The Measure of a Heart by Janette Oke

Author:Janette Oke [Oke, Janette]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: ebook
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2003-04-30T20:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

Trouble

The din from the nearby playground was almost deafening at times. Anna sometimes wondered why they had to make so much noise just playing a game of ball. But she always reminded herself that she was glad they had a place to play.

So far none of the boys had joined them at the Sunday service, as she and Austin had hoped. It was true that they were no longer in as much trouble, though they still played occasional pranks on unsuspecting townspeople. And Anna even caught them mistreating a poor animal from time to time. But for the most part, the majority of their activities took place on the playing field. They had already worn out a number of balls and bats.

They weren’t exactly pals with Austin or Anna, but they were no longer hostile either. So perhaps a little headway had been made. But it seemed that it was such a small amount of progress.

Anna often contemplated further ways that they could be reached. Especially the two from the family on the edge of town. She feared that unless a change was made in their lives, they would end up in serious trouble of some nature.

One day as Anna turned to lift pans of fresh-baked bread from her oven, there was a terrible crash from the back of the house. “Oh no!” she exclaimed, stopping mid-stride at the unmistakable sound of splintering window glass.

She placed the bread on the waiting board and went to the bedroom to view the damage. Glass was all over the bed and the floor. Very little was left in the window.

Anna felt like crying. There was no money to repair a broken window. There was barely enough to buy the necessary groceries each week. If it weren’t for her garden, she didn’t know if she could have made the pennies stretch.

There was no use fussing. Tears wouldn’t repair the shattered glass. Anna looked out at the playground. Not a soul was in sight.

I guess they’ve all run and hidden, thought Anna. I suppose they fear our wrath.

Anna picked the ball off the bedroom floor and went in search of the boys.

By the time she reached the vacant lot, heads were appearing from behind small bushes. When they saw her coming, they quickly disappeared again.

“Boys,” she called. “Tommy? I found your ball. I thought you might need it to finish your game.”

Anna stood with the ball in hand, peering at the hiding places.

At length a head peeked out from a shrub, then another, and soon sheepish faces were appearing.

“Your ball,” said Anna, holding out the small white sphere. “I figured you wouldn’t be able to finish your game without it.”

Tommy Fallis was the first to make full appearance. He moved slowly toward her.

“Accidents happen,” said Anna, remembering when her brother Will had broken a window at home.

Tommy accepted the proffered ball. He still seemed unable to believe that she wasn’t going to lash out at them for the mishap.

But Anna gave him a smile, and then turned to smile at the heads poking over the bushes.

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