by Mary Wingfield Bell
Chapter Eight -
When Wink went to bed on Sunday night, he was happy because the
day had turned out well. The gang had kept their secret about
surprising their old Bible friend. Bible friend was sort of a
nickname for Mr. Winterfresh. The old gentleman was so pleased with
the attention he received from the boys and girls. Wink still felt
a warmth from the happy time that was held in the garage that day
when their teacher had acquainted them with the beauty of Heaven.
I would like to go to Heaven now, he thought, but I believe God
has something special that He wants me to do first. Wink remembered
that Mr. Winterfresh had said, "Jesus is coming in the clouds to
take all who know and serve Him to Heaven." He tried to picture
this event in his mind. Would the clouds be white or gray when
Jesus steps out of Heaven or would the sky just be blue? Would he
be sleeping or maybe riding his bicycle? Wink had so many thrilling
questions inside his head and he wondered if he could ever go to
sleep. But finally his eyelids closed and he slept.
He had awakened to the barking of a dog and looked out his
window. There were Jeff and Winner. Winner had become a member of
the gang, tagging along wherever Jeff went. There was not a
healthier dog in Withersville, but the children remembered the hurt
little puppy and how God answered prayer when Mr. Winterfresh
prayed for the small dog.
"Let's take a long walk," suggested Jeff.
"Man! I ain't had breakfast," Wink replied. "Come in and wait
for me."
Wink's aunt offered Jeff hot cakes, but he had already eaten
and said that he would wait outside with Winner.
When Wink finished his breakfast, he came out. Then he and Jeff
took a nice long walk through the neighborhood subdivision, one
street after another. There was much to talk about. Jeff told Wink
that since Winner had come to stay everything was working out fine.
He finally felt like he belonged at his house. His parents liked
the dog which made him feel good. Best of all, he had Jesus. It was
wonderful knowing Jesus because He was always there.
Wink agreed that things were better now. "Yeah, living is more
fun than it used to be. I never did like to steal. It made me feel
rotten, having things that belonged to other people. I found out my
mother isn't so bad after all. She just has to listen to her
husband. He's bossy. And Jesus - super is the neatest word I know
for Him. Wouldn't it be great if He came in person and sat on a big
gold throne and ruled the whole world. There wouldn't be any more
wars.
"Sure, and we kids wouldn't have to worry about bombs falling
on us and burning America to a crisp," said Jeff.
"And kids could talk about God and Jesus at school and never be
told to shut up because it was illegal. It's something awfully
wrong about the way grown-ups run the school system. Don't you
think it is?" asked Wink.
"Sure, but there's lots of churches. There must be some folks
who want things better for us," said Jeff.
Wink and Jeff were suddenly aware of their surroundings. They
were in a park which was a very pretty place with green trees,
shrubs, grass, flowers and a lake. The lake was in the center of
the park. The boys sat down on a bench in the gazebo. A small
round, open building, the gazebo had a cement floor. Jeff's dog lay
at his feet.
"You been here before, Jeff?"
"Yep, a couple of times," Jeff replied.
"I like this place, What do you say we have a picnic here?"
Wink asked.
"Who is we?" Jeff wanted to know.
"The gang - girls and all, including Aunt Gracie. She can fix
the lunch," Wink decided.
"Good idea!" agreed Jeff.
Then the two lads tried out the swings, merry-go-round and pipe
gym.
Next day most of the gang went on a picnic. Aunt Gracie made
sandwiches. The girls brought fruit and cookies. Wink's aunt had to
make two trips to the park to get everyone there. On the second
trip she picked up Mr. Winterfresh and Lena. Lena's mother and baby
brother came along.
There were many children in the park. Three joined the LITTLE
CHURCH gang in their games. It was a real fun time. The old man
directed the children in their play. Everything worked out fine.
When the youngsters played baseball he kept the score because he
couldn't run fast enough to play.
Coralee, Rica and Hugo seemed to fit in with the others. Months
before, Wink and his friends would not have been friendly to
strangers. Now he was enjoying the newcomers. It is because
Jesus lives in me, he thought.
When the ball game ended, the girls gathered to jump rope.
Rainbow and Daisy turned a long rope which Daisy had brought along.
Marcie, Isabel, Lena, Rica and Coralee formed a line and each in
turn ran thought the rope and jumped to see who would be champion.
Rica won with 123 jumps.
Marcia and Isabel then changed places with Daisy and Rainbow.
The line formed again for the second contest. Daisy won that with
134 jumps so she was declared the real winner and Rica took second
place.
The boys played Chase the Burglar. Willie was it; he was a
fast-running burglar. Finally, Moon caught him.
The boys and girls played one game after another. They rode the
merry-go-round and took turns on the swings. There was a lot of
climbing on the pipe gym too.
While they played, Wink's aunt, Mr. Winterfresh and Lena's
mother talked. They were proud of this nice group of children.
Aunt Gracie began to unpack the lunch. She could see that this
army of children was working up great appetites.
Rica came running to the grown-ups for help. Her leg had
received a cut from the gym. Wink's aunt always seemed to be handy
when a child needed help. She turned the spigot on the ice water
jug, wet a tissue and wiped the blood away.
"There, dear, it will be okay, but have your mother look at it
when you get home." Aunt Gracie gave her a band-aid for the wound.
"Thank you," Rica said, smiling.
The grown-ups set the table not far from the gazebo. The old
man whistled for the gang. The boys and girls came running,
including Rica, Coralee and Hugo.
"My! If any more kids come to lunch, I'll have to ask Jesus for
a miracle!" Wink's aunt was glad that she had brought extra food.
Mr. Winterfresh furnished peanuts and cheese crackers which
were a big help in stretching the lunch.
The children crowded on the cement benches, with Hugo and Wink
standing at the ends of the table. Mr. Winterfresh had one end of a
bench, while Wink's aunt and Lena's mother served.
"Let's bow and give thanks," the old man said. He prayed,
thanking God for a nice day, for beautiful children and good food.
The peanut butter sandwiches disappeared, then the tuna
sandwiches and a mountain of cookies. Last of all the peanuts,
crackers and fruit vanished.
"I want to join your church gang," Rica said.
"Me, too," Hugo added, looking hopefully to Mr. Winterfresh.
"Anyone can join us," Wink told the new friends. "Jesus wants
everyone to know Him."
"I learned about Jesus when I was very little," Coralee said.
"My grandma took me to church before she died and went to Heaven. I
want to learn more about Him. Marcia says you can learn a lot going
to the Bible club in the garage. Please, can I come?"
"Most certainly, there's always room in God's family for more
children," the old gentleman assured her.
Wink's aunt smiled. "Please do come, all of you," she said.
Wink was smiling too and remembering how the LITTLE CHURCH gang
got started - the day he and Knuckles caught fish for Mr.
Winterfresh, and the old man had helped him solve a problem by
introducing him to Jesus. Now Jesus meant everything good, and he
had the feeling inside that he wanted to tell everyone about Jesus.
He did not understand this desire. Maybe some day he would preach
like the preachers he heard on T.V.
After lunch the gang played awhile and when it was time to
leave, Wink had to round up the other children. Wink's aunt said,
"It's now or never if you want to ride home." She didn't really
mean it though; she would see that all the boys and girls arrived
safely home.