Leah's Leap

Leah was restless tonight. She called her mom again. "Hey, can I have dinner with you?"

"Why?" Kassie sounded concerned. 

"Just because I'm really lonely and restless. Frankly, I'm just really bored." Ms. Plante now wished she would've given her class homework.

She could hear Kassie smile. "Okay, but there's one condition. You have to help me grade papers."

"Yes, Momma." Leah got into her car and drove to her mother's house. They graded college students' papers through 11:30. Ms. Plante stayed with her mother that night in the guest room. She saw her father early the next morning. Oscar was surprised to see his daughter. 

"Hey, sweetie. Why are you here?"

"I was restless last night. I came over and helped Mom grade papers. There's this girl in my class that took a bullet for me, and she's in the hospital. I miss her with all my heart, "Leah explained.

"Oh, honey, I'm sorry. That really must be tearing you apart. I'll pray for you. Jesus won't let you go. You know that, right?" Oscar was compassionate already, but he was extremely gentle when it came to his little girl.

"Oscar, I think our girl's walking away," Kassie warned.

"Mom, I-"

"The girl she's talking about got killed for a religion Genocide. The gunman asked for all the Christians to stand up. Our girl didn't. She didn't feel it was necessary to die for what she believed." Kassie had a tone that was used for discipline. 

Oscar stared at his daughter. "Lee, is this true?"

"Daddy, I-"

"Tell me the truth. If you did not stand, you need to repent." Mr. Plante felt disappointed in his daughter. "Leah, I thought we had taught you better. Didn't you think it was a noble thing to stand and die than to lie and say, 'No, I don't believe?'"

"Dad, please," Leah pleaded. "I can explain."

"You had better tell us why you didn't stand. I've never been more let down by you, Lee. This is important. It isn't something you do on Wednesday nights and Sunday mornings for a social. This is a place to have a relationship with the Maker of the stars that light your way; the girl that risked her life to save the lives of your class and your own. God created that girl for a reason, and by the looks of it, I'd say it's to put you back on track." Oscar shook his head sadly. "Is that why we haven't seen you at church? Do you not believe anymore?"

"Never mind. I guess you can hate me the rest of my life," Leah said. She felt her heart beating fast and she knew that her escape was her job. "Look, I got to get ready to go. I have middle school English to teach. I don't have time to worry about church."

She flew out the door before either of her parents could stop her.