THE SHOUT OF A KING

By Tessa Harvey

Simon looked earnestly around at the family, his eyes clear and direct. He was in his right mind.

Derek gave him a hug. "Because we have been praying for you.  Because Jesus paid all our debt of evil on the Cross. He took all of our wickedness and suffered for us. No-one, no-one is good no matter how nice they seem."

Wendy beamed. "Jesus rose from the dead also," she added. "He alone is the way, the truth and the life. No one can come to the Father God without Jesus."

At that moment, Ashley and Jack burst in, with their baby Jack, who was yelling in annoyance at being hurried along.

Ashley glanced around and saw Simon. "Why isn't he in the psych ward?" she demanded, angrily. "Look how he treated my sister and you, you all are sitting here like best friends!"

Jack held out a restraining arm, but Ashley moved away, her whole body radiating rage. "I've been worried sick day and night about my little sister and her baby, and find the cause of all that" - she glared at Simon and pointed accusingly, "sitting at home here as though nothing has happened."

Simon's face was white and he looked shaken. His tired wife and mother-in-law were too taken aback to say a word.

But Derek had stood and walked to his older daughter, his face stern. "That's enough, Ashley. You are making Jasmine cry and this is still my home."

Ashley had the grace to look a little ashamed. She sat down suddenly in the one remaining lounge chair, her husband standing beside her. He patted the baby's back reassuringly, silently praying for peace. Slowly the baby stopped crying and just gave a few half-sobbing whimpers before finally falling asleep, exhausted.

Ashley took the child and bent her head over her son, her dark hair hanging like a curtain around her face.

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