For Such a Time as This

By Susan E. Baker

Mannie is an unpredictable, determined, twelve-year old girl with a large imagination and lots of questions. Her own self-doubt is fueled by wondering why God made her ears stick out? Why Jamey, a fun and likeable 6th grade boy, chooses Mannie to be his best buddy? Why Cynthia Colbert, the most popular girl in school, keeps pestering and making fun of her in front of Mannies classmates? Why does her homeroom teacher never smile at Mannie? Biggest question of all? What is going on behind the doors of the old Benson Mansion?

Through prayers Mannie begins to realize that she is fearful of a lot of things. This awakening prompts her to do something about this feeling of dread she faces every day. Mannie searching for answers to her dilemma discovers how much her Father in heaven loves her, and with her parents loving guidance they begin to read the story of Esther together from the Bible.

Mannie still wondering about her abilities begins to gradually take steps of faith each day and see God at work in her life. Taking the chip off of her shoulder she begins to lose fear as her companion and replaces fear with strength, self-discipline, and kindness. Mannie realizes to embrace those ears she felt were unreasonably silly and out of control as a gift from God not a curse. Meanwhile, Mannie and Jamey take a journey together to solve the mystery of the old Benson Mansion. The answer to the noises and happenings will leave the reader feeling just as surprised as Mannie and Jamey.

This is a fun packed adventure with struggles, intrigue, and a touch of mystery. Find out how Mannie does work through her difficult circumstances with Esther as her new mentor. Mannie starts to live her faith and begins to understand that this is her time in the 21st century, in her school, with her classmates, with Jamey, for . . . such a time as this.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: May 24, 2017
• ISBN: 9781512794960

Susan E. Baker

Susan Baker is a wife, mom and recently a grandma, all taking first place in her life. Susan is now a retired educator. She completed her teaching career by working at Northwest Missouri State University as a parent educator, instructor in child development classes, and Coordinator of the Early Childhood Center. She enjoyed writing articles for parents for 10 years with the local newspaper in her home town of Maryville, Missouri. Now she is enjoying her writing as a freelance writer. Susan has been featured visiting several different women’s organizations throughout northwest Missouri speaking Biblical topics to restore women and families in God’s powerful and loving ways. Susan leads a women’s Bible study group in her church and with her husband, Roger, leads a Sunday school class. She counts it as an honor and privilege to have this time to be involved in God’s word and be able to share His teachings through many opportunities with her church family, friends and community. Roger and Susan are also busy owning and running a third generation office supply, furniture, computer store. With her writing and teaching Susan loves trying to keep up (but not be a pesky mom and mother-in-law) with her grown children who are all living in different areas in the state of Missouri.

Book preview

FOR SUCH A

TIME AS THIS

SUSAN E. BAKER

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Copyright © 2017 Susan E. Baker.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

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Bloomington, IN 47403

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-5127-7937-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-9496-0 (e)

WestBow Press rev. date: 07/10/2017

Contents

Chapter 1     Mannie Rose and Her Ears

Chapter 2     Jamey McBaines

Chapter 3     The Old Benson Mansion

Chapter 4     Cynthia Colbert

Chapter 5     The Plan

Chapter 6     The Return

Chapter 7     The Benson Mansion Alive and Well

Chapter 8     A New Direction

Chapter 9     A New Friend

Chapter 10   The Mystery of the Old Benson Manion

Chapter 11   To The Rescue

Chapter 12   A New Beginning

Chapter 13   For Such A Time As This

About the Author

Chapter 1

Mannie Rose and Her Ears

M annie slowly placed her hands over her eyes. With her face covered she guardedly opened one eyelid and then the other. Oh yea! Her second look convinced her that it was morning! She popped out of bed and ran to her dressing mirror. There in the reflection stood a gangly twelve-year-old girl. Her long, straight blond hair was sticking straight up on top of her head and the hair on the sides were clumped and intertwined between strips of cloth. From the slits of material one could see the piercing green eyes, straining to capture the image in the mirror.

Mannie wasn’t concerned about her hair or looking at her face at this moment. It was the gauze like material that was securely wrapped around her head from ear to ear that she was closely studying. Protruding every which way out of the odd looking bandage were at least nine huge safety pins. She carefully turned her head to the right and then to the left, she wanted to make sure the strange bandage contraption had been securely in place all night.

She nodded her head and squinched her eyes. Yyy..ee..aa, everything was in place as expected, she thought. Now the time for the unveiling. Mannie was so excited her hands and fingers were shaking. Steady now … steady. Mannie began the sacred ritual. As she removed the cloth from her head, she commenced to chant in a low, sing-song voice a favorite poem her mom always used to say when tucking Mannie into bed each night before their prayers,

Watch, look, observe and see,

for there is only one of ME!

Mannie was really shaking now, she placed one hand over the other as she continued to unwrap the head dress. She tightly closed her eyes, she couldn’t bear to look. She unwound the last strip of cloth. Ever so quietly, Mannie began to repeat her poem once again in the same monotone chanting voice, Watch, look, observe, and see, for there is only one of … and just as she began to speak the word … me, the ragged and frayed strips of cloth fell to the floor and she opened her eyes at the same time.

Staring in the mirror revealed a gangly twelve-year-old girl, lots of freckles, long straight blond hair, emerald green eyes, and … EARS, EARS sticking out from her hair! No matter what direction she turned, those ears looked like they were waving at her with a smirky grin saying, Good morning, Mannie, what took you so long? We’ve been waiting for you!

Of course you have! Mannie retorted back to her reflection.

She stomped her foot slowly turning from the mirror, stopped and then tromped each foot hard on her wood floor. Ouuucch! That hurt. Mannie thought as she flopped into bed and threw the covers over her head. Whatever. My ears are driving me craaazzy!

She began yelling, I am not going to school, I am not going to school. It is so stupid and dumb and …

Right then Mannie’s mom walked up to her bedroom door, Mannie! What are you doing?!

Mannie quickly turned the covers down just enough to see her Mom’s face showing impatience. Mannie, what is going on? Am I hearing romping noises? Why am I hearing romping noises up here? There is not a reason in the world to be hearing romping noises at 7:00 in the morning!

Sure, Mom.

Well, get up now. I have your breakfast hot and ready for you. I made your favorite, waffles and frozen fruit slush. Mom turned to leave Mannie’s doorway while she was shaking her head, mumbling something with the words Mannie and now what.

Mannie took her covers and turned them down, hard. You’vegottobekiddingme! Mannie’s frustrated words rolling emphatically out of her mouth. You bet I’m going to school. I wouldn’t miss this day for nothing. As soon as I see that Jamey McBaines, I’m going to knock him right on his …

Mannie Rose, hurry up now, your breakfast is waiting. Mom poked her head back in Mannie’s room.

Okay, okay! Mannie jumped out of bed and stepped up on her vanity bench waving her right arm high in the air holding tight on to her hair brush, like it was a blazing sword. Mannie looking to the heavens proclaiming, Nothing is going to conquer me! I shall survive and I will conquer all! You wait and see!

Her mother with mouth slightly opened, about to say something, changed her mind rolling her eyes and sighed as she turned away from Mannie’s room and walked slowly down the hallway shaking her head.

Chapter 2

Jamey McBaines

A s Mannie walked to school she thought how that stupid Jamey McBaines got her hopes up. What was she thinking to believe Jamey’s bright idea! She was glad it was cold and gloomy outside. She pulled her stocking hat down a little farther on her head. Wearing a hat made her feel better, it was like her security blanket. When her hat was on she would forget about her ears for at least, well, until she would have to take it off. When she didn’t wear one she always knew her ears were out there floppin’