Chapter 2

" …and they lived happily ever after", Mark finished for Matthew. Matthew looked down at his little brother and grinned.

" I have a different ending for my story this time", he said, ruffling Mark's hair.

" You do?"

" Yes. The Princess broke her promise to her own mother, and loved her riches. She cared nothing for her kingdom anymore and everyone disliked her. A witch came forth, and set a spell onto the princess, and she disappeared completely. She was never seen again", Matthew said.

" But that ends with a happy ending still, right? The kingdom is rid of her", Mark asked.

" No, unfortunately. With the royal family gone, and dying out, the kingdom was left with no more royalty. The folks couldn't find a leader to be their king. They were good people, but they were still greedy in their own ways. They argued and argued amongst themselves. The witch mysteriously appeared again. She, became the evil Queen of the whole kingdom, and made every man and woman her slave".

Mark's eyes widened, " Wow!"

Matthew smiled and kissed his brother's head.

" And that's the end. One day, you'll find this story relevant in your spiritual walk with the Lord. Trust me on that one", he said. Matthew slid of Mark's bed and tossed the covers over Mark.

Mark snuggled into his bed and sighed deeply. He looked up at Matthew and asked, " Matt? Are you going to college tomorrow?"

" Yes, Mark. But I'll be back for dinner", he replied.

" Oh man!", Mark muttered. Matthew grinned and ruffled Mark's brown hair.

" Goodnight, Mark", he whispered and turned of the lights.

" Please leave the night-lights on, Matt"

Matthew turned the night-lights on slowly then walked out of the room.

Matthew walked down the stairs to retrieve his Bible from the table. Mom was sitting by the fire reading her Bible. She looked up as he walked in.

" Kelly says you are letting us put your Bible in the display case. Is that true?", she asked.

" Yes. She had a good point, you know", Matthew replied as he picked up his Bible and sat on the couch".

" She does", mom agreed, " Kelly is a special one. She is beautiful, I've never seen such beauty! And… she has no resemblance of me or your father".

Matthew smiled as he leaned back.

" Matt…", his mother said, and the seriousness in her voice caught his attention. He sat up and turned to her.

" Matt, what would you think of me marrying again?", she asked.

Matthew jumped up, shocked, " Marry?"

" Yes, marry", she answered.

" You've got to be joking, right?", Matthew said, smiling a little for he didn't know whether she was being serious or…

" Matthew, I'm not. I am considering it".

" Who?", he demanded.

Mom stood up and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder.

" He's a serious Christian. From our church".

Matthew paused, taking all this in.

" Who is he?", he asked.

Mom took in a deep breath and said, " Benjamin Lovejoy".

" Benjamin?", Matthew repeated, " Well… he is nice, and a serious Christian too. Not bad looks, I should think, not bad for a 39 year-old, I mean".

" Well? What do you think?", mom asked.

Matthew stared at her and said, " Benjamin? My father?"

Mom looked at him expectantly.

He paused for a while, than said, " Why marry again, Mom?"

" Because-", she started.

" Do you think father would like it?", he asked.

" Matthew, I don't know about that", she replied.

" Then why?"

Mom took in another deep breath and said, " Matt. I know it is hard to take all this in. Especially after Dad…".

Matthew swallowed as he thought about it. The fire at the fireplace burned brightly, warming the chilly late spring night. Long moments of silence passed before anybody said anything again.

" Mom, if you love him, I wouldn't stop you. It isn't up to me to decide", he told her. Mom smiled at him, and he quickly added, " Congratulations, Mom".

" Thanks, Matthew", she said quietly. Matthew caught his mother's eye, and he hugged her.

" Oh, Matt!", his mother laughed softly as she hugged him back. Matthew picked up his Bible once again, and walked upstairs. He opened the door to Kelly's room. She seemed to be sleeping, so he turned away.

" Don't go", a small voice called to him.

Matt smiled as he came back into the room. The figure on the bed shifted as Kelly made space for him to sit-down.

" How's it going Kelly?", he asked.

" I can't sleep", Kelly sighed as he sat down. Matthew smiled at his sister and turned on a night-light.

" What are you thinking, Matt?", she asked.

" Thinking?", he repeated, surprised by his younger sister's question. Kelly sat up and faced him.

" Well, I was just wondering", Kelly said, " Has there been anytime when you just stayed up the whole night thinking about something? And you want to talk to someone, but there's nobody there to talk to you?"

Matthew raised an eyebrow.

" Yes. But I didn't stay up the whole entire night, Kelly", he replied.

" Oh, but that's what I'm feeling right now", she said.

Matt smiled, " What do you want to talk about?"

Kelly grinned back at him and threw her arms around him.

" Thank you, Matt!", Kelly exclaimed before continuing, " Matthew, what do you want to be once you get out of college?"

" Well, I'm learning how to be what I want to be in college", he replied.

" You didn't answer my question. You're not getting married?", Kelly asked.

" Married? No, I don't think so", he said, surprised.

" Don't you love anyone?", Kelly continued, frowning.

" Of course I do", he replied, moving himself so that he was now at the foot of her bed, facing his sister.

" Who?"

" Well, I love God, Mom, Mark, and you", Matthew said. Kelly glanced at him and smiled a little.

" I'm glad. But don't you love someone else other than family? Someone you might want to marry?", she asked.

" Nope, Kelly. I have all of your. I don't suppose I need one. I'm just fine right now don't you think?", he replied, blushing a little.

Kelly grinned widely, and shook her head.

" No, but still… it would be rather interesting", Kelly said.

" Do you really think so?" Matthew asked. Kelly opened her mouth to say something, but than, the door opened. Mother stood there. Immediately, Kelly shut her mouth.

Mother walked in and motioned for Matthew to leave the room.

" Goodnight, Matthew", she said, nodding at him. Matt looked up at her and realized that she wanted to talk to Kelly. Matt got off the bed quickly and ruffled his sister's hair gently.

" See ya tomorrow, Kel", he told her, grinning. But Kelly shook her head and replied, " I'll be going to camp remember? And you're going to come over two days after tomorrow".

Matthew paused as he tried to remember. He did.

" Oh. I have college, but since it's the last day… I won't be able to send you to camp. You'll have to find another way".

" What?" Kelly exclaimed, " You have to send me, Matt!"

Matthew laughed and said, " I'm kidding. I'll send you as far as to the front door of the dining hall, alright?"

Kelly sighed in relief and whistled slowly.

" You got me there, Matt. But thanks", she replied.

" Wake up at six o'clock, and don't be late, or you'll just have to stay home", he said, walking out of the door.

……….