God Fixed It

CHAPTER 1

The weather began to get really hot during the day but tonight had cooled down a bit after a short rain. Mother had opened the all the windows in the house after the shower and a little breeze made the curtains blow out into the room.
If I wrote down my thoughts maybe I wouldn’t feel so bad. Mother had said I looked peaked since camp and I didn’t seem to have any interest in doing anything. What could I do? Maybe God could see my problem and fix it for me. When I asked my Mother the meaning of the words do something she said it means the same as fix.
“In Texas we use the word fix to mean a lot of things. I think I once read the Dictionary said it means to make something stationary or stable.
“Then why do you say you will fix dinner?”
“Fix can also mean to make something and sometimes it means to repair or set right.”
“Thanks Mother.”
I think the Bible said He fixed a lot of things for the Israelites and He did many miracles so maybe He won’t mind helping me out. Besides, I don’t want to forget all the details of what happened at Camp Horrific.
I put down my Nancy Drew mystery book I had been reading and went into their bedroom where Daddy, Mother and Bryan were listening to a ball game on our Atwater Kent radio. I pretended I wanted to hear the game and waited until the 7th inning stretch before I asked him, “Daddy, I really need a different kind of diary.”
“I thought we got you one last Christmas.”
“You did, but I need to do more writing and I don’t think….”
“What she needs is a Journal,” Mother said, “a diary’s page is too small.”
“What’s a Journal?” Bryan piped up.
“It’s a book you write about special events and happenings in your life. It’s usually private. I think Bonn’s warehouse probably has one. I’ll see if I can get you one next week when I do ordering for the store.”
“What’s so important that you would need a Journal?” Judge asked, “You liked camp didn’t you?”
“Oh, there’s a lot of stuff I want to write down.” I didn’t want to tell him what happened there or that I had taken notes.”
A week later after dinner Mother handed me a large book with unlined pages in it and said, “I got this big, thick one so you’ll have plenty of room to write about your adventures.”
I wasn’t about to tell her what happened at camp but I did say, “Thanks so much Mother. Think I’ll go to my room and start writing tonight.” Mother doesn’t let Bryan or me shut our doors but I’ll think of something so she doesn’t see what I write.”
She won’t check on me while I’m writing but I don’t know whether or not she’ll try to find it when I’m outside or not home. I’ll hide it just in case. But where? I looked into my closet and there was the answer. I’ll hide the book on the bottom shelf in my closet behind some winter clothes that don’t fit any more. She probably won’t find it. If she does I might still be okay because I’ll tell her I’m writing to God. She always reminds me Jesus is in our heart, so isn’t it natural that I would speak to Him this way?

I think so and I hope she does too and I really don’t want her to see what I am saying to God.
Dear God,
“I am writing in my new Journal about what happened at Camp Horrific two weeks ago. Mother and others at church know it as Camp Serenity. It was a terrible, awful experience so I’m wondering if You God could fix it? Make it better? Mother says you are in always with us but I guess I didn’t know how to find you because camp wasn’t good like Mother said it would be. I know you helped those Bible people get across the Red Sea so maybe you can help me although my problem is different.
You see, I’m thinking since you can turn the sea water back and that was a big thing to do you wouldn’t mind helping me since my problem isn’t that big.
Well, God, I’ll start at the beginning. Here’s what happened. I’m telling the truth because I know You’ll know if I don’t and I do need your help. I’m going to tell You how it happened and maybe You can get word to me that You will fix it. Here goes.
Mother left me at church early since she said she had to go downtown to one of the warehouses and pick up some supplies they were going to sell for the 4th of July. I didn’t expect the bus to be early and it wasn’t, so I stepped inside the fellowship hall to wait.
It might be cooler. They had a couple of fans sitting around but no one turned them on. Guess they figured after the bus left, no one would be there so why turn them on?
Mother would have said the air was muggy if she had been in the room. I would say it was just plain hot and getting hotter by the minute. A couple of kids I didn’t know came in and sat on the opposite side of the room. Moments later I heard it.
Lots of silly giggles coming from outside the open door. My stomach did a flip-flop and my worse fears popped up. Would the in-crowd be coming to camp? I’m hopeful they won’t be.
When the snickering group got louder, I knew it had to be the insiders. Luckily for me they stayed outside. It seemed like we waited forever before the bus came but when it arrived our leader motioned for me to be in the first group to board.
None of the Tee-Hee crowd was around. They must have gone back into the church another way to use the restroom. I picked a seat in the middle of the bus, figuring I wouldn’t be too near that group and it was a right call. When I saw Miss Prissy step in the bus, flanked by six cackling girlfriends, the in-crowd had arrived.
I wouldn’t be part of that group. The in-crowd boarded and all sat in the back.
You know me God, I would rather be home feeling the breeze whip through my hair when I ride my bike, climbing to the top of the peach tree away from Bryan and reading my Nancy Drew mystery book or doing most anything except be on a bus with them. But, I’m already here and Mother has left so I have no choice but to stay on the bus and go.
Kids from another church got on the bus at the last minute and must have had friends come with them because no one sat by me. I should have known this might be the way my week ahead would go. Everyone talked and laughed with their friends. Not me. Just sat there alone. All alone.
The bus filled up quickly leaving only one empty seat. Wouldn’t you know it was the seat next to me? It was okay since I will be able to see out the window and put my legs up on that empty seat. My legs are so short they never touch the floor. I bet it would feel good to be able to put my feet down when I sit at a desk or a seat at the movies when Mother and Daddy let Bryan and I go sometime on a Sunday afternoon.
We were on the road for only a half hour when lightening and thunder announced the arrival of dark blackish clouds that looked like they could push the bus off the road. In a second. These clouds looked like the ones that dumped rain on us the day of my Teacher’s party. In seconds you couldn’t see the sun and the thunderheads let loose. Rain pelted down so hard the bus driver had to pull off the dirt road for awhile. Good thing he did. But he didn’t stay long enough.
When he pulled out, the bus banged into a pothole and popped right out. The driver lost control and the bus started to slide across the bumpy road. Those in-crowd squealers hugged each other but I don’t think they prayed. I did, a little, and asked God to get us to camp safely. Figured the bus driver knew what he was doing since he pulled the bus back onto the two-lane road.
Minutes later Rick shouted, “Hold on to your seat. We’re going into the ditch.”