Chapter One:
A small girl buries her face in her hands, afraid of the airplane she is on. The shade is pulled, and she whimpers at the feeling of not being on the ground. What if the plane stops working? she wonders fearfully. Then me and my Mommy will die…
She peeks out through her tiny fingers at the seat next to her. It is empty, because her Mommy left to go to the bathroom. She said that Ally is a big girl now, so she can sit all by herself. It is still scary…
It is nighttime now, and there are still a few hours left. They are moving from their hometown of Springfield, Illinois, all the way to London, England. Ally remembers the day her Mommy decided they were leaving. Ally had been playing out in the backyard of their old house, 1248 Elm, and remembered a song she'd heard at school that day. She began singing it, just like the children in white dresses had, and wished she could jump-rope like them. They were really good at it…
Ally saw her Mommy appear in the doorway of the house. Her Mommy listened for a moment, then ran out and snatched her up, carrying her into the house. Her Mommy began packing their things into big suitcases, and told Ally to gather up her favorite toys. As Ally did so, she heard her Mommy talking to someone on the phone.
"No, Dammit…THAT SONG! He's coming…Freddy…we're going to live with her Uncle in England…"
Uncle Freddy? Ally wondered to herself. I wonder what Uncle Freddy's like…
A roll of thunder shook the airplane, and Ally whimpered. She remembered something her Mommy told her before they'd gotten onto the plane…it was a prayer…but she couldn't remember who she was praying to…but she decided to pray anyway.
She folded her little hands in her lap and bowed her blonde head, closing her eyes. She sat perfectly still."Uncle Freddy, please wrap your arms around this plane and guide it to our new home…hug it tightly, Uncle Freddy…keep me and my Mommy in your warm embrace…amen."
When she looked up, her Mommy was walking down the aisle toward her. She noticed her little girl was praying and felt good inside. Ally was growing up, and bringing prayers into her life. Her Mommy sat beside her and put her arm around Ally. They sat close together, and moments later, Ally was asleep.
