Chapter 21 - Page 302 - Lost In The Woods

   "Mama," Shanha said to Rhasha, "everything will be okay, you'll see." She looked confident. "We can all live together."

   Jim, Rhasha, and Shanha looked at Francis, waiting for an answer. "Please, Francis," Rhasha asked, "could you come live with us?"

   Sadness filled Fran's face, revealing the answer before she spoke the words. "Rhasha, we can't live with you and Jim. All of our relatives live in Zimbabwe, and they're anxious for us to come home."

   Rhasha sobbed. Jim tried to comfort her. He was saying a silent prayer to himself. Rhasha's knees suddenly went weak, and she almost collapsed. A blue glow surrounded her, supporting her. The glow expanded slowly to include Jim and Shanha, then continued to grow until it also enclosed Francis, Jackie, and Simbatu. Jim knew God sent the blue glow to heal everyone's pain and to ease the tension. The blue glow expanded, until it formed an oval dome covering every man, woman, and child who stood next to the jeep. It continued to expand, until the dome covered the entire village. It hung over Angel Town for several minutes, then disappeared.

   A hush fell over the people. All sadness had been eliminated, all tears had dried.

   Rhasha had received understanding, strength, and hope from God. She kissed Shanha on the forehead and gave Francis a hug. "Francis," she said, "I love Shanha with all my heart. I can only imagine how much you love her. I'll miss her every single day, but my life is richer, having known her."

   Francis smiled, showing she understood how Rhasha felt, and loved her for it. She knew Shanha had a childish magic about her.

   "Mama," Shanha said, looking at Rhasha, "I'm not dead. You can come see me whenever you wish." She looked at Francis. "Is that okay, Mama?"

   Francis placed her palm against Shanha's cheek. "Yes, sweetheart. And we'll come back to see Mama and Papa, too."

End of chapter twenty-one