Halo School the Holy Nails

By Jeb Browning

JAMIE CONNORS grew up in a poor, single parent home. One day Jamie and his friends are selected to attend the Halo School in the Realm of the First Heaven where each person learns to fight evil by developing their own special powers. Another fellow student, Daniel, whose family has ties to evil, is accepted into the Halo School through nefarious means. His mission is to free the imprisoned Dark Prince who is a fallen Archangel.

When Jamie suspects Daniel is up to no good, he sets out to stop him. Along the way he battles hostile satyrs, angry goblins that ride on skeletal dogs, life threatening chimeras, a deadly nemean lion and many other ancient beasts. Throughout this perilous journey students from the six Halo Schools; Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Judaism compete against each other in the War Games. Will Jamie and his team win the War Games Championship or risk it all to stop Daniel from freeing a Fallen Archangel?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jeb Browning
• Release date: Mar 30, 2019
• ISBN: 9781733876926

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Harold Connors eased into the old rocking chair in the living room of his tiny one-bedroom home. In the adjoining room his son, Jamie, slept on the cot, next to his father’s twin size bed. Harold began to darn a pair of Jamie’s socks while he watched his son sleep.

A gust of wind hammered the window, sending a cold blast of air up the back of Harold’s neck. He reached for another few pieces of scrap wood, discarded from the remodeling job he worked on, and tossed them onto the fire. Life was a lot harder for Harold and his son since the boy’s mother died. The fire, their only source of heat, needed stoking all night, which meant Harold had to get up every two hours to feed the beast.

Satisfied the fire was set for a few hours, Harold got back to his needlework. He inadvertently pricked his finger and jerked his hand from the sock. A trickle of blood appeared on his finger. Without warning, his son moaned from the bedroom. Harold watched the tiny body twist and turn in the agony of fitful sleep.

Harold sucked on his finger, stemming the flow of blood as he set his work aside. Oh no, not another nightmare. My poor son. When will this haunting end?

Sweat beaded on Jamie’s forehead and trickled down his cheek while his dream tormented him. He was running from a large vicious dog, running for his life, scared out of his mind. He came to a river with water flowing faster than a freight train. He had to get across. Jamie jumped from boulder to boulder as the white water threatened to suck him in. The next thing he knew, he was falling, hitting branches, and tumbling toward the ground.

Jamie woke up with his father’s touch. It’s all right, son. It was just a dream.

Jamie breathed rapidly, recalling the realism of the dream. It took nearly an hour before he got back to sleep. His father put away the sewing for the night and climbed into bed, watching and praying for his son.

The next day, Jamie, a three-year-old with blond hair and green eyes, paced the sidewalk in front of his faded yellow house, waiting for his daddy to come home. The sitter was asleep inside their house. He stopped dead in his tracks when he spotted two golden coins lying in the road, next to the curb.

Jamie raced over and picked up the coins. Wow, I’m lucky.

He spit on the two coins and rubbed them vigorously with his torn shirt. Shiny like new! His eyes narrowed as he examined the coins. A blond, shaggy lock dropped into his eyes.

Jamie walked over to the overgrown grass in the side yard, behind an old pine tree, out of sight from the older kids in the neighborhood. He rolled the coins over in his hands. He recalled people flipping coins for good luck.

He took one of the golden coins and tossed it into the air. It soared high and far, or at least it seemed far to a toddler. The coin landed softly in the deep grass and disappeared. Jamie searched for several minutes; no luck.

He ran a hand through his golden locks and wondered what to do. He could see in his mind’s eye the coin sailing through the air and landing in the grass. Jamie walked back to the exact spot where he had tossed the coin. How can I find it? Will I lose my second coin looking for the first? He breathed deeply, trying not to panic.

He looked at the coin in his hand. He had never seen such a beautiful coin. What to do, what to do?

Jamie squeezed his eyes shut and prayed. He focused, double-pumped his arm and launched the second coin into the air. The coin sailed, just as he had seen it in his mind’s eye. He crept behind the coin, watching its flight. When the coin landed in the grass, he heard a clink. His heart hammered in his chest as he inched closer to the spot where the coin disappeared.

Jamie slowly reached out, his tiny fingers entering the grass where the sound of the clink came from. When he pulled up his hand, he had both of the coins.

Jamie looked about nervously, wondering if anyone saw him with the coins. He quickly pocketed the money and decided to wait for his father inside.

Shortly after Jamie turned four years old, he realized that being an only child in his neighborhood was a curse. With no older brothers to protect him, he became a target of the merciless neighborhood bullies.

One spring day Jamie felt restless. He wriggled into his hooded sweatshirt and headed out the door.

The Miller brothers had a game of kickball going in their front yard. Jamie half ran, half skipped over to their house, hoping to join the game.

Mike Miller had the ball when he noticed Jamie entering his yard. What do you want, Connors?

Jamie waved and flashed his friendliest smile. Hi, guys. Can I play?

Mike waved to his brother Mark and they both walked over to Jamie. Look who’s come to play, Mike said to Mark as they towered over Jamie by six inches.

Mark wiped his nose on the back of his hand, and then rubbed it on Jamie’s shoulder. You got any money, Connors?

Jamie patted his pockets. No.

Mike laughed at his brother’s antics. I don’t believe you, Connors. The twin looked at his brother and said, Maybe we should check for ourselves.

They searched him for money and when they did not find any, they roughed him up.

Look here, Connors. Little kids like you have to pay to play. Mike laughed a fake laugh. Now, go home before I lose my patience with you.

When Jamie turned around to leave, Mark kicked him in the rump. Make it snappy, Connors. You’re delaying our game…and don’t come back without some money.

Later that year, on a hot summer day, Jamie overheard a group of older boys talking about going to Thompson Park for a swim. He ran into his house, grabbed his bathing suit, a cutoff pair of jeans, and a towel from the bathroom and left the house without telling the babysitter.

He fell in line behind the older boys and headed for Thompson Park. Although Thompson Park was three miles away, Jamie figured it would be worth the long walk if he could swim with the big boys. Maybe he could get on their good side and make some friends.

Jamie walked behind the group, straining to hear what they kept laughing at. Then it hit him…square in the face. At first, it smelled like rotten eggs; then, it smelled like a skunk. Maybe a skunk had eaten rotten eggs. He crinkled his nose and looked at the older boys in front of him. Patrick Jay, a chubby nine-year-old who walked directly ahead of Jamie, gritted his teeth, intentionally trying to fart.

Jamie slowed down, hoping his eyes would stop stinging, and wondered what that kid could have eaten.

Thankfully, Patrick had run out of gas by the time heat radiated up from the pavement in waves. Jamie grew weary on the long, hot, dusty walk. Thankfully, one of the nine-year-olds brought a bottle of water that he shared. By the time they handed the bottle to Jamie, it was bone-dry. When Jamie held up the empty bottle, the older boys laughed.

Jamie arrived at the park tired, thirsty, and sweaty.

A lifeguard with red eyes told Jamie that he had to swim in the wading pool with the little kids who were still in diapers. Jamie could not believe that he had walked so far just to swim with the toddlers. He stood in shock, slowly shaking his head and watching the older boys laugh as they headed for the pool.

Jamie felt humiliated. He watched the older kids swim and bask in the glory of the large pool. The hot sun glistened off their wet backs. They sprung off the diving board, cutting through the moist, sticky air like a hot knife through butter. Jamie grabbed his towel, lowered his head, and headed for home.

The scorching walk home became treacherous. A large, vicious dog with huge teeth drooled and barked ferociously as Jamie walked by. It broke its tether and chased him for a block before a St. Bernard came to his rescue. While the two dogs fought, Jamie escaped.

Then because of construction, workers closed the bridge across the Black River. Jamie decided to take the old wooden bridge that closed years ago. The bridge looked rickety. Wooden planks were either rotten or missing. At least the sweltering air felt cooler near the river. With every step, Jamie heard boards creaking and he could feel them bow under his thirty-six pounds of heft.

When the bridge abruptly ended halfway across the raging river, Jamie jumped from the wobbly old bridge to boulders strewn among the rapids of the river. He jumped from boulder to boulder as the white water rushed past him like a freight train.

Several large waves splashed him violently, as if trying to knock him into the water. At one point he landed on a moss-covered boulder, and a thrashing wave crashed into him. He swung his arms in circles and regained his perch. He thought he would be okay, and then he felt a cold hand push him. He lost his footing on the slippery slope and fell in.

Before he disappeared into the battering undercurrent, a bearded stranger grabbed Jamie by the wrist and dragged him from the dangerous waters of the Black River. The stranger seemed to glow, or maybe the sunlight created prisms from the water in Jamie’s eyes. The bearded man dried Jamie off with a large brown hand towel, gave Jamie a hug, and sent him on his way. For some reason the fear that gripped Jamie when he entered the water evaporated like the moisture on his skin.

On the last leg of his three-mile journey, Jamie thought he would starve to death before he ever got home. His stomach cramped and his legs felt weak. A short time later he found a half-eaten bag of peanut M&Ms.

Jamie picked up the bag and examined it. I can’t believe how lucky I am. This candy is not melted and there are no ants inside. He began to devour the oversize bag of M&Ms as he continued his walk home.

Just as he was about to finish the bag, he saw a plastic water bottle on the side of the road. Jamie raced over and picked it up. Yes, it is half full. Thank you, God. This is what I needed to wash down my snack. He finished the M&Ms and greedily gulped down the water.

After wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, he let out a loud burp and his lips curled upward. For the rest of his journey home, Jamie had a little more pep in his step and the world seemed to be a little brighter.

When Jamie got home he found the babysitter and his father waiting for him. After giving the boy a stern reminder about unseen dangers in the world, and a heartfelt promise from Jamie never to run off without telling the babysitter again, the father dropped to his knees and hugged his son.

CHAPTER 2

Several years later, Harold Connors decided to give Jamie more time to grow and mature before starting him in school. So at the ripe old age of six, Jamie entered kindergarten at Tilden Street School. Because Jamie was born in September, his father had the ability to wait an extra year before enrolling him. Being an only child in a rough neighborhood is tough enough, so Harold Connors gave Jamie the extra year before starting him in school.

After Jamie’s mom had died giving birth to him, his father struggled to support the family on his meager wages working for a remodeling contractor. Buying school clothes became another financial challenge. Thank God for the Salvation Army.

One day while walking to school Jamie met up with several students from his neighborhood. They were several years older, but Jamie knew who they were. The three boys and four girls were talking and did not mind when Jamie fell in line behind them.

A tall stranger appeared from behind an old oak tree. He looked to be in his mid-teens with long black hair and eyes as dark as coal. He made eye contact with Karen, one of the older girls of the group, and then he looked up at a nearby tree.

Karen followed his gaze to a bird’s nest. She looked at the stranger and he nodded to her.

Hey, look. Karen pointed toward the bird’s nest perched on a branch fifteen feet above the ground. I bet there are eggs in that nest. I sure would like to bring an egg to school and show my teacher. Karen heard herself talk, but could not remember what she said.

Ricky Hanlon, who lived two houses down from Jamie, was a beefy ten-year-old third-grader. He had repeated second and third grade. He looked at the nest, and then at the stranger.

Ricky turned around and saw Jamie standing with the tattered backpack his father had bought for him at Mr. Seconds. Jamie, get your rump over here. Ricky didn’t know why he felt so angry.

Jamie ran over to Ricky and skidded to a stop. Hi, Ricky. What do you want?

Ricky looked at the stranger and then turned to Jamie. Listen up. I want you to shimmy up that tree and get that bird’s nest. When you get your hands on the nest, toss it down to me. Ricky spoke in a monotone and his eyes seemed glazed over.

Jamie looked at the tree. The nest looked a mile away.

The wind picked up and storm clouds gathered. A cool breeze washed over the children. Goose bumps erupted on Jamie’s bare arms.

Jamie turned to Ricky. The branch with the nest is too small. It will never hold me.

The stranger tilted his head to the side and strolled up to the group. He had an air of trouble about him. He gave everyone an uneasy feeling.

Ricky lowered his head and took a step back.

The stranger spoke to Jamie in a soft, buttery voice. What’s the matter, boy? Don’t you want to belong? Don’t you want to be like everyone else…get some respect?

A flash of lightning lit up the sky. Off in the distance, thunder rumbled.

The stranger found Jamie’s weak spot. Jamie wanted more than anything to be part of a group.

Yes. Jamie watched the stranger’s eyes turn red. He shuddered as a cold chill rippled through his body.

The stranger gnawed on a blade of grass. Then why don’t you show them how brave you are? Climb up that tree and get the nest for Karen.

Jamie wondered how the stranger knew Karen’s name. He looked at Karen and she shrugged.

The stranger continued. Don’t worry about falling. Ricky will stand under the tree and catch you if you fall. A thin lip curled up on the left side, forming a half smile.

The sky darkened and the wind became a steady breeze.

Jamie looked at Ricky, who waved a hand toward the tree.

Okay, I’ll do it. Jamie shrugged off his backpack and walked over to the tree. He looked at Ricky again. Don’t forget to stay close in case I fall.

Don’t worry about it. Let’s get this done before it starts raining. Ricky wanted to get away from the stranger with the weird eyes.

After a boost up the tree, Jamie climbed from limb to limb, heading toward the nest.

Ricky watched as Jamie climbed higher and higher.

The wind picked up and the tree began to sway.

The stranger had a crooked smile that showed yellow teeth. You better keep an eye on that bird’s nest, Ricky. It may have eggs in it, and if it falls you’ll need to catch it before the eggs break.

Ricky glanced over his shoulder and nodded to the stranger. Don’t worry. I’ll get it.

The closer Jamie got to the nest, the more the wind shook the tree. The smell of rain hung in the air.

You better hurry, kid, before the rain comes. The stranger pushed Jamie to climb faster.

As Jamie reached for the nest near the top of the tree, a gust of wind knocked it free. The nest floated away from the tree.

Ricky staggered back and forth trying to get into position to catch the nest, as if he were a baseball player getting ready to catch a pop fly.

In Jamie’s mind’s eye, he suddenly saw himself falling through the air. In a panic, he wrapped his legs around the branch and held on tight.

Focusing on Jamie, the stranger narrowed his eyes, clenched his fist, and cracked his knuckles.

The thin branch that Jamie sat on suddenly creaked and then gave way.

Jamie and the branch he sat on fell several feet, landing on the branch below. Jamie’s rump landed squarely on an upturned knot in the tree, and he grabbed his bum and howled in pain. The weight of Jamie and the branch became too much for the second branch to hold, and that gave way also. Together, the two branches and Jamie fell until they hit a third branch. Again, Jamie landed on the upraised knot.

To the kids on the ground, Jamie looked like he was riding a bull…hooting and hollering, waving one hand in the air, trying to keep his balance and grabbing his buttocks with the other hand. They all burst into laughter as they watched Jamie breaking tree limbs and continuing to fall.

When Jamie landed on the ground, he had three branches and one seriously hard knot planted under his butt cheeks. Jamie jumped up and ran around in circles holding his rump, grimacing and yelling, Ouchy, ouchy, ouchy.

Ricky pointed a finger at Jamie and laughed. Look, he’s crying.

Jamie yelled in self defense. I am not crying…my eyes are leaking from the pain. He looked at Ricky, who was laughing so hard that tears streamed down his face. You’re the one who’s crying.

Ricky wiped his eyes with the back of his hand and tried to stop laughing. You’re all right, kid. I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time.

Karen looked at the tangled pile of branches and sticks. She walked over to Jamie and said, You are very lucky. You could have been hurt really badly in that fall.

Jamie grabbed his tattered backpack and shrugged it on with one hand while rubbing his rump with the other. He looked around but the stranger had disappeared.

He looked up and saw a ray of sunshine burst through the clouds.

Over the next year a series of unfortunate events occurred. The family’s detached garage burned down. A twister rolled down his street causing damage to every house except Jamie’s. A freak accident involving a BB gun injured a boy in the neighborhood.

With some coaxing from Granny Canaan, Harold Connors decided Jamie needed a change. They moved into Granny’s two-story colonial in a nice neighborhood on the west side of the city.

As an added bonus, Granny stayed home to help raise Jamie. He couldn’t believe all the new clothes Granny bought for him. They must have cost a fortune.

The following September, Granny enrolled Jamie in St. Anthony’s School. She felt Jamie should become familiar with God. It was the beginning of Jamie’s true calling.

CHAPTER 3

Over the next six months, Jamie began dreaming more vividly. When he woke from a dream, his heart pounding and dripping with sweat, he could recall it with great clarity. Then later on, when some of those dreams came true, he felt confused and dumbfounded. He did not know whether it was a blessing or a curse.

Over the winter Jamie made friends with some of his classmates. Their names were Robin Connelly, Anthony Tony Donato and Carla Alterio. All three of his new friends lived in his neighborhood.

Robin came from a poor family. She was a slender girl with shoulder-length auburn hair. She had two older brothers and one younger brother. Many of her clothes were hand-me-downs from her older siblings. Her brothers taught her how to play sports, wrestle, and do everything other boys her age could do. She could not only do what other boys did; she also did it better. Some boys were jealous and called her a tomboy.

Carla, a girly-girl from a well-to-do family, had two younger sisters. Carla’s rich, dark brown hair hung down past her shoulders and curled around her neck. She preferred cheerleading to actually playing sports. She always felt sorry for Robin when boys picked on her. Carla tended to the kids who got hurt while playing in their neighborhood. Most of her friends thought she would grow up to be a doctor.

Tony, the youngest in his family, had one older brother and one older sister. He was short and stocky with a long Roman nose. His black hair curved above his ears and his bangs fell short of his eyes. His family owned a bakery that made pizza and fresh Italian bread.

Every morning Robin walked to Jamie’s house to pick him up for school. Then they walked to Carla’s house where they wait for Carla to put on some last minute touches as she liked to call them. Once Carla was ready, the three of them proceeded to Tony’s house. Tony’s house always smelled like fresh, hot Italian bread. Most days they had just enough time for some butter-soaked hot bread while they waited for Tony. Once Tony was ready and the kids were full, the four of them ambled off to school.

By the time they were in eighth grade, the four of them became inseparable, which was a good thing, because that was when trouble started.

In mid-April a new student started at school. His name was Daniel Pistoleese. His family moved up from Louisiana a year ago. He had been attending Boon Street Public School, but after a number of expulsions and a scandal with a teacher, his parents decided Daniel needed a change. Daniel’s father donated a large sum of money to St. Anthony’s Catholic School and got Daniel admitted.

Daniel towered over his new classmates by at least four inches. Some of the kids suspected that he had failed a grade or two. Daniel’s long black hair, which hung loosely around his shoulders, and his hawkish nose and a pointed chin, accented his slender profile. He spoke with a slow, soothing voice. Some called it a Southern drawl. Instantly, all of the girls fell in love with him, and all of the boys hated him. There was something about his self-important manner and the way he looked down on the other boys that made them dislike him. Apparently, his family was rich, very rich. They owned several businesses and one of those businesses was located here, in Waterfalls, Connecticut.

The two boys who took to Daniel immediately were Ronny Scordo and Johnny Carbon. Johnny and Ronny were class bullies who lived next door to each other on the outskirts of the West End Flats, close to where Daniel and his family now lived.

If Daniel’s first day at St. Anthony’s was any indication of things to come, Jamie and his friends were in for some tough times.

When lunch recess came, all of the kids wolfed down their food except Carla, who of course chewed every bite twenty times. The boys grabbed the baseball equipment, hustled outside, and began to pick teams for a quick game. Jamie tossed the bat to Tony and they began the process of going hand over hand up the bat when Daniel arrived.

Hold it right there. You are not starting without me. Daniel grabbed the bat before Jamie could reach the knob on the top to claim first pick.

Jamie looked at Daniel with stunned disbelief. What do you think you’re doing? We were going for first picks.

Daniel snorted. Only captains pick sides, and I am always a captain.

Tony shifted uneasily and stepped forward. Who says you get to be captain? You just got here. You don’t know who the good players are.

Daniel hoisted the bat to his shoulder and gave a devilish grin. "I always know how to pick the good players. Don’t you worry about that, little man."

Tony’s face turned red. "Who are you calling little?"

Jamie stepped in between the two boys before Tony could take a swing at Daniel. Look, we’ve already picked captains, so give us the bat. Jamie sensed Daniel and his two new friends were actually looking for a fight.

It looks like baseball is going to have to wait until I teach you two some manners. Daniel handed the bat to Johnny and took off his jacket.

Jamie looked at Tony and quickly stripped off his jacket and handed it to Tony. Hold this for me.

The two boys squared off, raised their fists and began to circle. Prepare to meet your maker, Connors. Daniel grinned as he eyed Jamie.

The bigger they are, the harder they fall. You don’t scare me, Pistoleese. Jamie grinned back at the taller boy as they circled each other, looking for an opportunity to throw a punch.

What is going on here? Sister Deloris demanded as she swept into the circle of boys who were waiting for the fight to begin.

Jamie dropped his fists and stopped circling. Sister Deloris, we were just deciding who would be the captains.

Sister Deloris glared at Jamie and then turned to Daniel, who had taken the bat from Johnny and slung it over his shoulder. Are we going to have trouble with you, Daniel?

A slow grin formed on Daniel’s face. In a syrupy voice he said, Why, Sister Deloris, I wouldn’t think of causing trouble on my first day. I am merely giving Connors here a few pointers on good manners.

Sister Deloris walked closer to Daniel. I think you need to come with me, Mr. Pistoleese. I have a few questions regarding your performance at your previous school.

Daniel tossed the bat to Jamie. Maybe next time, Connors. It looks like I am needed elsewhere. I owe you one for getting me in trouble. Daniel nodded toward Sister Deloris, who was already walking back toward school.

The boys quickly picked teams and the baseball game began without Johnny, Ronny or Daniel.

The last few months of school passed without incident. Sister Deloris kept Daniel busy catching up on the religion classes that he had missed. This became especially important because the bishop announced that next year the Rite of Confirmation would be taking place.

CHAPTER 4

The hot, sticky summer humidity bothered everyone. Jamie slept with his window open but the curtains above his bed hung dead still. At four AM, the curtains began to rustle. The window rattled and Jamie started to dream. A man with horns and the legs of a bull attacked him. He struggled with the mighty beast. Great arcs of fire and wind scorched Jamie’s eyes and mouth. He woke up in a sweat, gasping for air. It’s just a dream. It was just another crazy, stupid dream.

Jamie climbed out of bed and drank water from the bottle on his dresser. He looked up at the calendar, picked up his pen, and marked off another day.

Only three days left before school. He wiped the sweat from his brow and climbed back into bed. He couldn’t shake the feeling of dread. Sleep wouldn’t come for the rest of the night.

School started right after Labor Day weekend and Jamie welcomed the distraction. The ritual of Robin, Carla, Tony, and Jamie walking to school together was back on track.

The school’s primary focus was getting four grades’ worth of children prepared for Confirmation. Because the bishop performs this sacrament, it only takes place every four years. The nuns were under tremendous pressure to make sure every student passed the pre-sacrament testing.

With Confirmation set for Sunday Mass, the kids gathered in the church for a dry run of their pre-sacrament testing, and everyone was stressing out.

I can’t believe we have to know every prayer inside out and forward and backward. That sounds totally ridiculous, Carla said on a sunny but cold November day.

Robin moaned. I don’t think I can remember the Apostles’ Creed.

Tony looked around the church. He didn’t see the beautiful leaded glass windows with saints and angels etched into them, or the marble altar. Instead, he watched the younger students. The younger grades will have more problems than we will. The fifth-and sixth-graders have all the nuns freaking out. Some of the sisters were still huddled with their class, rehearsing prayers.

Jamie tried to remember what happens during Confirmation. Does the bishop slap your face if you don’t answer a question correctly?

Tony laughed and said, Yeah, that’s it. The bishop just wants to knock some sense into you.

Robin laughed. I have an idea. How about if we answer wrong, the nuns get slapped, not us?

Jamie joined the revelry. In that case everyone would intentionally be giving the wrong answers.

Carla chuckled. Don’t be silly, Jamie. He touches you on the cheek at the actual ceremony, as a reminder to be brave in spreading and defending the faith. Then the bishop says, ‘Peace be with you.’

Either way, my granny is insisting that I wear a suit. I look like a monkey in it. Jamie shook his blond locks in disgust.

Tony chimed in. Yeah… me, too. I got a monkey suit to wear and some shiny new shoes.

After a long silence, Robin started biting her nails. The three other kids looked at each other and realized that Robin’s family could not afford a dress for Confirmation.

Oh, Robin, that reminds me. I wonder if you could come to my house after school. I bought two dresses for Confirmation and wondered which one you wanted to wear. Carla winked at Jamie.

Robin looked up and wiped a tear from her eye. Are you kidding me? Cause if you are, that’s not funny.

No joke. I have two dresses. We are the same size, so I need to know which one you want. Carla had empathy for those less fortunate than herself. She would never let one of her best friends get hurt if she could help it.

Oh, Carla, you are the best friend a girl could ask for. Robin gave her a hug and Carla blushed.

Jamie sat in silence as the other kids talked about the upcoming Confirmation. He studied the statue of Jesus; the crown of thorns, the nails in his hands and feet, the pattern of the marks in his side. Jesus suffered a horrible death. Jamie looked at the bloody face. He somehow looked familiar, and Jamie wondered where he had seen this face before.

CHAPTER 5

The schedule called for the bishop to question the students all day Friday and Saturday. If they knew their prayers, they would be confirmed on Sunday