Chapter 7: Peace
"Oh look! Here comes Michael! How do I look?" Roxanne started to smooth her hair and get all giddy at the site of the American Bandstand producer walking towards her and Meg. Meg raised her eyebrows and giggled. She had never seen a guy get Roxanne more flustered than Michael Brooks.
"Hello girls," Michael greeted. He pushed his eyebrows together and gave Roxanne a glance of confusion as she stood flashing him a big goofy grin. Shaking his head he turned to Meg and said, "Meg I see you were in better spirits today."
Meg glanced down at her feet and sheepishly replied, "Yeah."
"Did you hear from Jimmy?" questioned Michael.
Meg lifted her eyes back up to meet Michael's. "No, not yet," she said as Michael pushed out his lips and shook his head. "I've decided that when he writes, he writes. Until then, I'll continue to pray for him to have a safe, quick return home," Meg said.
Slapping Meg on her right shoulder and squeezing gently Michael said, "He's in all our prayers Meg." Giving a quick wave and saying, "Girls," Michael turned and walked down the hallway.
"So I'm coming over tonight for dinner right?" asked Roxanne after Michael had disappeared around the corner.
"Yeah," Meg answered being snapped out of a daze. "But I want to make one stop before we go home, okay?" Meg turned to see her friend nodding in agreement.
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"You want me to go in with you?" asked Roxanne as they stood at the top of the steps that led to the giant doors.
"No, I think I need to do this alone."
Roxanne nodded saying, "I'll be waiting here on the steps."
Receiving a hug from her best friend, Meg opened the door that creaked an unusual welcome. The large, shadowed room enveloped Meg as she walked down the aisle. The front of the building was lit up with dozens of slender white candles, some aflame, others not. Meg reached out grabbing one that was steadily burning causing the tiny flames around it to shake from her movement. Lighting an unlit candle and placing the one in her hand back in its place, Meg kneeled in front of the recent burning candle.
Tracing a cross from her forehead to her shoulder Meg then bowed her head. God, she prayed. I haven't heard from Jimmy in a long time. I don't know where he is or what he's been doing. It has made me worried. I'm sorry for not coming to you sooner. Mom always says that if you want to have peace, go to the peacemaker. I just ask that you keep Jimmy safe wherever he may be. Let him know that he's not alone. Lifting her eyes to look at the strong flame burning before her eyes she said, "Thank you," and traced a cross once again, a true smile spreading over her face.
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"Patty stop pestering your brother! I'm not going to ask you again!" Meg heard as she and Roxanne walked in the front door of the Pryor household.
"Meg? Is that you?" Helen walked into the foyer wiping her hands on a dish towel. "Oh, hi Roxanne," she said noticing Meg's brunette friend. "I'm glad you're home!" Helen's eyes shone with excitement and a bright grin parted her lips.
"What is it Mom?" Meg looked at her mother suspiciously wondering what was going on.
"Well…" Helen trailed off walking half skipping over to the table where the phone sat. Picking up an envelope she clutched it in her hands like it was a one hundred dollar bill. "Here," she burst out almost throwing it to her daughter.
Meg froze. She stood and stared at the off-white, wrinkled envelope that was waving in her mother's outstretched hand.
"Meg? Well, open it!" Helen instructed.
Still not moving Roxanne gave her frozen friend a gentle shove saying, "Go on Meg."
Meg grasped the envelope flipping it to see the return address. Nothing, she thought disappointed. Turning it over she tore the envelope open, reached in and slid the folded paper that was resting inside out of its shell. Well here goes nothing, she thought unfolding.