Word Count: 5450

Send Article To Friend

Print/Use Article

Contact Ruthie Alekseeva

---

Pastor Haydon's Secret Life

by Ruthie Alekseeva  
1/04/2025 / Short Stories

             Chapter Page

Chapter One……Splishy Splashes

Chapter Two……Chicken Wings

Chapter Three……Moving Keyholes

Chapter Four……Spewy Guts

Chapter Five……Orange Taxis

Chapter Six……Loud Drums

Chapter Seven……Grey Clouds

Chapter Eight……Lightning Storms

Chapter Nine……Big Secrets

Chapter Ten……Wet Cheeks

Chapter Eleven……Sick and Woozy

Chapter Twelve……Huge Hugs

Chapter Thirteen……High Dives

Chapter One

Splish. Splosh. Splish.

Anthony runs along the wet pool edge, enjoying the blazing summer rays that shine on his back. Reaching the water’s edge, he tucks his knees up under his chin, wrapping his arms around his shins. Then, SPLASH! Anthony lands like a cannon-ball in the crystal-clear water of the local public swimming pool, sending sprays of water flying up into the air.

Pastor Haydon, who is also Anthony’s uncle, reaches under the water. He grabs Anthony under his arms and lifts him back up towards the surface, droplets of water running over Anthony’s hair and over his face. Pastor Haydon says, “Nice one! That was big! So big, I thought that bomb-dive would empty the pool of water!”

Anthony chuckles, then wriggles away from Pastor Haydon’s grasp, saying, “I’m doing it again. This time my bomb-dive will be huge, so huge its splash will reach the sky!”

Pastor Haydon laughs. “Okay. Let’s see it, but this time, don’t run. The cement is wet. You might slip and hurt yourself.”

Anthony says, “Aw, no fair,” but he does what Pastor Haydon asks. Instead of running, he stands on the pool’s edge, curling his toes over the pool’s rim.  Then, he jumps high into the air, tucking his knees under his chin again.

SPLASH! Drops of white water shoot into the air, then empty back into the pool. When Anthony’s head breaks the surface of the water, Pastor Haydon is standing with two thumbs up in the air. He says, “You did it! But now we must go home.”

Anthony creases his brow. “Aww, come on, Pastor Haydon. Just a few more minutes.

Pastor Haydon shakes his head. “Sorry, little fella. I have work to do.”

Anthony frowns. “Then let me jump off the top of the diving tower instead. Pleeease?”

Pastor Haydon looks over at the yellow diving tower. “You’re allowed to dive off the springboard as much as you like, but the 5-metre diving platform is still off limits. You’re too young to jump off a diving platform that high. You could hurt yourself.”

Anthony’s brow stays furrowed. “Well, if I can’t jump, tell me your secret instead.”

Pastor Haydon laughs. “What secret?”

Anthony draws his eyebrows together, then narrows his eyes. “Why won’t you tell me what you do on Wednesdays?”

Chapter Two

Pastor Haydon’s face switches from tan to raspberry red. He sputters. “Oh that. Sorry, Anthony, but I think you’re still too young for that story.”

Treading water with his feet, Anthony places his hands together as if begging. “Pleeease, Pastor Haydon.”

But Pastor Haydon shakes his head. “Come on; out of the water.”

Anthony grimaces, then sighs. “Well, okay.” But instead of swimming to the pool’s edge, planting his hands on the pool’s rim and then pulling his legs up like Pastor Haydon, Anthony goes the long way. He ducks his head under the sparkling water, then swims to the bottom of the pool. Next, he breaststrokes along the base of the swimming pool until he reaches the ladder and climbs out.

Pastor Haydon is standing next to the ladder. He has a lime-green beach towel wrapped around him and is holding Anthony’s swim bag and towel. He narrows his eyes, saying, “That was sneaky,” but then he smiles and ruffles Anthony’s hair. “Come on; let’s see what your mum has cooked for dinner.”

Shortly, the sun still gleaming, Pastor Haydon pulls up in Anthony’s driveway. Anthony opens the car door and slides out. Juggling his towel and swim bag in his arms, Anthony sniffs the air as he walks up the driveway. “Mmm! What’s Mum cooking? I hope chicken wings with coleslaw.” But then Anthony shakes his head. “I can’t smell a thing.”

Anthony looks over at Pastor Haydon. Pastor Haydon sniffs the air too, looks at Anthony and rolls his eyes. “I can’t smell anything either. So, it looks like I’m cooking again tonight, like I did yesterday and the night before. “

Right before unlocking the front door, Pastor Haydon looks through the front window of Anthony’s house. He shakes his head in disappointment. “It’s quiet. The TV’s not on or even the radio, and I can’t hear Pickles, your mum’s pet pug, snuffling. So that means your mum isn’t even at home, let alone starting dinner.”

Anthony’s mouth turns downward. “I hate it when Mum does this. It was fun at the pool. She ruins everything.”

Pastor Haydon squeezes Anthony’s shoulder. “Come on, little fella. We can still have a great afternoon.”

Anthony throws Pastor Haydon a sly smile. “I wish Mum was here. Perhaps, she’d tell me your secret.”

Pastor Haydon’s cheeks burn red again. Then he chuckles, saying, “But she never spills my secret either.”

Once inside the house, Pastor Haydon runs a warm shower for Anthony. “Only a quick one. Your fingers are already wrinkly.” Then, Pastor Haydon picks up the phone. As the shower warms up Anthony’s water-logged body, Anthony watches Pastor Haydon dial the numbers. Who is he calling? Is it someone who knows his secret?

Chapter Three

Pastor Haydon speaks to the person on the other end of the line. “Sorry, Susette isn’t home again, so I can’t come tonight. Can you do without me?”

There is a strained conversation, then Pastor Haydon puts the phone down. He sighs, then rubs his temples with his fingers. “So, what was it you wanted? Chicken wings and coleslaw?”

Anthony nods his head. Then, licking his lips he says, “And a banana split with white sprinkles, please!”

Pastor Haydon lets out a fake sigh, saying, “Wow, you’re not hard to please.” But then he ruffles Anthony’s hair and grins. “Banana splits it is.”

Then, scratch, scratch, scratch. Anthony and Pastor Haydon hear clawing at the front door.

Anthony draws his eyebrows together. “What’s that?”

A dog barks. “Arf! Arf! Arf!”

Pastor Haydon groans. He walks to the front door and swings it open. “I bet I know.”

A woman stands on the doorstep, holding a key in her hand. Beside her is a barking beige dog with black ears and a black snout. She hiccups, jabs the key into the air, then jabs it again a bit lower. “Oh, hello, Haydon. I’m trying to find the keyhole.“ She continues to jab the air in various places, saying, “Did you move it?”

Pastor Haydon sighs. “Did I move it? Why would I move the keyhole, and how would I move the keyhole?”  Pastor Haydon points at the doorknob he is holding in his hand. “The keyhole is right here on the right side of the door.”

The woman hiccups again, says, “Oh,” then promptly falls sideways into the garden.

Pastor Haydon lifts the woman out of the garden, then brushes dirt off her clothes. “Susette! I’m supposed to work tonight and you’re meant to cook, but how can either one of us do that, when you’re like this? What kind of an example are you setting for your son?”

Susette hiccups again but doesn’t say anything.

Pastor Haydon sighs, he places his arms around her waist, then half walks, half carries her to her bedroom.

As they walk past, Anthony breathes in. Yuck! She smells like sour juice.

As Haydon prepares his dinner, Anthony’s heart throbs inside of him and his eyes well with tears. I used to think it was funny when Mum fell over, but now I feel mad. And why does she fall over? I don’t understand. Please God, make it stop.

Chapter Four

Anthony’s eyes prick with tears. Pickles licks his face, trying to comfort him. Pastor Haydon sits down beside him. “Here you go, little fella: chicken wings and coleslaw.” Then, seeing Anthony’s teary face, Pastor Haydon hugs Anthony tight. “Don’t worry. Your mum is making silly choices right now, but I’m praying for her.”

After dinner, Pastor Haydon helps Anthony with his homework. “You should have done this last night. I don’t know how you convinced me to leave it off until today. Now, work on your spelling while I check on your mum.”

Mum yells rude words at Pastor Haydon and shouts, “GET OUTTA HERE!” Then, half-way through watching his favourite TV show, Anthony’s mum appears. Her hair looks wet, as if she has splashed water on her face. She doesn’t hiccup anymore, nor does she smell sour, but she breathes heavily and holds her head as if she is feeling woozy. She smiles weakly at Anthony and asks, “So, how was your swim?”

Anthony smiles back. “So much fun! We did cannon balls, and my cannon-ball splash reached the sky!”

“Here,” Pastor Haydon says, handing Anthony’s mum a plate of chicken wings. She takes it, then her face turns green. Covering her mouth, she swallows and says, “It feels like my guts are about to spew up my throat.” So, she pushes the plate away, her cheeks flushing bright pink, as she looks at the floor. “I’d better not eat it. Sorry. ”

Pastor Haydon narrows his eyes at her but doesn’t say anything. Then, when Anthony’s favourite TV show is over, Anthony’s mum takes Anthony to bed. As they walk through the living room, Anthony says, “Hey Mum, can Pastor Haydon and I go swimming again tomorrow?”

Chapter Five

Anthony’s mum squints her eyes. In a groggy voice, she says, “Anthony, I know Uncle Haydon is your pastor, but why do you call him Pastor Haydon? He’s your uncle as well. You should call him Uncle Haydon.”

Anthony tilts his head to one side, then he shrugs his shoulders. “I don’t know. He talks to people about Jesus all day. That sounds fun! I’d like to do that when I grow up. I’d also like to know his secret. What is it?”

Anthony’s mum looks over at Pastor Haydon. They look awkward, then, completely ignoring Anthony’s question about Pastor Haydon’s secret, Mum says, “That’s nice but, when you’re at home, call him Uncle Haydon.”

The next day is Sunday.  Anthony’s mum emerges from her blackened bedroom holding Pickles in her arms. Pickles sniffs Mum’s face and makes soft snuffling noises. In a weak voice, she says, “Anthony, you’re not swimming today. We’re going to church instead.”

Pastor Haydon raises his eyebrows, saying, “Really? You’re coming as well?”

She nods, looking at the ground, as her cheeks flush bright pink. “Well, after last night, I feel like I’d better.”

Pastor Haydon narrows his eyes again, but instead of saying something sharp, he says, “I’m happy you’re coming, Susette. I’ve prepared a great sermon for you.”

Then, Pastor Haydon drives to church early. Anthony stands in the doorway, saying, “Can I come too?” Pastor Haydon shakes his head. “Not yet, little fella. You can come later with your mother. The deacons and I are going to pray before the service. We will pray that everyone who comes to church today will understand the sermon and love Jesus. I think you’re too young for that.”

Anthony hunches his shoulders and crosses his arms across his chest, saying, “No fair.”

An hour later, an orange taxi arrives at Anthony’s house. It honks its horn. Mum beckons with her hand for Anthony to come. “Let’s go, Anthony. Our ride to church is here.”

Anthony stares out the front window of his house. “Why are we going in a taxi? What’s wrong with your car?”

Mum’s cheeks turn a deeper shade of pink. She places a pair of black sunglasses over her eyes, then puts her hand over the gap between her glasses and her forehead. It blocks the bright morning sunshine from entering her eyes. “I still feel a little unsteady from last night.”

After a winding taxi ride, Mum pays the fare, then they stand on the footpath outside Pastor Haydon’s church. Anthony looks up at his mother, then takes her hand in his, thinking, Why did Uncle Haydon say he had a great sermon for Mum?

Chapter Six

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Entering the church, Mum squints, then holds her head in her hands. “Perhaps this was a bad idea. Those drums are giving me a splitting headache.”

But then, Mum drops her hands back by her sides and her face brightens. She watches as a man wearing a name tag helps an old woman push her walking frame to an empty church pew. When Pastor Haydon walks by, Mum places her hand on his arm, stopping him from walking past. “Oooh! Haydon? Who is that greeter over there? His accent is so cute. Where’s he from?”

Pastor Haydon’s lips tighten. “I don’t remember, Susette. Finland, I think, but how about just being friends with the guy? Remember, you have a son to think about.”

Anthony’s mum pulls her eyebrows together, then places her hand on her chest. “Haydon, how could making friends with the door greeter hurt Anthony?”

Pastor Haydon’s lips tighten again. He opens his mouth to say something but thinks better of it and shuts it.

As Pastor Haydon walks away, Anthony looks at his mum, then he looks at Pastor Haydon. Drawing his eyebrows together, Anthony says, “Uncle Haydon is right. I don’t like how many boyfriends you have.”

Mum rolls her eyes. “Not this again.”

Anthony frowns. “It’s true. I’m always meeting new ones. I make friends with them, then they leave. It makes me sad.

Mum points her finger in the air, signalling that Anthony should stop but Anthony pushes on, his eyes moist.

“Why can’t you be more like Uncle Haydon? He’s always around. He never makes me feel like he’s going to leave. I trust him.”

Mum takes a step backwards, then bows her blushing face towards the ground. She opens her mouth but the drums go quiet and everyone takes their seat.

The congregation sing. “All things bright and beautiful!” Then, Pastor Haydon starts his sermon. “Jesus wants to make you into a new creation. That is, a new person. A person who obeys God. Not a person who disobeys God. He did it for me. If you ask Him, He will do it for you too.”

Chapter Seven

Anthony and his mum stay after church, with the adults sipping tea and biscuits and the kids drinking red cordial. As they mingle, the greeter walks past. Mum’s face brightens again. She twirls her blonde hair around her fingers. “Oh, hi, I haven’t seen you here before. I hope everyone’s fitting in all right.” Mum and the greeter chat a while, then he moves onto a new person.

Anthony lets out a long sigh. Phew! The  greeter doesn’t want to know my mum. Good! I don’t want to meet any new boyfriends.

A shadow darkens the church foyer, as a grey cloud passes over the giant skylight in its ceiling. Then, Pastor Haydon appears. “How did you like the sermon, Susette?”

Mum opens her mouth to reply, but a man with worried eyes approaches. “Sorry to interrupt, Pastor Haydon, but I really need to speak with you.”

At this, Anthony’s ears prick up, as he thinks, About what? Uncle Haydon’s secret?

Pastor Haydon smiles, “Of course, Dirk. Is here okay, or should we speak in my office?”

Dirk smiles ruefully. “Your office, please. I could do with some privacy.”

As Dirk and Pastor Haydon walk towards his office, Anthony pulls on Mum’s hand. “What are they going to talk about? Does that man know Uncle Haydon’s secret?”

Mum doesn’t answer. Instead, she smiles sweetly and starts twisting her blonde hair around her pink acrylic fingernails.

Uh oh, Anthony thinks. That only means one thing.

Anthony looks in the direction his mum is looking. He sees that the greeter is returning. Soon, he’s standing beside Mum.

Anthony looks at his name tag. Mikko. Mikko twists his fingers together until they are a great big, tangled mangle. Then, he untwists them again. “So, Susette, you mentioned you came here in a taxi. How are you planning on getting home? Would you mind if I drove you?”

Anthony rolls his eyes. Oh, no! Another boyfriend. A boyfriend who interrupts secrets. Will I ever find out what Uncle Haydon does on Wednesdays?

Mikko and Mum talk and giggle: about Mum’s French name and whether she is French or if her parents just liked the sound of it. Anthony rolls his eyes again. I’m not sticking around for this. I’m finding out Uncle Haydon’s secret!

Chapter Eight

Anthony creeps away from Mum and Mikko. They’re so engrossed in what the other is saying, they don’t even notice.

Anthony tiptoes toward Pastor Haydon’s office. Cool! They haven’t closed the door all the way. Then, Anthony takes a deep breath and peers through the doorway. Dirk and Uncle Haydon are sitting on a cream-coloured couch, facing a window.

Before entering the office, Anthony looks behind him. Perfect! Everyone’s drinking tea and eating biscuits and Mum and Mikko are still talking. Anthony crouches down low then pushes the door open a little more, hoping its hinges won’t creak. They don’t!

His heart beating fast, Anthony crawls through the doorway. I’ll sit behind this big, brown box. They won’t find me here! Anthony smiles at the box. It has blankets written on in it in red Sharpie. They’re for the homeless. I want to help them too!

Then, Dirk’s voice interrupts Anthony’s happy thoughts, focusing his attention on what he and Pastor Haydon are saying.

Dirk says, “Wow! That’s some storm coming!”

Pastor Haydon agrees. “Yes, I like looking out this office window, watching the lightening zig-zag over the mountain range. It’s unreal!”

Anthony rolls his eyes. Yada, yada, yada. Let’s get to the secret.

Finally, Dirk and Pastor Haydon finish up their chit chat.

Anthony hears Pastor Haydon say, “Now, Dirk, what did you want to talk about?”

Chapter Nine

Dirk sighs. “I’ve lost my job. I worked hard. I was always on time, and I never took sickies, but my boss still let me go.”

Pastor Haydon lets out a long breath. “Oh, Dirk, that’s tough. I’m so sorry to hear that.”

“I feel terrible, and I don’t know who to turn to.”

Pastor Haydon comforts him. “Don’t worry, Dirk. You’ve done the right thing. You have a church family. You can turn to us. Now, Dirk, do you have any savings you can fall back on?”

Dirk sighs again. “Only a little.”

“Well, don’t worry. Tomorrow, I’ll bring you a food parcel.”

Then, Anthony hears a sound like a drawer sliding open. “Here, Dirk. Take these money vouchers. They should help you pay your next electricity and water bill.”

“Great! Thanks! This is an answer to prayer, but, Pastor Haydon, will you pray with me right now? Food parcels and money vouchers will only get me so far. I need a new job, and fast.”

Then, Pastor Haydon says something that makes Anthony’s face sweat and his heart pound. “Dear Lord, thank you for Dirk. Thank you that he has sought help. That takes courage! Please help him find a new job. We know this can be challenging for someone who has spent time in jail, but we also know that you’re the God of the impossible. So, God, please do the impossible right now. Amen.”

Anthony can hardly believe his ears. His arms shake and his legs tremble. What?! Jail?! Dirk has been to jail? What for? Am I safe?

Then, just as Anthony thinks he can’t take his racing thoughts any longer, Dirk says something that completely blows his mind. “Thanks for praying for me. I feel better now that I’ve talked with you. You were released from jail only a few years ago but what you’ve achieved in that time inspires me.”

Anthony’s mouth drops open, then his eyes grow as round as the clock on his uncle’s wall. The skin on his face burns as if on fire. Huh?! Uncle Haydon has been to jail too? Is this his big secret? Who is he really?

Then, Pastor Haydon’s office door swings open.

Chapter Ten

It’s Mum. She says, “Have you seen Anthony? Mikko and I want to get out of here. He was in the foyer a second ago, then when we looked around, he wasn’t there anymore.”

Pastor Haydon replies. “Well, he must be here somewhere. Have you checked the church playground?”

After a pause, Dirk says, “He’s behind that big box over there. I can see his shoe.”

Anthony grimaces. Nuts! I should’ve hidden better.

Anthony sits on his haunches, then kneels. Slowly, he rises until he is standing straight. Then, his face still sweating, his heart still pounding, he runs towards his mother, standing behind her while clinging to her arm.

Anthony whimpers. “Mum, take me home!”

“We are going home, but what’s wrong? Why did you disappear, and why do you look terrified?”

Anthony doesn’t reply. All he can do is whimper and cry.

Pastor Haydon looks at Anthony, his brow furrowed and his eyes confused. Then, something clicks inside his mind, and his eyes change from baffled to forlorn.  “Oh no! Anthony overheard Dirk and I talking about our jail time.”

Dirk looks uncomfortable, then says, “I’ll wait in the foyer.”

As the door to his office closes behind Dirk, Pastor Hadon says, “Anthony, I wish you hadn’t heard that.”

Then, Pastor Haydon squats down low, making himself the same height as Anthony. Next, he holds his hand out towards Anthony. “Come here, little fella; let me explain.”

But Anthony doesn’t move. He refuses to look at Pastor Haydon’s eyes and tears continue to flow down his cheeks.

Pastor Haydon looks sad, then lowers his head. His cheeks flaming bright red, he says, “Anthony, it’s true. I have spent time in jail, but I’m a completely different person now.”

Mum looks at Anthony’s tears. “Anthony’s too upset to hear this right now. I’ll take him home. Mikko’s driving me. When Anthony’s calmed down, perhaps you could try again.”

Chapter Eleven

Mum puts Anthony to bed early. She’ll probably smell like sour juice again soon. But Pickles stays longer. He lays with Anthony, whimpering and licking his face. Anthony wraps his arms around Pickles and hugs him tight. “Thanks, boy. I’m glad you’re still here.”

During the evening, Anthony hears a car roar up their driveway and the garage door slide open, then closed. Soon, Pastor Haydon enters Anthony’s room, sitting on the edge of his bed. Anthony doesn’t say a word. He lays still in the dark, still feeling frightened.

Uncle Haydon places his hand on Anthony’s shoulder. “Anthony, I have a wonderful life, but it hasn’t always been that way. I’ve lived through some terrible things. Things that really hurt, but then, one day, something life changing happened.

“I made a new friend. He said, ‘Hey, Haydon, you don’t look so good. What’s wrong?’

“I said, ‘Nothing much. I’m a little tired. That’s all.’

“’Tired? Come on Haydon, you don’t look tired; you look like you need a buzz! Here, try one of these.’

“Then, my new friend looked from side to side, as if checking that nobody was watching, and slid a mysterious packet out of his shoe.

“Once he unwrapped it, I felt confused. I said, ‘Pills? What are they for?’

“My friend said, ‘They make you feel happy when you’re hurting inside.’”

“I placed my hand over my chest and thought about all the pain swirling around in there. I said, ‘Well, I guess it aches a little.’

“My friend shrugged his shoulders. ‘So, take one. I don’t care. I can get more later. Easy!’

“So, I reached my hand towards the outstretched packet, paused, then slipped them into my pocket. I said, ‘Thanks! I’ll think about it.’

“My new friend grinned, saying, ‘Sure. No pressure.’ Then, as he walked away, he turned back around, winked and said, ‘And remember, I can get more. Real easy!’

“That night, I took those tablets, and my new friend was right! I did feel better at first, but then I felt sick and woozy.”

Anthony’s ears prick. Gaining courage, in a faltering voice, he says, “The tablets made you feel sick? How?”

His voice sounding more hopeful, Pastor Haydon continues his story. “It turns out that the medicine was not the kind of medicine you buy from a doctor. The medicine he sold me was dangerous medicine, and instead of making my life better, it made it much worse. But even though the medicine made me feel sick, I started selling the dangerous medicine too. Then, the dangerous medicine made other people feel sick and woozy, and some of them even died.”

Anthony gasps. “Oh no!”

Chapter Twelve

Haydon continues. “Then, one day, I heard a knock on my door. Five police officers were standing there. They said, ‘Hey, you! You’re under arrest!’ I ran, and so did my friends, but the police and their dogs chased after us. They captured me and took me to court.”

Haydon sits up straight, listening hard to every word. “Yikes! What happened then?”

Pastor Haydon takes a deep breath, then says, “Before I knew it, I was standing in front of a judge. The judge said, ‘Don’t you know it's against the law to sell medicine if you’re not a doctor? Only doctors know which medicines are good for you and which medicines are bad. So, you’re going to jail! You must stay there for ten years.’

“In jail, I felt sad, but prison chaplains visited me. They said, ‘If you tell God you’re sorry for the wrong things you’ve done and try hard never to do them again, Jesus will forgive you, and you can even live with Him in Heaven when you die.’

“That blew me away! I was so amazed by God’s love and grace. I said, ‘Dear Jesus, I’m so sorry I’ve sinned. Please forgive me.’ Then, I made a vow. I said, ‘When I get out of jail, I’m going to become a pastor and help others who have been to prison and I’m going to help them not take dangerous medicine anymore either.’

“So, on Wednesdays, I take time out from preparing my sermon and run a Bible study for people who’ve been released from jail. I also help them to find jobs, because many bosses don’t trust people who’ve spent time in jail, because they worry ex-prisoners will break the law again and make their customers feel frightened and not come back again.”

Pastor Haydon places his arm around Anthony’s shoulders, saying, “Anthony, I’m ashamed I sold dangerous medicine and that I had to go to jail, but I hope you can still love me.”

Anthony’s mind races. I can’t believe this! But then, Anthony smiles. That’s actually really awesome! It shows how strong, and kind God is!

Anthony sits a little longer, thinking about how much Pastor Haydon loves him. He cooks me dinner. He helps me with my homework. He helps mum when she’s falling over. He even takes me swimming. Next, Anthony thinks about all the ex-prisoners Pastor Haydon is helping as well, and about the sermon he preached that morning about God making sinners into new creations. Then, Anthony can’t hold it in any longer.

Anthony throws his arms around Pastor Haydon’s neck. Laughing, Anthony hugs him. “I love you Uncle Haydon! You shouldn’t have kept this a secret!”

Pastor Haydon smiles, relieved. He squeezes Anthony back, saying, “Thank you, Anthony, and thank you, Jesus.”

Epilogue

A couple months later, Anthony, Pastor Haydon, Mum and Pickles are lazing around the swimming pool. They have gone every week since Mum went to church. Pastor Haydon looks over at Anthony, “You know what? Since you’ve handled my secret so well, perhaps you’re big enough to jump off the 5-metre diving platform after all.”

Anthony beams. “Really, Uncle Haydon? Do you mean it?”

Pastor Haydon laughs, then nods.

Anthony climbs up the yellow diving tower and stands on the diving platform. He curls his toes over the edge. He feels a balmy breeze breathe over his face, then he looks down. His belly does a huge flip flop. “Yikes! This is taller than I thought. Maybe, I’m not ready for this.”

Anthony looks over at Pastor Haydon. Pastor Haydon throws Anthony a reassuring smile. He shouts, “You’ve got this!”

SPLASH! Anthony jumps off the diving platform. He enters the clear water with his toes pointed and his arms tight against his ears. Then, he swims towards Mum and Pastor Haydon.

Mum shouts, “Woo-hoo!”

Pickles barks. “Arf! Arf! Arf!” while Pastor Haydon smiles, then says, “Impressive! I knew you could do it!”

Then, Pastor Haydon’s face becomes serious. “Anthony, there’s something I forgot to tell you. Not everyone who goes to jail changes. Some people go to jail lots of times because they love behaving badly. Not everyone should receive a second chance. If you are ever unsure about whether you should trust someone who has hurt you and give them a fresh start, you should ask an adult.”

Anthony tilts his head to the side. He thinks about what Pastor Haydon has said. Then, he smiles and says, “Okay, Uncle Haydon. I’ll do what you say.”

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,

He is a new creation;

Old things have passed away;

Behold all things have become new.

2 Corinthians 5:17 

 

 

 

 

All rights to this article belong to the author, but, this article may be freely redistributed as long as the content of the article is not changed.

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS

If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be! Click here and TRUST JESUS NOW

Read more articles by Ruthie Alekseeva

Like reading Christian Articles? Check out some more options. Read articles in Main Site Articles, Most Read Articles or our highly acclaimed Challenge Articles. Read Great New Release Christian Books for FREE in our Free Reads for Reviews Program. Or enter a keyword for a topic in the search box to search our articles.

---

Enter comments below. Due to spam, all hyperlinks posted in the comments are now immediately disabled by our system.

Please type the following word below:

Not readable? Change text.

The opinions expressed by authors do not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.

Hire a Christian Writer, Christian Writer Wanted, Christian Writer Needed, Christian Content Needed, Find a Christian Editor, Hire a Christian Editor, Christian Editor, Find a Christian Writer