Beth

In the middle of the madness I've discovered I have a real flair for design. Who knew? Watching TLC and Chip and Johanna is really paying off.  Uncle Jerry and Aunt Catherine seem clueless about all of it. They believe dad has been remodeling the place. Oh well, I'm not doing it for a pat on the back. But honestly how can my aunt and uncle be so naive?  Jo transported them here in a flash and they're acting as if it's an everyday occurrence. Maybe they know something we don't?

I've been given the chore of cooking. Amy cleans. Okay I draw meals and Amy prefers the mess clean. Jo and Meg feel badly. They feel their gifts aren't as useful. It isn't a competition--we're a team. One for all and all for one! The Four Musketeers! I think Mom's name is better: The Four Sisters of the Apocalypse. So dramatic!

For breakfast this morning I drew blueberry pancakes with fresh maple syrup, scrambled eggs with cheddar cheese and scallions, home fries and coffee with cream. Everyone jokes that I'm making them fat. For lunch I'll draw a Caesar salad with grilled chicken.  I worry Amy is "preferring" her food out of her stomach to keep her figure. Not cool Amy. Not cool.

I've discovered I need to concentrate on the meal while I draw. My drawings don't need to be as accurate as my imagination. Although we're eating well and we're living in a warm cozy cabin Jo says we can't hide out here forever.  Rory is worried about his father. Amy wanted to prefer the cell tower to connect out here in Gridless (That's what we call our homestead) but it's too dangerous. The Powers That Be will find us easily.

I for one want to do something. Making fancy meals and building out the cabin is nice but I want a future too. I'm not gonna lie... I'm a bit jealous of Meg and Rory. I can't draw myself a boyfriend can I? Confession time! I sorta miss Bob, the former slob, but the Amazon delivery guy is cute too! Maybe if I drew a package and he delivered it... Okay that's silly and I don't believe that's why we have these powers. God, why do we have these powers? Show us Lord. I believe we're getting off track. I don't believe you mean us to use these gifts just for ourselves. We're definitely hiding our lights under bushels that's for sure.

I'm gonna call a family meeting. It's a red letter day! I've never called one before. Do you think they'll respect me? Well I do hold the meals in my hands. Or I'm sure they'd be fine with opening an expired can of pork 'n beans. Yuck.

When everyone came in for breakfast the next morning I just sat there. An empty table before me. No Belgian waffles, no quiche Lorraine, no white chocolate mocha lattes.

Amy came  bouncin in. "What? Beth you haven't drawn anything yet? Yes, a made to order breakfast is probably best. I think I've put on a few pounds. Draw me an egg white omelette with spinach and a skinny vanilla soy latte."

I didn't respond. I held the power. The power of the pen.

Amy clicked her tongue. "What's wrong with you Bethie?"

After another uncomfortable pause I spoke. "We're gonna have a family meeting before breakfast."

A squeak escaped Amy's throat. "Who says?"

"Says me." I tried wiping the smug look off my face but for once I held the cards and it felt exhilarating.

"You know I can prefer you to do it."  Amy looked more smug than me.

"Amy, you can't!" I stood up quickly screeching my wooden chair across the tile.

Just then Meg and Jo walked in.

Meg asked, "Amy can't what, Bethie?"

I sighed. Suddenly I felt like a child holding my breath to get my way. "I wanted to hold a family meeting before we ate and Amy's having a cow."

Of course Amy did her best to make me look like a fool. "How can I have a cow when you won't even draw me a cup of coffee?"

Jo, the voice of reason, spoke. "Alright, alright... I'll make us a cup of coffee the old fashioned way." As Jo added coffee grounds to the percolator coffee pot she schooled Amy. "Beth has every right to call a family meeting the same as the rest of us."

Rory came in and asked Meg to sit on his lap. They looked oh so cozy in their fuzzy blue matching footie pjs.

I cleared my throat. Then I swallowed hard. Come on Beth you're not speaking to congress here... "Okay here goes... We can't hide out in this cabin forever. I don't mind making you eggs benedict and lobster bisque, however I don't think I've been given this gift to be your glorified cook."

Amy laughed. "When you started feeling a cold coming on did I make excuses saying, 'I'm not the school nurse?' No! I prefered you'd feel better. You're being petty Bethie."

Sometimes I hated being called Bethie. Especially the belittling way Amy used it.

Meg got off of Rory's lap and sat in the chair closest to me. She put her arm around me. "Beth is right and Mom was right. We are believers and are vessels of Yeshua. We've been hiding our light in this cabin for too long."

Meg always called Jesus by his Hebrew name. She felt He liked it best and claimed to be His best friend. She explained he has lots of best friends.

Jo nodded. "I agree we need to get outta here but we've gotta have a plan. We just can't go around breaking people out of hospitals. What's our endgame?"

I silently asked our heavenly Father for help. " Firstly we needed to pray before this meeting."  Everyone nodded but Jo. "And secondly we've gotta consult the books."

Amy looked perplexed. "What like mom's journals?"

Meg hugged me. "She means the prophetic books of the bible.  Right Beth?"

Tears streamed from my face. My sister's were hearing me.

Amy grabbed my hand from across the table. "I'm sorry Beth. You are NOT the weakest link."
After drawing us fresh fruit and orange cranberry scones we spend time praying and perusing Zechariah, Daniel and The Book of Revelation.

Meg had deep insight into how the books fit together. She blurted, "We need to look at the gospels too. Especially Luke and Matthew."

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