In the end, Christy bought two cards that had garden scenes on the front and were blank inside. She thought she would have better success thinking up her own message.

All afternoon she ran ideas through her mind, trying to come up with the right phrase for the witnessing cards. Only snappy lines came to mind. It was like she was trying to enter some Christian b.u.mper sticker contest or something.

Have you considered your eternal destiny lately?

Did you know heaven is just a prayer away?

Get right or get left!

Here's a word from our Heavenly Sponsor.

Please don't die without G.o.d.

Did you know you needed a heart transplant?

When the roll is called up yonder, will you be there?

You need Jesus.

Can I just share thata Instead of feeling inspired, Christy felt frustrated.

Witnessing shouldn't be this hard. What's my problem? The most important thing in the world is whether a person understands how to be saved and have eternal life through Christ. Why can't I figure out a way to say that so it sounds natural?

When she arrived home from work that night, the two cards and the booklets were still in her backpack, untouched.

But before she went to bed, a page of flowery stationery was folded in half and slipped into the back of her Bible. At the top of the page appeared Christy's. .h.i.t List. Two names were written below.??

were filled with homework, ski club meetings, Wednesday night Bible study, and Christy's usual Friday night and Sat.u.r.day hours at the pet store. The blank cards and unused booklets remained in her backpack.

"Do you think 111 raise all the money in time?" Katie asked Christy as they walked down the school halls after their ski club meeting. '"We're leaving in ten days, and how much more did they say I needed? Fifty dollars?"

"Must be, because we've sold about six boxes of the candy bars at the pet store. Jon bought a box, and then your first box you basically paid for. And you sold some last week. I think Mr. Riley said you needed fifty-two dollars more."

"I can get that by next Monday, right?" Katie looked hopeful. "I'm babysitting on Thursday night, and if more candy bars sell this week at the pet store, I should be able to come up with the fifty-two dollars, right?"

"I'm sure it'll work out," Christy said as they paused in the school parking lot in front of Katie's car. "How much homework do you have?"

"Not much. A chapter to read for government and a dialogue to memorize for Spanish."

"Do you want to come over to my house, and we could do our homework together?"

"I probably should get home so I can, well, you know, work on my Spanish." Katie's expression lit up. "Did I tell you I got an A on my last Spanish test?"

"Could it be the result of a certain Spanish tutor from Ecuador?" Christy teased.

She felt happy for Katie's budding friendship with Glen. He definitely had found a place in her life.

It all started when Katie bravely called Glen one night a few days after the pizza feed to ask a question about the p.r.o.nunciation of a word in her Spanish dialogue. Glen not only gave her the answer, but he also talked with her for more than two hours.

The next Sunday he remained timid around Katie. Christy thought he seemed shy and unsure of himself. But the day after that, Glen called Katie and they talked for another two hours.

Their relationship seemed a little peculiar to Christy. Katie, however, appeared content with how things were progressing, and Christy thought it best to stay out of it.

"I probably should get going," Katie said. "I told Glen I'd call him if I got stuck with my Spanish, and it looks like I'll need to call him early. Our last conversation went until after ten-thirty, and my mom said I shouldn't be on the phone that long." Katie smiled brightly and said, "See you tomorrow. Happy homework!"

Yeah, happy homework all by myself.

A barrage of weird thoughts bombarded Christy. Now she sort of knew how Katie felt when Christy was dating Rick. It was a strange, almost compet.i.tive feeling, as if she should be mad at Glen for taking Katie away from her. She hadn't expected to feel this way, and she hadn't ever expected Katie to be so preoccupied with anything or anyone else that she would put Christy off this way.

Christy drove home, went inside, and pulled a jacket from her closet. "I'm going for a walk around the block before I start my homework," she explained to her mom.

"Are you okay?" Mom asked.

"I'm fine. I've been sitting all day, and I need to get some oxygen to my brain before I tackle the books."

"Well, be careful."

"I'm only going around the block."

"The wind has kicked up, and it's chilly out. Did you get a jacket?"

"Yes," Christy called out as she pulled the front door shut and let the screen door slam in the wind.

A few crinkled brown leaves skipped across the yard, and the air had a bit of a nip to it. It was good thinking weather.

She walked briskly and contemplated the ski trip, only a week and a half away. It looked like she would really be going. There was no turning back now. Christy told herself it would be fun and a good experience. A little part of her felt the disappointment she had seen on her mom's face when Mom realized this would be the first time their family wouldn't be together for Thanksgiving.

Instead of turkey, stuffing, and cranberries next Thursday, Christy figured she would be eating corn dogs and cocoa. It certainly wasn't enough of a reason for her to back out of her promise to Katie. Nevertheless, the realization made her sad.

The only good part about being gone over Thanksgiving was that since Rick would probably be home, she wouldn't have to see him or talk things through with him. Deep down she knew she had done the right thing by breaking up with him. It was disappointing though that their relationship had turned into an "all or nothing" one. She would have liked to be friends with him, even better friends than they were during the last school year.

The change in her relationship with Katie disappointed her too. Christy knew it was crazy to be jealous of Glen, yet she recognized the feeling, and at least to herself, she admitted that was exactly what she felt.

It'd be different if I had a boyfriend now too. Or at least someone I was going out with occasionally. I wonder if Katie and I will ever have boyfriends at the same time. I wonder if we'll ever double-date.

The thoughts she had pushed down for the last few weeks began to stir up to the top as she turned the corner and headed up the block, back to her house. The wind was now in her face, and she pushed into it, pushing her heart's feelings to the surface at the same time.

I wonder when I'll see Todd again. Will things be like they were, or have both of us changed so much that we can never go back to how it was? I wonder if he received my card. I wonder if he liked it. I wonder if I should write him again or wait until he writes me back.

She lowered her head and pushed forward. The oncoming wind made her eyes water, and aloud she told herself, "Why do you think he'd write you? He's never written you before. Todd is Todd, and his life doesn't include you right now. It might someday. And then again, it might not. You have to go on, Christy."

She walked up the steps to her front porch and righted a plastic planter that the wind had knocked over. It reminded her of the first time she and her family had seen this house. The screen on the door had been torn, and a smashed clay pot had lain scattered across the porch. That was only a little more than a year ago. One year, and so much had changed in her life.

Why do things have to change? Why can't anything stay the samea"just for a little while? Why does G.o.d blow His reckless, raging wind through my life and scatter everything and everyone around?

She tugged open the front door. As soon as she entered the warm house, Christy was aware of her wind-buffeted cheeks turning rosy and of the wonderful, strong smell of Mom's meat loaf and baked potatoes in the oven. Christy knew her dad would be thankful that Mom was adding meat back into the family diet. The last few weeks they'd eaten a lot of pasta and vegetables.

Even though it was still a week and a half before Thanksgiving, the day when people were supposed to think of all they were grateful for, Christy decided to do a preliminary rundown. She headed straight for her room, took off her jacket, plopped onto her bed, and began a list in her diary.

I'm thankful for my parents, this house, my health, and all the blessings G.o.d has given us, like food and clothes. I'm thankful formy friends anda Christy paused. The thought had come so quickly that she wasn't sure if she should write it. She decided to go with the flow and wrote: aI'm thankful for Todd. And Rick. And Katie. And for my job, my church, my relationship with Jesus, and the way I can talk with Him anytime and anywhere.

Then, because it somehow ended up sounding like a prayer, Christy wrote Amen at the bottom of the page.

Wednesday night, Luke had the high school Bible study do almost the same thing. He pa.s.sed out paper and pens and had everyone think of soniething they were thankful for that they had never consciously thanked G.o.d for. Then they were to write Him a letter, thanking Him for whatever it was.

Christy thought hard and finally wrote, G.o.d, I'm thankful for my eyesight. I've always taken it for granted. I'm thankful I can see.

Luke gave everyone another piece of paper and told them to think of someone they were thankful for and to write a note to that person, explaining why they were thankful.

Christy thought at first she should write her note to Katie. Sneaking a peek at Katie's letter, she noticed Katie had gone right to work, writing Glen a thank-you note for his help in Spanish. Somehow she lost her zeal to write to Katie. In the end, Christy wrote hers to her parents, thanking them for all they had done for her.

Even though she and Katie were sitting together for the whole Bible study, it seemed like Katie barely noticed Christy. As soon as the study ended, Katie sprang from her chair like a panther.

Christy watched as Katie slipped between the haphazard rows of folding chairs before striking up a conversation with Glen. He seemed to enjoy the attention.

The minute Katie handed him the thank-you note, Glen's face turned red. He stuck the note in his pocket without reading it. Then he stood there, his face still a bit rosy, while Katie talked on, using her nonstop hand motions to demonstrate everything she was saying to him.

Even though Christy felt some twinges of jealousy over Katie's attention to Glen, she couldn't help but feel happy for Katie. Glen seemed to benefit from their friendship, and Katie definitely was too.

Christy drove home thinking about how much fun they were going to have on the ski trip. At the same time, she felt guilty for thinking it. She knew that one of the reasons they were going to have so much fun was because neither of them was interested in any of the guys who were going.

Now if Glen were going on the trip, Christy probably would have decided to stay home. She wasn't sure if that was immature or not, but she was sure she and Katie would have a lot more fun without any boyfriend problems for the weekend.

When Christy arrived home, Mom had already gone to bed, but Dad was watching TV in the recliner. Christy handed him the note and waited for his reaction.

Her dad read the thank-you. He smiled at her and pulled the side lever on the recliner in order to make the footrest pop up. Instead, the backrest reclined almost all the way to the floor. For a minute, it looked like Dad might be hurled over the back of the chair.

Christy jumped over to his side, prepared to try to block the launch. But her dad had managed to balance the recline'r with no damage done to the s.p.a.ce capsule or the astronaut.

'Well!" He chuckled. "Thanks for the note of encouragement. With all the things I do wrong around here, it's nice to know somebody thinks I do a few things right!"

He patted the side of the recliner for emphasis, and Christy remembered him dismantling and "fixing" it a few weeks ago.

She hugged him around the neck. "You do a lot of things right. I don't always remember to thank you, but I should."

"You know," Dad said solemnly, "your mother and I are letting you go on this ski trip, but neither of us feels too comfortable with the whole thing."

"Why?"

'You've never skied before, you're going with a bunch of people we don't know, and as far as we know, you and Katie are the only Christians. We just don't feel certain that it's the best thing you could be doing."

Christy panicked. "Are you saying I can't go?"

"No. We've discussed it, and since you're so sure about it, we agreed you should go. Your mother and I don't feel comfortable with it, that's all."

Christy wasn't sure how to respond. Were her parents hinting that she should withdraw from the trip on her own? Were they sending her but withholding their blessing? Were they really leaving the choice up to her? What should she say?

"I don't think the school would let us take a trip like this if anything bad had ever happened," she ventured. "Mr. Riley is the sponsor, and he said he and his wife have taken the club every year for the past four years. I'm sure I'll be okay."

"I suppose you will. You've been on greater adventures than this, no doubt. I just wanted you to know I have some reservations."

Dad pushed himself out of the recliner and, turning off the TV, said, '"Well, that's all I wanted to say. Thanks for the note."

Christy followed him down the hall, remembering when she was a little girl on their Wisconsin farm. One of her favorite pastimes had been to follow her dad around in the barn. He was so big that she could easily hide behind him. When she walked softly in the hay, he never knew she was there.

Sometimes his long strides would suddenly come to a halt, and she would b.u.mp into him. Then he would scoop her into his arms, lift her over his head, and bellow for the cows to hear, "Look, I've found a little mouse! Listen to her squeak."

He would say that because by then Christy would be giggling, squealing, and pleading to be put down.

Following her dad down the hall tonight, she realized that she was now only six inches shorter than he was. At sixteen years old, she would never be scooped up in his arms again to be held over his head and called his little mouse. She was almost a woman, and he was almost treating her like one.

On impulse, right before Dad opened the bedroom door, Christy spoke. "Dad?"

He turned to face her, but she wasn't sure what she wanted to say. Instead of trying to find the words, Christy wrapped her arms around him and pressed her cheek into his chest.

Dad returned the hug. They looked at each other and smiled. Christy was certain he knew exactly what she had been thinking.

He brushed back her long bangs with his rough hand, kissed her on the forehead, and said, "Good night, my little mouse."

in your medical releases, otherwise we'll leave you in the school parking lot on Wednesday. n.o.body goes without a signed medical release form!" Mr. Riley made his announcement loud and clear as the ski club was breaking up after its final meeting before the trip.

"And don't forget that you're each responsible for your meals on the way up and back. Did I leave anything out? Oh, right, your luggage." Mr. Riley raised his voice. "Everyone, listen! Bring your luggage to school on Wednesday morning, and take it to the teachers' lounge. One bag each, one sleeping bag, and one carry-on, like a small backpack, that you'll keep with you in the van. Okay, any questions?"

"Yeah," one of the guys asked from his perch on top of Mr. Riley's desk. "Is there any snow?"

"I heard a storm's coming in tonight. Let's hope it dumps a ton on the mountains for the next two days and that it clears up by the time we hit the slopes on Thursday."

"I hope we don't have to drive through the snow," Christy confided to Katie. "Our family got stuck in a blizzard once when I was seven, and we had to spend the night in our car."

"Really? How scary! I've never even seen snow."

"What?" Christy asked, stopping Katie in her tracks.

"How could you live to be sixteen years old and never see "I've lived in Southern California all my life, and my family doesn't travel much. That's why I've always wanted to go skiing."

"I can't believe this, Katie. Do you have any idea how cold and wet and miserable snow can be? Do you have any idea how hard it is to walk in or keep your balance on an icy sidewalk?"

"Nope," Katie said honestly.

"This is going to be quite a trip. I can tell already. Are you sure you have enough warm clothes? And did you get your money all straightened out?"

"My parents gave me the last twenty dollars I needed, and whatever we get from the candy bars you still have at the pet store will be my meal money for the trip."

"I'm stopping by there on the way home. Jon's so nice, he's, even giving me my paycheck early so I'll have extra spending money."

"Just think," Katie said, "you were planning on using all those paychecks to buy back your bracelet."

"I know. I still have no idea who paid it off." Christy rubbed her thumb over the thin gold band. "Anyway, I'll get the rest of your candy money and give it to you tomorrow."