Take Charge

by Melody Carlson

  “Mr. Howard from the hardware store questioned whether or not I really spoke with you. He actually sounded as if he was going to come out here himself.”

  “Rubbish! If Richie Howard ever showed up here, I would have him thrown out on his ear. His father, Richard, was an utter fool, but Richie is far worse. I’m surprised he hasn’t run Howard Hardware into the ground by now.”

  Amy considered this. She’d never been particularly fond of Mr. Howard. Mostly because he had never treated her or her family with any respect. He always acted as if he thought they were going to cheat him. Still, she was surprised that Miss McPhearson didn’t like him either.

  “Don’t worry about him,” said Miss McPhearson, waving her hand. “I have no use for fools.”

  Amy nodded. “I must agree with you on that.”

  Now Miss McPhearson almost smiled, but it wasn’t exactly a pleasant smile. In some ways it was scarier than her grim look. “I suspect that you are not a fool, Amy Ngo.”

  “I hope not,” said Amy. “I’m top of my class and I skipped a grade.”

  “A very smart girl, eh?”

  Amy shrugged as she remembered how many times her mother had chided her about being too proud.

  “So how is the work coming?” she asked. “On the park? Have you gotten it all put back together yet?”

  Amy gave her a brief report on their progress. “But the community support hasn’t been as good as we’d hoped,” she said finally.

  The Dragon Lady scowled. “Well, I hope you aren’t here to beg for money!”

  “No, of course not,” said Amy. “Not at all. What I’d like is something that would prove we are working on the park with your permission. Something I could take to the newspaper so that they wouldn’t keep casting a shadow of doubt over our project.”

  The Dragon Lady nodded, rubbing her chin as if she were thinking.

  “We’re having some fund-raisers on Saturday, but if no one trusts us or believes that you have really given us permission … well, I doubt that anyone will help us raise money.” She sighed. “And it will take money to replace some of the things that were destroyed.”

  “Why don’t the police make the vandals replace those things?” demanded the Dragon Lady.

  “They haven’t caught them yet,” said Amy. “And, as you know, we only have thirty days to make the park usable.”

  The Dragon Lady narrowed her eyes now, and Amy imagined sparks coming out of her flared nostrils. “It’s all their ploy, isn’t it, to get the park out of my hands and into theirs?”

  Amy considered this. “It really doesn’t seem very fair … I mean, most of the city people haven’t been very helpful. And the local businesses certainly aren’t supportive.”

  “Including your own family?”

  Amy blinked. It felt as if she were reading her thoughts. Then she nodded. “It’s true. My own family, at least my parents and one sister, think the park should become a parking lot.”

  The Dragon Lady stood up suddenly. She walked across the room to where a large desk was situated in a corner. She sat down at it and pulled out a piece of heavy stationery and began to write. After a few minutes she stood and handed the paper to Amy.

  “That should take care of Richie Howard or any of those other ridiculous town folks.”

  Amy studied the letter. It was hard to decipher the spidery-looking letters at first, but she soon was able to read it.

  To whom it may concern,

  I, Viola McPhearson, do hereby give my permission for Miss Amy Ngo and her friends to continue their work to restore McPhearson Park, which is legally my property. Any further questions regarding this should be forwarded to my attorney, Mr. William C. Langley

  Sincerely,

  Miss Viola McPhearson

  “Thank you very much,” said Amy.

  “But one thing,” said Miss McPhearson, pointing a gnarled forefinger just inches from Amy’s nose, “you and your friends better not let me down.”

  Amy didn’t know what to say now. Surely this woman realized that they were only five girls, and that the restoration of the city park was a huge task.

  “I mean it,” said the old woman. “I’m depending on you now.”

  Amy blinked. “We’ll do the best we can, Miss McPhearson. But it’s not easy with all the resistance we’ve been getting.”

  “Harrumph!”

  “Right,” said Amy. “Exactly how I feel too.”

  Then Miss McPhearson laughed. And for a change it almost sounded like a happy laugh. But when Amy looked at her face, she was scowling more deeply than before.

  “I won’t take up any more of your time,” said Amy nervously.

  “Just one minute,” insisted Miss McPhearson. “I have something else I want you to agree to … ”

  Amy was getting worried now. What was she getting herself into with this crazy old woman? Maybe she should just return the letter and run.

  “Or perhaps I’ll have to take back my letter.” She held out a wrinkled hand.

  “What is it?” Amy asked cautiously.

  “I want you to bring your friends here to meet me,” said the Dragon Lady with a sly look in her eye. “I want to see what kind of people I’ve aligned myself with on this project.”

  “I … uh … I’m not sure they can come.”

  The Dragon Lady took in a sharp breath. “Then give me back that letter, Amy Ngo. I can’t trust you.”

  Amy stepped back from her. “Okay,” she said. “I’ll see if I can get them to come here.”

  “Good. Sunday for tea. Four o’clock sharp.”

  “If they can come,” said Amy.

  “You bring them here!” And then she turned and, using her tricky exit from the library, she disappeared into the bookshelf.

  Amy took in a slow, steadying breath as a chill like icy fingers ran down her spine. She wanted out of this place — and now! She phoned An as she went out into the foyer, telling her she was ready to be picked up.

  “The sooner the better,” she told her sister.

  “Everything okay?” asked An in a concerned voice.

  “Yes. I just want to go home or to the restaurant or anywhere but here. Okay?”

  “I’m on my way.”

  chapter eight

  As An drove Amy home, she questioned her about her visit with the Dragon Lady, but Amy didn’t really want to talk about it. In fact, she didn’t really want to talk at all. Something else was bugging Amy. Something she didn’t know if she’d ever be able to talk about. Questions … too many questions. Nagging, nagging, nagging …

  “Did she frighten you?” asked An after they’d both been quiet for a while.

  “Who?”

  “The Dragon Lady.”

  “Oh, not really. Well … sort of.” Amy looked out the window and let out a deep sigh of frustration.

  “Are you okay, Amy? You don’t seem like yourself today.”

  “What does it mean to be a Christian, An?” she asked almost without even meaning to. And as soon as the words were out, she wished she could pull them back in.

  “Huh?”

  “Oh, nothing …”

  “No, Amy. You asked me a serious question. You just caught me by surprise is all. What does it mean to be —”

  “Like, how did you decide to do it?” she persisted. “I mean, how did you know what to do? Or how to do it? What’s it all about? I just don’t get it.”

  An laughed. “Slow down. Too many questions, little sister.”

  “Sorry.” Amy leaned back into the seat. “It’s just that all my friends — even Chelsea, who’s not always very nice — are Christians. I’m the only one who isn’t. And I don’t even know how to pray or anything. I just don’t get it.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “And I know you’re a Christian, An. Even though you don’t talk about it very much. But I know you go to a Christian church and you have some Christian friends. I’m guessing even your doctor friend is a Christian.”

  �
�That’s right. But the reason I don’t talk about it much is because of Mom and Dad.”

  “Did they tell you not to?”

  “Not exactly. But I know it bothers them, Amy. And I don’t want to make them feel badly. Still, my faith is real. And I can’t change it because of them.”

  “But how did you find it, An? How did you know what to do? I just don’t get it.”

  An laughed. “That’s probably because you’re trying to get it with your head, Amy. It’s not really a head thing.”

  “Then what is it?”

  “It’s a heart thing. It’s something deep inside of you, Amy. It’s like you get this really hungry feeling deep inside. This longing for something … someone … more than what you have. It’s a deep spiritual hunger and thirst.”

  “Yeah?” Amy felt excited now.

  “And it’s like you can’t rest until you find the thing … the person … who can fill that place inside of you.”

  “Yes! Yes!” said Amy. “I feel like that!”

  An was pulling into the restaurant parking lot now. She turned and looked at Amy. “Really? You feel like that?”

  “Yes. I feel like something inside of me is missing. Like everyone else is in on this really good secret and I’m on the outside. And I feel sort of sad and scared. I can’t really explain it, An. But something is really bugging me.”

  “It’s the way God made us, Amy. He made us with a need to have him in our lives. And it’s why he sent his Son, Jesus, into the world, so that we could invite him into our hearts and be forgiven and have a real relationship with God.”

  “But how do you do it?”

  “You mean, how do you invite Jesus into your heart?”

  “I guess that’s what I mean.”

  “You just do it, Amy.”

  “How?”

  “You pray. Do you want me to pray with you?”

  Amy looked down at her lap. She wasn’t even sure what she was getting herself into, but she knew she had to take this next step. “Yes.”

  “All right,” said An in a serious voice. “This is how they do it at my church. I’ll pray something and you repeat it, but imagine you’re talking to Jesus. Okay?”

  “Okay.”

  So An began to pray and Amy followed. And to her surprise it really wasn’t all that complicated. But even more surprising was how much better she felt when they were done.

  “That’s it?” she said.

  An laughed. “Good grief, Amy, you just invited the King of Kings into your heart. Don’t act too casual about it.”

  “That’s not what I mean,” said Amy. “I’m just surprised it was that simple.”

  “But did you mean it?” asked An. “Did you really mean those words you prayed, in your heart?”

  “Of course.” Amy nodded. “I wouldn’t have prayed them if I didn’t mean it.”

  “Good.” An stuck out her hand and shook Amy’s. “Welcome to the family of God. You are a Christian, Amy.”

  Amy smiled. “Cool.”

  “Yes, cool.” An glanced at her watch. “But I better get in there before Mom wigs out. Are you working tonight?”

  “Do you guys need me?”

  “No. Ly should be back by now.”

  “And I have homework.” Amy grabbed her backpack. “I’ll just walk home.”

  An grinned at Amy. “That really is cool, Amy. I mean, that you’re a Christian now.” She hugged her. “Now I have someone else in the family I can talk to about this stuff. Wanna go to church with me on Sunday?”

  “Sure.”

  Then they said good-bye and Amy started toward home. But as she walked, she noticed a definite lightness in her step. It felt as if some heavy load had been lifted from her. She couldn’t even totally understand it. At least not with her head. But like An had said, she thought she understood it in her heart. She couldn’t wait to tell Morgan and the others!

  As she hurried home, she decided to try out the praying thing on her own. And since she was still feeling a little concerned about their park project, she decided to pray about that. First, she asked God to help them finish what they had started. Then she reminded him of how the little kids in town really did need a place like that to play in. And she promised God that she would do her best to see that it got finished too. Then she said, “Amen!”

  “Hey, Amy!” called a girl’s voice, and Amy turned around to see Morgan, Carlie, and Emily hurrying toward her.

  “We thought that was you,” said Emily as they jogged up and joined her at the entrance to the mobile-home court.

  “How’d it go with the Dragon Lady?” asked Carlie.

  “You look like you’re still in one piece,” said Morgan. “We prayed for you.”

  “Thanks,” said Amy. “It went okay. She even wrote me a letter to prove that we really do have her permission.”

  “Cool,” said Morgan.

  “Except for one thing,” remembered Amy. “She made me promise her something.”

  “Did she make you write it in blood?” teased Emily.

  Amy laughed. “No, but it involves you guys. And Chelsea too.”

  “What?” asked Carlie.

  “The Dragon Lady wants us all to come to tea at her house on Sunday at four o’clock.”

  “Cool,” said Emily, rubbing her hands together. “I can’t wait!”

  “Really?” Amy was surprised.

  “Yeah, me too,” said Morgan. “This will be interesting.”

  “I’m in,” said Carlie. “And I know Chelsea will be too. She really wants to see that house.”

  “Great!” Amy smiled. She had no idea it would be that easy to get her friends to go to the Dragon Lady’s. Hopefully they wouldn’t all end up locked in her basement.

  “So, did you take the letter to the newspaper yet?” asked Emily. “For verification?”

  “And to remind them that there are laws against slander?” added Morgan.

  “Yeah, that Mr. Howard practically called you a liar,” said Carlie. “That’s not right.”

  Amy slapped her forehead. “I totally forgot.”

  “Well, it’s not five o’clock yet,” said Morgan. “They’ll still be open.”

  Amy nodded. “I better head back to town right now.”

  “I’ll walk back with you if you want,” offered Morgan.

  “Me too,” said Emily.

  “I would love to go too,” said Carlie, “but Mom wants me to watch the boys when I get home.”

  So Amy, Morgan, and Emily told Carlie good-bye then turned back toward town.

  “Thanks, you guys,” said Amy as they hurried along. “And this gives me the chance to tell you my big news …”

  “About the Dragon Lady?” asked Emily with dramatic interest.

  “Bigger than that.”

  “Bigger?” Morgan looked interested too.

  “You’ll never guess what I did today.”

  “Did you get skipped another grade?” asked Morgan.

  “No.” Amy shook her head. “Bigger than that.”

  “Did you win the lottery?”

  “Bigger.”

  “Bigger?” said Morgan and Emily in unison. Then they looked at each other and back at Amy with bewildered expressions.

  “What?” demanded Morgan. “What did you do?”

  “I invited Jesus into my heart.”

  “No way!” yelled Morgan, a huge smile breaking across her face.

  “Way!” said Amy.

  “Congratulations!” said Emily, squeezing her hand. “Welcome to the real club!”

  Morgan hugged her. “Congratulations, Amy. That means we really are sisters now, you know?”

  “We’re in the same family,” added Emily.

  “I know.” Amy smiled. “And it’s so cool.”

  She told them about her conversation with An and how she prayed with her and how much better she felt already. And suddenly they were at the newspaper office.

  “I’m Amy Ngo,” said Amy as they stood in front of the
reception desk. “I’m the chairperson of the Save Our Park project, and I’d like to speak to the editor, please.”

  “The editor?” echoed the older woman with a slightly amused expression.

  Amy nodded firmly. “Yes, this has to do with something in yesterday’s newspaper. Something that might be considered slanderous.”

  “Slanderous?” The woman looked really curious now. “Why don’t you girls go have a seat, and I’ll see if Mr. Simpson is available.”

  They went over to the chairs in the waiting area and sat down.

  “Are you nervous?” asked Emily.

  Amy considered this. “No, not really.”

  Morgan grinned. “That’s because you have Jesus in your heart, Amy. He can help you through anything.”

  “Mr. Simpson will see you, Miss Ngo.”

  Amy looked at her friends. “Can they come too?”

  The receptionist shrugged. “I don’t see why not.”

  “I need witnesses,” Amy whispered to her friends as the receptionist led them to an office in the back. Emily giggled.

  “Amy Ngo,” said Mr. Simpson as he stood and shook her hand. “A pleasure to meet you.”

  Then Amy introduced her friends and they all sat down.

  “Mrs. Flynn said that you mentioned a concern about slander,” he continued. “Would you care to elaborate?”

  So Amy calmly reminded him of the article in yesterday’s paper and how Mr. Howard said that Amy might be making up the story about speaking with Viola McPhearson.

  He cleared his throat. “Well, you must admit that it sounds a bit far-fetched. I’m not suggesting that you actually lied. But no one in this town, including the mayor, who has made attempts, has spoken to Miss McPhearson for years. For all we know, the woman could’ve passed on by now. And it’s reasonable to assume that a young girl might not have her story straight.”

  Amy was beginning to fume now. She felt her face growing warm at what sounded like a fairly direct accusation.

  “Amy is not a liar,” interjected Morgan.

  Mr. Simpson held up his hands as if he wasn’t convinced.

  “And she has proof,” added Emily.

  “That’s right,” said Amy. She stood up and removed the letter from her backpack and laid it on his desk.