Birdsong graced the ears of Hope Sutter as she looked out of her bedroom window, a gorgeous spring day unfolding before her eyes.
A hummingbird whisked up before her, pecking at the glass that separated them and bringing a smile to the girl's face. She had suffered terribly in her illness before the day The Lord restored her; making her family whole again with the wave of his powerful hand.
Follicles broke through her tender scalp for the first time in years, her head having been rendered bald by the medical intervention that failed where Christ was so entirely victorious. She was delighted at running her tiny fingers across the rough surface, refusing to wear a bonnet any longer despite the fact that her baldness was still unsightly.
She marveled at the dance of the everyday world being performed for her in her backyard, having seen no little of what others take for granted when she was bound to her bed with weakness. The flowers seemed to pray in their stretch towards the sky, showing their finest colors before The Lord in worship of their home. Insects buzzed about wildly, setting about their chores with energy as intense as that which graced Hope's body for the first time in her memory.
The brilliant green of the grass spoke to her in its purity, alive and proud to line the Earth as set-dressing in the theater of life unfolding all around.
A squirrel violating its integrity drew her attention as it dug into the dirt below. It was determined in its quest to retrieve a nut it had left before; in speculation of the future to come.
The lawn didn't mind its intrusion, happy to play its part in the cycle of life it helped support When the creature found its prize it seemed to celebrate where it sat, holding an acorn high in praise of the natural world.
Hope smiled at its glee as well... comforted by the regular ebb and flow of life abound. She was excited to breathe easily again; no wheezing machines around to disrupt her peace and serenity.
"Hope!" Her mother Carmen called from the kitchen down the hall. "Breakfast is ready! Come and get it before your father eats all of the pancakes!"
"Coming, Mom!" She answered back.
The food would wait, however, while she examined a cocoon outside, hanging from her window sill. A creepy caterpillar had weaved the wondrous hammock, retreating to its safety while the metamorphosis took place. It seemed ready to emerge now, the crusty shell cracking around its center.
"Whatcha doin', Princess?" Her father, Raymond, asked as he threw himself onto her bed, bouncing both of them up and down. She remembered the day he had died; cut down in his prime by a faulty heart beyond the means of doctors to repair. It had been sudden and jarring, tearing the already saddened family apart as Hope and her mother were left to fight the cancer on their own.
She was elated to have him back; she had always been a daddy's girl. Only the splendor of the Lord could've brought him back to her, and she was grateful for the favor he had done them.
"Be careful!" She demanded, pointing to the scene unfolding.
"Oh my!" He exclaimed as he watched bits of the cocoon fall away. "It's about to happen!" He observed.
"Shhh!" Hope silenced him, taken by the moment.
They watched together as a brilliant butterfly was born, spreading its colorful wings for the very first time and dancing away to face what this new phase of life would bring.
"It's beautiful!" Her father remarked, seeming none the worse for wear after his extended dance with death. "You know, princess." He continued. "The butterfly is us."
"Of course she is, Dad!" She agreed with certainty. "She is flying off to God!"
"Wait a minute..." He smiled. "How do you know it's a girl?"
"Look at it, Dad!" She returned as it faded into the distance. "It's too pretty to be a boy!"
"You're right, honey!" He chuckled back. "You're so right!"
A pleasant melody distracted all the living things of the world as it called out the presence of another welcome distraction.
"Oh Daddy!" Hope said excitedly at recognition of the tune. "Ice cream! The ice cream man is coming!"
"But your mother's made us breakfast!" He objected to what he knew she was suggesting. "We can't ruin our appetites with a tasty-delicious treat, can we?"
"Mom!" The girl yelled out to the kitchen. "Can me and daddy have ice cream?"
"What about the pancakes?" She retorted playfully, in reality only concerned with the pleasure of her daughter. "I worked so hard getting them right!"
"Pleeeeaaaaaase?" Her daughter pleaded.
"Oh." Carmen relented. "I suppose!"
"Yay!"
The two of them quickly leapt from the comfort of the bed and raced towards their front door, spilling out into the warmth outside to beat the truck to the curb. There was a line of parents and children there to greet them, each eager to get their hands on the icy treat approaching.
Hope and her father were third in line when they saw a stranger approaching, shielding the sun from his one good eye as he looked around in confusion.
"Mister!" She called to him, her father looking to the priest with a smile. "The line is over here!"
Jennings smiled at the family, remembering them well. Seeing the girl up and about warmed his heart but did nothing to explain what he was seeing. The world here was virgin; untouched by the arms of death. He had followed a roving mailman to this street, the man as courteous and plain as could be in his greeting of this stranger.
It made no sense to him at all, but little about what happened since that day in the lab did. He chalked it up to the strange workings of the Father and continued on his way, joining the Sutters in line as they looked over the truck's menu.
"Hope!" He said through a smile. "How are you feeling?"
"Excellent!" She returned, her grin just as wide.
"I'm Raymond." Her father offered as he extended his hand to shake. The preacher obliged, introducing himself as well. "What brings you here on this beautiful day, father?" Raymond asked though focused on the painting of a rocket pop before him.
"I was sent by the Lord." He explained, still taken by the scene. "I'm to tell you of a battle brewing; in which your family will participate."
"In Jerusalem." Hope joined in. "We know, Cameron! We'll be there -- with bells on!"
"You do? But how?"
"He told us, Father! Just after you went away." She continued shyly. "He said we would be pivotal... but I'm not sure what that means."
"It means he loves you, Hope." Jennings replied. "That's all that matters now."
The line having been served in front of them, it was the Sutter's turn to order. Jennings stepped away, still wondering what this was. So long as they would be there, though, there was nothing more to say. Surely they were indebted to The Christ; no convincing of his nature was needed.
As he walked off the family returned to their home, each carrying their own treat along with a banana popsicle for Carmen.
"We got you one!" Hope exclaimed as she ran it, presenting it to her mother.
"My favorite!" She smiled, taking it eagerly from the girl. "I heard you talking to someone out there -- was it the man that was supposed to come?"
"No." Hope explained. "It was the priest that came with the Lord."
"I wonder where this person is?" Carmen wondered aloud. "I hope he finds us before it's time to go!"
"He will..." Hope said surely. "In fact I think he's coming up now."
Her premonition was fulfilled when they heard a knock upon their door. Hope handed her Choco-Taco to her father as she ran to answer the call.
She saw him standing there when she opened and invited him in; just as Jesus had said he would be. He looked confused as well, his silver hair blowing in the gentle breeze. He carried a thick black coat in his arms, not needing to wear it on such a sunny day.
"Excuse me, little girl." He said nervously. "I'm afraid I'm a little lost."
"No you're not!" She replied, showing her ivory teeth. "This is
just where you were supposed to be!"
"It is?" He asked, disoriented and uncertain.
"Of course! Come in and have some breakfast -- it's almost time to go!"
Chapter 26