Vanished: In The Blink of an Eye (A Modern Left Behind Series Spin-off #1)

[jasmine_childoftheking]

Hi. I've read the Left Behind series (went back and forth between the original adult series and the kids spin-off series). Well, given that there are so many spin-offs (Left Behind: The Kids, Left Behind: Apocalypse, Left Behind: End of State), I’ve decided to create a modern spin-off of my own, with new characters interacting with the same premise of the end times. Even though they were written and published in the 1990’s-2000’s, the books still have a strong following, and it could actually be set in today’s world, and the plot would still be eerily relevant. All rights of the original series go to Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins. Hope you enjoy!

Prologue:

First off, let’s start with a bit of an eschatology lesson to give you an idea of what this is going to be about. Eschatology is the theological doctrine of the end times. The word “eschatology” comes from the Greek word εσχατοσ which means "last" or "final." So, if you’ve ever heard anyone talking about the Rapture, the Antichrist, the Tribulation, the Millennium, the Great White Throne Judgment, or the New Heavens and New Earth, they were probably diving into some deep eschatological waters.

Let’s talk about the Rapture for a bit. The word “Rapture” isn’t actually in the Bible, but it’s derived from the Latin word "rapio," which means "to catch up" or "to snatch away." The concept is rooted in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, where Paul writes about the Lord descending from heaven with a shout, the voice of the archangel, and the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ rising first, followed by the living Christians being caught up to meet them in the air. It’s the same with “trinity”: the word itself isn’t in the Bible, but the idea of One God in three persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – is a fundamental doctrine of Christianity. So even though the Word “rapture” isn’t used, the concept is clearly presented.

There are different viewpoints among Christians in regards on how or when the Rapture will occur. Here’s a brief synopsis of what these viewpoints are-

Pre-Tribulation: This view holds that the Rapture will happen before the Tribulation starts, which is a seven-year period of severe judgment on Earth. Those who view this way actually see it as a relief, believing that Christians won't have to go through the horrors of the end times. This is actually one of the most popular beliefs among those who study Bible prophecy, especially in the Western world.

Mid-Tribulation: This perspective suggests that the Rapture will take place at the halfway point of the Tribulation, after the first three and a half years of intense suffering. They believe that the last trumpet in 1 Corinthians 15:52 corresponds with the seventh trumpet in Revelation 11:15, which is partway through the Tribulation. It could be a relief to some, knowing that the worst is yet to come, but for those who have just endured intense persecution, it's a bittersweet moment.

Pre-Wrath: This view is a fairly new addition to the end times discussions. Pre-Wrath believers say the Rapture will happen right before God sends his seven angels to pour out the bowls or vials of His wrath upon the Earth. They argue that the "Great Tribulation" is actually a term for the last half of the seven-year period, which is when God's wrath is fully unleashed. The Rapture is seen as a rescue operation for Christians, happening right before the worst of the end-times events unfold.

Post-Tribulation: This view suggests that the Rapture will occur at the very end of the Tribulation, after all the judgments have been poured out. This group believes that Christians will have to endure the entirety of the end times' hardships alongside everyone else. It’s a less popular view, but still significant among those who study prophecy.

As you can see the different beliefs can lead to different outcomes and reactions. Since no one knows the day or the hour, it’s a mystery that Christians have been pondering for centuries.

Now let’s talk a bit about the Millennium, which is the thousand-year reign of Christ on Earth. It’s mentioned in Revelation 20:1-6. After the Tribulation, Satan is bound, and Jesus comes back with His saints to establish a kingdom of peace and prosperity. Now even this has different interpretations. Here’s a brief rundown-

Amillennium: This belief suggests that the Millennium isn't a literal thousand-year period but rather a symbolic representation of the spiritual reign of Christ in the hearts of believers. To amillennialists, the kingdom of God is a present reality and not something that will come later in a physical form.

Pre-Millennium: In contrast to the amillennial view, premillennialists believe that Jesus will return before the Millennium to set up a literal thousand-year reign. Much like the pre-tribulation Rapture view, this is a popular belief among those who anticipate a future physical kingdom of Christ on Earth. The idea is that after the Tribulation, Jesus will come back, defeat the Antichrist, and establish a period of peace where the world will be governed by God's law.

Post-Millennium: This perspective holds that Jesus will return after the Millennium, which is a period of time where Christians, through their efforts and the spread of the gospel, will usher in a golden age of peace and righteousness. They believe that the world will gradually improve over time as more people come to know Christ, leading to a time of spiritual peace before the end times.

So regardless on how you view the end times or might not even have an opinion on it at all (even I don’t really have an opinion), it’s clear that Jesus will come back and that’s a promise He’s made to us all. Revelation gives us a clear picture of what’s to come, but it’s filled with symbolism and prophetic language that can be quite daunting to navigate. But fear not, that’s what makes it so interesting! It’s like a cosmic puzzle waiting to be unraveled.

****
For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these word. I Thessalonians 4:16-18

 

[jasmine_childoftheking]

Chapter I

*****
Ashton Cleaver was in the police cruiser, patrolling the streets of Chicago. He was a 24 year old and tall young man with brown hair that he kept neatly trimmed, his sharp eyes always scanning the surroundings for any signs of trouble. Although his family wasn’t necessarily religious, his nephews and nieces had talked about what they learn in Sunday school, and he would attend church on Christmas and Easter with his roommate Gavin, who was also with the police department, and was a Christian. Yet, the thought of the Rapture had never truly sunk in for Ashton.

"Just think of it", said Gavin, "Jesus coming back to take us to Heaven."

"You really believe that stuff?", asked Ashton, "And how is that you got religion?"

"It's not a religion, Ashton. It's a personal relationship with Jesus..."

"Right. But why talk me into getting saved?", Ashton said with a skeptical smirk.

"You know that I can't make that decision for you”, Gavin replied, his eyes focused on the road ahead. “But I believe in what the Bible teaches, and I've seen it change lives. It's something you've gotta experience for yourself."

Ashton wasn't sure how to answer that. He knew Gavin couldn't make the decision for him. He would have to do it on his own. He would often say, "I'll think about it." But he was often reminded that there was no guarantee about what the next day would bring or how much time there was. Ashton got caught up with his job with the police force, though. Although he loved doting on his nephews and nieces, he was skeptical about the whole "Jesus" thing. At times, on the weekends, Gavin invited Ashton to New Hope Village Church in Mount Prospect.

”Someday Jesus will return to take his followers to heaven”, Pastor Vernon Billings said, “Those who have received him will disappear in the time it takes to blink your eye. We will disappear right in front of disbelieving people. Won’t that be a great day for us and a horrifying one for them?”

He talked about how important it was for everyone to be sure of his own standing before God and to think and pray about friends and loved ones who might not be ready. Ashton felt a knot in his stomach, the kind that didn't come from the coffee at the station. The words of the pastor echoed in his mind as he drove through the streets of Chicago. But he wasn’t the only one in the Chicago police department to be dealing with such thoughts. One of the other officers who worked near him, Sergeant Tom Fogarty, who was short and husky with thick, wavy blond hair, have often spoke of his two elderly aunts. They were both widowed when they were fairly young and moved into the same apartment. One day, someone invited them to an auditorium where they got saved and they’ve been attending church ever since. Ashton had heard of these stories from Tom before, but never give much thought to it.

“So your family were never church people, Fogarty?”, Ashton asked, his curiosity piqued.

“Oh, it’s just that nobody in our family has ever been religious, except on holidays, you know. Going to church on Easter and Christmas was all part of the routine, but none of us claimed to be church people. But those two aunts of mine all of a sudden changed”, Tom chuckled, his eyes reflecting fond memories.

“I know how that goes”, Ashton nodded, remembering the few times his own mother had dragged him to a service. Now his nephews and nieces get so excited about going to Sunday school, but the stories they share sometimes sound so... far-fetched. Even though he was a lot younger than Tom, he could relate to the non-religious upbringing.

Then there was another officer, a young homicide detective, even though he was older than Ashton, with blond hair and wore his side arm in a shoulder holster, named Archibald “Eddie” Edwards. Although Eddie wasn’t religious either, he had often heard some other guys in the department who often talked about God. They had a certain peace and confidence in their demeanor that stood out amidst the chaos and stress of the job. It was something that Ashton couldn’t quite put his finger on. Even though Ashton wasn’t with homicide, he had helped Eddie on a few cases due to being the closest unit available. Another homicide detective named Cole, who was also not religious, was often seen with Eddie, discussing the cases.

“A lot of murder in Chicago. It’s like a plague.” Ashton murmured to Eddie as they stepped out of the station, the cold wind whipping through the streets.

“You got that right, Cleaver. You remember the famous Stateville Penitentiary in the town of Joliet, right?” Eddie’s voice was grim as they walked towards their vehicles.

Ashton nodded. “Yeah. That closed down, didn’t it?”

“Yeah, it did, and it has become a tourist attraction. It might not be as famous as Alcatraz in San Francisco, but it sure had its share of notorious inmates," Eddie said as they approached their vehicles. "But what's worse than the past crimes is the darkness we face every day on these streets."

Ashton knew Eddie was right. He had help protect the city and keep law and order, but the crime never seemed to cease. As he got into his patrol car, he couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that had settled in his stomach. The pastor's words and his nephews and nieces' enthusiasm had planted a seed of doubt.

*****
Everett Marshall, Jr, had been living in the suburbs of Mount Prospect. Whenever the phone rang, when asked for Everett, it was, "Well, which one? Everett, Sr, or Everett, Jr?” or “Which Everett? Big Everett or Little Everett?” The resemblance was uncanny. They both had the same dark brown hair, the same chocolate eyes, and the same strong jawline. Everett, Sr, was a mechanic who ran a garage with his son helping him out after school. Everett’s mother never had to work outside the home, and was a stay at home mom. Everett, Jr was the second oldest of four kids with an older sister, Alicia and younger brother and sister, Ronnie and Gracie. Interesting enough, though, he was already taller than Alicia, and growing at a rate that would soon surpass his dad’s six-foot-four stature. Well, what Everett liked a lot was church. Sundays were usually for attending church, though there were some times on the weekends where he would go with his father and Ronnie to a Chicago Cubs or a Chicago White Sox game or even a Chicago Bulls game. There wasn't anything Everett liked more than church. They attended New Hope Village Church. It was a place where everyone knew everyone. It was like a second family to him, a place where he felt safe and loved.

"You may have as well raised in it", his mother had often said with a fond smile, knowing Everett's love for the church was something he had found on his own.

Though Everett had a great secret: he had never really made the commitment to Christ. He still attend church and knew the Scriptures well. He never prayed to become a believer because he felt that he had enough faith just by being there. As usual, at New Hope Village Church, Pastor Billings was preaching about Jesus coming to take His people to Heaven.

"What a day this is going to be!", he said, "Jesus will come and take believers away! We will disappear in front of unbelieving people! It will all happened in the blink of an eye! Now I urge you to examine yourselves and pray for those who may not be prepared for that moment!"

Everett listened intently to Pastor Billings’s words, his heart racing. He knew that he enjoyed the community of church, the comfort of the routine, but he wasn’t quite ready to take that step of faith. Yet, something about the urgency in the Pastor’s voice resonated within him. Was he ready to be left behind? Would his family, his friends, be taken away?

One day, after church, when Everett was 16 and had just got his driver’s license, he went into his bedroom which he shared with Ronnie. Both boys were athletic, and Everett played football, basketball, track, dodge ball, and baseball. His room was filled with trophies and posters of sports stars and scripture verses. Then Ronnie came in.

"You're still a Christian, right?", asked Ronnie, tossing a football to Everett. The leather smacked against his palms as he caught it reflexively.

"Sure I am", said Everett, tossing the football back to his brother. "Why do you ask?"

“I was just wondering”, Ronnie said, his eyes focused on the football as he caught it again. “You know, because sometimes you seem a bit... I don’t know, distant during the sermons.”

Everett knew Ronnie was right. He may have memorized the Scriptures and attended church every Sunday, but deep down, he hadn't truly accepted Jesus into his heart. He even stopped going to youth group for a time, making some excuses, "I'm really busy that night" or "I've got something else going on!" But the truth was, he was scared of being judged by his peers. He didn’t know how to tell them that he wasn’t sure if he believed.

Everett used to go to Christian summer camps when he was a child. Though he started to phased out of it when he turned into a teenager. He also phased out of Sunday school, and just went to regular services with his family. There were times when Ronnie would ask Everett to play basketball with him on the weekends. He used to love doing that, though he started to grow tired of it. He knew it was because of the emptiness inside of him. Gracie would even asked him to play the concentration card games with her, but he turned her down because he didn’t know what to do with himself anymore. He could tell his parents that he hadn't really become a Christian. He decided not to. It was easier to keep up the facade. His mother even thought he would be a preacher one day. If he told her that he hadn’t really prayed to believe, she would be going hysterical over him. So he decided that he was going to keep it a secret, and act as he was a Christian. He would still be going to church and memorizing Bible verses.

"The LORD is wonderful, isn't He?", asked his mother.

"Yes, mom", said Everett., "He is."

How terrible Everett felt, like a hypocrite in the eyes of God and his family. The guilt grew heavier with each passing day. Yet, he continued the charade, hoping that one day he would find the courage to confess and truly seek salvation.

 

[jasmine_childoftheking]

Chapter II

****
Robert Burton lived in Mount Prospect until he graduated from High School. He had dark blond hair and was tall. His father, a Welshman Carl, worked as a journalist for the Global Weekly Magazine Chicago office and his mother Donna was originally from North Dakota, worked as a teacher’s assistant at Fairview Elementary School. Robert was the oldest of six children with five younger siblings Oliver, Elaine, Samuel, Andrew and Mary. When Robert turned 10, Carl gave him his first passport and took him on one of his international trips to Portugal. While Carl was reporting on a story in Lisbon, Robert discovered his love for flying. Carl later did the same with the other kids after they each turned ten. Not only that, but Carl also wanted to have a bonding time with each of the kids. After graduating from Prospect High, Robert decided to pursue a career in aviation, something that had fascinated him since childhood. He moved out on his own in the inner city of Chicago Four years later, 22 year old Robert became a second officer pilot for Pan Con 747, which was one of the big planes, working with Captain Rayford Steele, a tall and dark man, and First Officer Chris Smith, an African American. The Pan-Con 747 had been used for international flights since the 1970s, and it had been advanced significantly over the years to keep up with technology. While Robert had been raised going to church, as he got older, it had seemed to have fallen out of his favor. The thrill of flying and the fast-paced life in Chicago had pushed his beliefs to the side. It had been fine when he was a kid, but there wasn't anything to write home about anymore. His roommate Marc often told him about God as well.

"Oh, and you know Jesus is going to come back to take us to Heaven", said Marc, one evening.

"My mom talks about it all the time", said Robert, tossing a pillow at his roommate, "Do you believe that?"

Marc nodded, his eyes gleaming with enthusiasm. "Yes, I do. And I think it's going to happen soon."

Robert remembered Pastor Billings often talking about "the Rapture", where believers would disappear off the face of the earth, and be taken to Heaven. But how could that be possible, he wondered. To him, it just didn't make any sense. The world was too big, too complex for something so dramatic to happen without warning. Sure, he had seen people act strange when they talked about their beliefs, but he had always chocked it up to their overactive imaginations. Plus, he had his own life to live, a career to build, and adventures to experience. Robert had to admit he enjoyed the international flight routes. The thrill of traveling the globe was unmatched. In the cockpit, he would sit on the side of the controllers, eager to take the wheel of the plane when his time came.

“Ray, your wife goes to church, right?”, Robert asked Captain Steele one evening on a flight to Paris, hoping to get a different perspective.

“Oh yes. She has been going to that New Hope Village Church. She even said it helped grow in her faith. However, she seems like a religious nut case, always saying that Jesus was going to come back any day now and all that stuff. Like we’re going to vanish into thin air like some kind of magic trick. I don’t have time for that, man.” Captain Steele said with a laugh.

“My mom says the same thing”, Robert chuckled, feeling a twinge of nostalgia for the simpler days when he had found comfort in those stories. “But it’s all just talk, right? I mean, we’ve got planes to fly and lives to live down here.”

“And people had to fly even on Sundays”, Rayford added with a knowing look.

“Exactly!” Robert exclaimed, his eyes lighting up. “How’s a guy supposed to go to church if he’s up in the air?”

“Yeah. Even my son Rayford, Jr ‘Raymie’ has been going to church with her. He says he’s found Jesus, but I’m not so sure about it all. My daughter Chloe, on the other hand, has become skeptical of the whole thing. She’s studying at Stanford and says it’s all a bunch of fairy tales”, Captain Steele said, his voice trailing off as he stared out the window, watching the clouds drift lazily by.

“What about you, Chris? You ever thought about all this religious stuff?”, Robert turned to the First Officer.

“My wife and I aren’t really into that religious stuff. Though she drops our two boys off at a church across town. It's a relief for her, since the guys are out of the house”, Chris said with a shrug. “But as for me, I’ll stick to flying planes. That’s where I feel in control. Up here, I know what to expect.”

“I know what you mean”, Robert said, nodding in understanding. “But I’ve got to admit, sometimes it’s comforting to think there’s something more than just...this.” He gestured to the cockpit around them, the humdrum routine of their workaday lives.

“So you've stopped going to church because you're not into it”, Chris said, his eyes not leaving the instruments in front of him.

Robert nodded. “I guess you could say that. After I started working here, it just didn’t feel right to keep pretending. Plus, with the schedule I have, it’s pretty much impossible to make it to church every Sunday. And when I do, it’s like I’m hearing the same old stories I’ve heard a hundred times before. Nothing’s changed, you know?”

“My wife says the same thing, Robert. She’s convinced Jesus will come back for us, but I can't say I've seen much to convince me," Captain Steele admitted, his voice filled with doubt.

Robert would often look at the horizon. He thought that the most exciting part about the international trips was that there were new places to visit. Now if only God could somehow get his attention in some way, and make time for family and God.

*****
Andrew Burton, the second youngest of Carl and Donna with dark blond hair, had been raised going to church along with Robert, Oliver, Elaine, Samuel and Mary. He had enjoyed it as a kid. He would even get excited about going to Sunday School, Wednesday night church and even Vacation Bible School during the summer. There was a time that when Andrew turned 10, Carl gave him his first passport. Carl even took Andrew on a national trip to Czech, where he was a covering a story for the Global Weekly Magazine.

"Hey, thank you for taking me with you on this trip, Dad", said Andrew, his voice filled with excitement as he looked out of the airplane window, watching the world shrink below them.

"You're welcome, buddy", Carl said, smiling at his son's enthusiasm. "It's important that you understand the world outside of Chicago. There's so much more out there, and traveling is a great way to learn and grow."

The city of Prague sprawled out beneath them as the plane touched down on the runway. Andrew’s heart raced as he thought of all the adventures that awaited them. He watched as his dad went about his journalist duties, eagerly taking notes and snapping photos of everything around them. The culture was vastly different from what Andrew was used to, but he felt a strange sense of belonging in the midst of the unfamiliarity, and he enjoyed his first international trip with Carl. At that time, he still enjoyed going to church. He was a curious kid, always asking questions about God and the world around him. Carl would patiently explain the answers, weaving in tales of his own faith journey and the miracles he'd witnessed in his life as a journalist. However, about two years later, when he turned 12, he started to hang out with a group of friends that wanted to do their own thing on weekends, which rarely involved church. His curiosity shifted from the divine to the secular, and he found himself drifting away from the spiritual life he once cherished. Once he socialized with them, he joined in. He was still a good student and got good grades and was athletic, but his behavior was causing his parents to worry. There was even a time that Andrew would attend church, just not on a regular basis. As usual, Pastor Vernon Billings was speaking of "the Rapture" and end times. He urged the congregation to be ready, to examined themselves, and to be prayer for those who may not be ready. Andrew thought it just didn't make sense. Jesus would come back to take away His people and it would all happened in an instant? He had heard it so much, but he had his own plans for life. He wanted to have fun, live his teenage years to the fullest, and not be bogged down by rules and regulations from the Bible. It was as if he had outgrown it. When he was 14 and entered his first year of high school, he continued to hang out with the same crowd. He began to do drugs, smoke, and drink. Even his female friends were beginning to dress in a way that drew attention, much to Donna’s disapproval, as she had called Andrew’s new friends the "evil influences." They were the ones who had introduced him to the darker side of life, and she feared they would lead him down a dangerous path.

"What's got into you?", asked Doria, "You don't love Jesus anymore?"

How am I supposed to answer that? Andrew thought to himself. He may have liked church as a child. But loving Jesus? That never occurred to him.

"I don't know, mom", Andrew said, avoiding her gaze.

“I'm concerned about the choices you've been making, Andrew," Donna said, her voice filled with both love and a hint of sadness. "I know it's tough to fit in, but those friends are not leading you down the right path. I know no one is perfect, but we need to strive to be like Jesus."

"Perhaps I will when I grow up", said Andrew, trying to appease his mother. "But right now, I need to live my life."

It wasn't she wanted to hear. Afterwards, she left the room with a heavy sigh, her eyes filled with unshed tears. Andrew knew he was breaking her heart, but he just couldn’t bring himself to care anymore. He shared a room with Samuel, while Robert and Oliver shared another and stayed there when they’ve visited during holidays. Samuel was a junior and Andrew was a freshman at Prospect High School, and while they shared a room, they had grown apart in their beliefs. Samuel had found his faith deepening as he grew older, while Andrew’s had waned. Samuel couldn't help but worry for his younger brother's soul. He knew the path Andrew was on was a dangerous one, and he felt a responsibility to steer him back towards the light.


"Can I ask you something, Andrew?", asked Samuel one evening as they lay in bed.

"What is it now, Samuel?", asked Andrew, rolling his eyes in the darkness. He knew his brother was going to start one of his religious speeches again.

"Well, you're still a Christian, aren't you? Were you ever?", Samuel voice was soft, a stark contrast to the usual boisterousness of their room.

"Sure I am!", Andrew replied, trying to keep the annoyance out of his voice. He had heard it all before. "Why do you ask?"

“Why is that you don't act like one?", Samuel asked, his voice cracking with concern.

"I am just as much as a Christian as you are!", Andrew retorted, feeling the heat rise in his cheeks. He knew his brother was only looking out for him, but he couldn't help the resentment that bubbled up inside of him every time the topic of his faith was brought up.

“You’ve been doing things that aren’t exactly Christian, Andrew. I just want you to think about it, that’s all,” Samuel said, his voice a mix of pleading and frustration.

Andrew rolled his eyes again and swore under his breath. He was glad that Donna didn't hear it and he was pretty sure Samuel didn't either. And because of his hanging out with the crowd, he stopped going to church regularly, except for when his parents would ask him to go. He knew his mom had noticed the change in him, but he didn't care. As usual, Pastor Vernon Billings was speaking of "the Rapture" and end times. He urged the congregation to be ready, to examined themselves, and to be prayer for those who may not be ready. Andrew thought it just didn't make sense. Jesus would come back to take away His people and it would all happened in an instant? He had heard it so much, but he had his own plans for life. He wanted to have fun, live his teenage years to the fullest, and not be bogged down by rules and regulations from the Bible.

“You don't know how much time you have", said Carl, his voice stern but filled with love. "You can't keep living like this and expect everything to work out. You need to get right with God, son."

"I have all the time in the world", said Andrew with a smug smile, "God isn't going to just pull the plug like that.”

Donna cried in the master bedroom, her heart aching for her son's lost innocence. Carl joined her, his own eyes filled with sadness and concern. If they had any control over him, it was by grounding him for a week. He now couldn't go anywhere without their knowing or even go to hang out with his friends or that if he went out, he would have to be home by a certain time. Though there were nights that he would sneak out anyways. There were even times he broke curfew, and would come in the backdoor, hoping his parents wouldn't hear.

How soon would Andrew make a better choice. As he lay in bed that evening, staring at the ceiling, he felt a strange unease settle in his chest. Was it the guilt of lying to his family? The fear of getting caught? Or was it something else entirely? The words of Pastor Billings echoed in his mind, about being ready for the Rapture, about the suddenness of it all. He couldn't shake the feeling that maybe, just maybe, there was some truth to it. But he pushed the thought aside, focusing instead on the thrill of his next adventure.

 

[jasmine_childoftheking]

Chapter III

*****
Josiah Eliraz had been raised in a Jewish family in Mount Prospect before going to nursing school in Chicago. His heritage was a blend of Pakistani and Russian ancestry; from his father’s side, he came from a family of Pakistani Jews when Pakistan was part of India, and from his mother’s side, Russian Jews who had escaped from Communist oppression. Josiah was tall and had dark hair, with an olive complexion, and was was very fluent in four languages- English, Hebrew, Russian, and Urdu. His father, Tobias, owned a business in Chicago, the Eliraz Industry that specialized in security systems and exported goods to different countries, and was wealthy. His mother, Hilda, never had to work outside the home. His oldest brother Ivan worked in the family business and would eventually take over once their father was ready to retire, and was married to Rhoda with 3 children, two boys and a girl. The second oldest brother Caleb just got his piloting license and was married to Phoebe. A younger sister Addi have just graduated from Prospect High School and was now in her freshman year at the University of South Chicago. After earning his nursing license, Josiah moved out of his parents' home in Mount Prospect and got an apartment in Chicago, closer to the Arlington Heights Hospital where he worked as a registered nurse. Although only 22 years old, the hospital had quickly recognized his potential and he was often put in charge of his floor, even though he had only been working there for six months. He participated in the celebration of Rosh Hannah, Purim, Passover, Hanukkah, and other Jewish holidays. His parents did as well, until at one point. There was something that happened that changed their live. When Josiah was 13, there was a group of Jews that would gathered together at a rally of some sort, and a pastor came to speak.

"If I can have your attention, please", said the pastor, "I am well aware you are Jewish, still waiting for your Messiah. Well, let me say He has already come."

The pastor went through the prophecies of the Old Testament, and how it was all leading to Jesus as the Messiah. He explained how Jesus had fulfilled all the prophecies. The words of the pastor didn’t just fall on deaf ears; they resonated with Hilda and Tobias. They felt a stirring in their hearts, something that was strange and yet familiar. They had never heard about Jesus like this before, and it was as if a veil had been lifted from their eyes. They decided to investigate further, and what they found was a revelation that shook their world.

"If you are willing to accept Jesus as your Messiah", said the pastor, "Pray with me."

The pastor was leading in the prayer. Josiah looked around and saw his parents bowing their heads in prayer. He wondered if they could be praying along with the pastor. Then he saw then 17 year old Ivan and then 11 year old Addi bowing in prayer as well. He wondered what could this be about. It was all too much for him to comprehend at the moment. Soon after the pastor led the prayer, the Jewish gathering dispersed. Josiah came home after about an hour or so and saw his parents sitting in the living room, holding Bibles, looking happier than he had seen them in a long time.

"What happened to you?", he asked, "You look like you've seen a ghost."

"Would you believe we have become Christians tonight?", asked Tobias with a smile that seemed to light up the room.

Josiah blinked, trying to process the words he had just heard. "What do you mean, Dad?"

"We've accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, son," Hilda said, her voice filled with a gentle excitement. "We've found the truth we've been searching for."

Josiah felt a mix of confusion and anger. "What about our traditions? Our family heritage?" he protested, feeling the ground shift beneath him.

"Josiah,", Tobias, said gently, "our heritage is important, but so is truth. And we've found that in Jesus. He is the fulfillment of what we've been waiting for."

"I've practiced Judaism since I was a boy", said Josiah, "Why would I want to change that?"

"It's not about changing who you are, son," replied his father, his tone gentle yet firm. "It's about filling the emptiness inside you with the love and salvation that only Jesus can provide.".

"You're telling me that Jesus is the Jewish savior? That's ridiculous. And what about the prophecies of the Messiah? The one who will restore Israel?"

“I believe the restoration of Israel will come to pass in God’s timing, but it’s not just about the nation, it’s about all of us, the spiritual Israel," Tobias explained, his gaze steady on his son. "Jesus is the fulfillment of those prophecies. He came to save not just the Jewish people, but the whole world.”

"We'll let God work on you, Josiah", said Hilda, giving him a warm smile that seemed to hold a hint of hope. "Pray and seek the truth with an open heart."

Josiah went into the family room, and saw Ivan and Addi sitting on the couch, their faces filled with the same excitement and peace as their parents. They looked up at him with hope in their eyes, holding their own Bibles.

"Is this true?", asked Josiah, his voice barely above a whisper. "You guys believe in Jesus now?"

Ivan nodded, his eyes glowing with a newfound faith. "Yes, we do. And it's amazing, Josiah. You should try it. Give it a chance."

Josiah rolled his eyes, feeling like an outsider in his own home. "This is nonsense. Why can't you guys just stick to what we've always known?"

"Because we've found something more, something real," Addi said, her voice earnest. "Jesus is the true Messiah, and He loves you too, Josiah."

Before Josiah could say anything, their then 15 year old brother Caleb walked in. "What's going on?" he asked, looking around the room.

"Some pastor came to speak at a Jewish rally. They said that Jesus is our Messiah," Ivan tried to explain to Caleb, his eyes alight with excitement. "Can you believe it?"

“What? That’s ridiculous! We’re Jewish, not Christian!” Caleb’s voice cracked with confusion as he processed the revelation.

“You’ve said it”, Josiah said to Caleb, trying to keep his voice steady. “We’re Jewish. Why should we believe in some guy that got killed a couple thousand years ago?”

“Yes, Jesus was killed, but He also rose again, and He’s coming back for all who believe in Him, no matter their background," said Ivan, his voice filled with conviction. "We can’t ignore the truth just because it’s not what we’ve always known."

"Hey, if you want to believe that stuff about Jesus being the Messiah, that's your own business", said Josiah, "Just leave Caleb and me out of it and let us practice Judaism as we've been taught."

The conversation ended with a tense silence, leaving the family divided by their beliefs. Yet, as the days turned into weeks, the unspoken tension grew thicker. Even when his parents, oldest brother, and younger sister converted to Christianity, Josiah was still set in his ways on practicing the Jewish religion. Even up until graduation and nursing school, then becoming a registered nurse, he was still active in the Jewish synagogue. Ivan married Rhoda, and they had three children together, and attended a messianic synagogue on Saturdays and curch on Sundays. Caleb became a pilot and married Phoebe, and they’ve both practiced Judaism like Josiah did. Addi started college and became involved in a Christian group on campus.

How soon would Josiah discover the truth about the Jewish Messiah, Jesus. He had his own beliefs, but the change in his family was undeniable. They had found something that brought them peace and joy, something that seemed to be missing from his own life.

*****
Santiago Perez and his family were among the first Hispanics to live in the Mount Prospect Neighborhood. He was of was a mix of Puerto Rican and Mexican descent, and was fluent in English and Spanish. His father, Horatio was a professor of literature at a college in Chicago and his mother, Amaya, worked as a waitress at a Mexican restaurant in Chicago. He had to admit that his little brother and sister, Edaurdo and Maria were good kids. Though they sure got on his nerves sometimes. There were other Hispanics or Latinos at school, though not many. He became active in sports, playing soccer, basketball, and softball in grade school. When he got into middle school, he started playing football. His family visited either from Miami, Florida or San Antonio, Texas every summer. Santiago was social, though he felt something was missing. Even though they lived in Mount Prospect, the Perez family attended a Spanish church in Chicago where they stayed with family for the weekend and came home in Mount Prospect Sunday afternoon. He started going to youth group at New Hope Village Church, since it was closer to him. It was a place where he could be himself without the pressure of school or his family's expectations. Santiago even began to wonder why his namesake. Horatio often told him that his name was a combination of "saint" and "Iago", which is a Portuguese and Spanish form of "James" and "Jacob." It was a strong name, a name of faith and heritage. Yet, Santiago felt as though he was living in the shadows of his name's meaning. He was not as devout as his family believed him to be. He liked going to a Spanish church in Chicago and going to Youth Group in Mount Prospect. Though he felt something was missing from his life. He believed there was a God out there, but it just didn't add up. He heard the stories of what God did, though he wasn't sure what to make of it.

"Jesus is wonderful", said Amaya, "Aren't you glad we serve a wonderful God?"

"Oh si,, we do", said Santiago, "I just don't know if it's real."

"Well, we're praying for you, Santiago, God will get your attention one day."

"Perhaps He will."

As time went on, when he turned 12, Santiago began to feel the weight of his family's expectations and the divide in his own beliefs. At school, he was athletic and was the jock. You name the sport, he enjoyed it and was good at it and played with all his might. He was the fastest runner, the highest jumper, the best hitter and thrower in baseball, the widest receiver in football and the sharpest shooter in basketball. Not only that, but he was academically active as well, participating in the science club and the school's debate team. So as the jock, the scholar and the social butterfly, he was quite popular. Despite his busy schedule, Santiago felt like he was living a double life: one at home with his devout family, and another at school and youth group, where he pretended to be a believer. Santiago knew there would be challenges ahead of him. It was one thing to go to a Spanish church in Chicago and youth group at New Hope Village Church. He even invited his friends from school to youth group. Eduardo and Maria would often get excited about going to Sunday School as well. On the weekends, other than church, Horatio, Santiago and Eduardo would go to the Chicago White Sox or the Chicago Cubs games while Amaya and Maria would stay home and cook a big meal. It was a family tradition. Though Santiago felt like he didn’t fit in with either world, he couldn’t shake the curiosity that tugged at him during the services and discussions.

"Now don't forget", Amaya would often said, "You were raised going to church. We've dedicated you and your little brother and sister to the LORD."

Santiago knew she was right. He had been dedicated when he was an infant at a church. Then Eduardo then Maria were. He had to admit he liked church a lot and going to youth group at New Hope Village Church. Though suppose his mother was right. God would somehow find a way to get his attention. At a Spanish Church in Chicago, the pastor was speaking about Jesus coming to take His believers away into Heaven. He even said it would all happened in an instant.

"This is going to be a geat day for us", said the pastor, "But a sad one for unbelievers or those who may not be ready. How important it is to examine our faith and be ready as well to be prayer for those who may not be ready."

Santiago heard about this. He just couldn't figure out what this all means. He knew his mother was worried for him. She had talked to him about Jesus and the rapture more often lately. Though, he couldn’t bring himself to tell her that he didn’t quite believe it. He didn’t want to disappoint her. He knew Jesus was going to come back at some point. But would he be ready? That was the question that kept him up at night. He had been trying to read his Bible more and pray. Yet, the words just felt empty.

How soon he realized that's not all there is. He had enjoyed going to church, the community and the sense of belonging it gave him. Yet, Santiago couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was still amiss.

 

[jasmine_childoftheking]

Chapter IV

*****
Lucille Moise grew up in Mount Prospect until she graduated from Prospect High School. She began attending the University of South Chicago for general studies, hoping to find a career path that suited her free-spirited nature. She was 5’7 and had fiery red hair that fell just past her shoulders and was a social butterfly. She was staying at a dorm near the university, which allowed her to focus on her studies without the distraction of her family's strict religious views. Her parents were devout Christians, but their constant pressure to follow in their footsteps had pushed her away from the church. She hardly visited, except during holidays, when it was expected of her. Her brother Harold and sister Cheryl went to Prospect High School, and were active in the YMCA and YWCA. Lucille attended New Hope Village Church when she was a little girl, but religion never occurred to her as something that could offer her the excitement and adventure she craved. Pastor Billings had talked a lot about the Rapture, but to her, it was just another one of those weird, abstract concepts that didn’t fit into her concrete worldview. Plus, with her newfound independence at college, she had a whole new world to explore. Two years later, when Lucille and her roommate, Madeline, were 20 years old and in their junior year of college, Elaine Burton and Addi Eliraz, who were 18 and in their freshmen year, moved into the dorm across the hall. They even invited them to a church service and Bible study at a church close by the university.

"Come on, Lucille, Madeline”, Elaine said, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "You've gotta come with us to church this weekend.”

Lucille rolled her eyes, already feeling the weight of the impending lecture. "What's the point?" she retorted, her voice edged with a hint of annoyance. "It's not like I don't know the story."

“You wanna know what the Pastor is going to talk about this week?” Elaine asked, ignoring Lucille’s skepticism. “He’s going to delve into the Book of Revelation. Stuff about the end times, the Rapture, the Antichrist...”

“I’ve heard it all before. The Rapture, the Antichrist, all that. It’s like something out of a sci-fi novel. Not exactly my cup of tea, really”, Madeline chimed in, her skepticism mirroring Lucille’s own.

“You’d actually be surprised”, Addi chimed in, her voice soothing and calm. “It’s not all doom and gloom. It’s about hope and a new beginning. And it’s not just a story, it’s the promise that Jesus made to his followers. To be taken away from the chaos and suffering before the end comes.”

”So, you believe this stuff?”, Lucille asked, raising an eyebrow at the two girls.

Elaine nodded, her eyes serious. “We do. And it’s important that you do too. You never know when the Rapture might happen.”

“I’ll think about it”, Lucille said, trying to sound non-committal. She didn’t want to get into a full-blown debate about something she had no interest in.

While Lucille and Madeline weren’t into the religious scene, they did enjoy hanging out with the two freshmen girls, and they, would have an all-girls night out on Saturdays. They’d go to the mall, see a movie, or grab a bite to eat at their favorite restaurant. But when Sunday rolled around, Elaine and Addi would be out the door before dawn to attend their early morning service at the church. It was like nothing could keep them from going, not even the allure of sleeping in on a weekend. Lucille was enjoying life at college, making friends and exploring new interests. However, she couldn’t ignore the persistent nudges from Elaine and Addi about their shared faith. wasn’t the kind of person to attend church every Sunday. It just wasn’t her thing. But she had to admit, their friendship was something special. They were always there for her, and their conviction was hard to miss. There were even some other students on campus who were also Christians. They would carry Bibles in their dorms and attended church close by. Sometimes, they would have Bible studies at the dorm, which intrigued Lucille. She had heard about the Rapture before but never really gave it much thought. It all seemed too fantastical for her, but neither she nor Madeline couldn’t deny the way Elaine and Addi's beliefs shone through their actions. It just didn’t add up. How could something so outlandish be so central to their lives?

"I'll tell you, Lucille", said Elaine, "God will get your attention one day.”

Lucille just shrugged. "I doubt it. I'm pretty good at ignoring things that don't fit my schedule."

Addi looked at her with a knowing smile. "You might be surprised," she said softly.

Lucille often heard from her mom, who told her that she was praying for her to come back to church. She knew her mom meant well, but she just couldn't bring herself to go back to the place she had felt so suffocated. Her skepticism grew stronger with each passing day, and she found solace in her new group of friends who didn't judge her for her lack of belief.

How soon should Lucille realize the importance of family, friends, and God's love when the Rapture hits? This was a question she had never considered before, but one that would soon be at the forefront of her mind.

*****
Mary Burton, the youngest of Carl and Donna’s six children, had been raised going to church, like 5 older siblings Robert, Oliver, Elaine, Samuel and Andrew. She had light blond hair and was 4’8 with a slender frame. When she was first born, Elaine was especially happy about finally having a sister, after having only 4 brothers. For Mary’s first Christmas, she received a plush lamb with a pink flower on its ear, which she named Rosie, and it had been with her ever since. When she was 10, like her 5 older siblings, Carl gave her a passport and took her with him on one of his international trips to Croatia.

“Why do you travel a lot, Daddy?”, Mary asked, looking out the window of the plane into the city of Dubrovnik below, clutching Rosie tightly to her chest.

“It’s part of my job, sweetie”, Carl replied, his eyes reflecting the excitement of exploration and discovery. “But remember, no matter where I go, God is always with me. He’s with you too, every single moment.”

Mary nodded, though the concept of an invisible being watching over her was something she had yet to fully comprehend. She was quite glad that she got to go one of the international trips with Carl. She had to admit that she was actually quite proud of him. After arriving home, she got into figure skating, which made her feel beautiful and graceful, something she hadn’t felt before. It became her escape from the tension at home and the confusion in her heart. When she turned 12, although she has always been quiet she started to become quieter and more introspective. She still attended church, though she grew more skeptical about God and whether He as real. Her curiosity grew into a silent quest for understanding. Mary found comfort in the routines of church and the warmth of her family's faith, but the flame in her own heart was dwindling. While Mary didn’t become rebellious as Andrew did, she did find herself drawn to questioning the existence of God. She had heard the stories from her parents and the sermons at church, but something just wasn’t clicking for her. Maybe it was Robert’s workaholic tendencies and Andrew’s rebellious phase that made her feel like the world was so vast and unpredictable that God couldn’t possibly be in control of everything.

“So if God was real”, Mary asked Carl one day, “What can He do?“

”I know it’s hard for you to understand, Honey”, said Carl, “Though you’ll be amazed at what He can do.”

Mary had been sweet and innocent, but the whispers of doubt grew louder with each passing day. She often found herself lying awake at night, her thoughts swirling like a tornado in her mind. Her faith, once a gentle breeze, had turned into a stormy tempest, leaving her feeling lost and alone. Her friends from church, who had always been there for her, now seemed so distant, their certainty about God's existence starkly contrasting with her own wavering beliefs. She went into her room, which she shared with Elaine until she graduated and went to study at University of South Chicago. Elaine’s favorite color was purple, and was into tennis, so her side of the room had purple walls and trophies from her tournaments. Mary’s favorite color was pink, and her side had pink walls and her figure skating awards. They both enjoy some girly things, like tea parties and playing with Barbie dolls, and they also some sports, like playing tennis and volley ball together. Elaine had a Barbie doll that was a tennis player that she got for Christmas when she was 12, and took it with her to college. Mary also had a collection of snow globes from Carl’s travels. She held on to Rosie tightly to her chest, which had become her source of security. At church, Pastor Billings would speak of Jesus coming back to take His followers to Heaven, as He often did. Molly had no idea what to think. Could it be real? She had been taught that Jesus died on the cross and rose again when she was a little girl. Though she never made the commitment. It was like hearing a fairy tale, something that could never happen in the real world.

“I believe that God will somehow find a way to get your attention”, Carl said to Mary one evening as they sat in the quiet living room. His voice was filled with the same hope that had fueled his journalistic spirit for years.

“Perhaps He will”, said Mary, her voice a whispers.

Mary continued to doubt about God and whether He was real. Did Jesus really died and rose again? Could He really save her? Was Jesus really coming back to take His followers and she wasn’t prepared for it? Her mind was filled with questions she couldn’t answer. How soon Mary would come to understand that God loved her and that Jesus died for her. She knew her mom and dad talked about it, but she just couldn’t grasp it. Her heart was filled with doubt, but she didn’t want to disappoint her family. She clutched Rosie tightly as if the teddy bear could somehow fill the emptiness inside her.

 

[jasmine_childoftheking]

Chapter V

******
At Prospect High School, Harold was a senior, Everett and Samuel were juniors, and Ronnie, Andrew, and Cheryl were freshmen. There were two cousins that were also juniors named John Preston who was tall and blond and Mark Eisman who was stockier and dark haired. They were both known to brainiacs, often found in the library. There was also an African American sophomore girl who was often seen reading her Bible on the bus.

“Hey, isn’t that Clarice Washington, whose mom works with dad at the Global Weekly Magazine Chicago office?”, Andrew whispered to Samuel as they’ve boarded from their school bus.

Samuel nodded. “Yeah, she’s pretty cool.”

Clarice’s mother, Lucinda had previously been a reporter for the Global Weekly Magazine Chicago office and her father Charles worked as heavy-equipment operator. When Clarice was 9, Lucinda was promoted to senior editor for the magazine, so the Washington family, which included her and then 6 year old brother Lionel, moved out of the inner city of Chicago to the Mount Prospect area. The Washingtons were among the first African-Americans to live in their Mount Prospect neighborhood. Since then, two other children, Ronnie and Luci, were born, and they were now attending Fairview Elementary School, where Donna Burton worked as a teacher’s assistant. Then there was a sophomore boy, Judd Thompson, Jr., whom Samuel and Aneurin knew from church. Judd had a reputation of being known as “rich kid”, since his father, Judd Thompson, Sr., owned a company in Chicago and was wealthy. His mother never worked outside of the home, which made Judd seem even more distant from the reality that most kids faced. His little brother and sister, 8 year old twins Marc and Marcie, went to Fairview Elementary School. . Even though the resemblance between Judd and his father was uncanny with the same dark hair, Judd, Jr was already taller than his dad. Even though Judd was raised in a Christian home and even used to invite his friends to church and youth group, he felt he had outgrown the beliefs of his family and church. At school he hung with kids who got to make their own decisions and do what they wanted to do. That was all he wanted. A little freedom.

“Hey, Judd, I haven’t seen you at youth group in a while. What’s up?” Samuel asked as they bumped into each other in the crowded hallways of Prospect High School.

Judd shrugged nonchalantly. “Nah, man, I’ve just been busy. Got a lot of stuff going on outside of church these days. You know how it is.”

“Uh-huh. Well, youth pastor Jordan’s been doing a series on the last days. You’re missing out on some intense stuff,” Samuel said with genuine concern in his eyes.

Judd rolled his own. “Yeah, sure. I’ll catch up on it when I have the time. Besides, it’s all just a bunch of old-timey predictions anyway, right?”

Samuel couldn’t help but feel a twinge of sadness for Judd. He remembered hearing about a falling away during the end times, but he didn’t expect it to hit so close to home. Meanwhile, there was another freshman girl from a trailer park, Prospect Gardens, named Shelly who had flat brown hair. Other kids at school considered kids who lived in trailer parks lower class and had a reputation of being troublemakers. Every Friday night, there was a community dance where drunk and jealous husbands fought over their wives and girlfriends. It was not unusual for the dances to be broken up by the police, with one or more of the fighters being hauled off to jail for the night. About a year ago or less, a preacher interrupted one of the dances and talked about Jesus, and many of the people in the trailer park had given their lives to Jesus. Shelly and her family heard about it, but it wasn’t for them. Samuel, although he didn’t personally see it, was amazed how God could touch the lives of those who were considered outcasts by society, like those who lived in the trailer park.

****
Lincoln Middle School even had its own set of challenges. Even though Santiago and Mary were both 12 and in the 7th grade and even had many of the same classes, they had never talked to each other. Santiago was more of a jock and a popular kid, while Mary was shy and was a figure skater. Gracie was also in the 7th grade and even did figure skating with Mary, but she had a different social circle. She was strong in her faith, but she had a gentle way of sharing it. There was also, a tall and slender, eighth grade girl with fiery red hair named Vicki Byrne, who was from the trailer park. She was tough. She had to be. Vicki’s friends were her “own kind,” as her enemies liked to say. Her parents Tom and Dawn, and little sister Jeanni were among those who got saved at the time when the preacher visited the trailer park. Vicki’s older brother Eddie, who moved out on his own to Michigan after graduating from high school, texted Vicki that he had begun going to church up in Michigan. Vicki, however, would have nothing to do with it. Before then, Tom had trouble keeping a job as a mechanic, a construction worker, a short-order cook, and a cashier at a convenience store, and Dawn’s waitressing didn’t pay enough to cover their bills. Being arrested or late or absent from work one too many times always cost him his job, and then they would live on welfare for a few months until he could find something else. He was now a new man. He never missed work, was always on time, got promoted, had more friends. Mary and her family had seen Vicki at New Hope Village Church on those few occasions when she was dragged there, all but kicking and screaming, by her parents.

“Hey, you’re Vicki, aren’t you, the girl from the trailer park?”, Santiago asked as he saw Vicki in the hallway one afternoon. He knew that no Hispanics or Latinos or Negroes or any other racial group lived in the trailer park, as it was predominantly white. He had heard that Vicki’s friends called the Negro kids horrible names and Vicki had been raised to believe Negro kids were beneath her too. She didn’t know why they were supposed to be inferior, other than that they were a different color. Santiago was Hispanic, and he had experienced his fair share of prejudice, even though it was not as severe as what the Negro kids faced.
“Yeah. You must be the Hispanic jock, one of the most popular kids around here, right?”, Vicki replied, her voice laced with sarcasm.

“Yeah, that’s me. Santiago. What’s your deal, Vicki?”, Santiago replied, unfazed by her sarcasm.

“Just trying to survive, like everyone else here. I don’t have time for your games or popularity contests,” Vicki said, her eyes narrowing as she picked up her books and started to walk away.

Mary and Gracie noticed the tension between Santiago and Vicki as they parted ways in the hallway. Mary had heard that Vicki had a rebellious streak much like Andrew did, as she did drugs, smoked, and drank, even though they didn’t know each other well. Before then, Vicki and her friends had put firecrackers in a few mailboxes and run away, and they tipped over a few garbage cans. Now, though, her family’s newfound faith made her feel like an outsider, even at home.

“Perhaps, Vicki, you should come to Youth group sometime. Youth pastor Jordan’s got some pretty interesting stuff to say about all of us being equal in God’s eyes, regardless of where we come from,” Gracie suggested gently.

Vicki stopped and turned, her eyes locking onto Gracie’s. “You really believe all that?” she asked, a hint of challenge in her tone.

Gracie nodded. “I do. And it’s not just something we say at church. It’s something that’s real and that can change how we see each other.”

Vicki rolled her eyes. "Yeah, right. Like that'll ever happen." She turned and disappeared into the crowd of students heading to their next class.

There was also also a young and lanky Negro boy with a smooth face and chocolate complexion, Lionel, Clarice’s brother, who was also in Santiago, Gracie, and Mary’s grade and often shared a seat with Mary on the bus. It was mainly because Mary was shy, and Lionel was having trouble deciding where he fit. There were few other Negro kids at Lincoln Middle School, and none of them went to Lionel’s old church in Chicago, where his family still attended every Sunday. Santiago, as a Hispanic and despite being the jock and most popular kid, related to Lionel’s struggle as he too faced his own set of prejudices. There were other Hispanics at school, but much like the Negroes, they were still in the minority. Santiago and Lionel, although not necessarily close friends, had a silent understanding that bonded them in a way that was hard to explain.

****
Even at Fairview Elementary School, where Donna worked as a teacher’s assistant, although the challenges there were not as intense as the ones faced by the older kids at Prospect High or Lincoln Middle School, it had its own set of issues. Santiago’s little brother and sister, Edaurdo and Maria, were 8 and 5, in the third grade and kindergarten respectively. Maria was both excited and nervous about her first year of school. She had heard stories from Edaurdo about the fun games and the kind teachers. Ronnie and Luci, Clarice and Lionel’s little brother and sister, were also 8 and 5, in the 3rd grade and kindergarten respectively. Luci was both excited and nervous about her first year of school, but Ronnie took his role as the big brother very seriously, making sure she felt included and safe. There were also 8 year old twins Marc and Marcie, Judd’s little brother and sister. Both had been tremendously athletic. While Judd had lost interest in sports after Little League, Marc and Marcie had seemed interested in every sport imaginable. Even though they weren’t necessarily the jock as Santiago was, they had a lot of energy. There were also two 5th grade boys who were best friends, Rayford “Raymie” Steele, Jr. and Ryan Daley. They had grown up on the same street, one living on each end. They had begun kindergarten together, and now they were in the 5th grade. They were as close as brothers. Ryan was an only child, and Raymie may as well have been. His only sister, Chloe, was eight years older and was in her sophomore year at Stanford University. Ryan and Raymie had a lot in common. Each had a father who was too busy for him. These guys needed each other. Ryan was a little shorter and thicker than Raymie, who was slender and tall and dark like his father. Ryan was a blond and the better athlete of the two. Raymie’s dad was Rayford Steele Sr., an airline pilot for the big planes, the 747s, while Ryan’s dad was a sales manager for a big plumbing fixture company. Donna knew Raymie and his mother Irene from church, as the two women attended a women’s Bible study together. Interesting enough, Captain Rayford Steele worked with Robert Burton on the same plane. However, church and prayer and Bible stories had never been part of Ryan’s life. Despite their differences, the two boys had a bond that was unbreakable, and it was clear to see that they looked out for each other.

 

[jasmine_childoftheking]

Chapter VI

It was the December, before Christmas break, and at the New Hope Village Church youth group on Wednesday nights, youth Pastor Jordan, a young man in his late 30’s with a gentle smile, began a series on the end time prophecies. The room was filled with teens, some nodding along intently. Jordan held a clicker in his hand, his PowerPoint slides displaying different verses about the end times.

“Now, to understand the end, we have to go back to the beginning in Genesis,” Pastor Jordan began, his voice echoing through the youth room. “God made the world perfect, but it was corrupted by sin. God cursed the serpent, who was really Satan in disguise. But He also promised to send a savior to redeem His creation. That savior was Jesus Christ, and He defeated Satan once and for all when He died on the cross and rose again."

“But why is Satan still active?”, Mary asked shyly, her eyes searching Pastor Jordan’s for answers she hadn’t found in her quiet moments of doubt.

Pastor Jordan looked at her with kindness. “Well, Mary, even though Jesus won the battle, the war isn’t over yet. Satan is like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Now let me show you all this timeline I have up on the screen.”

The projection flickered to reveal a complex web of dates and events. "Here, we can see the creation of the world, the fall of man, the promise of the messiah, the birth of Jesus, His crucifixion, and resurrection. After Jesus ascended to heaven, it started the church age, which is where we are now. And one day, Jesus will come back to take His church, His true believers, to be with Him forever. That's the Rapture," he said, pointing to a specific spot on the timeline.

“Pastor Billings talks about the Rapture a lot on Sunday mornings”, Everett said, leaning back in his chair.

“That’s right, he does. Now the word ‘Rapture’ isn’t found in the Bible, but the concept is," Pastor Jordan replied. "In 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, it says, 'For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.' It's a promise of hope for those who believe. Even I Corinthians 15:51-52 speaks about this moment, saying, 'Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.' This event is imminent, it could happen at any moment. Now Christians can debate on the timing or how it’s going to happen, but the important part is to be ready when it does."

Jordan pressed on the clicker and the timeline on the screen shifted to the different views of the timing of the Rapture. “As you can see, there are different perspectives on when the Rapture will occur. Some believe it will happen before the Tribulation, a time of great suffering on Earth, and others believe it will happen in the middle or at the end. There are even those who believe it will happen before God sends 7 angels to pour out the bowls of God's wrath, known as pre-wrath. Now regardless of when it happens, the point is to be ready, to have a relationship with Jesus."

He then explained how the story of Christmas is the story of God’s redemption plan from Genesis to Revelation. Then he pressed on the clicker again and 7 C’s of history appeared on the screen. “These 7 C’s are key to understanding world history, especially during this time of you. The first C is Creation, which is when God created the world. The second C is Corruption, which is when Adam and Eve sinned and brought sin into the world. The third C is Catastrophe, which means that because of the world was filled with violence, God sent the Great Flood to destroy it, saving only Noah and his family. The fourth C is Confusion, which is the Tower of Babel, where God confused the language of mankind to prevent them from doing something that would lead to their destruction again. The fifth C is Christ, who was born as a baby to a virgin, lived a sinless life, which why we celebrate Christmas. The sixth C is Cross, where Jesus died for our sins, was buried, rose again, and ascended to heaven. And the seventh and final C is Consummation, which is when Jesus comes back to set the world right and will live forever with His people in a new heaven and new earth.”

The room was silent as the gravity of Pastor Jordan's words sank in. For many of the youth, this was a topic they had heard about in passing but had never truly grappled with. As the youth group was wrapping up, Jordan handed out Christmas gifts to everyone, reminding them of the ultimate gift God had given in the form of Jesus Christ. The teens chatted among themselves as they left the church, the warm glow of the festive lights outside contrasting sharply with the chilling reality of the end times discussion. Mary sat in her seat, lost in thought. Jordan noticed her contemplation and approached her, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Mary, if you have any questions or just need someone to talk to, I'm here," he offered gently.

Mary nodded. She had known Jordan since she was an infant, as he often babysat her and her older siblings, before he became a youth pastor. Carl and Donna, and 10 year old Robert, 8 year old Oliver, and 6 year old Elaine were all going to a Christmas gala at the Global Weekly Magazine Chicago Office, so Donna asked Jordan to watch 4 old year Samuel, 2 year old Andrew, and 8-9 month old Mary. Donna was in the kitchen, fixing Christmas shaped chicken nuggets for Samuel and Andrew’s dinner, and a bottle for baby Mary. Soon after, they’ve got ready for the Christmas Gala. Carl adjusted his tie in the mirror, looking every bit the proud father and journalist. Donna looked stunning in a red dress that hugged her figure. Robert, Oliver wore little suit and ties, and Elaine wore a beautiful blue dress with white stockings. They’ve been told that at the gala, they would decorate gingerbread houses, sing in the children’s choir, and even have some hot cocoa with marshmallows. Samuel and Andrew were playing with their toys and Mary was crawling around on the floor.

When Jordan arrived, Samuel and Andrew looked up from their toys, their faces lighting up at the sight of their favorite babysitter.

“Jordan! You’re here!”, Samuel and Andrew exclaimed in unison, dropping their toys and running towards him.

“Yes, I am, little ones”, Jordan said, kneeling down to hug them.

Samuel and Andrew looked over at baby Mary, who had been crawling around. When she saw Jordan, her eyes lit up with recognition and crawled to him. He smiled and picked her up, holding her close. “And how’s our little angel?” he cooed, making her giggle.

“Here’s mine and Carl’s cell numbers in case of anything,” Donna said as she handed Jordan a slip of paper with the numbers scribbled on it.

Jordan took the paper and nodded solemnly. “Got it, Mrs. Burton. They’re in good hands.”

“We better get going, or we’ll be late for the Gala”, Carl said, giving his wife a quick peck on the cheek. Then they and the three older children went to put on their coats.

“Thank you, Jordan. We should be home around 9:30, so they should be in bed before then," Donna said with a warm smile, kissing her three younger children goodbye.

Carl ruffled Samuel and Andrew’s little hairs and kissed baby Mary’s forehead. “You three be good for Jordan, okay?”

“We will, mommy and daddy!”, Samuel and Andrew chorused. Mary, who didn’t talk yet, babbled something that sounded like an agreement. With a last wave, Carl and Donna, and the three older children stepped out into the cold Mount Prospect evening, leaving Jordan to keep an eye on the three younger children.

Samuel looked up at Jordan with excitement in his eyes. “What are we going to do tonight, Jordan?”

Jordan smiled. “How about we have dinner, then you two change into your pajamas and brush your teeth. Then tonight, we’ll watch a couple of Christmas specials ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ and ‘Arthur’s Perfect Christmas’! How does that sound?”

Samuel and Andrew’s eyes lit up at the mention of the Christmas specials, one with the peanuts gang and the other with their favorite aardvark. Even baby Mary giggled in anticipation, as if she understood the excitement in the air. The boys sat down to eat the Christmas shaped chicken nuggets Donna had prepared, while Jordan fed baby Mary her bottle, then burped her. After dinner, Jordan went to change baby Mary’s diaper and put pajamas on her, which was a pink onesie with little snowflakes, while Samuel and Andrew changed into their pajamas, which were Christmas themed as well, and brushed their teeth. Then they went into the living room and Jordan turned on the TV and the blu ray player, inserting the DVD of 'A Charlie Brown Christmas'. Samuel and Andrew sat on the couch, covered with blankets while Mary sat on Jordan’s lap in a cozy chair with a pink blanket around her.

“Look, Mary. There’s a doggy”, Samuel pointed to the screen as Snoopy danced around.

“And that little boy has a blankie”, Andrew whispered to Mary, pointing to Linus with his blue security blanket.

Then it showed Linus giving his speech about the true meaning of Christmas, and the room grew quiet as the kids listened intently. As soon as it was over, Jordan switched to 'Arthur’s Perfect Christmas'. The boys snuggled closer, and even baby Mary was mesmerized by the colorful screen.

“There’s another doggie”, Samuel whispered to baby Mary as Arthur’s dog Pal appeared on screen.

“Look, there’s a baby”, Andrew whispered to Mary, pointing to Arthur’s baby sister, Kate.

“See that, Mary? Baby Kate has a big brother Arthur and a big sister DW, just like you have four big brothers Robert, Oliver, Samuel, and Andrew, and a big sister, Elaine. Big brothers and sisters are like guardians and best friends," Jordan explained as he held her.

As the cartoon played, they’ve learned about the other celebrations in December, like St. Lucia’s Day, which is celebrated in Sweden, from George Lundgren, Hanukkah, a Jewish holiday from Francine Frensky, and even Kwanzaa, an African American holiday from Alan ‘The Brain’ Powers. The Read Family even prepared a Christmas meal of what might have been eaten during the time of Jesus’ birth, which included lamb, puls, and unleavened bread. As soon as it was over, Samuel and Andrew looked over at the nativity scene on the mantle, with baby Jesus in the manger.

“Is the lady in blue Jesus’s mommy and is the guy with the stick Jesus’s daddy?”, Andrew asked innocently, pointing at the figures.

“Yes, that’s His mommy and that’s His earthly daddy”, Jordan said, pointing to Mary and Joseph. “Jesus’s real daddy is God, who sent Him to be born as a baby to save us all. That’s what makes this the most amazing birth ever, right?” Then he turned to baby Mary on his lap who was getting sleeping. “Mary, would you believe that Jesus’s mommy was also named Mary? It’s a beautiful name, isn’t it? And His earthly daddy’s name was Joseph. They took care of Jesus, just like your mommy and daddy take care of you, even though they knew He was the Son of God. They had to protect Him from those who didn’t believe or didn’t want Him to be here. They had to keep Him safe until it was time for Jesus to grow up and do what He came to do, which was to save us from our sins. He even loved children, which is why we know He’s watching over all of us here tonight.”

“Jesus loved children?”, Andrew asked, his voice filled with innocence.

Jordan nodded. “Yes, He did. There was a time when the disciples were trying to keep the children away from Jesus because they thought He was too busy with important things, but Jesus called the children to Him and said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.' And He sat the little children in His lap and blessed them. So, no matter how small or young you are, Jesus loves you just the same."

Samuel and Andrew looked at each other, their eyes wide with wonder. Even baby Mary seemed to sense the significance of the moment, and was feeling sleeping. Jordan knew it was time to start putting them to bed.

“Alright, I think it’s time for bed, little ones”, Jordan said, gently shifting baby Mary in his arms. The boys stood up, their pajamas still warm from the dryer.

“Good night, Jordan”, the boys said sleepily as they each gave him a hug before heading off to their room which they’ve shared since they were born.

“Goodnight, boys”, Jordan said warmly, patting their backs as they disappeared into their room.

Jordan went into the girls’s room to rock Mary to sleep. Elaine, who was then 6, had a big girl bed on her side, and Mary’s crib was on the other side. As he gently swayed in the rocking chair, he prayed for the children's safety and understanding of the truth about Jesus. Mary's eyes fluttered shut, and her breathing grew deep and even.

Jordan laid Mary down in her crib, and tucked her in with a blanket with adorable little lambs, and whispered, "Goodnight, little one. Sweet dreams and may Jesus hold you in His arms."

Then he went into Samuel and Andrew’s room, where they were already in bed, and have fallen asleep, their soft breaths rhythmic in the quiet of the night. He whispered a prayer over each of them before switching off the lights. Soon after, Carl and Donna and the three older kids came home from the Gala, full of cheer and laughter. The three older kids then got ready for bed, and Carl and Donna thanked Jordan for babysitting the three younger kids and paid him before sending him on his way.

Back in the present, Mary looked up at Jordan, the memory of that night etched in her mind. He had always been kind and patient, and she felt a strange comfort knowing that he was there. Yet, she couldn’t shake the feeling of doubt that had been building inside her recently. Samuel and Andrew met with her outside the church. The Mount Prospect snow was falling gently, and the three siblings looked up at the stars.

"What do you guys think about what Pastor Jordan said tonight?", she asked, breaking the silence.

Samuel looked at her with a solemn expression. "I believe it's all true, Mary. We have to be ready for Jesus's return."

“Sometimes I don’t understand half of what he’s saying”, Mary said with a sigh, her breath misting in the cold December air.

Andrew shrugged, a hint of his usual nonchalance peeking through. "I don't know, sis. Maybe it's just another way for people to feel better about dying or something."

“I know. It’s just that, I’ve been hearing about this stuff my whole life, but it’s never felt real to me. Like it’s some far-off story that couldn’t possibly happen in our lifetime”, Mary replied, her voice trembling slightly.

Samuel nodded, understanding her struggle. “But you’ve seen how things are getting worse in the world, right? Dad says there’s been news about the Hamas-Israeli conflict getting out of hand again, and there’s all this talk about economic collapse and natural disasters everywhere.”

Jordan stepped outside to join them. "Mary, it's natural to have questions. But remember, faith isn't about understanding everything right now. It's about trusting God and His promises.”

The siblings exchanged glances, each lost in their thoughts as they trudged through the freshly fallen snow to Samuel’s car. The quiet ride home was filled with the hum of the car's heater and the occasional swipe of the windshield wipers, clearing the way through the thickening flurries. Once inside their house, the warmth of the living room embraced them, a stark contrast to the cold outside. The Christmas tree, adorned with twinkling lights and ornaments, stood tall in the corner, a symbol of joy and hope. Mary went to the girls’ room, and saw Rosie on her bed, as it had been waiting for her. She picked it up, hugging it tightly. Her doubt didn’t diminish the comfort it brought her.

“Rosie, do you think Jesus is real?” she whispered to Rosie, the only witness to her inner turmoil. The plush lamb remained silent, but somehow, in that moment, Mary felt less alone.

 

[jasmine_childoftheking]

Chapter VII

****
Carl sat in his office at the Global Weekly Chicago office. Although he made good money and was successful, he wasn’t nearly as wealthy as Tobias Eliraz and Judd Thompson, Sr, who each owned a business in Chicago and were wealthy. Physical copies of the news magazine were still distributed, but the company had long ago embraced the digital age with a strong online presence. Carl was grateful to have Lucinda Washington, a 50ish Negro woman and a strong Christian like he was, as his supervisor. The Washington family traced their roots to the freedom riders on the Underground Railroad during the days of slavery, and many of their ancestors had been active in the civil rights movement, fighting for equal opportunities among the races. Lucinda was one who had proved that a person, regardless of the color of her skin or the housing project she had grown up in, could achieve and make something of herself if she really committed herself to it. She often said she fell in love with journalism, reporting, and writing. She graduated from journalism school and worked her way up finally to Global Weekly magazine. Carl, who was a Welshman, had moved to the States where he studied at Princeton University with a degree in Journalism. While there, he met and married Donna, who was originally from North Dakota, and their first child Robert was born during Carl and Donna’s senior year then graduated a few months later. Two years later, Oliver was born, and when Carl was offered a job at Global Weekly, they moved to Mount Prospect, and 4 other children followed, Elaine, Samuel, Andrew, and Mary. A knock came on the door of Carl’s office. It was one of his assistants, a young man named Derek.

“Hey, Carl. There’s a call for you on line one from your brother in London. He says it’s important,” Derek informed Carl, poking his head into the office.

There was about a 13-14 year age gap between Carl and his 29 year old brother Dirk, even though they had the same parents. Dirk was only 7 years old when Robert was born, and they had grown apart as Carl went to college and started his family. Dirk later studied at Princeton University with a degree in international finances. It was at Princeton University where Dirk met and befriended Cameron “Buck” Williams, who had been with Global Weekly as the youngest senior writer nearly four years. He had already written more than thirty cover stories, including three Newsmaker of the Year pieces. He earned the nickname “Buck” because he was known to buck journalistic traditions. Since graduation, Dirk had been working for the London Stock Exchange, and had been informant for both Carl and Buck. Carl was the more spiritual of the two, while Dirk was agnostic and had always been skeptical of Carl’s beliefs. Dirk wasn’t married, so he used his free time and money to spoil his nephews and nieces. Recently, Dirk’s new specialty had been in researching conspiracy theories. Carl had to admit he was actually proud to have his brother as an informant, but he had been concerned about the path Dirk was taking with his newfound interest in conspiracies.

Carl picked up the phone with a mix of anticipation and wariness. “Dirk, what’s going on?”

“Hey, big bro, I’m flying over to Chicago to spend Christmas with you and the family as I do every year. But I’ve got something big to discuss with you,” Dirk’s voice crackled over the line, a hint of urgency underlying his casual tone.

“Is this another one of your wild conspiracy theories?”, Carl asked, a smile playing on his lips despite the concern etching into his forehead.

“I can’t tell you on the open line. But trust me, it’s something that could change the world. I’ll explain everything when I get there. I even have Christmas gifts for the kids, so you can’t say no!”, Dirk chuckled, the mischief in his tone unmistakable.

“Oh, you’re spoiling them again, aren’t you?”, Carl said with a chuckle.

“You know me, I can’t resist. You know that I’m not married, so my favorite thing to do is spoil my nephews and nieces. Plus, it’s Christmas, and that’s what uncles do, right?”, Dirk said with a laugh.

“Alright, Dirk. We’re looking forward to seeing you, as always. I’ll see if Robert can pick you up from the airport. He has an apartment complex in the inner city of Chicago, so he’s pretty handy when it comes to airport pickups,” Carl said, his curiosity piqued by Dirk’s mysteriousness..

The call ended, and Carl sat back in his chair, rubbing his temples. The last thing he needed was one of Dirk's conspiracy theories to distract him from his work and family during the holiday season. Yet, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was indeed amiss in the world. The constant flow of dire news reports and the tension in the air were palpable. He glanced at the framed picture of his family on his desk, their smiling faces a stark reminder of what truly mattered. Carl got up from his seat and went to see Lucinda.

"Lucinda, I'm going to need to take some time off around Christmas," Carl said, his voice filled with a mix of anticipation and concern. "My brother's flying in, and he's got something he needs to talk to me about."

“Ah, yes, of course. Family is important, Carl. Take the time you need. Is your brother a Christian?”, Lucinda asked with a knowing smile.

“No. He’s not really into that, I’m afraid. But I’m hoping that this visit will be a good opportunity for him to see how faith brings us together and perhaps open his eyes to the truth”, Carl replied, a hint of hope in his voice.

Lucinda nodded in understanding, thinking of her own brother, André Dupree, who was the bad apple of the family. He was a drunk and had been known to use and abuse drugs. He’d been in and out of jail for years and once even served a short term at Stateville Penitentiary in Joliet, Illinois, before it closed down. André was a charming guy. When he was sober and out of trouble and working, everybody loved him. He was fun and funny and great to be around. When he was “sick,” which was the family term for when he was doing drugs or drinking or running with the wrong crowd, they all worried about him and prayed for him and tried to get him to come back to church. Lucinda and Carl understood each other in that way.

“I understand, Carl. I usually give my employees the time off around Christmas, so it’s not a problem. How about an early Christmas bonus to help with the extra expenses?”, Lucinda offered kindly.

Carl’s eyes lit up. “Thanks, Lucinda. That’s really generous of you. I’ll make sure to use it wisely for the family,” he said with a grateful smile.

“Consider it a gift from the company. You’ve earned it, Carl. Your dedication is noticed,” Lucinda said, her smile genuine.

“Thank you, Lucinda. That means a lot to me,” Carl said, his eyes glistening with gratitude. He knew that the extra funds would help alleviate some of the stress that came with hosting a holiday gathering.

******
Robert bustled in his apartment complex in the inner city of Chicago, where the Christmas lights were already strung up in the corridors, casting a warm glow on the worn-out walls.

“Well, Marc, I don’t have any flights scheduled for the next few days. Think I might head to my parents’ place in Mount Prospect to celebrate Christmas with my family”, Robert said to his roommate as he packed his bag.

Marc, who had been reading his Bible on the couch, looked up with a smile. "That's great, Robert. I’ll be heading for Rolling Meadows to be with my folks too. It’ll be nice to have a break from the city."

Robert nodded. Then his phone buzzed, and he picked it up to see that Carl was calling him. Robert connected the call with a swipe of his thumb. "Hey, Dad, what's up?"

"Your uncle Dirk's coming for Christmas, Robert. He'll need a ride from the airport," Carl said, his voice echoing the anticipation and caution from the office.

“Alright. What time should I pick him up?” Robert asked, jotting down the information as Carl provided the flight details.

“His flight lands at 8 PM central time on the 20th. Can you manage that?”

Robert checked his calendar on his phone, seeing that he had no plans that evening. "Sure thing, Dad. I'll be there to pick him up," he assured his father.

“Thank you, Robert. I appreciate it. See you soon,” Carl said before hanging up.

Robert put his phone down and turned to his roommate. "My uncle is coming in for Christmas”, he announced.

"Really? That’s great, Robert. Hopefully your holiday won’t be too chaotic with family around," said Marcus, his voice a mix of amusement and sympathy.

Robert chuckled, knowing that his uncle's visits were never dull. He packed up his essentials, including a few gifts he had bought for his siblings and parents. He also knew that Oliver and Elaine would be on break from college, and he was eager to catch up with them. The thought of their lively debates and laughter brought warmth to his heart. When the 20th of December approached, there was a snowfall that had painted the city of Chicago in a serene white. Despite the cold, Robert felt a peculiar excitement in the air as he drove to O'Hare International Airport. He waited in the crowded arrivals area, scanning the throngs of people for any sign of his uncle's familiar face. At 8pm, as promised, Dirk emerged from the gates, luggage in tow, his eyes searching for Robert. Dirk wore a tailored suit that made him stand out in the casual sea of travelers, a hint of his high-flying London lifestyle. Spotting Robert in the crowd, he raised a hand, his grin wide and welcoming. The two men embraced briefly, the warmth of their greeting a stark contrast to the chilly Chicago air. The drive from the airport to Mount Prospect was filled with small talk and updates on their respective lives.

“So Uncle Dirk, how was the flight?”, Robert asked, trying to keep the conversation light as they navigated through the snow-covered streets.

“It was fine, Robert. Would you believe I flew first class?”, Dirk said with a smirk, his Welsh accent still noticeable despite living in England for years.

Robert chuckled. "Some things never change," he said, his eyes on the road.

About half hour later, Robert pulled into the driveway of their cozy Mount Prospect home. The house was lit up with Christmas lights, and the warm glow from the windows beckoned them in from the cold. As they stepped inside, Samuel, Andrew, and Mary were already asleep, but Carl, Donna, Oliver and Elaine were still up, waiting to welcome Dirk. They’ve greeted him with open arms, hugging him tightly.

"Dirk, it's so good to see you!”, Donna exclaimed as she enveloped her brother-in-law in a warm hug.

“Ah, it’s good to be seen, Donna”, Dirk said, his eyes twinkling as he returned her embrace.

Carl clapped him on the back. “Come in, come in. Let’s get you out of the cold,” he said, guiding Dirk into the living room.

Carl, Donna, Dirk, and the three older children gathered around the fireplace, and talked some. Oliver and Elaine each talked about their college life and what they were learning at school. Robert talked about his job as a pilot and the excitement of flying.

Soon after, they’ve got ready for bed, and the house grew quiet. Dirk went into the guest room where he often stayed whenever he visited. Carl and Donna went into the master bedroom. It was going to be a full house for Christmas, and they had so much to be grateful for despite the turmoil in the world. Before turning in, Carl decided to pray for his brother, hoping that the joy of the season would touch Dirk’s heart and bring him closer to God.

 

[jasmine_childoftheking]

Chapter VIII

The next morning, Robert went into the kitchen to make him a cup of coffee and found that Carl and Dirk were already up, drinking tea and talking quietly at the kitchen table. The scent of pine and cinnamon filled the air, hinting at the Christmas cookies Donna had baked the day before.

“So you haven’t tried coffee before, Uncle Dirk?”, Robert said, raising an eyebrow as he poured a cup for himself.

Dirk chuckled. “Once or twice. But I’ve never developed a taste for it. Tea is more my cup of... well, tea. Although right now people in the UK are drinking more coffee than ever before,” he said, sipping his Earl Grey.

“Though they’re still famous for their afternoon tea. Even in Wales, we have our own tea culture, you know,” Carl said with a smile, glancing at the steaming mug in his hand.

Dirk nodded, setting down his cup. “So the kids are out of school for the holidays, right?” he asked, glancing around the quiet house.

“Yes, they’re all home. Samuel, Andrew, and Mary should be up soon”, Carl replied, his voice low so as not to wake the three younger children. “It’s going to be a busy week with all the preparations and even a Christmas Eve service at the New Hope Village Church.”

“Oh, you’re still not into that religious stuff, are you?”, Dirk said, his voice carrying a hint of amusement as he leaned back in his chair.

“Dirk, I’ve told you before, it’s not a religion. It’s a relationship with Jesus Christ. And yes, we are still active in the church. Though our children are growing up, with the youngest being 12, and they’re starting to ask questions and develop their own beliefs,” Carl said, a gentle smile playing on his lips as he thought of his children’s innocent curiosity.

“Mary is 12? Wow! She’s growing up fast. Remember when I first met her, and she was just a baby?” Dirk’s voice was filled with nostalgia as he stared into his tea.

“Yes, I do. I believe you came for a visit during the summer, and you were 17 then”, Carl said, his eyes crinkling with the memory.

Dirk nodded, a faint smile on his face. It was summer, and 10 year old Robert, 8 year old Oliver, and 6 year old Elaine were out of school, and 4 year old Samuel and 2 year old Andrew were full of energy. When 17 year old Dirk arrived at the house, he and Carl sat on the back porch, watching as Samuel and Andrew attempted to build a sandcastle in their new sandbox, and Robert, Oliver, and Elaine played catch in the backyard.

“So where are you planning to study in college? Will you be studying at Cardiff University or Oxford?”, Carl asked Dirk over glasses of iced tea on the porch.

“I’m actually looking into Princeton, the same you’ve studied at, Carl. I’ve heard great things about their finance program. Plus, it’d be nice to experience the States, you know?” Dirk replied, his gaze drifting to the children running around in the yard.

“Princeton, eh? That’s quite the choice”, Carl said, nodding his approval to his then 17 year old brother. “You’ll do well there, I’m sure. And it’s a beautiful campus, especially in the fall.”

Donna emerged outside, carrying 3 month old Mary in her arms. The summer sun cast a gentle warmth on their faces as they approached the porch. "Carl, look who just woke up from her nap," she said, her smile bright.

Carl’s eyes lit up as he took Mary from Donna’s arms. He gently cradled her, his large hands supporting her tiny frame. “Hello there, my little angel. Did you have a nice little nap?”, Carl cooed, planting a kiss on her forehead. “Would you like to hold her, Dirk?”

Dirk looked at Carl, his eyes widening slightly. He remembered holding every one of the other kids when they were babies. He was only 7 when Robert was born, 9 when Oliver was born, 11 when Elaine was born, 13 when Samuel was born, and 15 when Andrew was born. Now, it was Mary’s turn. He took Mary into his arms, feeling a strange mix of affection and skepticism. She looked up at him with curiosity, her eyes wide and trusting.

"Well, hello there, little one. You’re going to have quite the adventure when you grow up, aren't you?" Dirk said softly, his expression tender as he held Mary.

Carl chuckled at Dirk's words, watching as his brother's face softened with the weight of the child in his arms. He gazed at baby Mary, her eyes wide and innocent, and wondered if she would ever understand the complex world her uncle was about to introduce her to.

Back in the present, Dirk shifted in his chair, snapping out of his nostalgic daze. "They really are growing up fast, aren't they?" he said, his eyes misting over slightly.

“They sure are. Robert here is an airline pilot now, Oliver and Elaine are both in college, Samuel and Andrew are in high school, and Mary is in middle school. Time really does fly, doesn’t it?”, Carl said, taking a sip of his tea.

Dirk nodded. Then they’ve heard footsteps and turned to see Oliver and Elaine emerging from the hallway, both yawning and rubbing sleep from their eyes. They went into the kitchen, and Oliver began rummaging through the fridge for breakfast.

“Good morning, Uncle Dirk”, Elaine greeted sleepily, her voice still groggy from the night’s rest.

“Good morning, Oliver, Elaine”, Dirk greeted, his voice still holding onto the warmth of his childhood memories. “I hope you two had a good rest.”

Oliver turned from the fridge, a tube of biscuits in hand. Then he took out some ground sausage meat, then some flour. “Good morning, Uncle Dirk. I’m going to be making some sausage gravy and biscuits for breakfast if anyone’s interested,” he announced, his voice carrying a hint of excitement.

Dirk’s eyes widened. “Oh, that sounds delightful. Thank you, Oliver. You’ve always been a bright spark in the kitchen, even when you were just a lad,” he said, his smile genuine.

Oliver chuckled. “It’s nothing fancy, but it’ll do the trick.”

The rest of the morning was filled with the comforting sounds of sizzling sausage and the aroma of freshly baked biscuits. Meanwhile, Samuel, Andrew, and Mary woke up to the mouthwatering scent, their stomachs grumbling in unison.

“Uncle Dirk”, Samuel and Andrew said in unison as they walked into the kitchen, their sleepy eyes lighting up at the sight of their uncle.

“Hey, how are my favorite nephews and my favorite little troublemakers?” Dirk greeted, his eyes sparkling with mischief as he ruffled their hair.

“Uncle Dirk, we’re 16 and 14, and in high school. We’re not little anymore,” Samuel protested playfully as he swatted at Dirk's hand, while Andrew just rolled his eyes, his teenage dignity slightly bruised.

“Oh, I know. But you’ll always be my little nephews, won’t you?” Dirk said with a wink, earning him a playful punch from Samuel. The three of them shared a laugh as they took their seats at the kitchen table.

Mary emerged from the girls’ room, holding Rosie tightly. She had slept with it since she was a toddler, and even though she was now 12. Dirk noticed her clutching the toy and couldn’t help but smile at the sight of the girl who was once so tiny in his arms.

"Good morning, Uncle Dirk," she said shyly, her voice a soft echo of the early morning calm.

“Good morning, Mary. How’s my little girl doing?” Dirk’s smile grew as he reached out to pat her head gently.

“Uncle Dirk, I’m 12. I’m not so little anymore,” Mary said, her voice a mix of teasing and assertion as she took a seat at the kitchen table.

Dirk chuckled. “I know. But to me, you’ll always be my little niece, no matter how tall you grow or how much you protest. Besides, you’re never too old for stuffed animal, right?”

Mary blushed slightly and clutched Rosie tighter. “I guess not,” she murmured, her eyes sparkling with a hint of childhood nostalgia.

The family soon gathered around the breakfast table, the warmth of the food and the company banishing the last vestiges of the cold morning. Carl said grace and asked for a blessing over their time together, his voice strong and sure. As they ate, the conversation flowed easily, a blend of updates on their lives and reminiscing about past Christmases.

“Remember Robert’s first Christmas?”, Dirk said, a nostalgic smile playing on his lips as he took a bite of his biscuit smothered in gravy.

“How could we forget? We were living with in Princeton at the time. He was actually fascinated by the lights on the Christmas tree. He’d stare at them for hours if we let him,” Donna said, her eyes shining with the memory.

“And Oliver’s first Christmas two years later, when we had to move the ornaments up high because he was so curious and kept trying to grab them?”, Robert added with a laugh.

“You know how babies are. They’re like little explorers, especially when they’re in the stages of crawling around. Two years later, when we have moved here to Mount Prospect, Elaine’s first Christmas was quite the spectacle. She was crawling everywhere, and we had to keep an eye on her so she wouldn’t pull down the tree decorations. She was such a joy to have around, even if she was a bit of a handful,” Carl said with a chuckle.

“And remember Samuel’s first Christmas two years later? He was so fascinated by the nativity scene that we had to keep moving it out of his reach. He was obsessed with the baby Jesus figurine. It was adorable, really,” Donna said, her voice filled with motherly affection.

“Then two years later, Andrew’s first Christmas. He was crawling everywhere, pulling on everything, we had to keep all the breakables out of his reach. But his first giggle when he saw the twinkling lights on the tree was priceless,” Carl said, his voice warm with the memory.

“Then Mary’s first Christmas. She was crawling around as well. She was fascinated by the lamb in the nativity set. We even got her a stuffed lamb for her first Christmas on Christmas Eve. You know the ‘Mary had a little lamb’ nursery rhyme?”, Donna said, her eyes sparkling with joy.

Carl chuckled. It was Christmas Eve 12 years ago, and the whole Burton family were there, including Grandma and Grandpa Burton and Dirk were visiting for the holidays. Grandpa Burton bounced Mary on his knee and Grandma Burton sang to her. Carl smiled as his parents doted on their youngest grandchild. Then Grandpa Burton handed Mary to Carl, who took her into his arms, her tiny hand gripping onto his finger.

“Alright, children. I believe it’s time to open one present, as it’s tradition on Christmas Eve”, Grandma Burton announced with a twinkle in her eye.

As the 5 older children each opened their one present, Carl sat baby Mary on his lap, her eyes wide with wonder at the brightly colored paper and shiny ribbons. She was too young to understand the concept of presents, but she watched in wonder as her siblings laughed and exclaimed over their gifts. Robert received a model plane, Oliver a book on space, Elaine a set of tennis rackets, Samuel a remote-controlled car, and Andrew a toy train set.

“And this is for you, my little one”, Carl said to Mary, handing her a plush lamb with a pink flower on its little ear. “Mary had a little lamb, its fleece was white as snow, and everywhere that Mary went, the lamb was sure to go,” Carl sang, bobbing the toy up and down to the rhythm. Mary giggled and grabbed the lamb with both hands, her eyes lighting up with delight. She later named it Rosie, and it had been with her ever since.

Back in the present, they’ve finished their breakfast, and after the dishes were cleared away, Carl showed Dirk his den, where books and files lined the shelves, all meticulously organized by topic and date. The walls were adorned with framed newspaper articles and certificates of recognition, a testament to Carl’s dedication to his work as a journalist. The den was now decorated for Christmas, with a miniature nativity scene on the desk and twinkling lights strung around the bookshelves.

“So what is that you wanted to talk about, Dirk?” Carl asked, his tone serious as they sat in the cozy den.

“Carl, you must have heard that my friend Cameron ‘Buck’ Williams, with whom I studied at Princeton University with, is going to Israel for a January 1st cover story”, Dirk said, his eyes searching Carl’s for any sign of recognition.

“Ah yes. Steve Plank, the senior editor at the Global Weekly headquarters in New York City, emailed me about that. He didn’t say much though.”

Carl recounted what he remembered what Steve wrote. Buck wanted to bag a fourth, so he went to the next staff meeting with his nomination in mind: Dr. Chaim Rosenzweig of Israel, the humble chemical engineer who preferred calling himself a botanist. Buck was certain his colleagues wanted to go with an American, a pop or political star of some sort. But Rosenzweig was the only logical choice, at least in Buck’s mind. Buck had gone into the staff meeting prepared to argue for Rosenzweig and against whatever media star the others would typically champion.

He was pleasantly surprised when executive editor Steve Plank opened with, “Anybody want to nominate someone stupid, such as anyone other than the Nobel prizewinner in chemistry?”

The senior staff members looked at each other, shook their heads, and pretended to begin leaving. “Put the chairs on the wagon—the meetin’ is over,” Buck said. “Steve, I’m not angling for it, but you know I know the guy and he trusts me.”

“Not so fast, Cowboy,” a rival said, then appealed to Plank. “You letting Buck assign himself now?”

“I might,” Steve said. “And what if I do?”

“I just think this is a technical piece, a science story,” Buck’s detractor muttered. “I’d put the science writer on it.”

“And you’d put the reader to sleep,” Plank said. “C’mon, you know the writer for showcase pieces comes from this group. And this is not a science piece any more than the first one Buck did on him. This has to be told so the reader gets to know the man and understands the significance of his achievement.”

“Like that isn’t obvious. It only changed the course of history.”

“I’ll make the assignment today,” the executive editor said. “Thanks for your willingness, Buck. I assume everyone else is willing as well.” Expressions of eagerness filled the room, but Buck also heard grumbled predictions that the fair-haired boy would get the nod, and he did.

Carl had read Buck's work and knew that he had a knack for bringing human-interest stories to life, especially when they were rooted in such profound and controversial issues.

“So Dirk, as you’ve been an informant for both Buck and me, what’s the deal with this Dr. Rosenzweig?”, Carl asked as he leaned back in his chair.

“Oh, you might recall, big bro, that Dr. Rosenzweig was named Global Weekly's Man Of The Year due to his development of The Eden Project, a new synthetic fertilizer that causes the dry Israeli deserts to become rich, fertile croplands”, Dirk said, leaning forward with his gaze sharpening , “The development of this fertilizer promises to end world famine and pushes Israel as a chief exporter of rare and henceforth expensive agricultural products; thus, the formula becomes a highly sought commodity. The enormous wealth brought by the fertilizer and related agriculture-led export boom also lands Israel in a far better bargaining position than the oil-rich Arab world in the Middle East peace process, and Israel has made peace with all immediate Arab neighbors on Israel's terms.”

Carl nodded, intrigued by the implications of such a discovery. Yet, even in the midst of it, the tension with Hamas, Palestine, Iraq, and Syria remained a concern. "And what's the political climate like over there? Is the peace as stable as it seems?"

"On the surface, yes. But we all know the Middle East. It's a delicate balance, and one misstep could lead to chaos. Plus, there are whispers of something big brewing. Buck is keen on getting the real story behind the scenes."

Carl nodded gravely. He had reported many of news, but the Middle East remained a volatile region, even with the promise of peace. But he wondered if it had any relation to the prophecy he’s been studying. If it was, then the world was indeed closer to the end times than anyone could imagine.