Every morning at ten o'clock, Mrs. Mostly drove the girls to the town swimming pool. Afternoon's were hot and the children did not want to get sunburned.

One week Kelli's father took Mrs. Mostly and the girls with him on a flight to California. Jenny and Kelli had much fun and every chance the girls had they told strangers about Jenny's visit to Heaven. They let people know that the great King is coming soon to take all who believe in Him to Heaven.

When they arrived in Fernville and on the street where they lived, Jenny thanked Mr. and Mrs. Mostly for inviting her to vacation with them.

"We missed you much," Mr. Spruce said, hugging Jenny.

It was good to know her father loved her even though he still smelled of beer.

"Yes," joined in her mother, "we did miss you. Did you have a good time?"

"It was great!" answered Jenny. "Kelli and I told so many people that Jesus is coming. We told them to get ready to see Jesus."

"I missed you." Jason hugged his sister whom he loved dearly and admired. "I love you, Jenny."

"Honey," Mrs. Spruce said to Jenny, "we are having your favorite food for supper."

"Good!" exclaimed Jenny. "Fried chicken, potato salad and cherry pie are my favorite foods."

It was a quiet evening meal the family enjoyed. Everyone was in bed by nine o'clock.

Jenny was tired from her trip and did not fall to sleep right away. There was a lot on her mind. She was remembering the dream, the first time she had ever known anything about Jesus, and the first time she went with Kelli to church to learn about the king she had seen in her dream. The best of her thoughts was when Jesus came into her heart and gave her so much joy. Thoughts of her visit to Heaven followed and the wonderful time she had there in her spirit body. She wondered why she did not even remember the horrible accident. God was really good to her. Friends came into her mind, including Jamie, his grandmother and the little boy Hangar who knew so much about trains.

Finally, Jenny fell asleep thinking about her new friends Claudia and Hardin, the homeless old people who found a home in the green caboose.

The girl awakened full of energy and glad for a brand new day. Jenny helped Mama get breakfast on the table. After eating cereal, she helped Jason get dressed to go to the day care center.

"Wish I could stay home with you," whined her younger brother.

"You have friends to play with at the center," reminded Jenny. "Besides someday you will be too big to go to that place. You will have bigger friends."

"Wow! Man!" exclaimed Jason on learning that a change would take place in his life.

Everyone left the house except Jenny. She was left to clean the kitchen. After doing that she made her bed and settled down in a big chair to watch the television.

Grown-up shows are weird thought the Spruce girl.

She decided to paint with her new set of water colors. The Spruce girl felt proud of the pictures that lay in front of her, but she wished that the trees and flowers could be as bright and beautiful as those she had seen in the homeland.

How long the morning seemed until the mailman dropped letters through a slot in the front door. She heard the clicking noise and went to examine the mail. There were several pieces, including the electric bill, a store ad and an envelope addressed to "Miss Jennie Spruce."

Jenny tore open the envelope and took out a small sheet of paper. It was a letter from her grandmother. She read:

Dear Jenny,

Your grandpa and I would like to have you visit us

this summer, if it is O.K. with your mother and

father. It is quiet here in the country except for

the animals. A sweet girl like you could liven up

this place. I hope you will come. We are anxious

to see you.

We would like to have Kelli come also, if she wants to.

Love to you and the family,

Grandma

Jenny just had to tell someone, but her parents were at work. She ran quickly to Kelli's house and knocked on the door.

"Come in, Jenny," Kelli's mother said.

"Hi, Mrs. Mostley," Jenny said. "I received a letter from Grandma.

The Spruce girl read the letter to Kelli and her mother. "Isn't it great!" she exclaimed. "And Kelli is invited to go with me."

"May I go to the farm with Jenny?" Kelli asked her mother.

"Now, Kelli, not so fast," the woman said. "Mr. and Mrs. Spruce may have other plans for Jenny."

"If my parents give me permission," said Jenny, "may Kelli go with me?"

"Maybe," replied Mrs. Mostly. "That is the answer for now." The afternoon was a long wait for Jenny. It seemed that her parents would never get home. Finally Daddy came in.

"Hi, sweet," he said, reaching in the refrigerator for his beer.

"Hi, Daddy," returned his daughter, wondering as she often did how he could stand to drink beer. It smelled awful.

"What did you do all day?" asked Mr. Spruce.

"I painted pictures, visited Kelli and know what?" she said with excitement. "I got a letter."

"Who wrote to you?" asked Daddy.

"The letter was from Grandma," returned Jenny. "Do you want to read it?"

"Grandma invited me and Kelli to come for a visit," said Jenny.

"I don't know about that," said Daddy. "You just got home from a vacation. Your mother and I will discuss the matter and let you know tonight."

All through the evening meal, the Spruce girl wondered what decision her parents would make about her visiting the farm. Neither her mother nor father said anything at the table about her going.

At 8:30 p.m. Daddy announced, "You can go, but when you return, no more trips this summer. We need you here. Remember we almost lost you in the accident. Guess you might say I love you more."

"Oh, thank you, Daddy!" Jenny hugged him, trying not to smell his beer breath.

Jenny learned that Kelli could go and the girls began to pack. Jenny put in a heavy sweater because the nights were cool in the mountains. The evenings were often chilly after sundown. On Friday, Mrs. Mostly drove the girls to the train station. When Jenny and Kelli were seated comfortably on the train and given instructions by Kelli's mother to be careful, Mrs. Mostly got off the train.

The girls smiled as they waved from the train window. Kelli's mother waved back. Soon she looked very small to them, then she was out of sight.

The youngsters were prepared for the three-hour train ride. They had brought along books and games. There was no need for books or games right away, for the girls had much to talk about.

Jenny described the white house where her grandparents lived and the big red barn that was the color of the door and window frames of the white house. She told how her father had ridden a horse all over that farm when he was a boy and the big horse was his very own.

"Will we get to ride a horse?" Kelli asked her friend.

"I don't know," answered Jenny. "Grandpa will have some animal for us to ride."

"You will miss Jason, won't you?" Kelli said.

"Yes," agreed Jenny. "He's a good little guy, I wish he were here with us. Mama and Daddy said he was needed at home; one absent child is enough."

The two friends talked about many things. They were almost like sisters, spending so much time together and sharing little secrets.

"I'd like to be a nurse when I grow up," Kelli said.

"You really want to be a nurse?" said Jenny. "Perhaps you will be a nurse if the King hasn't come already. I haven't thought that much about growing up, but if I grow up and the King has not returned for His children, I must do what He sent me back to earth to do. I will tell all kinds of people about Jesus and how He gave His life to die so they all can live in the great homeland forever."

"I don't believe you will ever forget your visit in Heaven," remarked Kelli.

"Never! Never!" declared Jenny. "I think that is why we were born - to live forever and praise God. I hope Daddy will accept Jesus soon. I want our whole family to live always in the homeland. It's too wonderful to talk about!"

"We will be in Velvet Hills in just a few minutes," Kelli said, looking at her watch.

Each girl gathered her belongings in her lap and waited with excitement for the train to come to a stop in Velvet Hills.

"Next stop - Velvet Hills," the conductor called out coming through the passenger car where Kelli and Jenny were. "Be ready to leave the train. We have only a two-minute stop.

The conductor helped the two girls descend the train steps.

There waiting for them was Grandpa and Grandma Spruce, wearing their biggest smiles ever. Hugging and more hugging took place. A porter handed the luggage to Grandpa. Soon the four rode out of the tiny village of Velvet Hills and went to the farm which Grandpa had named Spruceland when he had first taken over the place.

The old man stopped the car near the big gate that was attached to a strong wire fence. On top of the gate was a sign that said SPRUCELAND.

"Jenny, please close the gate," Grandpa said after driving the car through.

"It's a big gate!" exclaimed Jenny as she closed it and climbed back into the car. Grandpa then drove the car up the driveway on the low hill to the white house with red-trimmed windows.

Once inside Grandma's kitchen, the girls smelled the aroma of good cooking left over from the morning's baking.

"Jenny, you and Kelli will sleep in the room to the left upstairs," said Grandma. Then she told the children to get washed and help her set the table.

Soon the table was set with plates, glasses, flatware, and mapkins.

The old woman filled the table with potato salad, fried chicken, sweet green peas, biscuits, homemade strawberry preserves amd fresh milk.

Grandpa blessed the food and they all ate until everyone was full.

"So many baskets," observed Kelli looking at the walls and ceiling of the kitchen.

There were metal hooks in the ceiling and walls to hold the many sizes and kinds of baskets. On one of the hooks hung the shiny milk pail which was used everyday.

After lunch Jenny introduced Kelli to the farm animals and all the out buildings. Then she showed her friend the apple orchard where the apples were turning red, but still had the green taste.

"Over there," Jenny said pointing, "is a plum tree and two pear trees. Grandma cans and freezes these fruits for the winter when snow is on the ground. Winter or summer, Grandma always has good things to eat."

"Would you like to live here all the time?" asked Kelli.

"No, not unless my family was here," Jenny replied. "And I would miss you, too. Daddy got tired of living on the farm, but sometimes when he talks about his life here on this farm, I know he still misses it."

The first day tour of the farm was interesting to Kelli. She and Jenny went to the barn where hay was stored in the loft and frolicked in the warm hay until they were covered with straw.

Afterwards they peeped in the cow shed, but did not linger because the manure smelled awful.

In the machine shed the girls saw many heavy-looking tools, including a tractor, two plows and a soil disc.

Late in the afternoon Jenny's grandmother gave Jenny a basket for gathering eggs from the chicken house.

"Careful!" she warned. "Eggs crack easily."

Jenny and Kelli brought the brown eggs into the house without a cracked one in the basket. Grandma cleaned the eggs and put them in a wire basket.

Grandpa came in from repairing the fence on the north side of his farm. Then he sat down at a little desk in the dining room to work on his bookkeeping. He wrote down the cost of the wire and new nails he had bought to mend the fence. He wrote down what it had cost to fill his gasoline tank.

"The price of chicken mash has gone up," he complained. "Oyster shells are high. I'm glad we have our own cracked corn."

"Grandpa, do you write down the cost of everything, you buy?" asked the granddaughter.

"Yes," answered Grandpa. "When I sell something I write the price I receive - like my hogs, sheep, eggs, butter, vegetables, fruit and everything. Then I can tell how much I earn. There is lots of work keeping books. Maybe that is the hardest part of farming for me."

"I never knew that a farmer had to keep books!" Kelli said.

"Yes, dear," returned Grandpa, "but I wouldn't trade this way of living for all the gold in America."

The evening meal was the lunch left-overs, with coffee for the grandparents and milk for the girls. Grandma put a big spoonful of ice cream on the apple pie she served for dessert. The meal was soon over.

There wasn't much talking in the late evening. Everyone was tired. It had been a busy day. Jenny and Kelli helped Grandma clean the kitchen. They went upstairs and put on night gowns. The girls each prayed a short prayer. Soon they were sound asleep. About one-thirty a.m. Jenny was awakened by voices downstairs. She slipped out of bed and half-way down the stairs she watched through the banister.

"I'm sorry to trouble you at this hour," a young lady said, holding her baby close, "but could you please let me have enough gasoline to get home? I've 39 miles to go yet and I am afraid to sit in the car by the road until morning."

"Of course we have a gasoline drum because of our tractor," said Grandpa. "You can have some gas."

"Dear, you may sleep on the sofa," said Grandma. "You look weary. When daylight comes you'll be more up to driving."

"That is so kind of you," the lady said gratefully. "I am tired, so is Jeremy."

"Grandma pulled two stuffed arm chairs together and laid out a blanket. "Lay your Jeremy here so you can rest," she said. "It's quite a walk from the road to this house, but it's good this is a moonlit night."

The old woman brought out two quilts from the chest in the hall and made the sofa up for a comfortable bed near the sleeping baby.

"My name is Lena Beltaze," said the younger woman. "We've been to the army base saying goodbye to my husband who is going overseas."

"Dear, lie down now and rest," suggested Grandma. "We will talk in the morning."

"Thanks," said Lena. In half a minute the stranger was asleep.

No one had noticed Jenny on the stairway and she hurriedly went back to bed.

Everyone was sleeping.

When morning came, Jenny told Kelli that a woman and baby were sleeping in the living room.

"Who?" asked Kelli. "Where did they come from?"

Jenny explained as she raised the window to let in the fresh morning air. She saw Grandpa coming to the house from his milking chore.

The girls put on their robes and went to the kitchen for breakfast.

A bucket of fresh warm milk sat on the table, waiting to be strained.

Grandma had a high stack of pancakes ready to eat. Grandpa put the syrup and butter on the table. He then blessed the food and the day and the four ate.

An hour later, Lena and her son awakened. She was refreshed and ready to go as soon as gasoline was put in her car.

Grandma invited her to eat breakfast before leaving. Lena gladly accepted the invitation. After eating, she thanked Grandma and Grandpa several times for being so kind. Then she left with her baby.

Grandma was feeling good and her eyes sparkled with joy. Jenny could see how helping someone in need brought happiness.

The girls washed their plates and glasses before going upstairs to take a bath. Soon they were dressed in jeans and T-shirts. There was more to explore on the farm.

Grandpa gave each girl a bottle of milk to feed to the lambs. His dog Hyatt went along with them to watch. Jenny fed a little black lamb and Kelli fed the little gray lamb. Other sheep grazed nearby on the hill.

"Aren't lambs darling?" said Kelli.

"Yes," joined in Jenny. "I'd like to have one."

Hyatt did not bark at the little lambs. He just lay on the green grass paying attention.

Later Jenny and Kelli carried baskets of cucumbers into the house for Grandma to make pickles.

Jenny swept the kitchen and back porch. Kelli swept the front porch and wiped the dust from the wooden swing.

After lunch the old woman told the girls to go play. They ran outside and raced down the hill to the big road gate where the mailbox stood.

"Only a catalogue," sighed Kelli who had reached the mailbox first.

"We can look at the catalogue," offered Jenny. "And we can wish for whatever we like. It doesn't cost any money to wish."

For awhile the girls were busy in the porch swing, flipping pages and wishing for themselves and all the family.

"Let's go play with Hyatt!" said Jenny.

Hearing his name, the dog got up quickly and the three went out in the fields to play. They threw sticks and chased Hyatt until all their legs were tired.

The next day was Sunday and Grandma said, "We are all going to church, that is except Hyatt and the other animals."

"Good!" returned Jenny. "Kelli and I go to church every Sunday to learn all that we can about Jesus."

The four climbed into the automobile and rode into Velvet Hills, the tiny farming community. As usual Grandpa and Grandma were early.

Friends were in the church yard mingling and greeting one another.

"The Spruces are here," said a loud voice in the crowd.

When the girls stepped from the car, everyone seemed to be looking their way.

"Grandma, is my slip showing?" whispered Jenny as she looked down at her beautiful blue silk dress her mother had bought for her to wear to church.

"No, darling," replied Grandma. "You children are very pretty."

"Then why are the people staring?" asked Kelli.

"Probably because you two are visiting," the woman said. "They may wonder what you are like."

Mrs. Spruce gave everyone her finest smile and escorted her guests past them and into the church building.

The building was painted white, having a church steeple with a cross on top and beautiful stained glass windows.

Jenny noticed the pews were different from those in her hometown church, which had soft red-cushioned seats. Here they were dark brown wooden benches.

Mrs. Spruce introduced her granddaughter and Kelli to Edna Benwell, a dear friend.

"Dear," said Edna, "is this the little girl who went to Heaven?" "Yes," answered the grandmother. "Jenny was in a deep coma and had an unusual experience."

"Word got around that Jenny would be here today," explained Edna.

"I noticed that there are people outside who don't come very often," said Grandma. "Perhaps some of them are a bit curious."

Jenny heard the conversation of the two women and it puzzled her.

When people came into the church, many eyes were focused on Jenny. This made her feel a little uncomfortable.

A plump little man stepped to the platform and said, "Open your hymn book to number 40."

When the singing began. Jenny got her mind off of the fact that folks had stared at her. Now I can feel good, she thought.

After the singing of the hymn, a teen-age boy prayed.

When the prayer was ended, a lady came to the platform and began to speak. "We are honored to have Mr. and Mrs. Spruce's granddaughter and her friend here today. Everyone in these parts has heard about Jenny's accident and very unusual experience."

Then she looked straight at Jenny. "Dear," said the speaker, "would you mind telling everyone about all that happened to you?"

At first Jenny twisted her mouth, slightly annoyed. She did not want to be the center of attention, but Jenny remembered that King Jesus wanted everybody to be ready for his return and this thought gave her courage to face so many people.

The Spruce girl stood up and turned to face the small crowd.

"Jenny, please come to the platform so everyone can see you as well as hear you," the woman said.

By now the church was filled. There was not one empty seat and some villagers stood in the back of the church building.

"Shall I start with my dream?" Jenny asked the lady on the platform with her.

"Start wherever you like," returned the woman. "People want to hear your story."

"One night I had this dream," Jenny began. "I was at home but I dreamed that I was on the hillside at Grandpa's farm right here in Velvet Hills. In the dream I looked up into the sky. It was bright with rainbow-colored lights. Suddenly I saw a beautiful King in the clouds and He was walking towards me. He was a real King and looked so good. His eyes seemed to look inside of me. He was different from any man; He was wonderful, walking there in a white robe with gold and red colors on it. And He had a gold crown upon his head.

Jenny paused for a moment. Noticing how interested the people were in hearing her, she continued.

"I told Kelli, my friend sitting there, about my dream. I did not know what it meant. She said that the King was Jesus and she had heard that He was coming to earth. I asked Kelli how I could learn about Jesus. She said we could go to church. So we did.

At church I asked Jesus to forgive me of all the times I had done wrong. He did forgive me. Then Mama got her sins forgiven and I hope that Daddy will get to know my Jesus.

Not long ago after Jesus came into my heart I had an awful accident. I don't remember the truck hitting my bicycle. Everyone says that I went into a coma, and maybe I died. Anyway my inside person went out of my body and floated through the hospital. Up I went."

Jenny surprised herself by talking so long to a crowd of strangers. It seemed easy to do because she felt that Jesus was there and that He was pleased.

"As I went up, I followed a light. The light went through a cloud of mist; so did I. And you know I was standing in front of these big white gates that looked kind of like the pearls Mama wears. The gate opened and there were people inside waiting for me. Some of them had been dead for a long time. I saw Cousin Buford. Aunt Adelia took me around to see a part of the beautiful homeland. That is what the saints call Heaven."

The Spruce girl saw some of the older people wiping tears from their eyes. Others smiled at her. They were glad to hear her story.

"It never gets dark in Heaven," she went on speaking. "The bright light comes from God and his throne."

The more Jenny talked, the more exciting her words sounded.

"The flowers in Heaven are even prettier than the roses in Grandma's yard. You know what! The flowers hum praises to God the father. There is much praise and singing in the homeland. I wanted to stay there, but King Jesus sent me back to tell everyone that He is coming very soon! Our King is coming to take all of His children to Heaven very soon! He told me to tell every person to get ready."

People in the church clapped loudly as Jenny returned to her seat beside Grandma and Kelli. The Spruce girl was happy because she was doing what Jesus wanted her to do - tell of His coming again.

After the hand-clapping, there was a short period of silence in the church. This was an awesome account and all were touched by Jenny's words.

Finally the pastor came to the pulpit and said, "The sermon I had prepared for today I will preach on another Sunday. God has given us a message through this young chhild. If there are those here who want to know the Jesus Jenny has told us about, please come to the altar right now."

Men, women, boys and girls went forward to take Jesus as their Savior and King.

Jenny counted nineteen people who made their way to the front. Her heart pounded with joy at the response.

When the service was over and the grandparents and girls were in the car, Grandpa said, "I am so proud of you girls and I am glad you came for a visit."

"We've had fun here," returned Kelli.

Grandma hurried from the car to remove her Sunday clothes and put on an everyday dress and apron.

"You girls take off those pretty dresses so they don't get soiled," said Grandma. "I'll get lunch on the table."

The old woman did not cook much on Sunday. There were ham sandwiches and vegetable soup for everyone and plenty of ice cream for dessert.

Jenny and Kelli thought the meal was good. Everything Grandma prepared tasted good.

After lunch the girls went to the bedroom to loaf and talk.

"Do you think it will happen again?" asked Jenny.

"What will happen again?" asked her friend.

"Oh, I mean someone asking me to talk in front of people."

"Probably. Everyone around seems to have heard about you," remarked Kelli.

"Well, it's over now," said Jenny. "But it wasn't too bad. When I think of Jesus sometimes I change on the inside."

"You sure do," returned Kelli.

"I wonder what Jamie, Brad, Rusty and all our friends in Fernville are doing," Jenny said, changing the subject.

"Jamie might be riding the bicycle over to Number Four," said Kelli. "He sure likes to listen to Mr. Hinks tell stories from the old, old days."

"I am glad we found that old couple," said Jenny. "They are nice and so happy now."

The friends decided to read for awhile and the room was very quiet for half an hour.