Chapter 9

     I could see the panic rising in Mr. Skink’s eyes.  He may not have been thrilled with me sneaking into his house, but the idea of a pastoral visit from the one and only Susan Basil was downright terrifying. 
     I decided to come to his rescue, seeing as he had let the whole breaking and entering thing slide.  “Why don’t you bring your family here?” I suggested. “Just the ones who want to be involved.  Then we can properly audition them.”
     “Excellent idea.” Pastor Basil beamed at me. “What say you, Mr. Skink?”
     “Oh, I don’t know” began Mr. Skink, but just then, Helen scampered down Pastor Basil’s arm and again began emphatically waving her legs at him.  “Fine,” Mr. Skink tucked Helen back into his collar “I’ll bring them all tomorrow afternoon, but only the ones who want to be involved and that’s final!”
     “Wonderful,” Pastor Basil clapped her hands together, “we so look forward to seeing you all then.”
     It seemed like everything was going to work out for the best. Until I glanced back toward the altar and noticed Jealous Plant.  You might think that a plant always looks like a plant, but I could tell something was off.  Jealous Plant’s leaves looked decidedly droopy and off color.  He was obviously feeling left out with all the attention being given to Mr. Skink and his family of reptiles and arachnids.  And, if Jealous Plant was feeling left out, that meant he was also jealous and that did not bode well for any of us.
To Be Continued...
 
 Psalm 139:1-6
O Lord, you have searched me and known me.
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
    you discern my thoughts from far away.
You search out my path and my lying down,
    and are acquainted with all my ways.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
    O Lord, you know it completely.
You hem me in, behind and before,
    and lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
    it is so high that I cannot attain it.
 
What makes Mr. Skink so nervous about a visit from Pastor Basil?  What is he afraid she might find out about him or his family of reptiles, lizards, and spiders? What is Jealous Plant also keeping locked away in his heart?  What makes it so difficult for us to trust each other? What does God have to say about the secrets we keep locked away in our minds and hearts? 

A reading of chapter 9 by Amelia Corbett