CHAPTER 35.

"Father Chee?"

"Yes, Amber?"

"Why do some people go through life never knowing a single major tragedy, and then others have horrible things happen to them over and over again?"

"I don't know."

CHAPTER 36.

BITING INTO MY.

YELLOWaGREEN APPLE-LIPS AND FINGERS GET STICKY.

CHAPTER 37.

"Father Chee?"

"Yes, Amber?"

"Do you believe that I was a pretty good person before my mother died?"

"I know it. You still are a good person."

"So it really doesn't matter if we are good or not-bad things will still happen to us regardless?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"I don't know."

CHAPTER 38.

OUTSIDE MY WINDOW.

SPARROW MAKES A NEST OUT OF.

WHAT I THREW AWAY.

CHAPTER 39.

"Father Chee?"

"Yes, Amber?"

"Why didn't G.o.d turn the other cheek when Adam and Eve ate the apple? Why did He have to punish all of mankind for eating a d.a.m.n apple?"

"It is a metaphor for wanting to know more than what we can handle. G.o.d tried to protect us from the consequences of knowledge, but we failed to listen."

"Do you think I ate some metaphorical apple? Do you think my mother was killed because I p.i.s.sed G.o.d off somehow? Did I fail to listen or something?"

"No. I do not think this. Not at all."

"Then why was my mother killed?"

"I don't know."

CHAPTER 40.

HOW MANY PIECES.

OF BREAD SEPARATE THESE WORDS:.

NEEDY, FINE, WASTEFUL?.

CHAPTER 41.

"Father Chee?"

"Yes, Amber."

"Why do you keep coming here every day?"

"Because you are worth visiting."

"Why?"

"Because you will come through this and be stronger on the other side. You will help people again someday."

"Do you really believe that?"

"Yes. It is inevitable."

"So why do you need to come if it's inevitable?"

"No need. I like visiting Amber Appleton. I want to be here when you are reborn-when you finally come through this and are stronger for it."

"Is that why bad things happen-to make us stronger?"

"Maybe, but truthfully-I don't know."

"I miss my mom. She was a terrible mom, but I miss her. I really do."

"I also miss my mother."

"What are your parents like? Are they here in America or in Korea?"

"My parents were very good people. They are both dead now."

"How did they die?"

"They were murdered."

"Seriously?"

"Yes."

"Why didn't you tell me this before?"

"You did not ask."

"How were your parents murdered?"

"Many years ago. In a detention camp."

"What's that?"

"It is a prison where people who criticize the North Korean government are taken."

"What did your parents say about the government?"

"They said that people should be allowed to believe in Jesus and build churches."

"That's a crime?"

"It is in North Korea."

"And they were killed in prison?"

"Yes."

"Why would JC let them be killed after they stuck up for Him?"

"I don't know."

"Is that why you became a priest here in America? Because of your parents?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"So my parents' death would mean something."

"How does your being a priest make your parents' death mean something?"