The Magic Dress

By W. Sivers

Tryphena is not interested in popularity, just security. She is looking for safety from her tormentor and enough friends to make her feel welcome. Does God have a plan to change Tryphena's life, making her feel worthy and wanted? What about her fellow student who seems to hate so many of their peers? What will Tryphena learn about other people, their hopes and dreams, and how her life intertwines with theirs?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Apr 9, 2018
• ISBN: 9781641401548

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The Magic Dress

W. L. Sivers

Copyright © 2018 W. L. Sivers

All rights reserved

First Edition

Christian Faith Publishing, Inc

New York, NY

First originally published by Christian Faith Publishing, Inc 2018

ISBN 978-1-64140-153-1 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-64140-154-8 (Digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Dedicated to

All of the beautiful young souls that God has created.

May you be blessed with love all around you.

Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

—Matthew 7:7

Preface

There is a long road that leads to the present moment. It happens to everyone. If this book has been recommended to you, perhaps it is because you are hurting and lost. Maybe you feel as though no one cares about you. No one understands the person you are. These feelings are not the truth, though as you look around, you can see no one who has your back.

This fictitious story about one teen who has no self-esteem and her supposed enemy may be similar to what you are going through. If the pain you feel seems endless and the tunnel you are looking through is more like a cave, take heart, my friend. The world seems cruel, but there are many people who believe in you. You just haven’t met them yet or you may not recognize their compassion because your vision is clouded.

If you are struggling, I want you to know that you are not alone. There are many people trying to survive in a culture that seems to be uncaring and uncompassionate. The road I have traveled has led through many hardships similar to some of yours. At times I have felt that there is no sense to this madness we call life. There is a purpose for each of us, however, and it is in our struggle that we establish who we are as a person and what we will do with that knowledge as a child of God.

I will share with you a strength-creating tool that you can use to help you in your walk. This is not meant to diminish your pain or gloss over your feelings; it is meant to help you grow stronger. Look around you and find someone to help. When we reach out to be a blessing to others, it lifts us above our circumstance and gives meaning to our life. Make it your goal to show compassion to someone else by making their life better. It is through helping others that we make ourselves more valuable as a person. Our integrity grows, and we feel more confident and worthy.

If you are holding this book in your hands and you have no issue with low self-confidence and your life is going well, kudos to you. I hope you will take your hard work and passion for living into the world and make a difference in someone’s life.

If your circumstances have you in trouble for any reason, I urge you to seek help. There are many support organizations that can assist you. If you have access to the Internet, log onto Teen Challenge, Klove Ministries, Samaritans Purse, Joni and Friends, Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch; any one of them will pray for you. Go to the church closest to where you are and ask for assistance. Your local hospital has patient advocates who are equipped with resources that can help you. More than anything else, don’t give up on yourself. You are loved beyond measure and created such that you are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalms 139:14).

Chapter One

Tryphaena let the folds of the pale cotton dress settle past her shoulders. Slipping on her socks and shoes, she stood before the mirror and didn’t like what met her gaze, a skinny, flat figure mocked her, telling her that was a vision of her life. Skinny, flat, boring.

She thought of all the students at school, all the ones who wouldn’t be her friends, which meant the entire class for the most part.

If they would put as much effort into learning as they do into tormenting me, they would be great students, Tryphaena thought. Instead, the whole class was behind in their studies. Tryphaena was squeaking by, her grades barely passing. It was a blessing that her two brothers, Micah and Ezra, often helped her with her homework. It wasn’t easy for them since they both had to hold down a job and keep up with their own school work.

Tryphaena’s mind drifted to the end of the school year when she would finally get a break from her life of discontentment. But then she thought of the next school year. Next year would be even worse. Micah would be going to college. That was a place Tryphaena would not let her mind wander to. She couldn’t think of not having her oldest brother here to encourage her. The thought was too scary, too overwhelming.

Tryphaena wiped away the tear that breached the dam of her eyelid. She swept her long, brown hair into a ponytail. Her mother’s calls to breakfast were perfectly timed with Tryphaena’s steps on the stairs. Another school day had begun. Like 180 others in sixth grade, it promised to be nothing special.

Threading her way between students, Tryphaena tried to remain unnoticed. Just a short distance from the relief of her English classroom, Kelly materialized. Tryphaena moaned inwardly; Kelly was the worst bully in the sixth grade. She bluffed people with her size and strength. She ridiculed others for not wearing top label clothing, but never wore name brands herself. Larger than life, she always knew where to be at just the fight time, and any time was just right in her domineering mind.

Hey, nerdy, how’s the weather on Stupid Street today? Kelly gave Tryphaena’s shoulder a shove, tripping her stride and knocking her into other students.

Leave me alone, Kelly!

Leave me alone, Kelly, mocked the bully, throwing the words back at Tryphaena with a sneer in her lip. You sissy-wimp. Kelly finished her insults with laughter, all of her fellow bullies joining her. Cackles filled the hallway, as Tryphaena slipped into her English room.

Miss Bryant was just finishing the placement of a sheet of paper on each desk as Tryphaena greeted her.

Good morning to you, Tryphaena, said Miss Bryant, smiling. She took in Tryphaena’s sad expression, and concern knitted the teacher’s brow. Tryphaena, would you have a minute to see me after class today? I’ll write you a hall pass for your next class.

Yes, ma’am, Tryphaena replied without much emotion. She hoped the teacher wasn’t planning to reprimand her about her last test; she couldn’t take much more rejection. She hated school anyway because of the taunting and her lack of friends. If her grades were starting to drop, she would be in real trouble.

English class was normally interesting, but today time dragged with a weight like an anchor. When the bell finally rang, Tryphaena waited for the room to empty, then made her way to Miss Bryant’s desk.

Tryphaena, is everything all right at home? inquired the teacher, looking steadily into her student’s eyes.

Tryphaena felt a tension she wished to overcome. Everything’s fine, she said with a calm she didn’t feel.

Did you know, continued Miss Bryant, that there is a drama group in the sixth grade?

Tryphaena shook her head.

Would you consider being in it?

I guess I could think about it. Tryphaena felt much too nervous to do things on a stage in front of people. She agreed to consider it just to appease the teacher, so she could move on to her next class. Trying to perform in front of everyone in the school would be the ultimate form of torture. She had no way of knowing that Miss Bryant’s idea was meant to help her become more confident. She certainly had no idea that God was attempting to change her life. Right this very minute, He was laying the ground work.

Chapter Two

Friday afternoon, Tryphaena decided to sit in on the drama club auditions. She felt about as