WALKING WITH HER DADDY
BY HANNAH BRADEN
CHAPTER ONE:NICOLE
Walking away from the mean sound of laughter, Nicole brushed off a slipping tear. Hatred, envy, and sadness filled her heart. She was confused, and wondered where she would go…you see, Nicole isn’t the most popular girl at Minton Public Middle School. She was the girl no one loved, and definitely didn’t want anything to do with her. In their terms, she was considered ‘weird’, a ‘nobody’, and ‘un-wanted’. And sad enough, Nicole believed that. Running down the street away from the kids and the chaos, tears fell down her cheeks and this time she wasn’t able to stop them. “Why couldn’t I have anybody, anyone, who will listen to me? This pain that I carry is far too much for me to bear.” She thought. “I am a no-body, why must I continue to live” But there has to be someone…someone that will listen to me. I cannot give up hope!” She lay on the soft grass that comforted her sweaty back. Sighing aloud she fell asleep not knowing that her Maker was cradling her in His big gentle arms.***
As Nicole sat at the dinner table with her step-mom, she took a deep breath and asked, “Mom, I really do not want to go to school tomorrow. Please don’t make me go! I will do anything.” Her step-mom looked at her hardly then answered, “Fine, whatever. Don’t go and get a good education. It’s your life to ruin.” Nicole excused herself and ran to her room. Surprisingly enough, the thirteen year old found tears that hadn’t been used the afternoon before. She then cried herself to sleep not knowing that once again her Creator was there, and that that night she would have a dream that would change her life forever.
CHAPTER TWO: HER DREAM
Nicole was walking along through the grass when a man who was more handsome than anyone she had ever seen appeared to her. He had white hair, whiter than a lamb’s wool, and eyes that were cheerful. He said to her, “Nicole. Nicole. I am your Creator. I am your best friend, the best friend you have always wanted. I am your daddy. The Daddy that you always craved for. I am here for you, to protect you, to keep you, to cherish you and to love you. Follow me, my princess. For I want to be with you in Heaven forever and ever. Do not dwell on what people think of you, but rather live for what I think of you. I love you, Nicole, I love you.” After that, Nicole ran to Him with tears of joy saying, “But Daddy, why must I go through this pain alone? Why can’t I see you when I go through my struggles? Why can’t you protect me from those mean people?” He looked at her with pain in His eyes and said, “My child, those children who are mean to you are also going through hard struggles. Instead of looking at them with hatred, look at them with love and sympathy. If they are mean to you, turn the other cheek. I have died for those people who rebuked me, and hated me…but we must continue to love them so that they may also go to Heaven and dwell with me forever. You will see me once again in Heaven, my child, you must believe in me and turn your heart to me. I must go right now, but remember I am always with you although you may not see me.” All of a sudden, Nicole woke up with a start. She looked around her room saying, “My Creator, My Savior, My Heavenly Father, where are you?” She knew that her dream wasn’t just a fantasy, but that there really was a God. And there was someone that she could turn to. Her eyes landed outside her windowsill and on the outside bench was a book that she had never seen before. She climbed out her window and picked up the book. Enthralled with what she was reading, she cuddled up and began her journey as being a Christian. And she knew that no matter what happened, she would always walk the journey with her Daddy.
