Sweet Mystery
Poppy paused pen in hand at her desk. Her Mother was calling her from the kitchen. She dropped her pen, closed her diary and went to see her Mum. She found her starting to make a batch of her favourite strawberry jam tarts. “Can you give me a hand please Pop?” “Sure thing Mum.” Together they measured, mixed and made pastry cases and strawberry filling. Then while the tarts baked and cooled, Poppy and her Mum sat down to share a sweet treat and catch up. After that there were dishes to be done, dinner to be prepared and eaten, and more dishes. By the time the family had played a few games together it was time for bed.
The next morning being Sunday, Poppy barely had time to eat breakfast before heading to church. On their return she ran straight upstairs to her room and her desk. She had news to write in her diary! Her friend Emily had been asked on a date by a new boy at church! Poppy's emotions felt a bit like a strawberry jam filling. There was happiness for her friend. Envy that she was not the invited girl. Anxiety that she was not even ready to go on a date. The mixture was not sweet and she wanted to put down her thoughts in her diary and get it all in perspective. She sat down at her desk and reached for the key to unlock the diary but it was not there! The diary was there. The key was not. Help! She tried to remember what had happened the day before. She searched every room in the house. She went through the pockets of everything she had worn including the kitchen apron. No key. What was worse? Having an unlocked diary anybody could read? Or a locked diary you can't write in?
Poppy felt like crying. She knew she shouldn't be this upset over a little key but she couldn't help it. It was the last straw. She sat on her bed. At that moment the Holy Spirit nudged her inside. “Pray Poppy”. Poppy prayed for Emily. She prayed for the new boy. She prayed for her own heart. And then she prayed for the lost key. She felt much better after that.
Poppy was heading downstairs to phone Emily to see how she was when she heard a yell. She raced downstairs and heard voices and laughter in the kitchen. On entering the kitchen she found her Mum, and her little brother Peter drinking a large glass of milk. “What's happened?” asked Poppy. “Peter got more than he bargained for in his strawberry tart Poppy. Have you lost something?” Her Mum held up a sticky red key for Poppy to see. “It's almost the same colour as your face Pop” said Peter. “You're lucky I didn't swallow it because I sure wouldn't have gone looking for it!”
Word count 485
January 2014
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