getting to Burger Palace?” shrewdly asks Kitty wanting to discover what her sister’s attempt at subterfuge will be.

“I’m going to wear my long blue Army uniform coat and put my heels in my community care canvas bag.  They’ll know I’m up to something if they see my heels and then I’ll have to come up with another excuse where I am going.  This way they just think I’m on my way to visit someone at the senior care facility” delightfully pleased with her romantic scheme gushes Lydia “They won’t know a thing.  If I take too long, they’ll just think that I’m being entertained by one of the seniors at the home.”

“I like going to the nursing home, so don’t wreck this for me.  Last week Mrs. Olson’s mother had cookies and sweet tea waiting for me.  I love hearing her stories from when she worked as a SA representative in the USO during World War II.  She use to sing in a big band and helped organize the entertainment on the weekends. She also wrote the soldiers letters of encouragement too.  I could see myself being a lot like her if we had been friends and lived at the same time” dreamily offers Kitty lost in her own thoughts of the many stories of broken hearts and seeing herself in uniform with many young men in military uniform surrounding her with hot coffee and donuts.

“Earth to Kitty” calls Lydia snapping her fingers in front of Kitty’s face “Remember, don’t say a word.  I’m taking Liz’s car.  She won’t know if she is not here. I’ll be back.  Do NOT tell mom and dad where I’m going  or who I am with! They know Wickham so it shouldn’t be a problem anyway except that it is a school night.”

“Ok, I promise.  But you owe me one.  I don’t know for what right now but I will one day” yells Kitty while Lydia is hunched over and largely tiptoeing out of the room clinching her long blue coat at the neck with her black flats and carrying a rather large canvas bag. Kitty rolls her eyes and wonders how her parents could possibly miss Lydia acting suspiciously with that kind-of peculiar behavior.

As she sneaks downstairs, Mary can be loudly heard banging in a series of mishmash chords on the piano. Passing the family room, forgetting her strategy for a moment Lydia raises her neck and shakes her head.  How she wishes Mary would one day learn how to really play the piano rather than just attempting to.

She quietly passes her dad reading the paper in the recliner but quickly comes to a complete halt on hearing his voice “Where are you headed Lydia?” 

“I’m not really going anywhere” replies Lydia forgetting what excuse that she had rehearsed in her mind earlier afraid to lie to her dad.

“It looks like you are at least planning to go outside with that big coat on.  It’s 85 degrees and spring, but I guess if that is what the kids are wearing nowadays you are entitled to play the role of a fool once in awhile and be an active participant in your generation” then more gently Mr. Bennett replies “However, I would advise that you wear something more like spring under the coat. It might get a little too uncomfortable in this heat.“

“I did dad.  Don’t worry.  I’ll be very comfortable in this weather” remarks Lydia “I’m taking Liz’s car to Burger Palace to meet some friends.”

Looking at the community care symbol on the bag and assuming that one of the seniors from the Sunshine Club is going to meet her, Mr. Bennett replies “I hope you have a great time on your visit.  Don’t worry about rushing home.  Some people are lonely and need some company. Smiling at his daughter with deepest admiration for her surprising compassion and care “Have a good night.  I’ll see you later.” 

“Thanks dad!” graciously appreciative replies Lydia believing that somehow he is able to read her mind and that she is meeting Wickham “I won’t be too late.  But don’t worry about me.”

Blood and Fire - Chapter Twenty-Seven

Lydia glances down at her purchases quite pleased with expert shopping skills and enthusiastically remarks, “Kitty, I can’t believe I found such a good deal at the dollar store!  Dad said that he wouldn’t pay for a Bright Sun Light Tan, but this is even better and we can do it ourselves!”

“Beth Elliot will be so impressed when we walk in to school tomorrow all bronzed and beautiful!  We also didn’t have to pay $80 a piece to have it professionally done. Anyway, I already spent my money this month working at the daycare downloading Itunes and having Tinkerbell decals on my fingernails”, observes Kitty admiring her Disney themed manicure.

“I want to go first, but Kitty I’ll need your help.  I can hardly wait until Wickham notices how smooth and glowing my skin is, don’t you?” muses Lydia as she admires her reflection in the length mirror attached to her closet door for regular and routine observation.

“Do you think Wickham likes you?” quizzically asks Kitty, “I always thought he was interested in Liz. He seems to talk more when she happens to be around.”

“Well, she’s not here.  All’s fair in love and war.  She can’t expect me to hold back while she does her own thing any place else.  Wickham is so lonely too” acknowledges Lydia slowly brushing the tangles out of her hair and then firmly justifies “He needs me to keep him company.  If he forgets about Liz, it certainly isn’t my fault!”

“I’m glad we have never liked the same guy.  I wouldn’t want to have you as my competition.  You’re ruthless.  My guys tend to be more sensitive and thoughtful.  You seem to like guys that are constantly focused only on themselves” accurately replies Kitty as she casually begins to read the directions on the orange spray can with the yellow lid.

“That’s not true.  The guys I like are charming and so what if they tend to focus on their looks, they are always the best dressed in the room even if everybody knows it because they tell them” slyly reflects Lydia with a smirk sitting on her pink and cherry bedspread wiggling her toes in front of her.

“Ok.  I think that I’ve read enough.  I don’t like reading directions it takes too much time, but I think that I understand what we are suppose to do.  Are you ready?” asks Kitty confident that this new treatment with propel them into popularity among Beth Elliot’s click. 

“I’ll stand in the shower so if the spray ends up on the floor at least we can clean it up” practically instructs Lydia flipping her hair while heading down the hallway for their beautification destination.

Kitty gently pops the lid off the spray can that was so economically purchased at the dollar store.  “Stand still and don’t move.  I’m going to start with your legs” detailing her maneuvers as she begins to spray in large strokes across Lydia’s limbs.

“You’re getting spray all over me.  Go get mom’s night mask.  At least it will cover my eyes so all that icky stuff doesn’t get in them!” shouts Lydia gagging on the fumes of the container.

Kitty quickly returns with an icepack sleep mask that their mother uses for one of her rather regulated migraines spurned on when something refuses to go as she meticulously planned.  Lydia wraps the band around her head and poses for further treatment.

“Kitty, go ahead.  I’m ready now!” instructs Lydia still relishing in the glory of her ideal purchase.

Kitty raises her eyebrows at the portrait which she is attempting to paint, something isn’t quite right.  “Do you remember reading anything about how long it takes to soak into your skin?”

“No I don’t.  But go ahead and lay it on thick.  If there is not enough for you, we can always go back and get more tomorrow!” suggests Lydia privately pleased that she will be the first of the girls to show off her new tan at school tomorrow and to Wickham.

“Ok, but just remember you told me to spray more …” hesitantly agrees Kitty cautiously wondering if this is the wisest choice she could make.

“You’ve done enough of my legs” blindly demands Lydia “Just spray all over me.  I need my arms and face done as well!  I need to look tan all over not just for my sandals.”

“If you say so … but I think that I’m going to wait to see how it dries on you before I try it” offers Kitty doubtfully summing up her own work.

“Just spray it Kitty!  What is taking you so long?” insists Lydia a little annoyed that her sister is not quite the body artist that she had hoped.

After covering Lydia entirely from head to foot, Kitty fearfully mentions “Lydia, I’m not sure this looks like it is meant to.  Maybe you should have Mary try it”.

Just then Mary hears her name while walking past holding a book in one hand while eating a banana in the other.  Her glasses have slipped to the tip of her nose because she has reached an important part of her book that to stop for an instant would wreck the momentum of the climax.

“Ughh.  What do you want?  Who called my name?” annoying flustered inquires Mary sulking that again she must start from the top of the page to experience the rush of the event of her adventurous novel. Where the hero has finally met his match.

Mary looks up for her book just upon reaching the edge of the bathroom door and screeches “Kitty what have you done?! Oh nooo! Lydia, did you tell her to do that?”

Lydia quickly takes off her masks and tries to clear the tub but misses falling clumsily over the edge.  Her hands brush against the cream colored carpet and leave bright orange smudges with clash against the smooth texture of the rug.

“What?” as Lydia inspects her hands while trying to recover her balance while attempting to stand up.  “What kind of color is this?  It looks like it is orange like the fruit!”  Roughly she pushes Kitty and Mary out of the way who are intentionally blocking her personal view of the rather large mirror in the bathroom.

“UGGGGGGG!!!!” screams Lydia at the top of her lungs “How could you?  What am I going to do?”  The mask has creatively left nice large trimmed rings around her eyes in an hourglass shape.  The pungent orange hue clings all over her body in random uncoordinated stripes. “Kitty, I’m going to kill you!”

“REMEMBER you said to keep on spraying” defends Kitty not sure that being a little more specific might have been slightly wiser while backing up towards the hallway for a quick getaway should Lydia choose to attack.

“Girls, girls, girls, what is all the fuss about?” asks Mr. Bennett while slowly climbing the stairs ready to intercede and deflect any animosity that is currently springing forth into the household. “What has entered our peaceful kingdom and disturbed our princesses from their thrones?”

“Whoa … ummmm ….” Taken aback Mr. Bennett shakes his head but then attempts to offer some words of comfort, “Lydia that is a beautiful shade of peach or tangerine, I’m not quite sure which is the more trendy synonym at the moment.  Perhaps pumpkin or carrot might be more appropriate descriptions.”

“Dad, do you see what Kitty did to me?  She’s just jealous because Wickham likes me and she doesn’t have anyone giving her any attention!?” accuses Lydia trying to find some motive for her awkward position of willingly choosing to look like an apricot.

Mr. Bennett chuckles, “Well, I’m sure that Kitty will have her ten minutes of fame one day and a lucky boy with admire her for those wonderful qualities she possesses while I chase him off from under her enchanting spell, but for now I do not believe that Kitty meant to harm your amour and admiration of some lost soul”.

Lydia rolls her eyes, “Dad, what am I going to do?” pleadingly asks Lydia sure of her reputation’s demise under the curse of the orange spray tan.

“Let me ask your mother.  She’s much better under these circumstances than me.  She’s at the grocery store but I’m waiting for her short return.  She just went for milk and butter which generally costs me in the neighborhood of a hundred dollars including the ever providential weekly “Faces” magazine” jests Mr. Bennett with more accuracy than actual wit.

“Where is everybody?” echoes a matronly voice down the hall of chaos and disturbance.  “I need some help unloading the groceries.  There are too many and I can’t unload them by myself.  By the way, I picked up this week’s magazine, Caroline Bingley is in one of the articles for her work with GNN” Mrs. Bennett shrewdly adds in the tone of a much younger fashionista  “It’s a very nice photo of her and I really like her suit but I would definitely not choose those shoes.  They don’t match the suit and pop just a little too much.  Why is everybody so quiet?”

Mr. Bennett on hearing the voice of a savior when calamity strikes among the girls, meets her on the staircase  “Houston, we’ve had a problem. As Data might say, ‘Our neural pathways have become accustomed to your sensory input patterns’” immediately realizing that Mrs. Bennett is confused by what he is saying translates “We need your help for some extraordinary revelation”.

“What are you talking about? You’re always talking such nonsense. Where are the girls?” shoving Mr. Bennett out of the way “What’s happened?”

“Oh dear!  Oh my!  My poor Lydia!  What happened to you?” whales Mrs. Bennett rushing to her daughter with open loving and merciful arms but just before reaching her realizing that the orange paint might not fade from her skin either takes a step back as Lydia lunges forward.  Mrs. Bennett catches her anyway.  Mrs. Bennett knowingly glares at Kitty and Mary, “Did one or both of you play a practical joke on your sister again?”

“It wasn’t my fault!  Lydia found the spray can and it said it was for tans!  It was only a dollar.  We couldn’t afford to get a real tan because dad said it was too much money.  Now look what’s happened?  You should have let us get real tans!” mercilessly whines Kitty afraid of any repercussions and a possible grounding.

Mary vehemently shakes her head and denies “I didn’t have anything to do with it.  I was reading my book.  It was all Kitty and Lydia’s doing.  I just found them!”

“Kitty, I should have guessed!  Are you still mad at her for giving you those 2-inch fake glitter eyelashes that had stronger glue than they were suppose to? It is such a long time ago. How were any of us suppose to know it would take a week for them to peel off?” incredulously remarks Mrs. Bennett having encouraged Lydia in purchasing them for Kitty’s Halloween costume.

“Mom, Lydia is the one who found the spray can at the dollar store and told me to use it on her” rebuffs Kitty perturbed that she would have to defend herself from her sister’s demands.

Mrs. Bennett scans the perpendicular and vertical orange stripes as well as the pale circles surrounding Lydia’s eyes.  “Well, this just won’t do! Mr. Bennett give me your credit card.  I’ve got to do some intervention.”

In the hallway Mr. Bennett shrugs hopeless to offer any real defense for the future fluxuation of the balance realizing that there will also be condolence purchases as well to mend the wounded spirit.   Mrs. Bennett leans over and kisses him on the cheek to which he jokingly places his hand on his cheek and gushes, “Please Captain, not in front of the Klingons”.

All the girls giggle at the antics of their father even Lydia as she viciously tries to wipe away the stain with an old terry cloth towel to no avail. 

Lydia marches to her room and finds an old trench raincoat in the closet to hide her fashion shame while enroute to the Bright Light Sun Tan salon. 

Whispers in the Desert - 1 Kings 18 to 19:21

God intervenes again!  What a glorious day!  The whole country is aware of God’s power and His glory!  They understand that no other is like the God of Israel.  God is faithful.  God is fair.  God is victorious!

The followers of the cruel Queen Jezebel are witnessing the mighty acts and miracles of God’s sovereign omnipotence.  The altar has been built and then drowned in the waters of a nearby dirty old river with water unfit for drinking. 

The land is in drought.  There hasn’t been any rain for months.  The people are parched longing for a Savior who will provide in the midst of their suffering. The followers of wicked Queen Jezebel religion have danced, yelled, hurt themselves in some needless tribute to a token god who is silent and does not hear their mimicking cries.

The altar is prepared for worship. Digging a trench in hope and faith that the altar will contain the sacrifice, Elijah prepares for a miracle.  Laying down the wood while kneeling, he is in anticipation for moment of intervention. Water drenches and absorbs into the spores within the wood. 

Loud mocking shouts are heard from the competitors who are still waiting on an answer that will never be heard by anyone else other than from their own efforts.

It appears that both sides are at a standstill.  But then Elijah prays.

After six searches still no rain.  But in the seventh search something new begins. In the distance clouds start forming and move to the syllables of Elijah’s prayer who faithfully believes that God will be there to rescue and to provide for them.

The grey highlighted stratus clouds filling with moisture each in their mass, glide over the empty skies containing each space of air.  Their long awaited vapor heralds the fresh scent of morning dew with a promise of hope.

The water falls from the skies.  It pours.  It drenches.  It consumes. God lovingly answers Elijah’s obedient and faithful heart.

Queen Jezebel is furious.  God has outwitted her devious schemes.  Jezebel does not like to lose. She runs to the mountains with her husband, King Ahab to protect themselves from the downpour of the torrential rain.

God rewards Elijah’s hope by strengthening and encouraging him.  He is so filled with the power of God’s spirit that he even runs faster that King Ahab’s chariot on the way to the mountains. 

Queen Jezebel cannot handle the disturbing news.  Her obnoxious rival knicknamed the “Troubler of Israel” has usurped her again. In disgust, she hears that Elijah’s has put to death her most trusted prophets of Baal.   Determined, she looks at herself in the mirror and makes an oath, “Elijah will not get away with this!”

Her vow promises that by the next day he will be dead.  On hearing these words through the channel of whispers and threats, Elijah is uncharacteristically scared.

God has just completed the most awesome thing that Elijah has ever experienced in his life.  But the idea that he might not have a tomorrow at the hand of Jezebel fills him with absolute terror.

Elijah reacts as many of us would in the same situation, he runs for the hills.  He runs to Beersheba for in the distant corners of Judah.  He brings a young faithful servant with him but in order to protect him, tells him to stay in the city so that he will not be captured with Elijah and sent to his death.

Elijah in fear of his own mortality, travels anxiously to the abandoned desert where the shunned or feared get lost in the albatross of sand and heat.  In desperation, he travels an entire day in the scorching sun until he can go no further to be alone and die.

He sees a lone bush on the horizon and collapses beside its thorns to give up his soul.  He is done with hiding and running.  He has reached his breaking point.  If this is where his life will end, so be it.

Elijah screams in his loneliness and anger back at God, “Enough God!  I’ve had enough!  I can’t take it anymore!  I’m done with life!  Just take my life! Let it be over!”

In his abandonment and exhaustion of his emotions, he feels overwhelmed by his sorrow and fear.  He succumbs to his tiredness and despair falling asleep under his only companion, a dried out thorny bush in the desert.

A warming light invades his shiftless sleep arousing his senses but he weakly ignores the call of the new day.  A hand takes him by the shoulder.  Absentmindedly, he feels some comfort in his despair and loneliness.  The man standing before him commandingly shakes him awake. “Wake up!  Get up and eat!”

Elijah slowly opens his eyes and attempts to focus on the Angel standing before him.  God provides.  Right by his head, Elijah finds a fresh baked loaf of warm bread and a jug of fresh cool water to quench his thirst.  He eats his meal with a satisfied stomach, but believing that his vision of longing from exhaustion and the heat, falls back to sleep.

After a few hours, he feels the same hand waking him from his restful slumber.  As his eyes open in the glowing rays of morning, he realizes that it is not a man but a messenger from God who stands before him.  Words tenderly fall on Elijah’s ears, “Wake up!  Eat something.  You have a long journey ahead of you that God has prepared for you.”

More coherent this time, Elijah refreshes himself with nourishment and drinks to satisfy his thirst.  He gathers his things together and sets out to the place that God is leading him to.

His trip is long.  It lasts for 40 days and 40 nights.  Nearly six weeks of continuous travel.  He walks all the way to Mount Horeb.  This is the same mountain where Moses was given the Ten Commandments. It is also known by the people as the Mountain of Yahweh.

Finally reaching his destiny, Elijah enters a nearby cave in the crest of the mountain and in his fatigue rests within the stone walls of protection from the elements.

In the silent echoes of the cave, Elijah hears a familiar voice call out to him by name and inquiring of his chosen place of occupation, “Elijah, what are you doing here?”

Elijah knows ‘Who’ is speaking to him.  He’s spoken to Him many times before. But Elijah decides to resist honesty and starts with excuses.  “I’ve been working my heart out for God” then feeling a little more guilty knowing that he IS speaking to God continues “Well, God as you know, the people of Israel have abandoned Your covenant”.  He wants to remind God and to give him an incentive to be on his side.  Both have been abandoned by the same people who just praised them a few days ago.

Elijah continues his monologue “They destroyed the places of worship!  They even murdered all Your prophets!”  He wants to remind God what has happened as if God wasn’t already aware of the grievous circumstances that have already taken place. 

In despair he cries out to the God who has been faithful to him many times before, “I’m the only one left!! Now, they are trying to kill me!!”

God’s voice speaks again to Elijah’s heart with some instruction but still without a reply to his desperate anxiety.  God orders, “Go.”  Elijah is to leave this place.  Secondly, God tells him specifically where he is to go, “Stand on the mountain on attention to God”.  He is to keep his focus on the God who is before him.  God is greater than Elijah.  God is greater than his circumstances.  Thirdly, God explains what will happen.  God will respond. God promises that he will “pass by”.  He will not leave Elijah alone to fend for himself but promises to be with him.

As Elijah reaches the mountain at the end of the sea, a hurricane current of wind rips through the area crashing against the side of the mountain and splitting the rocks before him crashing to the ground below in an awesome display of nature’s power.  But God is not in the wind.

Menacing tremors rumble beneath his feet shaking the ground and the entire environment around him.  The compressed earth begins to separate causing a deep cavern below the surface into unknown depths.  But God is not in the earthquake.

Heat blazes in front of him consuming all that his around him.  The magnitude of the fire is daunting.  In a celestial display of the flickering of lights and sounds of the whoosh of its consumption, the fire brings everything into submission around it.  But God is still not in the fire.

Elijah still stands where God has placed him. He obediently waits for God to answer.

A gentle and quiet whisper enters his heart.  Elijah recognizes God’s presence from the many times he has met with God before and eagerly waits to hear His voice.

Elijah covers his face with his cloak because he knows that God is coming near.  God’s holiness will be known before him.  In the sheer exposure of his soul, he knows that God’s presence is holy and pure.

Elijah moves to the door of the cave to the Word that God is revealing to him. The quiet voice asks with the knowledge of familiarity, knowing everything about him, asks again “Well, Elijah.  Now tell me, what are you doing here?”

Elijah decides to stick with the same old story of excuses in an attempt to explain his discouragement and reaction to his fear. “I’ve been working my heart out for God.”  He then continues in an effort to get God on his side and to push away some of his feelings of guilt for running away, “The people have abandoned YOUR covenant.  They have destroyed YOUR places of worship.  The people have murdered YOUR prophets”.

Again in a pleading voice of desperation, “I’m the ONLY one left and they are now trying to KILL me!”

God listens.  He hears and understands Elijah’s fear and desperation.  Again, God gives Elijah some instructions.

“Go back”.  Two words that do not bring much comfort, then God speaks again.  “Go the way you came through the desert”.  Not too thrilled about this route either. “In Damascus, anoint Hazael.  Make him king over Aram.”

Appointing a King in the place of another? Running away was one thing, but this would be something that would be sure to draw attention to one self with a most likely unhappy ending.

God continues with His order, “Then go to another country, and anoint Jehu, son of Nimshi, as King over Israel.”

God is not only requiring one King but TWO kings to be anointed and displaced by others. A bit of unpleasant notoriety is sure to happen.

But then God promises some support in spiritual friendship, “Anoint Elisha, son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet.” God’s words speak of a future where Elijah will no longer live.

Finally God offers a word of protection, “Anyone who escapes death by Hazel will be killed Jehu.  Further, anyone who escapes death by Jehu will be killed by Elisha.”

God then offers a remnant for the future, “I’m preserving for Myself 7,000 souls of those who have kept themselves pure and not kneeled to worship the false gods of Baal.  I will preserve those whose mouths have not kissed his graven image”.

Immediately, not wasting any time, Elijah heads straight out to find and meet Elisha whom he will mentor.   Elijah finds Elisha in a field doing what he normally does.  He is a rancher taking care of his cattle and the fields.  Elisha works for a wealthy farmer with twenty-four oxen to pull equipment for plowing.  Elisha is one of the managers being responsible for the 12^th pair.

With the help of God, Elijah recognizes Elisha has the one whom God has chosen. In an action to claim a sense of God’s movement and anointing, Elijah places his cloak and as a symbol of moving his power to another one, places it on Elisha’s shoulders.

In instant obedience, Elisha deserts the oxen and runs after Elijah who has walked away from that moment and moved on.  Catching up with him, Elisha exclaims “Let me say good-bye to my family and then I’ll follow you”.

Knowing that God has prepared a destiny before them, Elijah thoughtfully responds, “Go ahead.  But mind you in the meantime, don’t forget what I’ve just done to you showing you that God has chosen you for His work”.

Elisha willingly obeys.  His first reaction to offer all that belongs to him and that offers any status as a sacrifice to be offered back to God before his begins his ministry journey.  His family has an extravagant farewell meal.  They know that Elisha will be going to places where they have never been before because God has chosen him for other work to do in His name.

Elisha obediently leaves to follow Elijah.  He becomes Elijah’s right-hand man and has many adventures for God that lay before him.

Sometimes we find ourselves in a difficult place.  Life is out of our control.  Circumstances beyond our ability to change overwhelm us.  It brings sorrow, anger, anxiety, fear, desperation.  Life is not fair.

God has not left you.  God is near to you. Your pain is felt.  Your cries are heard.  Your sorrow will be comforted.

God has a future and a destiny for each of us.  The unexpected circumstances of life can feel insurmountable but God is faithful.

God knows your heart.   He knows your thoughts and can feel your anxiety.  You are not alone. He is with you.

Deuteronomy 30:3-5 gives us some promises. 

If you obey Him with your WHOLE heart and soul according to everything that I command you today, God, YOUR God, will restore everything you have lost.  He’ll have compassion on you.  He’ll come back and pick up the pieces from all the places where you were scattered.  No matter how far away you end up, God, YOUR God, will get you out of there and bring you back to the land your family once possessed. It will be yours again. He will give you a GOOD life and make your more numerous than your ancestors.

God brings us hope for the future.  God is speaking to our hearts in the gentle whisper of His voice despite the storms that surround us.