Today we begin a new book written by E. Williams.  Enjoy!

“I hate her!” I said.  “Why do you let her come back here? You know she’ll only cause trouble again, and I’m sick and tired of it!”

“Nina, honey!  Don’t talk like that!  Janet’s your sister and she needs your love and help.  We’ve got to…”

I knew it was a bad thing to do, but I grabbed my book bag and went out the door without letting Mom finish.  I knew what she was going to say.  I’d heard it over and over for the last year.

I was too early for school.  No one else was at the bus stop yet.  I always cried when I was mad.  I got out a tissue and wiped the tears away and thought about what I had done.  Half of my mind was still angry with my mother, but the other half was ashamed.  I had never talked to her like that before.

You’re supposed to be a good Christian girl, I said to myself.  You always go to church and read the Bible and tell other kids about Jesus.  What would they think if they heard you scream at your mom like that?  She’s the best mom in the world too.  You know that.

I don’t care, I answered, with the part of me that was still angry.  She’s got to see that I’m her daughter, too; and what I want matters sometimes.  But it’s always Janet, Janet, Janet!  It isn’t fair!

Why, God?  Why did You let this happen to us.  We were such a close and happy family.  Once I read a verse in Psalms, where David said, “The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places.”  I had always thought God had set my life in a pleasant place, too.  My mom and dad were such good Christians.  My brother, Ron, was going to Bible college to study to be a minister.  Why had God let so much sorrow come to us.  Didn’t it pay to try to serve Him?

I sat down on the bench to wait for the school bus and let my mind go back to the happy times.  I’d thought we were the perfect family; Dad, Mom, my brother, Ron, my sister, Janet and myself.  We’d done everything together.