Leon led the group through the last part of the piney path. It opened up onto the dunes in full view of the sea. As they neared the ocean Marina, Alfred, X, Lonely, The Officers, and The Unity Campers all stood up to face the newcomers. Grace and Speed nudged Miss Bell with their snouts and explained the situation.

Grace spoke softly, "Leon is back with a lot of children."

Bell rose to her feet, Holding onto Grace's collar she asked. "Where's Bell? Is Bell with them?

Speed scanned the crowd. Both dogs sniffed the air. Speed added, "I don't see her. But there are so many kids. Looks like a couple hundred of 'em."

Bell asked, "Grace will you please lead me to them?"

Many of the children had already spotted Bell by the seashore. They took off running towards her.

Grace explained, "Miss Bell, I think it's best if we wait here. The children are coming. We don't want you to be mobbed.

Grace and Speed stepped in front of the excited youngsters. They were doing what guard dogs do best, protecting the one they love.

Bell opened her arms wide. "I hear you children! I can hear all of your sweet voices!"

Speed ordered, "Alright kiddos back up. You're scaring Miss Bell."

Bell disagreed. "Oh no! I'm not scared of these precious children.  Everyone please sit down so I may talk with you. I've got terrific news—I can hear now! But I still can't see you. I want a hug from each and every one of you but one at a time okay?"

All of the children obediently sat in the warm sand. Bell wanted to scream, "Where's Izzy? Have you seen my sister?" However she didn't want to break the mood and she feared what she might find out.

As more and more stranglers joined the makeshift classroom on the beach they were blissfully unaware of the hornets high up in the sky. The children had endured so much that the humming dark cloud went unnoticed.

With Grace and Speed on either side of Bell she began to teach.

"Once there was this small boy named David. He was the youngest of 7 brothers and they didn't really think he was good at anything. They let him be in charge of watching the sheep which are the dumbest of animals." She turned to Speed, "I mean no offense."

Speed replied, "None taken. Sheep are notoriously dumb. Some are dumber than dirt."

Bell continued, "His father asked if David would bring some sandwiches to his brothers. They were soldiers fighting a group of really mean men called The Philistines."

The children repeated, "Philistines."

Bell went on, "When David handed the sack of food to his older brother he scolded David for coming to such a dangerous place."

Bell stopped the story, held up her hand and asked the children, "Have any of you been in a very dangerous place?" All of the children's hands went up.

Bell threw up her other hand and said, "Me too!" Lowering her arms she continued, "David noticed the biggest, meanest, smelliest giant he'd ever seen. The giant's name was Goliath. He was taunting the Israelite soldiers and he hated them and the Author King very much.

Bell spoke in a giant's voice, "None of you can beat me! I'm bigger, I'm stronger, I'm faster and I'm gonna kill all of you with my bare hands."

Lonely bear sat cross legged with the children. He too was engrossed in the story and asked, "He had BEAR hands?"

Speed interrupted, "No you nitwit! It means he didn't need a weapon to kill them."

X interjected, "I'm a giant but I'm not mean."

Bell smiled. "X you are a lovable giant." She held up her claws, " It was not so with the big dreadful hairy Goliath. He could knock people over with his body odor and his bad breath." She huffed toward the children.

The children laughed, screamed and covered their noses.

Bell continued, "When David asked why the Israealite soldiers were cowering like baby kittens. An officer explained how the trained soldiers are too afraid to fight the mean giant. Then David piped up and bravely said, 'I'll do it! I'll fight the giant.' The soldiers gasped. Some laughed. A leader said, 'You? You're just a little boy! You couldn't kill a fly!' David replied, 'I don't need to kill a fly and I don't need to kill the giant. My Lord and my God the King will kill him through me.'"

Bell sat down a little closer to the children and asked. "So do you know what David did?"

The children shook their heads no.

"David found six smooth stones. He pulled out his handmade slingshot and aimed a round white rock at the center Goliath's big head." Bell continued, "The giant gave a big belly laugh. He mocked David and asked if they sent a little smelly little puppy to do a soldier's job?"

The children gasped.

"David ignored the giant's bullying. Young David swung the slingshot in a circle high above his head and then let the rock fly! It embedded into Goliath's forehead and KABOOM! The giant fell face forward into the dirt. Goliath the Giant was dead."

The children cheered.

Bell stood up and said, "So you see, children, with the Author our God and King all things are—"

Izzy snuck up behind Bell and spelled on her back, "P-O-S-I-B-L-E."

Bell swung around and grabbed onto her twin sister with all of her might. "It's you! It's you! I can't believe it's you." Bell began crying and laughing at the same time.

Izzy laughed. "But you just said with God all things are possible!"

Bell agreed, "That's true but you're here! You're really here!" She hugged her twin tighter. She whispered, "Possible has a double S."

Izzy looked surprised. She pulled back and asked, "Wait! You can hear me?"

Bell let go of her sister. She took a few deep breaths to calm herself and admitted, "I can hear you dear sister but as of yet I cannot see you."

Izzy hugged Bell and said, "Well I'll take what I can get. I'm so happy we're together again!"

Izzy looked into the sky and asked, "What are those?"

Speed came to her side. "Bad news mistress. Those are hornets and they can spell better than you."

Shocked, Izzy asked, "Spell? What do you mean the hornets can spell."

X piped up. "They spelled: 'YOU WILL ALL DIE.'"

Just then the hornets broke into groups of six and spelled. "IZZY WE WILL KILL YOU FIRST."

-End of Chapter 49

Author's note: I'm almost finished! I wanted to end on a round number like 50 chapters. That might not happen. A story tells itself sometimes... And I can't cut off the ending just because I want it to end on an even number. I hope you're all doing well. I said a prayer for you. 🙏🏼