Chapter One
Feeling Lonely
Megan and Christy Parker, who were twins, recently graduated from high school. They lived in a ranch style house in Park View. When they were younger, they became junior detectives, and now they are amateur detectives. However, Christy is moving to Lakeview to go to college, and Megan is staying in Park View, which is hard for Megan because she doesn't want to be separated from Christy.
Early Monday morning, they sat in Megan's room and discussed their future plans.
"Megan, have you decided what you're going to do now that you've graduated from high school?"
"Go to college, I guess. I want to major in English with writing emphasis."
"That's neat. I know you like to write."
"That's true, especially romances and mysteries. What are you going to do?"
"I decided to go to college, but in Lakeview."
"Oh," Megan muttered. "At least it isn't too far to commute."
"Commute! I'm not going to commute. I'm moving to Lakeview."
"Move! Why? I don't want you to leave me."
"Megan, I think it's time we go our separate ways for awhile, so that you cans top depending on me."
"I need you," Megan pleaded.
"No you don't. You can study, make decisions, and solve your own problems by yourself, if you apply yourself."
"I can't. You know I need you. I can't do anything without you. Wait a minute - Why didn't I think of this before? I can move in with you."
"Megan, you aren't understanding what I'm trying to say to you."
"I am, too. You don't want me around anymore!" Megan snapped.
"That's not true. We may live together sometime, if God wants us to, but we can't right now."
"Why?" Megan demanded.
"I told you earlier. You're too dependent on me. God sometimes takes away people when we depend on them too much, so that we'll turn to God."
"You and God. You've been driving me crazy with your religious beliefs. if we were separated, I wouldn't have to listen to your religious beliefs."
"I'm sorry, but someday I hope that you will turn to God so that you can experience His love, joy, and peace as I have."
"I don't know if I want to turn to God."
"God loves you, and if you believe that He does, he can change your life, if you let Him."
"I like my life the way it is."
"Until you're ready to turn to God, i can't help you with your homework, making decisions, or anything else you think you can't do. However, I will answer your questions about God, but you need to try reading the Bible and see what God says to you."
"What God says to me. He can't talk to me. he's not a person."
"Yes He is. He experienced the same things we do now. When someone does something against us, we are hurt. It's the same way with God. When we sin, He's hurt."
"I'll think about it," Megan replied, as she thought to herself. I don't know if I'll think about God. I'm tired of hearing about it.
"I hope you do. It's getting late, so I'll see you downstairs. I'm eager to tell Mom and Dad about my decision to move to Lake View."
"Okay," Megan sobbed.
After Christy left, Megan plopped onto her bed and burst out crying. After she dried her eyes, she calmed down and took a shower in her private bathroom, put on her favorite navy blue slacks and matching figured blouse, and then she stood in front of her mirror and brushed her long golden brown hair.
Shortly, she blurted out. "Why? Why does Christy want to leave me? Everybody's against me."
After she calmed down, she went downstairs to join the rest of the family for breakfast. Before she entered the kitchen, she took a deep breath so she wouldn't appear upset. She didn't want her parents to see her true feelings. "Hi, Mom. Hi, Dad."
"Hi, Megan," they replied.
"Something sure smells good. I'm starved."
"You're always starved," Christy teased.
"Oh be quiet," Megan said, as she tried to suppress her anger. She picked up her fork to eat scrambled eggs, hash browns, and sausage.
"Megan, Christy told us that she was moving to Lakeview," her mother said, as she took a bite of eggs.
"I already told her, Mom," Christy interrupted.
"Megan, are you still going to college here in Park View?" her mother asked.
"I guess," Megan muttered.
"I'm sure you'll enjoy going to college here and staying at home. It will be good for you and Christy to be separated."
"Megan didn't think so Mom because she was upset after I told her," Christy said, as she ate some sausage.
"Megan, why were you upset?" her mother asked.
"She's mad because she won't have me to depend on," Christy interrupted.
"Megan, are you upset because Christy wants to move to Lakeview?" her mother asked.
"Yes," Megan admitted.
"I think it will be good for you two to be separated. You have depended too much on Christy to help you with homework, making decisions, and solving problems," her father said, calmly.
"I'll agree. You never wanted to study or try anything new. You either wanted Christy to do everything for you, or you were lazy and didn't want to study. All I saw you doing was reading romance novels or mystery novels," her mother said in a firm voice.
"I don't want to talk about this!" Megan snapped. "I'm not perfect! Everybody's always against me!"
As Megan dashed out of the room, she heard her mother holler, "Megan, come back here!"
After that, she heard her father reply. "Let her go. She needs to be alone right now."
Megan stormed outside to the vacant lot behind their house. She ran to a maple tree and sat down. Her cheeks burned as the tears streamed down her face.
Shortly, she heard a bird singing in the trees. As she listened to the bird, she forgot about her problems, but as soon as the bird stopped, the thought of her problems brought fresh tears. Mom, Dad, Christy, and I have always been together, and now Christy wants to move away. I can't handle that. I want Christy to be with me always.
Suddenly, she felt a few drops of rain, and then the wind stared blowing. She dashed back to the house and ran inside the front door as the rain became heavier.
"Megan, is that you?" she heard her mother holler.
"Yes!" Megan hollered. She entered the kitchen and saw Christy and her parents sitting at the table. "I'm sorry for leaving the table."
"That's all right," her mother said, "but you're going to have to get used to the idea of Christy going her own way."
"Megan, we're gong to Lakeview to help Christy find a place to live. We want you to come with us," her father said.
"I guess," Megan mumbled.
During the forty-five minute drive to Lakeview, Megan stared out of the window instead of talking like she normally did.
Her thoughts were distracted by Christy's voice. "Megan, I know you're still upset about me moving to Lakeview, but we'll still see each other."
"Maybe, but it won't be the same."
When they arrived, they stopped at a Pizza Hut to eat. After they ate, they stopped to get gas and buy a newspaper so they could see what places were available.
Christy said with excitement, "Dad, here's a duplex that's not too far from campus. I might like living in a duplex because it would be a lot quieter than living in an apartment. Can we go and look?"
"Sure. Where's it located? her dad asked.
"It's right behind this shopping center."
"Let's drive by and see what it's like."
When they arrived at the duplex, Christy liked the looks of it. "This place looks nice from the outside. It even has a garage. Can we call this number and see if we can look inside?"
"Sure. Let's go find a phone," her father replied.
After they found a phone and called, the manager said he would be over there right away. When he arrived, he introduced himself and unlocked the door.
When Christy entered the living room and looked around, she said, "Dad, this place looks nice. I like the paneling in the living room." As she entered the kitchen, she said, "Dad, Mom, this kitchen is big."
"It sure is. You have several cupboards and a nice size cooking space. There's also a back door to the garage here, which would be convenient for you," her mother replied.
"I want to see the rest of the place." Christy said, as she turned to enter the hallway. She noticed that there were three doors.
As she entered the nearest doorway, she saw a large bedroom with a walk-in closet. "Mom, Dad, I could use this bedroom as a study room and guest bedroom for anyone who wants to visit. Megan, you can come and visit me on the weekends any time you want, unless one of us has already planned something else."
"I'd like to visit you," Megan responded, as she tried not to show her disappointment in the whole decision about Christy moving.
"Christy, this is a nice place. How much is the rent?" her father asked, as he turned to the manager. He quoted them the price, and her father said that sounded all right with him. "What about you, Christy?"
"Sure!" Christy exclaimed excitedly. "I like this place."
"Christy, are you sure? This is the first place you've seen," her mother said.
"I know, Mom, but I do like it, and it's close to the campus."
"That's true. it's close. If you like it, and it's okay with your father, then it's okay with me."
"Great! I'll take it," Christy said, as she looked at the manager.
"Okay. When would you like to move in?" the manager asked.
"Any time I can," Christy replied.
"This weekend is okay with me."
"We can move her Saturday," her father said.
"Sure," the manager agreed.
After they left, they drove back to Topeka. "Mom, Dad, thanks for letting me do this."
"Christy, you know that we never want to stand in the way of letting you girls do what you want. I'm sure you'll be happy here," her father smiled.
"Thanks, Dad. I know that I'll be happy because I believe I'm doing what God wants. However, I'm not sure where I want to work, but I will take a few basic courses here at the university."
"That's all right, Christy. You have plenty of time to decide what you want," her father told her. "While you're going to school, you might take any job to help pay for your expenses until you find something you like."
When they arrived in Park View, they stopped and got something to eat, and then they went home.
After they arrived at home, Megan walked over to the vacant lot and sat under the maple tree to think. She became distracted by the sound of birds singing in the trees. The birds seem so happy. I wish I was. the flowers still smell so fresh. Suddenly, she remembered she was depressed. i wish this wasn't happening. I'm going to be a failure without Christy being around to help me.
Shortly, Megan stood up and walked back to the house. She went directly to her bedroom, took her shower, got ready for bed, and turned on her radio alarm clock so she could listen to some romantic music while she read one of her romantic/mystery books. When her eyes grew heavy, she closed the book and went to bed.
When morning came, Megan became startled by a loud noise. She rolled over and tried to answer her phone, thinking it was ringing, but the noise continued. Suddenly, she realized it was her radio alarm clock. She shut it off and fell back to sleep. She didn't want to get up because she wasn't enthused about going to Lakeview to help Christy move.
Shortly, Christy entered her room. "Megan, are you still in bed? It's time to get up. We're leaving for Lakeview in an hour, so you better hurry."
"I'll get up," Megan mumbled sleepily.
"Megan, I know you're still upset, but Lakeview isn't that far. We'll be able to see each other."
"That's true," Megan said, a little more encouraged.
"Girls, it's time to get going if we're going to leave after breakfast," their father hollered from the living room below.
"We're getting ready, Dad," Christy shouted back. "Megan, you better hurry."
"I will. I want to take my shower and get dressed," Megan said, sleepily.
"Okay. I'll leave you alone."
Megan got up, took her shower, and then put on her light blue shorts and matching white blouse with light blue stripes. After that, she hurried downstairs to eat breakfast.
"Good morning, Mom, Dad," Megan said, as she entered the kitchen.
"Good morning, Megan. As I mentioned earlier, we'll be leaving for Lakeview right after breakfast."
After breakfast, they loaded up the station wagon with Christy's clothes, books, stereo, and other items. A moving van took Christy's furniture. Christy loaded up her red mustang, so that she could drive her car to Lakeview. "Megan, do you want to go with me in my car?" Christy asked.
"I guess," Megan mumbled.
After everything was loaded, they got into their cars and Christy led the way to Lakeview. Christy played her Christian tapes, and Megan was quiet most of the way there.
When they arrived in Lakeview, Christy, Megan, and their parents unloaded all of the boxes in the station wagon. Christy and Megan unpacked the boxes after everything was unloaded, while their parents went to pick up something for lunch.
"Megan, thanks for helping me move. I really appreciate it."
"That's okay."
"I know it's hard for you to accept this, but you'll see. Things will work out. Once we're apart for awhile we'll be able to have a better relationship when we're together again. I'm going to be praying for you everyday that you'll be all right and that you'll turn to God someday and let Him help you with your problems instead of depending on me to help you. God will always be with you and people won't because people move around all the time, and you'll always have different people to get to know."
"I'll think about what you're saying, but I'm still not sure I want to accept it for my life."
"That's okay. I'll always love you no matter what happens in our lives."
Shortly, their parents returned with the food.
After lunch, Megan and her parents left for Park View. Megan was quiet on the way home.
When they returned, Megan started to go upstairs, but her mother stopped her. "Megan, we'll eat supper shortly."
"Okay. I'm going upstairs for awhile, and then I'll be down."
Megan sat in her room and cried. I don't know if I'll ever turn to God if this is what happens when you're close to someone. Since God took my own sister away from me, I just don't want to get close to anyone. That way, I can't be hurt.