According to Marissa
Chapter Four - Part Two

Day one was full of arguments. Day two was full of tears. By day three, Samuel was pleased to find that Marissa had learned how to properly hold and shoot the sling shot. His satisfaction was short lived, however. As the day drew on, he quickly found that Marissa was too frustrated to aim, to prideful to listen and to exhausted to put in more effort than what was begrudgingly required. Likewise, Samuel, too, was angry. He was just as frustrated, just as exhausted. During his evening respite tucked away in one of her brothers' empty bedrooms, Samuel found himself plagued with thoughts of her, even in his sleep. While David's father suspected that he was there preparing his son for the daunting task the Lord had placed upon his shoulders, Samuel found himself preparing himself to tackle the unforseen problems erupting quietly beneath his roof.

He had, in those short span of hours, narrowed them down to three issues:

One. ) To teach the child to adequately use the slingshot, a task which even over the course of a week was quickly learned and slowly mastered. A part from their arguments, it was a problem his worry couldn't pacificate. She would get better… with time(a long time). He easily surmised it would not be in time for the Lord's use. Would she be ready for His call? He didn't know. Did she need to be? Again, he wasn't certain.

Two.) Addressing the child's attitude, which he suspected stemmed from her unspoken issue in her time. While the details were unknown, it was obvious she had been dealt a heavy blow to her self of esteem. That heavy blow made her defensive of all criticism, good or bad.

Samuel laid down on the bed, internally agonizing over the revelation. He had seen these symptoms before in one other, the current king seated on Israel's throne, the king the Lord had only recently come to reject. Samuel's eyebrows furrowed as his heart mourned the thought. He didn't wish to see his little friend fail in the same way Saul had. Samuel rolled over, his thoughts turning to the last and final problem plaguing his mind, one that the girl seemed oblivious to notice.

Three. ) Why was she here in the first place? Why was the Lord sending her back in time? What was the goal? Samuel looked out the open window adjacent to his bed and let a silent prayer to lift from his lips. Once again, it returned to him unanswered. In silence, Samuel felt his heart sink and his mind settle in his doubt. Perhaps, an answer would come on the marrow.

It came on the tenth day, as the Lord had predicted. As he was dressing, preparing for another day out with the sheep, a messenger from the front had arrived with information on the battle. David's father read it silently before passing it on to Samuel. He read the note with much curiousity before he felt the Lord tug on his heart, leading him in a certain direction. Obeying, he bid farewell to David's father and went to the bedroom to gather his things. Marissa found him just as he was tightening the ties on his luggage. It didn't take long for her to figure out what was happening.

"Where are you going," she asked. She tried to hide her sudden alarm. She failed miserably.

Samuel looked back at her. "I have an errand to do for the Lord. You are to stay here and practice."

"Where is the errand? Why do you have to go now? I thought you'd stay and..."

Marissa stopped as the old prophet raised his hand. He picked up his bag and walked over to her resting a comforting hand upon her shoulder. "I must do what the Lord has commanded. I have already taught you everything I know. To help you with the slingshot was what He wanted and I feel that I have achieved everything on that end. At this point, the only way you are going to get better will be for you to practice."

"Oh," Marissa answered. "Well, what was in the note Papa received?"

Samuel paused.

Marissa crossed her arms. "Does it concern me?"

Samuel let go of her shoulder and walked away shaking his head. "We'll see when I return."

"But… I can do it. Why won't you listen?"

"Because you won't?" Samuel stated flatly. With a start, the old man turned around to face the young lady. He stooped a little until their gazes met, eye to eye. "The greatest of men aren't great, because of their deeds," he said softly. "They are great, because they learned to trust God to make them who they need to be to do his work. They listen and learn and obey when directed. Until you can do that, you will never be good enough in the eyes of God or others or even yourself. He has commanded that you wait, little Marissa. And to practice. And so, that is what you should do. But doing that is up to you. I can't force you.

"Now I must go and do what the Lord has asked me to do. I must obey him for I am in his service just as you are." Ruffling the child's head, Samuel straightened and turned to leave. When the door swung closed behind him, he felt the weight of it seep into his bones. His thoughts shifted. As the sun's warmth seeped into his gaze, he replayed his words and wished he could have spoken them to another, only one other. Samuel sighed as his king once more filled his mind. His heart ached. It sank quietly with the sun.

— Calla