They were frozen: Lily, Gen, Hugo, Brody… all of them, like they were in a trance-- staring. And Brody wasn't dead, that much Nicole Gonker could see. His cheeks were pink. Shallow breaths came from his nostrils. It was such a strange sight she didn't know what to think. Then suddenly, all four came unfrozen, and it was as though nothing at all had happened. Gen seemed to have forgotten the horror that Nicole Gonker had heard in her voice. She seemed not to know why they were on the wrong end of the acre. When Nicole tried to tell her what had happened Gen looked with sympathy at her sister, wondering if she had perhaps gotten too much sun. And when the emergency vehicles showed up it was very embarrassing to both of them.
Only Lily and Brody knew what had happened. And neither of them was going to talk.
Therese-- the little way
“So what do you remember most from the readings today… Lillian?”Mrs Collins was looking at her expectantly and Lily, unfortunately, had been daydreaming.
“Umm…” She could feel her face flush. “Could you repeat the question?”
“I was wondering,” Mrs. Collins gave her an encouraging smile, “what stuck out to you in today's readings.”
“That song,” Lily said, and it was true. She couldn't get the words out of her head. “If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.”
“The psalm!” Mrs. Collins seemed delighted. “Yes, indeed. The Hebrews had seen the glory of God when He parted the sea to let them pass through, then he gave them water from the rock and fed them manna in the desert, and still they grumbled and asked to go back to their slavery. They hardened their hearts.” She considered the faces of her catechism class as she let this sink in. “So then,” she broke the silence, “what is God saying to you today? Are you listening?”
Lily bit her lip. Was she? Because the answer had sprung immediately to her mind. Visit the elderly. They can be so lonely. Bring them a special cake and a homemade card.