Left the 99 

I pressed my face up against the window with a joyous squeal as trees and neighborhoods blurred past me. My sister Bridget, just as overly excited, was hopping on her booster seat, grinning so hard you could see the missing space of her first tooth. “Alright you two!” my mom laughed from the passenger seat. “Settle down or you will be exhausted by the time we get to the airport to meet your Aunt Kim.” Uh oh! We cannot have that now! I used every ounce of self-control my 10-year-old body could muster and sat down. My sister tried the same, but her body kept shaking side to side like that bear we saw itching its back on a tree on national geographic. Her thick red hair was an array of messy curls on her face and down her back. “Take a nap guys,” came our father’s less patient, less humored voice.” “We will be there when you wake up.” I rolled my eyes. As if that was even possible with how excited we were for vacation and Aunt Kim. Dads did not understand anything, seriously I mean how could I ever fall... 

Next thing I knew, my mom was carrying me like a newborn out of the car. How embarrassing! I squirmed out of her grip and plopped onto the ground. “Hey! If you want to carry a baby, carry Bridget! Shes closer to one than me!” Bridget, having clearly woken up from her nap glared at me. “I am not!” She shouted. “Mommy says I am getting to be a big girl! I am almost five and a half years old!” Dad shook his head. “Kids! Don’t you remember what the bible says about this! “Stay away from foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they turn into quarrels!” “Oh, that’s right!” Turning to my sister, I extended my small hand. “How about we call a truce for old times' sake.” Bridget gladly shook my hand. “Agree to mis-agree! I mean disagree!” She cast our parents a charming smile. Mom burst out laughing and even Dad cracked a smile. “What are we going to do with you two!” My mom chuckled, pulling us in for a hug.  

“I wonder what Boston will be like?” I wonder aloud. We had been waiting in the airport for only five minutes, and I was beyond exited. Just then, Aunt Kim arrived around the corner. My sister and I leaped off the airport seats and raced over to her. We were about to envelope her in a bear hug when we saw the person behind her. Pump the brakes! My sister and I skidded to a halt. Are you kidding me! Why is he here? “What is going on!” I demanded, glaring up at our cousin Charlie. He grinned down at us, his braces an ugly green color. “I thought you got in trouble and could not come!” I glanced quickly at his mom. “Not that we all don’t find your company delightful” I added, grinning the most fake smile I had ever dawned in my life. “I was feeling so sick!” Charlie groaned, fanning himself dramatically and leaning against his mom. “A job can pay you for feeling sick! Who knew?!” I turned to my aunt, giving her a, you better have a fantastic explanation for this, look. "It is true he was supposed to miss this family vacation because of his little “stunt” with the soda machine at work.” Aunt Kim gave her son an exasperated look. “But young Charlie was feeling too sick to continue with his work. So sick that he-” Aunt Kim stopped for a second, looking sick herself. “I projectile vomited all over the store!” Charlie said proudly. “They said they would clean up and pay me for sick time. They also gave me pink paper, which I am not sure what that is all about. The point is, I am here! And I missed you sooo much little cousins!” Before we could run or hide, he scooped us up in a giant bear hug. He smelled like nachos dipped in over ripe bananas. Gross! When we made our way back over to our parents with Aunt Kim and our unwanted guest. Mom looked surprised but she greeted Charlie warmly. I closed my eyes and sent a silent prayer to God to give me the strength to bare my cousin's antics. God; I know you're supposed to love everyone, but not my cousin. 

I sat slumped in my seat of the tour bus taking us to our destination. "Andy! Can you pass me my tablet please!” my little sister asked, peaking around Charlie’s body. Usually, I would accommodate without a second thought, but I absolutely refused to look at who was sitting between us. According to our Aunt Kim, it would be good bonding for us to sit beside Charlie and get to know his good side; assuming he had one. “Allow me!” Charlie readily volunteers, reaching across me and picking up the tablet. Before I had enough time to be surprised or suspicious, Charlie had stood up with the tablet and put it in a high compartment above us. “Hey!” Bridget cried, unbuckling her seat belt, and reaching up with her tiny arms for her tablet. “You're a bully!” I cried. I should have known he would do this! Charlie had done something like this three years ago, when he held poor baby Bridget's sippy cup hostage! I saw my mom heading over- yes! It's a miracle! Quick as a flash, Charlie stood up on his seat and snatched Bridget's tablet from the compartment. In the same movement, he shoved the tablet in her hands. “Bridget! I told you to stop throwing your tablet up in the air! If I had not been here to get it from that compartment, you would be cruising without it!” “I did NOT!” She screamed. “Big liar!” I said angrily. Even mom looked unconvinced. “All this animosity at mwah?!” Charlie looked almost hurt. Then he grinned. “Ya'll should be thanking me for doing the baby sitting! These girls cannot seem to get a hold or themselves!” Bridget looked like she was about to cry. I crossed my arms, the only thing I could do to stop myself from shaking the snot right out of Charlie. Even mom looked annoyed. “Come on Charlie.” My mom said. “The girls want to be left alone. I slumped on my side and tried to remember the bible verses my mom always reads Bridget and I before bed. “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” And “If anyone strikes you on one cheek, turn the other cheek for them also.” 

We have been in the Boston suite for six days and so far, so good; considering whose here. Charlie has been preoccupied with the new friends he made, except every now and then when he had nothing to do. In Those times of boredom, he took delight in playing basketball with me and my sisters stuffed animals! Amidst all the not-so-great moments, there is still something to look forward to. We are going to a restaurant tonight to kick off the last night of our bonding trip! “Nothing could go wrong here, right?” Bridget asks as we enter Dalton's Family Diner. I give Charlie a suspicious look. “I wouldn't put much past him Bridge. He would steal the cloths off your back just for walking next to him!” “Perish the thought!” Bridget wailed, clinging to my arm. Bridget and I were just entering the store when the door slammed in our faces. “Hey!” We both yelled, peering through the glass doors. Inside, Charlie gave us a look that was undoubtedly, purely, hilariously mischievous. He turned quickly to make sure no one was looking, then stepped outside with us. “Listen up pipsqueaks!” He barked. You have two seconds to tell everyone to change restaurants! I know they will listen to you!” “Why? I ask. “This is a good restaurant! “Because I said so," he retorts. I hear Gods still small voice. “Ignore his taunts. At the right time I will humble him.” Instead of answering Charlie, I walked past him into the restaurant, pulling my sister behind me. Curiously, Charlie did not push or yell at us. “Have you been in the sun too long?!” Bridget whispers angrily. “Let us just ask to go to his restaurant! He is going to try to get back at us, and it is going to be worse than just going to another restaurant!” “We cannot just let him walk all over us!” I respond. “And besides, we have something Charlie does not have! The word of God. God says to “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” We walk into the Diner and search until we find our table.  

“Yes, I will have a meatloaf with mashed potatoes. And kids pulled pork sandwiches for the little ones.” Mom and we were the last ones to order our meal. The waiter bowed a little and walked briskly to the kitchen. “Poor guy. He must be over worked.” Mom gazed after the man in sympathy. She closed her eyes as though she was praying a silent prayer. Charlie excused himself to use the bathroom and walked away quickly. Uh oh. What is he up to? I glance over at Bridget and realize by her anxious squirming that she saw the same thing as me. Our food has finally arrived. Minutes pass, and still no sign of Charlie. Aunt Kim is clearly concerned. “Maybe I should go look for Char-” Before she can finish her sentence, Charlie appears. “Where have you been?!” Aunt Kim Demands. “I thought something happened to you!” Charlie shrugs and takes a seat in front of his pasta. We begin our meal in silence. I close my eyes along with everyone else and Dad prays a prayer of gratitude over the meal. I peek one eye open and see Charlie laying back in his chair, completely indifferent. I sigh inwardly. God, what will it take for Charlie to change? More importantly, what do you see in him? The prayer ends and Bridget and I tuck into our pulled pork. We sit there chewing; the sandwich is great! It is well-seasoned, flavorful, and flavorful... My entire mouth screams with pain! “Fire! Fire! FIRE!!!!!!” Bridget beside me has about lost her mind. Shes screaming and crying, bouncing up and down on her chair like a tiny Pogo stick. “What in the heavens!” Mom ran over, Dad right behind her. “Waiter!” Dad yelled. “Waiter, we need a Waiter!” Meanwhile, mom is trying to console Bridget, who looks as if Shes going to have a heat stroke or something. Me being older, I can think through the pain a little and try to figure out what is going on here! My mouth feels as if someone mixed spicy sauce with enough jalapeno peppers to feed a family of four! Through my rapid gulps of water, I see something that completely stops me. Aunt Kim is looking scared and bewildered, but right beside her, Charlie is grinning as though he won the Florida Latto. It was him! He did something to our meals... It was all starting to make sense, but before I could confront him, Charlie stood up and grabbed the milk from the waiter, who had arrived at Dads call to calm screaming Bridget. Taking the glass, he did the most awful thing you could imagine. He chugged half, then dumped the rest on both of our heads! Cold liquid splashed over me, seeping through my clothes, and soaking my thick brown hair. For the first time that evening, I cried. 

A day has passed since that horrific event. We ended up spending one more day in Boston, and Aunt Kim treated us to ice cream. She has not stopped apologizing since yesterday. I have never ever seen her so mad! Everyone in the entire restaurant could see her screaming at Charlie. Speaking of Which, Charlie is still at the diner. I have not heard much from him; except I know he has been washing their dishes since yesterday. I feel sorry for him, but not as sorry as for Bridget. I have never seen a child look so traumatized! Now she refuses to eat anything unless she has checked it thoroughly.  

We walk out of Calvin's Creamy Delights, Bridget with a strawberry ice cream cup, and me with a cookie dough waffle cone. “Hey girls” Aunt Kim begins hesitantly. “I know it's only been a day, but we really need to break the ice with, you know who. Forgive me girls...” Before I could so much as raise an eyebrow, Charlie came up slowly around the corner; Bridget and I gasped. We had been so caught up in our treats, we had not realized we were walking to the diner! It was all starting to make sense now. She got us ice cream to soften the blow! I turned around to tell Aunt Kim I didn’t want to talk to him, but she had already gone. Bridget had snuck up behind me and was now cowering behind my braid. Charlie was in front of us now, looking... well, speechless. The silence stretched out for a long time. Even Bridget peeked out from behind me to see what was happening. Finally, Charlie spoke. “If you're looking for an apology, you can just keep looking cause you're not getting one!” Then he extended a hand and shoved me back, causing my little sister to fall. She let out a cry and looked up, fear in her eyes. I should have felt angry at that moment, I should have been furious even. All I felt was an overwhelming sense of compassion swelling in my chest. Just this feeling of grief for the pain and loneliness Charlie felt. Then I heard the voice of God again. “Forgive him and tell him I love him.” I turn around and pick Bridget up, brushing off her small white overalls and smoothing her thick red curls. Then I turned back to Charlie, whose face resembled something almost like regret. “Charlie Benson Wiles, I forgive you for everything you’ve done to us. And I want you to know that there is a God who loves you with a fierce love and wants nothing more than for you to know him. He died for you, for everyone! Every sin you’ve ever committed and every sin you're ever going to commit, and he wants you to know that your forgiven; for the goldfish you stole when you were five, for the boy you used to beat up in middle school, and it is not your fault your dad left you. And now, God is offering you the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ!” I can't believe all of that just came out of my mouth. I had no idea about the goldfish thing, or frankly any of it! Was that you God? Charlie seemed to be frozen. So many tears were flowing down his face, I could barely see his eyes. His breaths came in quick gulps, and he didn’t seem to be able to calm himself. Finally, when he was able to control himself, he spoke. “I don’t understand! How do you know...I don’t.” He trails off. "I'm sorry!” He sobs. “God I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry.” He looks up to the sky, his face flushed red, and tears stained. He looks overjoyed, terrified, and deeply shaken at the same time. “I can hear him! Oh, God, I can hear you! He was silent for a couple of seconds, breathing hard. To my surprise, Bridget came up and patted him on the arm. “W-what; what do I do to get God to forgive me?” He whispered. “Just ask for it.” I responded, walking up and taking his hand. “God is more than willing to leave the 99 for the one.”