I am a Christian, a retired teacher, a mother and a grandmother. I love to read and I love the Lord Jesus Christ! Unless otherwise specified ,all visual illustrations are from the YOU VERSION APP of the Bible.
As the days become more and more evil and more people are turning away from God, it is up to us who bear His Name to be wise and to use the time we have wisely. Look at the newspapers. Listen to the news. There is nothing happening that surprises God, but there is a lot of evil in the world. It reminds me of the “days of Noah” when people thought that everything they did was just fine. And then, the floods came. God promised not to destroy the earth with another flood, but He also promised a new Heaven and a new earth. Perhaps we need to be looking up more and less at our electronic devices. Just a thought.
I didn’t tell my readers that I would be absent from my blog for a while because I wasn’t sure how long I would be gone and when I would return. But I did know that while I was gone, I was not planning on blogging. You see, my husband and I went on what we called a “marathon trip” this summer.
First, we went to Maryland to meet our newest grandson, Nathan Henry. He is two months old today.
Then, we went to Pennsylvania to celebrate the graduation of our second grandson Tyler. This is Tyler and his mom, our daughter Hope, at his graduation party.
The next thing we did is come home and wait for our car to be repaired. When that finally happened, we left to go to Florida to visit my siblings, whom I hadn’t seen in seven years. They are the two youngest in my family.
This is my baby brother James, his wife Amy, his Golden Retriever Ary and me! This is, from left to right, my BIL Dave and my sister Denise, my husband Harry and I and Denise’s sons Tommy and Joey, with Denise’s dog Pixie.
We just got home on Friday and today I am leaving to go to my sister’s house in Glen Allen (about an hour away from me) because my brother and his wife are flying in from Colorado this afternoon.
This is my brother Steve, his wife Lee Ann and their children Megan and Cody.
So, now you know about my summer adventures and why I have been too busy, too preoccupied if you will, to write on the blog. I hope to do better once I return from my sister’s house next week.
The United States is in a big mess, not that we didn’t make the mess, just an observation that it exists. Of course, we made the mess, so we might as well own it. For years, we have rested on our laurels, knowing that we are the best, the most powerful, the peacekeeper of the world. And then, things started to change. First, with a President who wanted to put America first. Now, we have a President who wants to put America last. Neither attitude is right. The correct attitude is to clean up America and put her at the feet of Jesus, submissive to the will of God.
“And Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he was king for thirty-one years in Jerusalem. And he did what was correct in the eyes of the Lord, and he walked in the ways of David his father and did not turn either to the right or left. And in the eighth year of his reign, while he was still a young boy, he began to seek out the God of David his father; and in the twelfth year he began to cleanse Judah and Jerusalem from high places, Asherah poles, idols, and carved and cast images. So they tore down the altars for the Baals, and he cut down the incense altars that were above them and smashed the Asherah poles and carved and cast images. And he crushed them to dust and scattered them before the graves of those who sacrificed to them. In the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim, and Simeon, and as far as Naphtali, in their ruins all around, he broke down the altars, beat Asherah poles and the images into powder, and cut down all the incense altars throughout all the land of Israel. Then he returned to Jerusalem.” 2 Chronicles 34:1-4, 6-7 MEV https://bible.com/bible/1171/2ch.34.1-7.MEV
An eight-year old ruler of Israel was wiser than any of our 500 + Congressmen, our President and our Supreme Court. He recognized that the way back to prosperity and peace was by cleaning out the sin and the idols and following only God. My prayer for our nation is that we turn back to God.
It broke my heart yesterday when I saw what was happening in Afghanistan. No, I do not think that we could or should stay there forever, but whenever a vacancy is allowed to happen, evil has a tendency to sweep in and take over. That is what is happening in Afghanistan. Evil is reigning there, and we are powerless to stop it. The plan to leave the country in the hands of their own military failed because they were not ready. Do you leave your three year old to cook dinner after showing her how it is done? And when she gets burned or destroys the house, do you then say, “I thought you were ready for this responsibility. I guess I was wrong” and then walk away? How sad that this is exactly what the U.S.A. did to Afghanistan!
My prayer today:
Have a blessed and safe day. Please keep the Afghanis in your prayers.
This was a charming love story about enemies who become friends and then develop a romantic relationship. Meg Whitaker and Oliver Ross are the central characters, both of whom are delightfully quirky. Meg is a physics teacher and the daughter of a lobster fisherman. When her dad decides to sell his business in order to focus on her mom’s failing health, Meg is distraught to find out that her dad is selling the business to Oliver, the guy who ruined her science project and ruined her chances to attend an Ivy League college. Her father, desperate to sell but also unwilling to anger Meg, comes up with the solution to have the two share the business and see who does the best work with it. The humor in this book is outstanding as the two enemies gradually begin to accept each other, let go of a decades old grudge and forgive. I enjoyed the subtle Christian themes that ran throughout the book and the fact that it is definitely a clean read. The theme of letting go of old dreams and embracing new ones is a good lesson to learn for everyone. There is also a small mystery involved when their lobster boat keeps getting sabotaged and the revelation of who was the culprit was a surprise. Although I was not sure at first that I would enjoy a book about lobster fishing, I really did. The setting of Prince Edward Island and the small town life there was perfect for the story, a story that was not complicated and was somewhat predictable, but it was thoroughly enjoyable. Disclaimer Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
A totally clean Christian readInformation about the author and this photo are from her website at http://www.lizjohnsonbooks.com
Many thanks to Revell for allowing me to participate in their Blogger Program and to read and review such uplifting Christian books as BEYOND THE TIDES.
This is one of the best romantic suspense books that I have ever read! From the very beginning, it was captivating, with a scene from a home that was as mesmerizing as it was devastatingly awful. The story of Ava Jackson meeting up with her childhood crush Caden Denning was fascinating, but the crux of the story was a serial killer who was wiping out entire families, including the young children. The motive behind these evil actions is the center of the story and what kept me reading at a rapid pace to find out. From the first murders until the breathtaking last scenes, this was a non-stop runaway train of a book. The details of the crime scenes are not graphic so they did not disturb me, but just the thought that entire families were wiped out instantly was enough to make me want to do who would do such a thing. The plot is wrapped up in international intrigue and Ava’s secretive father is involved in a great deal of what is happening, so she seems to be a focus of the killer, too. Caden is her self-appointed protector and a real hero just when she needs one. With her father declared dead, her mom dying and a killer on her trail, Ava decides to trust Caden with her life. The characters were realistic and well-rounded, the type of people I would want to meet and be friends with. I was enthralled by the work that the FBI analysts did, especially Daria, who was intuitive as to needs and how to find solutions when there seemed to be none. I enjoyed seeing the FBI portrayed as capable heroes as they should be. I especially enjoyed Ava’s intelligence in figuring out puzzles and clues left behind by her father as well as her grit and determination to seek the truth at all costs. There were definitely some unlikeable characters, but that is by design, because who can like a villain who kills families or anyone involved with him? I just loved this book from cover to cover and think that is is the best of the series although any of them can be read as a standalone. My favorite part of the book? It was a clean read! No expletives, steamy sex or graphic displays of violence. Kudos to the author for writing explosively good romantic suspense that appeals to readers who don’t want any of the distasteful elements in their books. Disclaimer Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
Christian romantic suspense. Clean read with some really intense scenes, so I would rate it PG-13.Photo from the author from her webpage on Amazon. For her biography and to sign up for her newsletter, go to http://www.lynetteeason.com
This amazing book will be available on August 3rd! Purchase Links:
Filled with practical advice and Scriptural insight, this book is perfect for middle school and young teens. As an adult, I even gleaned some wisdom from its pages myself. Written with understanding that people have anxiety and that the only cure is dependence on God, this book was a wonderful, short read on how to face the challenges of everyday life. There are vignettes dealing with social media and bullying. Each chapter concludes with questions to help the reader to personalize and really apply what they are learning about how to deal with anxiety. The illustrations and analogies are perfect for appealing to kids who may skip over the text but will look more carefully at a graphic. This was a well-written and timely book on the topic of anxiety, something many young people are facing today especially coming out of the pandemic. I highly recommend this book for anyone who has a child or young teen who may be feeling worried, about school or friends or any number of problems that children these days face. In fact, I recommend that the parent read along with the child and learn new coping strategies just as I did. Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishing via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
I would give this book more than five stars for its Biblical truth and practical advice. It would make a wonderful gift to that tween in your life!Author Max Lucado’s BIO can be found at his website https://maxlucado.com (Photo is from his website)
This awesome book is available now and can be purchased here:
Our world these days seems to be spiraling downward quickly into the abyss of sin. We wring out hands and look up, expecting that Jesus will return soon to save us from this crazy mess. But what if He doesn’t come back, today or tomorrow or even imminently and we are stuck with people who seem to have turned their backs on God and on us, His namesakes? We are representing Christ on earth, so who is to say that those who are devouring each other because of their own unbelief will leave us alone? That is a lot to ponder today and I’m up early to think about it. No, I didn’t arise earlier than usual eager to head off to my recliner and my Bible. I got up early because I was gasping for breath. It started as a little wheeze, progressed to a lot of coughing and wheezing and ended when I got out of bed, using my inhaler and came into the den to sit in my chair. Every breath is a struggle sometimes when you are asthmatic and this was one of those days. I never know when I may have a problem breathing. It has been months, and then this morning, without warning or any triggers that I am aware of, I awakened with my throat closing and wheezing breaths coming from my shallow breaths. It’s scary sometimes, but it isn’t as scary as thinking about the fact that our world as we have known it is ending and we are faced with ungodliness everywhere we turn.
I belong to various online book groups since reading is a favorite pastime of mine. But they are changing to accept the current cultural norms, norms that do not pass the standards set by God. Just about every book that I pick up these days has a character who is gay or just discovering their propensity to be gay. I try not to judge the author too harshly but when I am reviewing, I cannot help but be influenced by the fact that many authors seem to be delving into political correctness because their only goal is to sell books. For the first time ever, I received a book from an author, an autographed copy no less, and threw it in the trash. I wouldn’t dare pass on garbage like that to a friend or relative, so the book went where it deserved to be before being published, into the garbage. The only really safe books to read these days come from Christian publishers like Revell. The same is true of television shows. It is much more satisfying to watch old shows from decades ago than the new fodder that glorifies self-gratification and sin. Turning off the TV has become more common in our household than watching it. My husband, an avid sports fan, has been disgusted with the recent lack of patriotism displayed by major sports teams and athletes at the Olympics. I am one of those who was actually happy that the U.S. women’s soccer team lost to Sweden. After all, it couldn’t happen to a more arrogant and self-serving bunch of women who claim to represent our nation. Like the former football star Herschel Walker, I want to know why they are even in the Olympics representing the U.S. if they don’t love our nation. I also wonder if they have tried to live in another nation that does not offer the freedoms that we do. China and North Korea come to mind. Does anyone really believe that the athletes from these countries would be allowed to display the antics that the American athletes proudly boast about (without ending up in a prison somewhere, that is)? Thus my husband who used to watch all the baseball and football games possible is watching golf and hockey, the sports in which the athletes act as though it’s a privilege to play and don’t “take a knee” or disrespect our nation and the sacrifices of those who gave them their freedoms.
So, entertainment these days is a big old bust. What are we to do? We are to stand and wait for the salvation of our God. If we are under the illusion that the world has never been this bad before, then we have forgotten the history of other great empires like Rome. God has a tendency to humble those who stand proudly before Him and mock His name and His laws. The Roman Empire fell, much to the surprise of all of the jubilant party-goers who thought life was one big party and the only rules were those they made for themselves. God established the rules for living a holy life long ago when He gave Moses the Ten Commandments; Jesus came and died for each of us so that we can stand holy before the Lord. But we cannot fool ourselves into believing that no matter what we do, we are our own little gods. Same sex marriage, that’s okay and even encouraged. Drugs are legal. Living with your boyfriend or girlfriend is accepted. I just completed forms for a new doctor and one of the questions is marital status, including “living with a partner or significant other.” And don’t get me started on what bad examples some churches or pastors are being with their acceptance of the whole gay/transgender agenda! My prayer is that all of these people, including pastors, church boards, authors, television producers, news reporters, everyone who has bought into the great lie of Satan that sin will not kill you, will come to the knowledge of the power and sacrifice of Christ before it is too late for them.
What do I do in the meantime? I worship. I pray. I wait. I found a song on YouTube this morning that I have not sung in a long time and hope that it encourages you as it encourages me. Jesus has not changed. His charge to the church He left behind to continue His work has not changed. The task may seem harder, with more people turning against God daily, but Jesus didn’t say it would be easy to follow Him. He said to follow and that the way would be narrow. We have to navigate our way through a morass of people attempting to divert our attention from what is truth. Calling a lie the truth does not make it one. God’s Word is truth and He does not compromise His stand on things like homosexuality or any other kind of ungodly behavior. We just have to recognize our need for our Savior daily in order to make it through to the end of the race.
Each time I read this verse, I question myself, “Who is my enemy?” Is it the person who cut us off in traffic? The disagreeable or rude person in the store? Or is my enemy the radical leftists who are trying to change the country that I love from the inside out? My conclusion is that all of these may be an enemy at some time or another, depending on my own frame of mind. You see, we choose how we see others. If we see them as an enemy, then we may treat them differently than we treat our friends or family members.
How many of us walk into a room filled with people and seek out those that we don’t know well or whom we never really wanted to get to know well? No, if you are like me, when you are in a social situation, you seek those who are like-minded, those with whom you feel the most comfortable. But was that the pattern that Jesus established for us? Of course not! He was chastened for eating with sinners and for his choices of companions everywhere he went. The Pharisees would never have thought of going to a tax collector’s home to eat and fellowship. Nevertheless, that is what we are called to do. Jesus said clearly that the well don’t need a physician, so He chose to hang out with those who needed Him the most.
As a disciple of Christ, I would like to say that I also choose to hang out with those who need Him the most. But that would be untruthful. Like most of you, I tend to gravitate towards those with whom I feel most comfortable. The God of the Universe tells us to love our enemies and the best way that we can love them is to show them the love of Jesus and to invite them to get to know His saving grace, too. Of course, we must be wise in approaching others, especially in these times when Christians are seen as rabble rousers and instigators of rebellion. Is today any different than in the days of the early church? I don’t think so.
I am choosing to love my enemies, to seek out those who need a touch from the Master and to allow Jesus to lead me to them. The rude woman in the store may not have enough money to buy the food that she needs for her children. The man cutting you off in traffic may be rushing home because of an emergency there. We just don’t know. People are not our enemies. Our only enemy is the enemy of our soul who would destroy us if he could. Thus, we must treat others the way we wish to be treated. We must reach out a helping hand, extend grace and mercy and say kind words ourselves. We must be the example that we want others to follow. After all, that is what Jesus did. He didn’t just preach loving your enemies; He lived it, even when He was on the cross and asked for His Father’s forgiveness on the crowd there to crucify Him.
Final note: I have been absent from the blog lately because we were traveling and visiting children and grandchildren. What a special family time we had! We got to meet our new grandson Nathan, a month old, and attend the graduation party of our grandson Tyler. Those special times were ones that we were blessed to be able to attend, especially since we were in a car accident the week before we were supposed to leave. Our car is still being repaired and we are using a rental. The other insurance company extended grace to us after I told them that we had made plans for this trip back in March and told us to feel free to travel to wherever we needed to go, to just let the repair shop know that we would be out of town. The accident was bad, but God is good and my heart is filled with God’s graciousness and mercy toward us in allowing us to visit family after almost a year of not seeing them.
May each of you be blessed with a special touch from the Lord today and may you know deep in your heart that it is the Savior who has touched you. For it is for such a time as this that we were born. It is no accident that we are here during these turbulent times. We just have to ask God to help us to reach out to others just as He would do. After all, we are His hands and His feet, His eyes and His mouth here on earth. May you each be blessed with the knowledge of how much God loves you!
This was a wonderful story of former hippies (Linda and Bruce) who adopt a baby from Vietnam as part of Operation Baby Lift. After protesting the war itself and then reading about the children fleeing Saigon on American planes, Linda and Bruce choose to adopt little Minh (Mindy), in spite of the narrow-minded discrimination of Bruce’s mother. Told in three time frames, beginning in 1975, moving to 1988 and then finally to 2013, the story also has multiple narrators. 1975 is the year Bruce and Linda decide to adopt Mindy and change their lives to raise a fearful little girl. 1988 presents more information about Sonny, their biological daughter preparing to leave for college, and her little sister Mindy, a teen at the time. Finally, in 2013, we hear a lot from Bruce and his perspective on what being a successful family looks like. Honestly, I could not choose my favorite POV or time period because all were done so well with such elaborate descriptions of the family and their reactions to events and choices. Mindy grew up without feeling as if she really belonged, so she decided to find her birth mother. Supported by her adoptive family, Mindy faces the past with boldness and grace, ready to embrace and forgive. The tale is one that is timeless in its approach to such themes as adoption, parenting, family relationships and acceptance. The research into the Vietnam era shone through in every page, especially the feelings of many American citizens who had suffered through the atrocities of the war. My emotions ran the whole gamut, from total despair at Mindy’s lack of confidence and fear when she arrived to her new home, to hope for a better future as she learned to “fly alone” and leave the nest, which is the nature of small birds. The characters were so realistic that they stepped out of the pages of the book into my heart, where I am still embracing them today as if they are my own family members. I have loved all of Susie Finkbeiner’s books since the first one, and this one was, in my opinion, the best yet in its portrayal of emotions and its depth of characters, with a multi-layered plot. The vulnerability of the characters and their willingness to press on was what made the book memorable and an excellent choice for an uplifting book to read. Not all parts of the book were uplifting, but the tone definitely was one of positive outcomes, so I applaud the author for her talent in being able to relate to so many different people with so many different feelings about the war in Vietnam. Not everyone lived during the war as I did (I was in college in the 70’s and saw all of the protests although I did not participate), but I can assure others that anyone who reads this book will have an experience of war and its effects on innocence that you will not soon forget. This book is remarkable for its entertainment and educational values. Disclaimer Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
This is Christian fiction and is suitable for young adults as well as those of us who are more mature. This is a lovely story and worthy of more than five stars! Susie Finkbeiner is the CBA bestselling author of All Manner of Things, which was selected as a 2020 Michigan Notable Book, and Stories That Bind Us,as well as A Cup of Dust, A Trail of Crumbs, and A Song of Home. Her next novel The Nature of Small Birds releases in July, 2021. She serves on the Fiction Readers Summit planning committee, volunteers her time at Ada Bible Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and speaks at retreats and women’s events across the country. Susie and her husband have three children and live in West Michigan. (Info and photo from the author’s website at http://www.susiefinkbeiner.com
This magnificently uplifting book is available now! Purchase Links:
This is the well-known story of bad guy meets a good girl and they are attracted to each other. Guillermo has just gotten out of juvie and is on probation, complete with community service. He is doing this service at the place where Regan’s mom is a manager. Regan never makes bad choices and Guillermo’s life seems to be one bad choice after another. I enjoyed the characterization and thought that it was well done. The plot, however, just did not do it for me. I knew from the beginning what was going to happen, so I didn’t mind not having surprises as I read. What I did mind is that the story seemed to drag at times. Regan couldn’t make up her mind about breaking up with her current boyfriend in order to follow her attraction to Guillermo. And Guillermo was almost timid in approaching her since he was avoiding trouble at all costs. I thought the storyline worked, but the slow pace made it hard for me to really get into the story and enjoy it as I had expected I would. This is light romance, targeted to a young adult audience. Disclaimer Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
I would rate this a PG-13 due to content. Touted as a book for Young Adults, it may not be appropriate for all teen readers.About the author:Whitney is dedicated to telling stories about teens of color and teens in difficult but relatable situations. Some of her works can be found on Wattpad, one of the largest online story sharing platforms, where she has acquired over 30,000 followers and an audience of over fifteen million dedicated readers. Outside of writing, she is a lover of Korean dramas, all things John Hughes, and horror films. Whitney currently lives in Akron, Ohio. She is the author of A Love Hate Thing and The Right Side of Reckless. Visit Whitney’s website http://www.whitneydgrandison.com and follow her on Twitter @whitney_dg and Instagram @wheadee.
Fresh off the plane and I was already making trouble.
The security guard was staring at me like I was some type of criminal. He stood across from us as we came out of the gate into the terminal at the Akron-Canton Airport, and as soon as he caught eye contact with me, his brows pushed down and knitted together. His hand breezed over the Taser gun on his utility belt, while he stuck out his broad chest.
Sizing him up, I knew I could take him. He wasn’t that big. But with the way my mother was looking at me, I knew it was better to ignore him.
He probably thought I was trouble. I was trouble…at least, I was before.
“Keep walking, Memo,” my father said, shoving his carryon bag into my spine.
I stole a final glance at the security guard. He was still glaring at me.
Pendejo.
Like the diligent son I was now trying to be, I obeyed my father and kept moving, catching my younger sister, Yesenia, shrinking beside me.
Jostling through the airport, we made our way to the baggage claim, gathered our bags, and prepared to leave. Upon heading toward the exit, I was surprised to see Mr. Security Guard by the door. The glare was still on his face, but this time, he was shooting his dark steely gaze at some other guy.
Guess it isn’t just me. For once.
I was used to this type of judgment.
The car service my father had arranged was waiting outside. Our driver was standing in front of a Honda Pilot, holding up a sign with our last name stamped on it.
My father quickly introduced our family before helping the man stow our luggage in the vehicle. At my attempt to help, my father shooed me away.
Having no choice, I handed him my bag, and then I got in the middle row beside my mother and sister.
“It’s going to be okay, Memo, don’t worry.” Yesenia reached out and squeezed my hand gently.
I averted my gaze out the window, not seeing things her way.
“You should listen to your sister, she’s right,” my mother said.
Once the driver and my father finished packing the trunk, the driver took the wheel while my father sat in the passenger seat.
As soon as we were on the road, my father faced me with a serious look. “We’re back now, Guillermo, and things aren’t going to be like before. Understand?”
“It won’t happen again,” I said.
My father grimaced, as if he doubted me. With my mass of screwups, I didn’t blame him. “Don’t forget to call your probation officer first thing in the morning.” He spoke with bitter disappointment laced in every word. “Remember, if you mess this up, it’s back to jail for you.”
I gritted my teeth. Back to juvie? Fuck that. “I know.”
Two weeks in Mexico and nothing had changed.
They still hadn’t forgiven me for what happened back in March. Hadn’t even mentioned it to the relatives we’d just visited. I couldn’t blame them. Unlike the times before, I had fucked up royally.
I stared outside for the remainder of the drive. Summer had slipped away while I was locked up. Now fall was here, a new season, a new beginning. It was seven fifteen at night, the sky above us a reddish orange as the sun sank lower on the horizon. Soon, the leaves on the trees would match.
We got off the highway and began to pass closing businesses as streetlights flickered on. I watched all this, trying to feel a sense of rebirth. A piece of optimism.
It didn’t come.
While I was…away, my parents had packed up our house and sold it. They had purchased a new place on the east side of Akron and made it clear we were moving on from the past up north.
Less than thirty minutes later, the driver pulled in to a subdivision called Briar Pointe. A subdivision, as in row upon row of houses that looked exactly alike, as in too bland and boring, unlike the neighborhood we’d lived in before.
A late-night jogger breezed by, her blond ponytail swishing behind her, and I raised a brow. Where we’d come from wasn’t exactly dangerous, but nobody ran, especially at night.
The driver came to a stop in front of a medium-size two-story house complete with an attached two-car garage. I gazed at my new home. It was my clean slate, my second chance— or more like my last.
We all vacated the car and grabbed our bags from the trunk.
My mother gathered the house keys and took the lead to the front door with Yesenia and me behind her. My father tipped the driver, and the man drove off.
After I got home from juvie, and before our sudden trip to Mexico, my family and I had only begun unpacking here. Now it was almost the second week of September, and Yesenia and I had missed the first week of school.
After spending spring in and out of court and a lovely ninety-day stay at a detention center, where I’d caught up on all the schoolwork I’d missed, I would be serving my probation in a new part of the city with a fresh start. However, it was beginning to appear as though there was no moving forward as far as my parents were concerned.
They no longer looked at me as their son, but as a petty criminal and a burden.
And given that in the morning I would meet with my parole officer, I couldn’t blame them. I was newly seventeen and already the Patron Saint of Fuckups who couldn’t be trusted, as far as they knew.
“Guillermo.” My father spoke softly behind me as we entered the house and Yesenia and my mother disappeared down the foyer around a corner.
I didn’t face him. There were only so many times I could see that look in his eyes. “Yes?”
“In the garage, now.”
I turned and found him already making his way to the door that led into the garage. Each step I took after him felt heavier than the first, my anxiety causing sweat to bead down my back.
Inside the garage, my father stood back, waiting for me.
I barely glanced at him before my gaze landed on the two vehicles. One, my mother’s silver Acura, and the other, a dark blue Charger. The shiny, vibrant paint made its beauty stand out.
My father cleared his throat. “Matt knew a guy who could restore it, and it took some bargainin’, but it’s yours.”
Another glance from him to the car, and I realized what this was and what this meant. Back in the day, when my father’s brother, my tío Mateo, still lived in Akron, he used to keep this beat-up old Charger in his driveway. Tía Jacki used to complain about it, but Mateo wouldn’t part with it, swore it was a project in the making. Whenever I was bored, I’d climb in behind the wheel and pretend to drive it, pretend I owned the road, pretend to be as cool as Tío Matt.
Fast forward to today, and gone were those rust-stained doors, replaced with a solid body and fresh paint. Even the inside was new. I leaned over to gape through the passenger window. The black seating and updated system had me grinning like a fool.
Tío Mateo lived in Columbus now, but the gesture wasn’t missed. I faced my father, my smile instantly slipping away at the sight of his stoic face. “Thank you, both of you.”
My father gave me a stiff nod. “I just don’t want to be responsible for driving you around. Keys are on the hook by the door.”
During the whole ordeal, my mother had attempted sympathy, but not once had my father offered any. The moment I was released from juvie, they shielded Yesenia from me and started keepin’ a close eye on us, as if my bad seed would catch on.
“I shouldn’t have to reiterate that this is a new start. You will not be in contact with any of your old friends. Especially that girl,” my father ordered. “You will go to school, complete your required community service, meet with your probation officer, and stay out of trouble. Do you hear me?”
My fists balled at my sides. “Yes, sir.”
“And…” He paused, as if thinking of more things to add to his list of demands. “Get a haircut.”
To this I didn’t reply. He’d been after the length of my hair since freshman year. Now that I was a junior, you’d think he’d let it go. I would admit, my wavy hair combined with my facial hair did make me look rough around the edges. The judge had taken one look at me and scowled. No wonder that security guard at the airport had kept his eye on me.
“Your mother’s going to order some food. Go put away your bag and come down,” my father said.
Dinner with my family was often eaten in loud silence.
I would pass.
“I’m not hungry,” I told him.
He didn’t fight me on it as he went to join my mother and sister.
Home sweet home.
With a heavy sigh, I raked a hand through my chin-length hair and headed up to my room. I was out, I was somewhere new, and I had a car. I couldn’t fuck up, not again. Hearing my mom up one night crying—that had hung heavy on my heart for weeks.
This move was my chance to prove that I could evolve.
There were no ifs, ands, or maybes. I was going to do better.
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