Healer of Pain Chp. 7

 

Chapter Seven

Matthias 

Caleb carried a few boxes to a spare room. He was helping Avery move some furniture to make room for visitors. Avery wanted to tell a story today to some of the children.

Caleb looked in the empty room. Matthias had never returned yesterday. He’ll come today. He told himself. He had a strange longing for Matthias that he couldn’t hide. He felt maybe God wanted him to meet him.

As Caleb walked down the hallway, Avery called from a distance, “Actually, put the box in the room on your left! I think we will need the spare room empty.”

Caleb laughed. Listening to Avery’s voice was entertaining.

Caleb went back to the room, heaved the box in his arms and walked down the hall.

Avery was shouting something to him, but he wasn’t paying attention at the time. 

Caleb had his head down daydreaming. Then in a second, he tripped over a large pole, saw a flash of brown, and before he knew it he was on the floor with someone laying on top of him.

“Ow…” He closed his eyes.

Two flashing brown eyes looked up and stared into his eyes fiercely.

“You!”

“Huh?” Caleb rubbed his eyes. “M—Matthew?”

Matthew stood up immediately and brushed off his trousers ferociously like Caleb had some disease.

“What are you doing here?” They both asked at the same time.

“I think I the question is, what are you doing here?” Caleb asked. “I didn’t know missionaries were your type.”

Matthew scoffed. “I live here, idiot.”

“You li—you l—” Caleb couldn’t talk. He felt the wild oceans of laughter build up inside him. He tried to talk but faltered like he couldn’t do anything but blabber.

Finally, he released the waves.

“You’re Matthias? You’re Matthias! And you live in a treehouse? With missionaries? In Peru?” Caleb leaned forward and laughed hysterically. 

“Shut it!” Matthew glared. 

“Why? So your other missionary friends won’t hear?” Caleb laughed and laughed and laughed. His laughter filled the air.

“They’re not my friends, and they’re not supposed to know I’m here, so quiet!”

Caleb stopped. “Of course, of course. I will  be quiet.” But he just couldn’t hold in the laughter.

Matthew stood there hands on hips, angry as a mad hen. “Now you listen here, Peters.” He grabbed ahold of Caleb’s collar. “When you go back to where you came from, no one—I repeat, no one shall hear of this, understood?”

“Not if Andrew tells them first! Andrew!”

Matthew pushed him back on the floor. 

Caleb got up.

Matthew pushed him down again.

Caleb stood up again. “You don’t have to be embarrassed.”

“Really?” Matthew took a dangerously close step forward.

Here it comes. The final knock-out.

Wham!

Caleb stumbled dizzily and fell to the ground. He saw blurred vision of Matthew disappearing outside. 

“Caleb?” You okay?”

Caleb looked up into the gentle eyes of Theodore. “Been better.” Caleb felt his nose. “I’m bleeding awful bad. You go ask Avery about a towel or something.”

Theodore nodded, “Sure thing.”

As soon as he left, Andrew ran into the room. “What happened? I heard you calling my name.”

Caleb was confused. “Huh? Oh, right, right.” This made him laugh when he remembered Matthew.

Andrew shook his shoulders. “Caleb. What happened?”

“Matthew happened.”

“What?”

“He’s here. Matthew. He’s Avery’s son.”

Andrew looked like he had seen a ghost. “You’re not serious…”

Caleb looked him straight in the eye. “I’m very serious. Never been more serious in all my life. He actually lives here.”

“And he knocked you out?”

“Um…yes….yes he did. But I couldn’t help myself, I had to laugh.”

A grin formed in the corner of Andrew’s mouth. “Wait ‘till the others back home hear about this.”

“No, no, no, you can’t.”

“What?”

“Andrew, you can’t. He said not to.”

“He also punched you in the face!”

“Andrew. I think God’s calling me to him.”

Andrew stared at him like he was crazy. “I think you’re wrong.”

“I mean really, Andrew. Why do you think we arrived at the same time, we got on the same plane, and is now staying at the same place? This has to be destiny.”

“It could just be a coincidence.”

Caleb sighed. “Maybe. Maybe not. We’ll see.”

Avery arrived with towels. “Oh, lookie here. It seems to me you took a hard blow to the nose. Oh, not to mention your eye. Here, let me help you. Who did this to you?”

Andrew and Caleb exchanged glances.

“Oh, I just hurt myself. I’ll be alright. Thanks for the towels.”

Andrew glared at Caleb. “Why did you do that?” He mouthed silently to Caleb.

Caleb didn’t respond. This is going to be harder than I thought. 

Caleb dressed into a clean outfit. His one pair of jeans were now stained with blood. 

Avery gave him a pair of white pants. 

All Caleb had was a white shirt. 

“Guess white’s the only option.” He mumbled.

He prepared some notes for tomorrow. Tomorrow was the day. He would go out and share the Gospel.

Theodore and Marion listened to a story Avery was telling.

Andrew sat outside by himself.

Caleb watched him. Andrew had never liked Matthew. They despised each other since they met.

It was sunset. Caleb decided to have a look around. Wow. He was really in the Amazon Forest. Staying in a treehouse.

Caleb climbed down the ladder. He walked down the path and into the village. He remembered Avery’s words: 

“…I want you to know, everyday living in this vast jungle with wild peoples, is a day you are risking your life.”

Caleb understood. But he knew he was supposed to be here. He looked behind him. He heard a faint rushing. 

Is that…water?

Caleb followed the noise.

Through the trees, for miles. He seemed he would never reach it. Finally, he came across an enormous tree. 

“Extraordinary.” 

It was bigger than he had ever seen in all his life. 

From there, I will see where the sound is coming from.

So he climbed. 

And climbed.

And climbed.

And climbed. 

Finally he reached the top. His breath was taken away, and his hair blew in the breeze.

“Extraordinary.” He said again. “It’s a waterfall.”

He gazed at its beauty for quite some time. He decided he had to go see it.

Down, down, down the tree he went. He paused and took it all in.

He went to the bottom of the vast waterfall. The water was flowing down so strong and hard.

I’m really touching a waterfall.

Caleb gazed at its wonders. He looked at his watch. “I’ve been here for hours. I better get back.” 

“And God bless them saying, ‘Be fruitful and multiply…” Avery read aloud the scripture. 

Theodore sat with the others, surrounded by children, all different ages. They watched in awe and wonder, their dark eyes shining.

“I would very much like to hear more, someday.” Theodore mused. He smiled and eagerly waited for more, every time Avery stopped to take a mouthful of water.

“You like this?” Marion became suddenly interested in his opinion. 

“Well, I mean…yeah, I suppose.”

“This is good! I’ll read it to you, every night, starting with Matthew.”

“Matthew?”

“That’s a book in the Bible.”

Theodore nodded his head, to show he understood. “Marion…”

“Yes?”

Theodore hesitated. 

“It’s alright. Don’t be shy.”

Theodore bit his lip. “What are your dreams? Your hopes? Your goals?”

Marion was surprised at his boldness to ask.

“I love art and helping take care of others. But…I already told you that.” Marion giggled.

Theodore blushed. 

“But what I really want more than anything, is to be a missionary living for Jesus Christ.”

Theodore looked down. “I want to learn more. I want to be what you are, what Caleb and Andrew are. A…a Christian. I want to follow Him.”

Marion smiled. “Theodore, I—I’m so happy for you.” 

Caleb walked through the jungle and back out to the village. When he had gone in the first place, he had taken a different route through forests. 

He wondered now how the people would react to him cutting through their village.

And that’s when it happened.

The people stopped short.

They stared.

A lady cried and pointed.

More stared and dropped their things and yelled something in a different language.

Caleb’s heart beat faster than it had ever beat before in all his life.

Well, this is it. My last day.

“They’re going to kill me.” He whispered to himself. He went to call for help, but the words wouldn’t come. His hand shook. He went to back away, but then noticed there were others behind him.

“Av—Av—A—Avery!” With one last glance around the people, he fainted and collapsed to the ground.

Healer of Pain Chp. 6

Chapter 6

The Missionaries 

 “Get the French-fries…no, put it on the…hey, wait!”

“Andrew.”

“Yeah, yeah…I know…”

“Andrew!”

“Huh?”

Marion laughed. “You were sleep-talking again.”

“Was not.” Andrew rubbed his eyes and yawned. 

“We’re nearly there.” Marion looked out the window. “I’m so excited!” Her fiery red hair hung down her back. She fixed it with a headband.

“Where’s Caleb?” Andrew looked around.

“He went to the bathroom.” She leaned forward and whispered, “Air sickness.”

Andrew gulped. “Right.” He turned to Theodore. He looked him in the eye very seriously. He was trying to make him laugh. “Hmm…that always works.” He said to himself, rubbing his chin.

No response came from Theodore.

Theodore sighed. He knew what they were doing.

Andrew laid back his head and closed his eyes. He opened them only for a second, and something caught his eye.

It was just the back of someone’s head in a few rows in front of him. Dusty brown wavy hair was all he saw. Then he heard the person chuckle for a reason Andrew did not know. I know that laugh…Andrew reassured himself it was nothing. He closed his eyes and once more drifted off to sleep.

 

Caleb looked out the window. He suddenly became nervous. He saw endless miles of trees and forests beyond the airport.

“Wow.” He said quietly. “I’m really here.”

The pilot hollered something about the designation of Peru, and asked that the passengers getting off here would quickly do so.

Caleb looked around the plane. They were the only ones going to Peru. But were they? Caleb saw a glimpse of brown hair get off the plane, but by the time Caleb was off, they were miles down the brown road on a dark green jeep.

“Who is that person?”  

Andrew stood next to him wondering the same thing. “Who knows. I saw him on the plane and he laughed…but it sounded…weird. Like I’ve heard it before.”

Caleb shrugged. Then he looked into the distance and saw a middle-aged man standing on top of a jeep waving his straw hat.

“Over here! Caleb! Marion! Andrew!”

Caleb smiled and waved back. That must be Avery Ford.

Hand in hand, Caleb and Theodore walked over to the man, and then called out for the others to come along.

Avery sighed happily. “I’m so glad you are all here. I really am. I hope that later you’ll excuse me, if I accidentally speak to you in a foreign language. It is because I’ve lived here for so long and I am very used to it.” He laughed at his own words. “You will be staying with me and my son at our little meeting house. Many tribespeople come there and I read them the Bible every evening. I hope you will not mind.” He gazed around the circle of all of them. “God has blessed you with this passion. And I hope you will use it greatly. But I want you to know, everyday living in this vast jungle with wild peoples, is a day you are risking your life. I don’t know how the people will respond when I bring in this many white people.”

“Didn’t you tell them?” Andrew asked.

“Well, yes. But it will not matter, as they do tend to forget very easily.”

This made Theodore chuckle softly.

Avery turned to him. “And what might be your name, little friend?”

“Theodore. Theodore Peters. I’m Caleb’s cousin.”

Avery straightened up, and said, “I didn’t hear any news of your coming.”

“Didn’t think so.” Theodore mumbled.

Avery smiled. “But I am very happy to have you here. Do you want to be a missionary? See great wonders of the Amazon?”

Caleb exchanged glances with Marion.

“No, I’m just here as a tagalong, I guess. I don’t know anything about being a missionary. I’m still learning about all this myself.”

“Ah, a newly Christian?”

Theodore nodded hesitantly. “I’m sure there’s something I can do. If it’s not babysitting. I’m awful bad at that.” 

Avery laughed.

Caleb eyed Theodore. Why doesn’t he just tell him?

“Let’s take a ride!” Avery jumped in the front of a jeep with Caleb in the passenger, Theodore in the row behind him, and Marion and Andrew sitting in a basket on the back.

“Into the jungle!” Avery exclaimed. 

It was dark by the time they reached the little village. 

People, all shapes and sizes, stopped what they were doing and stared.

Avery leaned in closer to whisper, “A certain fellow by the name of Akin is the chief of this tribe. He is dressed differently from the others and will refuse to receive any help from me. He does not know English very well, and in my opinion, do not bother him often. He is very upset about all of this.”

Caleb nodded. He tried to spot him. He couldn’t see very well, as the only lights were scattered torches and fires lit.

Avery waved to them as he passed. He drove up a steep hill and was nearing what looked to be a treehouse.

“A treehouse? We’re staying in a treehouse?” Andrew looked out the windowless window. 

The ladder had lights attached and there was a dirt path leading to it.

“Wow.” Caleb got a good look. “It’s a real treehouse. How did it take you to make it?”

“Oh, about two monthes. Say, it looks like Matthias is already here!” 

Caleb spotted an extra jeep. “Can’t wait to meet him.”

“Oh, I think you’ll really like him. He actually just got back from Collage. I haven’t seen him yet since he arrived. I’m sure he’s just resting up.”

Caleb nodded. He tried to force a smile. You know what? I think I will like him. Me and him will be great friends. 

Avery parked the jeep.

“Here Caleb, go inside and plug in the lights, will you? I’ll help your friends with their cargo.” Avery smiled, showing some missing teeth.

Caleb grabbed his satchel and climbed up the ladder. It was more amazing than he had imagined. It was a real house. Only in a tree. Caleb couldn’t help but look around. He plugged in the lights and watched as the house glowed with color.

“Dad would have loved this.” He whispered to himself.

Marion came in holding Theodore’s hand. She gasped in awe when she gazed at her surroundings. There was another ladder leading to the roof. Marion let go of his hand and felt the bamboo railing. She laughed, “Oh, wow.” She went around the corner to set down her bags.

There was a scream. And then laughter.

“Marion, what is it?” Theodore found her. He waited for her answer.

“Oh, Theodore. It’s just a monkey. And he’s eating Avery’s food!” She laughed and her green eyes twinkled.

Theodore sighed. “I thought you found a snake or something. I was worried maybe it’d bite you.”

Marion smiled thoughtfully. “Thanks for being concerned, Theodore.” She took his hand and Theodore blushed.

“Well, well, what do you think?” Avery opened his arms and sighed at his accomplishments.

“It’s pretty cool.” Andrew admitted. He eyed the extra ladder. “Where does that lead to?”

Avery saw his curiosity. “Oh, that! That is my favorite place. It leads to the hela.”

Andrew stared at him.

Avery stared back and then chuckled. “It’s the roof. My favorite place in this house.”

“C’mon Theodore,” Andrew took his hand and they climbed up the ladder together.

Marion laughed. “Looks like they’re getting along.”

Avery showed Caleb a room. “You can share this room with my son Matthias. I have another room for the boys and an extra for Marion.”

Caleb smiled. “That works.” He tried to hide it, but he was feeling strangely anxious to meet Matthias.

I wonder if he’s like me… 

“Look at this, Theo.” Andrew stared into the dark black sky, blanketed with millions of stars. “Isn’t this amazing? I wonder how long it took God to make all these stars.”

Theodore stood next to him. “I wonder. Andrew…do you believe God really made everything? The stars, the moon, us—you really believe it?”

Andrew turned to him. “Don’t you?”

Theodore fidgeted. “I don’t know…maybe. It’s just…I guess I just thought God had a better plan for me than this. I mean—where do I fit in in this whole thing? Am I supposed to be a missionary? I can’t even walk outside without someone there. And…I mean…I get so self-conscious around people. They probably stare and point and whisper amongst themselves. How can I really be like…Caleb, you, Marion—”

“Theo. We don’t know the reason God brought you here. But we’ll learn along the way. You’re going to learn you’re a lot more capable than you think.”

“Really?”

“Sure.” Andrew turned to see Caleb and Marion joining them.

“Hey, Andrew, I think Avery needs our help.” Caleb called, and Andrew climbed down the ladder with him.

The night was quiet.

Marion sat down next to Theodore. “What are your hobbies?” She causally questioned.

Theodore was surprised. “Um…I like drawing. How about you?”

“Well, I don’t know. I like drawing too. I also love taking care of people. Maybe one day I’ll be a nurse. Well, maybe not, ‘cause my second aunt’s daughter’s daughter is a nurse, and she might be upset if I become a nurse, because we both have the same name and we look pretty similar. Well, she was always a bit snooty, and she might think I’m trying to steal her career or something…” Marion chattered endlessly.

“You know…”

Marion stopped.

“You don’t have to talk to me, just because you feel bad.” Theodore looked away, kind of embarrassed.

“I wasn’t feeling bad. I just though maybe you needed a friend.”

“Almost everyone I’ve ever met, said they felt sorry for me. So they talked needlessly about random things. What I’m trying to say is…you don’t have to talk to me if you don’t want to. I mean, why would you anyway? Talk to me, I mean. I’m boring, average, and I usually waste people’s time.”

Marion laughed.

Theodore wished he would have bitten back the whole paragraph and just had let her talk.

“Why would you?” He said again.

Marion smiled and met his gaze. “Why not?”

Healer of Pain Chp. 5

Chapter Five

Theodore

Caleb  took one last glance around the house. He picked up the picture frame of him, Mom and Dad. He took out the picture and put it in his pocket. 

Mom was coming out to the livingroom when she saw him and hugged him. 

Caleb noticed how frail she was. He didn’t want to leave her. He couldn’t.

“I’ll be fine,” Mom seemed to always read Caleb’s thoughts.

“You sure? Because I can always put off the whole thing. Mr. Riley would understand."

Mom laughed. “Very sure. Look at you, always looking out for the ones you love. Make sure, in this journey...you look out for yourself too.” She smiled and kissed him on his forehead. “I give you my blessing.”

Caleb eye’s watered up. “Bye, Mom.” He walked to the door but hesitated to leave.

“Go, Caleb. Theodore needs you.”

“No, it’s not just that.” Caleb met her gaze. “I’m worried about Uncle Lawrence. That day in the basement…what could he have been doing there? I’ve tried to think of so many reasons—”

“Don’t,” Mom interrupted. “Just be safe. And don’t come back ‘till you’ve turned enough hearts.” Her eyes swelled up with tears and she stood there seeing him out, just like she would when he would go to school. But now, he wasn't going to school. He was going far, far away, to a place where he may never return from.

 “Jim would have been so proud.”

Caleb smiled. Dad would be proud.

The door opened.

And then shut.

And Caleb was off. 

“Are you excited?” Caleb asked Theodore. “We’re almost at the airport.”

Theodore shrugged. “Not really. I’ve been better.”

Caleb looked at Theodore’s solemn face. “Hey…don’t think about what happened last night. Uncle Lawrence was angry. He didn’t mean it.”

Theodore turned his head to the window. “You know…” He slowly began. “My father wasn’t always like this. Before...it happened…things were different. A lot different. He was…well, he was just nicer. He really, truly loved me.”

“He still does.”

“No. You’re just saying that.”

“Theodore…” Caleb began. “How did it happen?” The car was silent for a moment. “I’m sorry. You don’t have to tell me.”

“No, it’s okay.”

Theodore leaned his head back on the seat and sighed.

“It was a perfectly sunny day…

“Theodore?”

“Yes Father?”

“Come with me. I have a surprise.”

Theodore jumped up with excitement and followed his father out the door.

They went out to the lawn. 

Uncle Lawrence took the small boy’s hand and led him out to the stable.

“Close your eyes.” Uncle Lawrence brought out a large, chocolate— brown mare.

“Open them.”

Theodore was speechless. “It—it’s beautiful.”

“Her name is Coco. Do you want to ride?”

Theodore sighed, and continued the story.

The two rode for hours and galloped across fields and acres and acres of farmland.

“Go! Hiya!” Uncle Lawrence urged the horse to go faster and faster.

“Hold on tight, little one. One day you’ll be a rider like me. And together, we’ll roam the countryside chasing wild horses. That is what you want...is it?"

Theodore looked up at his father. "Yes. I promise, I'll do it. I'll maybe even start up my own ranch one day."

Uncle Lawrence smiled with pleasure. He saw a stream up ahead.

“What will we do?” Little Theodore asked, frightened.

“We’ll jump.”

“We’re going to jump?”

But as the horse kept into the air, she lost footing and she stood up on two feet and neighed ferociously.

Little Theodore fell from his father’s grasp and crash landed into the stream, hitting his head on a rock.

“Theodore! Theodore!"

And the world suddenly grew dark.

“All I heard and saw were strange sounds and blurred vision. Before I even got to the hospital, I was already totally blind. There was nothing they could do. Father stayed alone in his room for weeks and weeks. He blamed it completely on himself. But then, after he accepted the fact that I wouldn’t be able to roam the countryside with him…chasing wild horses and running a ranch...he just shut me out. He acted as if nothing ever happened. Until now, at least.”

It was quiet.

“I’m, I’m really sorry Theo. But this—the whole thing—it happened for a reason.”

“I know. The horse wasn’t trained, it wasn’t ready to make the jump.”“No, that’s not what I mean. I mean God has a reason for things like this. If you would just trust Him—”

“I want to.”

Theodore’s words surprised Caleb.

“You do?”

Theodore fidgeted and he strained his eyes to keep back the tears. “Yes.” He blurted out. “I do, I’ve always wanted to. But I can’t. It’s different where you grew up, and how you grew up. I was raised completely the opposite.”

“But you can still do everything I do. You can pray, you can listen, 

you—” 

“That’s not true. You can see, I can’t. That makes a difference.”

“What difference? You said you wanted to trust Him.”

“I know. But I can’t. Father would hate me. He already does. That’s why he’d probably adopt you if he could.”

Caleb sighed frustrated. “Your father may decide where you live, what you wear, maybe even your career. But he can’t stop you from trusting God.”

Theodore turned to him. “You really think so?”

Caleb smiled. “When we get to the plane, I want to read to you.”

“What do you want to read?”

“You’ll see.” 

“Caleb, over here!” 

Caleb recognized that enthusiastic voice.

Marion was across the airport parking lot waving her hand high in the air to get Caleb’s attention.

Caleb shivered. The black night sky seemed to droop right over their heads and grey fog hid the stars. It had to be at least eight o’clock at night. 

Caleb grasped Theodore’s hand tighter as he pushed through the clouds and at last reached where Marion and Andrew were standing.

Their gazes fell on Theodore.

“This is my cousin, Theodore.” Caleb said to break the silence.

Marion stretched out her hand for Theodore to shake it, but when she saw that he didn’t respond, she took it back.

“It’s so nice to meet you, finally. I’m Marion Carmichael, and this is Andrew Kaminski.”

Theodore smiled at them and nodded. “It’s a pleasure.” He shyly said.

Suddenly an arm swung around Caleb’s shoulder, and a hearty laugh was heard.

“Good to see you, Caleb!” Mr. Riley surprised him.

"As to you, sir. I’m very nervous, but also excited.”

Mr. Riley wore an understanding face. “Yes, I know. I was too, on my first trip.” He turned to the rest of the crowd. “I am very happy you chose to do this. I hope you will turn many hearts within theses monthes of being in a foreign country. At the next airport in Peru, my friend Mr. Avery Ford will meet you.” Mr. Riley made them each hold hands and he prayed over them. “This is the night. The night you have all been waiting for.” This brought tears to his wrinkled eyes. 

“Go in peace.” He told them.

After about two minutes of farewells and hugging, a man who looked to be the pilot, shouted out, “All passengers boarding this plane, please find your seat now!”

“That’s us,” Caleb took one last look at Mr. Riley. “Thank you for everything.” He whispered in his ear.

The elderly man smiled warmly.

“Go with God.” 

“Sure is stuffy in here.” Andrew complained. He looked at his watch. “Seems like we’ve been here for hours.” He laid his head back in his seat and sighed dramatically.

“We have been here for hours.” Marion said tiredly in her seat next to him.

Caleb and Theodore sat across from the two. The plane was full of sleepy and bored people. 

It suddenly became very quiet.

Andrew took the honor of breaking the brief silence. “I’m hungry.”

Marion sighed annoyed. “You’re always hungry.”

“Am not.”

“Are too.”

“Am not!”

“Shh!” An older man’s voice from across the plane hushed them. “Can’t you see I’m tryin’ to get some sleep?”

Caleb couldn’t help but chuckle. Marion and Andrew had always been like that. And they probably always would.

The sun peeked up over the horizon. It was only six in the morning. Everyone seemed to be fast asleep besides Caleb and Theodore. 

Theodore rubbed his eyes. “What does it look like out the window?”

Caleb glanced out. “It looks—it looks amazing. We’re so high up. I see mountains and clouds. I feel like I could reach out and grab a wisp of them.”

That made Theodore smile.

“There’s that smile. Haven’t see that in awhile.” Caleb teased.

Theodore’s face turned red. “I guess I haven’t been in the highest of sprits lately. But it’ll pass. All this fuss with Father and all. It’ll pass.”

“I know it will. But in the meantime, why don’t you get some rest?”

Theodore nodded and yawned. “I think I will do that.”

Healer of Pain Chp. 4

Chapter Four

The Heart of a Missionary 

The two reached the church. Mr. Riley greeted them. 

“Nice to meet you, Theodore. I’m honored you came along. Follow me.” The man led them to a small room with sitting chairs and tables. Only a minute passed, when Mr. Riley pulled Caleb aside to a room privately.

“I’ll be back in a second. Ok?” 

Theodore nodded.

Mr. Riley motioned his hand for Caleb to take a seat. Mr. Riley sat at a desk opposite of Caleb.

“Is there something wrong?” Caleb asked, and then remembered that was his exact words he used the first time he was called to Mr. Riley’s office.

“No. But there is a question I need to ask you. It’s rather important and you don’t need to answer it right away.”

Caleb felt nervous.

“How would you like to go on a real mission trip?”

Caleb was stunned. “What?”

“Didn’t you hear me?”

“Oh, yes. Of course, sorry. But uh…a real mission trip? I thought I was going on a real mission trip. I’m going to Carolina…”

“You were.”

Caleb nodded, waiting for more.

“But now you’re not.”

Caleb was confused.

Mr. Riley surely was an interesting man.

He chuckled at Caleb’s dumbfounded expression. “I have put together teams. And it looks South and North Carolina are packed with young missionaries there. I’ve even heard of revivals in small towns.”

“It could always use more. More people, I mean.”

“Yes it could. But there’s someplace else…” His voice trailed off.

Caleb stared at him, hoping and praying it wasn’t someplace too far.

“Peru.”

Caleb was speechless for a moment. “P—Peru?”

“Yes.”

“I—I can’t go to Peru. It’s—why it’s across the world!”

“So?” Mr. Riley grinned.

Caleb felt his forehead. His brains were fried.

After an awkward silence of staring, the elderly man spoke. “Caleb. I can sense it. There’s something about you. Something in you. I know a man by the name of Avery Ford. He’s a missionary in Peru. He’s lived there for twenty-three years. He knows of a small village—a tribe. He thinks he can bring revival with the help of some special people with the passion for spreading the Word. People like you, Caleb. Someone with the heart of a missionary. A heart who has hurt. A heart who has felt deeply and strongly.”

Caleb thought he must have heard the man wrong. “Me?”

Mr. Riley gave him a serious stare. “Yes.”

“I—I don’t have a gift. I barely talk to anyone, I can’t even get through to my cousin, my uncle, Matthew—how can I get through enough to bring a revival?”

“There may be someone else then. Someone you know."

"Like who?"

"I don't know. But sometimes the least expected person brings the biggest change. A revival, perhaps. I think you have the heart for it. You may not see it at first. But I think you will discover it along the way.”

Caleb’s mind exploded of a million thoughts. “Where’s Marion and Andrew going?” He foolishly blurted out. He shouldn’t have asked.

“Ah, your friends. You must miss them. Marion says you’ve hardly left the house since your uncle’s arrived.”

“Yes sir.”

Mr. Riley smiled. “Don’t worry. They’re coming along. Andrew wasn’t very convinced. But I got through to him. He seems upset these days, wouldn’t you agree?”

Caleb nodded, and then stood up and grabbed his coat. “I’ll think about it. But I best be going.”

Caleb went down the hall to Theodore who still sat patiently. “Let’s go, Theodore.”

“What took you so long?”

“I’ll tell you in the car.” 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“You’re really going to Peru?”

“I didn’t say that. I said I’m considering it.”

Theodore looked out the window. He sighed. “I’m going to miss you.”

Caleb sighed as well. “Me too. But Theodore…just remember…don’t be afraid of life. It may hand you problems, but you’ll sort it out.”

“It’s easy for you to say.”

“What?”

“What do you mean ‘what’? I told you. Father’s going to ask you to come to Florida, maybe tomorrow maybe today. But he’s going to do it soon. Then I’ll have no one.”

Caleb pulled in the driveway. Mom was still at work. But it looked like Uncle Lawrence was here. And that was rare.

“We’re home!” Caleb hollered when he stepped in.

Uncle Lawrence was nowhere to be seen. 

“Uncle?” Caleb looked around.

Theodore took a few steps and felt the empty seats around him. “Where’s Father?” He asked.

“I…I don’t know.” Caleb checked every room. He then creaked open the basement door leading to the rickety basement steps.

“Uncle?” Caleb spoke nearly in whisper. He tried to be quiet but the steps creaked and made awful sounds.

“Uncle?” Caleb repeated, this time a little louder. He peeked around the corner. No one was there. He looked right. Then left. Then right again. Not a soul was there to be seen. But as Caleb peered into the darkness he could make out a figure. He stepped closer. 

He reached out his hand.

He gasped and took a step back.

A strong rough hand pushed him to the floor and slapped him across his face. The figure stepped into the ray of sunshine that spilled through the one window.

“How dare you, you fool-headed boy. You spy on me! You eavesdrop! You deserve to be horsewhipped!!” He screamed curses and nearly scared the living daylights out of Caleb.

“I—I’m s—sorry, I—I didn’t know you were there! Honest!” 

Then suddenly the voice began to quiver and shake. The man fell to his knees and cried. It was Uncle Lawrence.

“Uncle?” Caleb knelt beside him. 

The crying stopped. He held tight on Caleb’s shirt. “Oh, Caleb, I didn’t mean it, you know I didn’t mean it!” He wailed in a pleading voice. “Come with me! Come to Florida with me. Please, I need you. I need a man like you to help me. It’s important, please!”

Was he out of his mind? He had just pushed Caleb onto cold concrete floor and then had stricken him across the face. Why would he go to Florida?

“What about Theodore? What will you do to him?” Caleb knew the answer. Theodore had spoke the truth.

Uncle Lawrence laughed cruelly. “You don’t really expect me to take him back, do you? Why, he’s an embarrassment. I don’t need a skinny, helpless blind child, I need you.”

Caleb was shocked. “No. I’m not going. But I need a request of you. Come with me to Peru.” His own words shocked Caleb himself.

“What did you say?”

“Come with me. Maybe traveling will do you good. It’ll get your mind off things.”

He smirked. “Why would I go to Peru? That’s a heathenous land, I tell you. Full of, full of—full of missionaries, of course.” He scoffed. “So that’s what it is. You’re trying to get me to where the Christians are.”

Caleb stayed silent.

Uncle Lawrence’s face suddenly turned dreadfully cold. “You idiot. I never liked you from the start. You will do to my advantage. I won’t let an opportunity like this fade.”

“Father?” A quiet voice was heard on the steps. Theodore tried to find his father from the sound of his voice.

“Theodore?” Uncle Lawrence nearly wept. “Oh Theodore!” He embraced him in his arms and then after taking a good look at him, pushed him away. “Leave.”

“What?” Theodore looked horrified.

“Go to that godforsaken place if you must! And leave me. Leave me to die. Leave me to dig my own grave.”

Caleb didn’t know what to do. His uncle was clearly losing his mind. He went to touch his uncle’s shoulder, but once again his uncle flipped out.

“Get away from me!!”

Theodore stared heartbrokenly. He couldn’t see the expression on either of their faces, but he felt the tension in his father’s eyes.

Caleb made another attempt to set things right. “If you won’t go with me…then let me take Theodore.”

Theodore’s eyes widened. “No.” He mouthed.

Uncle Lawrence seemed lifeless and hopeless. He was quiet for a spell but then turned his back to them. “Go.” He mumbled quietly. “Take the useless animal he is. But don’t expect the impossible. Don’t make the same mistake I did, praying and hoping.”

Theodore’s eyes filled with tears.

Caleb grasped his hand and took him outside.

“Theodore—”

“Leave me alone!” Theodore cried. “Useless animal? That’s what he thinks of me?” He said through his tears. “And now I’m going across the world, knowing my father wants to be rid of me. It—it’s not fair! It wasn’t his fault!”

Caleb embraced his cousin in warm hug while the young boy cried. 

“He tried to fix me. He tried everything, but there was nothing he could do.”

Caleb tried to calm him. “It’s okay, you’ll be with me, everything will just blow over.”

“No, it won’t. It won’t ever change, he’ll never change.”

“You’ll be far from useless in Peru.”

Theodore scoffed. “What could I do in Peru?”

Caleb laughed. “Lots of things! Theodore, this trip may change your life.”

Theodore shrugged faintly. “I just want to be alone.”

Caleb let go of him. “Okay. I’ll be inside if you need me.”

Caleb never forgot the dreadful night. Tomorrow they would be leaving. Uncle Lawrence would be too.

Caleb had told is mother and her reply was very supportive.

“I’ll miss you.” She said. “But I know you’ll be in God’s hands.”

Caleb tried to reassure Theodore everything would be fine...but would it? What would happen to Uncle Lawrence?