NURL OF NAIN

By Sandy A. Whitely

It started with a girl called Nurl, a small, cute, illusive girl with very large eyes who had a ponytail and freckles. She attended Christian school with a lot of friends who did things together such as shopping, hiking, camping, and bike rides. Nurl loved treats, the sea, lakes, holidays, and pets. She lived in Nain, a town near the mountains, yet close to the beach. But most of all, Jesus was Nurl’s best friend, and she put Jesus first.
The fun part of Nurl’s life in Nain was all the crazy adventures she and her friends got involved in. There was never a dull moment or a boring day. You never knew what fun things she would do or where she would go. You could count on one thing: she was going to enjoy every minute, and her Jesus would be right there with her.
This religious fiction book for teens tells the story of Nurl, a one-of-a kind young girl who experiences life just like any other girl, with one exception: her best friend is Jesus. Nurl’s lessons were hard, but her strong faith always carried her through those crazy adventures.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Archway Publishing
• Release date: Aug 10, 2023
• ISBN: 9781665738248

Sandy A. Whitely

Sandy A. Whitely is a lifetime artist, musician, and clothing designer. She studied Cultural Anthropology at Andrews University, and has eleven years’ experience in Christian publishing, including missionary work in Beirut, Lebanon. She has studied quantum physics since 2006 while being CEO of three businesses, and raised champion bullmastiffs. She is a bodybuilder who focuses on health, wellness and financial freedom.

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Copyright © 2023 Sandy A. Whitely.

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.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents,

organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products

of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

Archway Publishing

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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

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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 Getty Images are

models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

ISBN: 978-1-6657-3825-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6657-3823-1 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-6657-3824-8 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2023902197

Archway Publishing rev. date: 07/27/2023

I

dedicate any inspiration found in this book to my Jesus first of all. He has abundantly blessed every minute of my life and has never left me for a second.

Also, to my loving family—Kim, Erika, Heidi, and my husband, Bill—who have put up with me and supported me. Nurl of Nain came to life while the girls were excited young students in Christian school. Nurl watched the girls while life was new, exciting, and just beginning for them. She had fun with them; she grew up right along with them and waited patiently until the day when she could emerge on the pages of this book to tell of her adventures.

A further dedication is to kids of all ages who still share hopes and dreams and love the excitement of life—kids who have the spirit of adventure and dream of finding the hidden treasures in life; those who still love to explore, endlessly ride bikes, and share life with their friends; those who are so excited when they wake up, they can hardly wait to get outside and experience life; and those who love sports like track, skiing, baseball, ice skating, soccer, football, and so many more. And to the girls who love to cook, sew, and enjoy crafts—and hundreds of other things girls love to do!

Life is the ultimate adventure of fun and learning, and Nurl of Nain knows how to experience every minute of it. She learned some of it from my kids and from your kids, too, and she would love to continue to share her experiences with you in this book and in those to come.

Thanks to all of you who love life! Thanks to all of you who love Jesus! Thanks to all of you who love to have fun and are willing to learn new and exciting things. Thanks to those who love the experience of life every day.

Life is the ultimate experience.

Enjoy!

CONTENTS

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Introducing Nurl of Nain

Just What Is a Nurl?

STORIES

76876.png Nurl of Nain and the Turnip Seed Kids

76876.png Fun at the Marketplace

76876.png Nurl of Nain at the Turtle Races

76876.png Pie … Oh My!

76876.png Fudge, Fondue, and Bonbons

76876.png Bitty Bugs

76876.png Skating at the Roller Rink

76876.png Mitzi Runteth

76876.png Nurl Fights the Devil at Spotted Creek

76876.png On the Farm with Wendy

76876.png The Mysterious Antique Shop

76876.png Boil, Boil, Toil and Trouble

76876.png The Thanksgiving Day Caper

76876.png Nurl’s Christmas Surprise

76876.png The White Blight January

76876.png The Heart-Shaped Flood of Valentine’s Day

76876.png Cool School … Just Another Day

76876.png Just a Little White Lie

76876.png Nurl Fights the Red Jackets, Blue Bombs, and Snorkels

76876.png Family Day in Every Way

76876.png The Glowing Pirate Caves of Nain

76876.png Flowers and Trees, Birdies and Bees

76876.png Horse of Course! At the Beach

76876.png A Pearl of Great Price

76876.png Totem Chick

76876.png The Villages of Ethiopia

76876.png Baby Varah and Vivi, the Peepus Dog

76876.png The Day the Flood Stood Still

76876.png The Shadow of Your Smile

76876.png Ladies and Gentlemen … Boys and Girls … Welcome to Circus Markus!

76876.png Holy Day!

76876.png A Dog Day Afternoon at the Beach

76876.png The Ouija Board Curse

76876.png Fishing for Faith

76876.png 10 Percent Is Mine!

76876.png Nurl Volunteers at Doggy Heaven

76876.png A Trip on the Train from Nain

76876.png Tasty, Inky, and Spud Wind

76876.png Nurl and the Ninety-Nine Cats of Nain

76876.png Shipwrecked on Atos

76876.png Treasure, Treasure, Nain or Never

76876.png Dial Tone—Frog Phone

76876.png Christmastime in Nain

Nurl’s Friends

Nurl’s Epilogue

About the Author

nurl.jpg

INTRODUCING

NURL OF NAIN

64153.png

O nce upon another time—a magical time indeed—it all just happened, suddenly!

It was a sunny, warm California day, and the air was filled with the sweet smell of new flowers. As I looked, enjoying the flower garden before me, a warm breeze gently blew across my face, softly rustling the leaves on the trees overhead. And then, just for a split second, I thought I heard a tinkling sound … just the tiniest of sounds.

I turned my head quickly to see if I could find that strange sound. And I thought that just for a moment, out of the corner of my eye, I had seen a small girl. How odd! I quickly looked around again, but there was nothing—nothing but the garden before me. Maybe it was just the breeze that I had heard… but what about the girl? Had I imagined it all?

From that day on, I listened a little closer, and I watched a bit more, to see if I could spot that small girl again. There was something unusual about her: those large eyes. I knew I would remember the face on that strange, small girl.

One day, a week later, I was at the local grocery store buying a few things for dinner. I was looking up and down the aisles for bargains, and then out of the corner of my eye, I caught something! I thought I saw that girl darting around into the cereal row. I quickly moved my cart around the corner, but by the time I got there, the only thing I saw was a tall man reaching for a box of cereal.

Had I imagined it again? I still looked around as if I might spot her, but there was nothing out of the ordinary. Nothing at all!

Days passed quickly, as days do, and I found myself unusually busy, running here and there taking care of daily business. I remember that I had to drive to the mall to shop a bit. I drove up to the stoplight, checking out the cars around me. As I came to a stop, I just happened to glance over and see a group of kids going into the ice cream store on the corner.

As I waited for the light to change, I watched them pile together to go through the swinging doors. One girl caught the swinging door and looked back at me quickly before disappearing inside. Was that her? Was it that girl I saw? It looked like that girl, but then the light changed, and I had to resume driving because the car behind me was honking.

Was she with those kids? Who was that strange girl?

Over the next few weeks, busy as I was, no matter how far I traveled or wherever I went, I seemed to catch small glimpses of her, just for a second or two. Once or twice I caught her looking right at me, smiling, those eyes bright—and then she was off and gone again.

Summer passed quickly, as summer does, and it was late August when I saw her again. I was outside at the time, in the front yard raking the falling leaves and trimming the flowers in the rock garden, when I heard a small bell ring. I looked up. Across the street was a small girl with extremely large eyes. She was riding a bike down the sidewalk, but for some reason had stopped just for a moment. It was her! I was amazed!

I waited for her to disappear like she always did, but the seconds ticked on, and this time she stayed. What? She was still there! I kept my eyes locked on hers, so sure that she would choose to disappear again, that strange small girl with the large eyes.

She took her foot off the pedal and crossed her arms, as if to say, "Hey … It’s me … here I am!" On her back was a backpack, and written on the front were the unfamiliar words NURL of NAIN. What in the world was a Nurl of Nain?

She smiled at me again and giggled as she rode off down the street, the little bell ringing. She was still glancing back at me as she rode around the corner. And then she was gone!

I stopped raking for a minute, forgetting what I was even doing. The strangest feeling came over me. Just WHO is this strange girl? I asked myself. And why does she want ME to see her? And what is a Nurl of Nain? I was really confused.

Looking back at the whole crazy situation, I can clearly see that it was on that very day—that late August summer day—that Nurl of Nain had made up her mind to stay around. Somehow, I just knew it. I knew it would be different now. I felt it!

That night, as I cleaned up the dishes, I tried to clearly remember the first time I had seen her. I wanted to remember it all. It was earlier that summer, I recalled, when the whole thing began. I was not exactly sure of the day, but I kept searching my memories to remember as much as I could.

Now, after all the times I had seen her, I kept getting the strange impression that all along, she really wanted me to see her. But why? I just did not know. But maybe, just maybe, she would stay around this time and not disappear anymore.

As I thought about it all, I had to smile a bit, just to myself. I smiled because I was thinking that there just might be some special reason why I was the one who saw her, and that this could be the start of some crazy, unusual adventures. If that was the case, if this was really true, I could hardly wait.

As I curled up in my bed reflecting back, trying to remember the whole thing, I slowly began to put the pieces together. Nurl of Nain—I guessed that was her name—must be that small, cute, illusive girl with very large eyes. She seemed so full of mystery and intrigue. She flitted here and there when I saw her, always seeming to be busy, as if time meant nothing to her. She never appeared to worry about this or that, or even be concerned.

I was thinking to myself, I bet she knows that if she really wanted to do it, if she really wished it, she could become alive just like any other girl or boy, playing with her friends, and dreaming of exotic places while having so much fun every day.

I instinctively grabbed my white tablet and a fresh pen. I knew at that moment that I just had to write about her, and as I began to scribble down the words coming from what I remembered and had learned about her, I tried hard to remember every little detail so that I could make the story true. I would continue to watch her, learn from her, and try to figure her out. I had so many questions! But I just knew that I had to write about her.

Then, the thought crossed my mind, Is it possible? Could it be true that this whole thing was Nurl of Nain trying to get me to write down stories about her? Were my future stories about her the real key to the whole mystery? Could those stories make her seem alive, and could she stay alive in my mind and in the minds of her readers?

If that were so, if that really was the key, then readers of any age could read about her and she would seem alive to them too. On the pages of my stories, she would always stay just as I had seen her: young and fresh, very curious and mysterious, and always having such fun. I felt like I had finally solved the mystery.

I just knew that I had to start writing down her stories, and as kids grew up and read those stories, the magic on the pages would stay there forever, and Nurl would remain alive. She would stay full of mischief, still peeking here and there, unfolding new surprises. Those readers would get to know her just as I had done, and they would remember the adventures she had shared with them too. As they read about her, I just knew they would smile as I had done.

On that very day, Nurl had made a decision—one that included me. It was her decision! Nurl had decided that through me, she would come out of hiding, and she would stay. She would let readers get to know her and have fun with her. She would become a beloved member of their families, and the kids would always remember her stories and adventures, and maybe even the lessons she had learned herself.

When I saw her now in the days and months following that day, she stayed close to tell me stories. Nurl let me know all about her, about her family and her town of Nain. She laughed and giggled as she told me stories about her friends and her best friend, Jesus. As she talked me, I wrote everything down. She told me wondrous tales of far-off places, of her special school friends, and of valuable lessons that had made her what she was today.

I saw right from the start that her very best friend was Jesus himself. She never forgot, even for even a moment, about their friendship, and she told me how she had depended on Jesus right from the start. She even taught me a thing or two. Jesus and Nurl of Nain had had many wonderful adventures together. No matter what she did or where she went, Jesus was always close. She was never alone, and I could see that.

As she told me her crazy adventures, I wrote them down on the pages of that tablet. I could see that she and I would take many exciting journeys together discovering strange places full of mystery and intrigue. Other adventures were of families and friends coming together. And of course, there was always her Jesus.

I knew that Nurl of Nain would remind me of the lessons I had learned when I was growing up. Nurl and her special friends would make those lessons fun and even funny at times, and at other times sad and strange. Nurl of Nain was an example of faith and trust, often amusing, always charming, cute as a button and yet a tomboy, and as she told me stories, even I wanted to be like her.

JUST WHAT

IS A NURL?

64153.png

W hy, surely you’ve heard! There can be only one: Nurl of Nain, of course! This is a small bit about the one and only.

It all started with a young girl called Nurl (her friends and family called her Nur for short). She was pretty cute, as most young girls are, with blondish-brown hair that was usually up in a ponytail. She had freckles on her nose and was always a bit tan because she loved to be out in the sunshine so much. That girl loved to eat too! Nurl loved treats, and she would go to great lengths to get one.

Nurl went to the Nain Christian School like so many other kids her age. She had a lot of great friends, girls and boys alike, and did all kinds of fun things that friends do together, like going shopping, or going on long bike rides and walks, or even mountain hiking and camping. Nurl loved to go to the sea or to Lake Nain, and she loved the mountain rocks and streams. Nurl loved the special holiday parties and spent a lot of time at her church.

Pets? Nurl loved all pets! She loved her kitty, and she had her birdies. She even had several puppies. Nurl also had a turtle, and for some reason, she seemed to attract weird bugs.

Nurl lived in a small town, and of course, you already know the name: why, it was called Nain, thus Nurl of Nain. Nain was nestled at the bottom of the heavily forested mountains of Nain, and yet it was close enough to the beach that kids could take a long bike ride and still get there. There were many trails leading up to deep mountain lakes and streams that were full of small fish.

Nain itself was really beautiful, with spectacular sunrises and sunsets. There were lush trees all over town and every kind of flower you could imagine. There was not much traffic, as a lot of people liked to ride their bikes around town or walk. Occasionally, you might even see a horse and buggy or even a wagon that was still used to haul things.

Nain was small but just the right size. There were not too many houses or people to make it crowded, and everyone who lived there would not even consider living anywhere else.

The families in Nain were very close-knit and happy. The modest homes were colorful and safe, and there were many neighborhoods for kids to play in. They could ride their bikes and play games in the parks. There were also picnics in the parks and band concerts in the giant gazebo in the middle of town. Nain’s bakers were known for baking the largest pie in the world! The town had parades and lots of family get-togethers, and all the kids were happy to do things with their parents and friends.

In Nain, everyday life revolved around the church and the marketplace. The marketplace was located right in the center of town. It consisted of lots of small shops and stores with a few bigger stores. You could buy anything you needed at the marketplace. The stores around the marketplace were surrounded by tall trees for lots of shade. They were colorfully decorated for each upcoming season and for each special occasion. The marketplace was special, with old cobblestone streets and specialty shops.

Nain was just a small part of the world, yet it was somewhat separate from the world. Nain was just Nain! And everyone who lived there just loved it. Nain had a rich history of buried pirate’s treasure and old sunken wooden ships. It even had tales of the missionaries who built the original white stone church, which later burned down. A new church was built to replace it, and that was where most of the town went to worship. The residents were proud of Nain, and there was not another place on earth like it. Nurl loved her Nain!

Nurl lived in a great neighborhood with her mamma and dad. Her own bedroom was upstairs by the bathroom, close to Mamma and Dad’s room and also Dad’s office. The kitchen was downstairs by the living room, where the family spent a lot of time. Nurl’s house wasn’t big, but it wasn’t too small either. Nurl kept all her treasures and her pets there.

The homes in Nain were not too expensive, so people had enough money left over for whatever they needed. Nurl often cleaned the church, the classrooms, and the kitchen for extra money, and even did some outdoor work in the gardens. She also cleaned house for her neighbors, babysat their children, and did a lot of odd jobs for extra money. Nurl always seemed to make enough money to get a small treat now and then. But she also saved her 10 percent for tithes and offerings too.

But most important of all, Nurl of Nain loved her best friend, Jesus. They did everything together, and all her friends knew that. Nurl loved Jesus more than anything else in the world, and she always talked to Him about what she was about to do … well, almost always!

She loved her Christian school too, as did most of the kids in Nain. The Christian school was the center of her life. School took place in a big stone building behind the main church and was not too far from Nurl’s house. Everything in her life revolved around Jesus, the church, her school, and her friends who went there. It was a great life.

Many of the lessons Nurl of Nain learned in her life were from just doing the simple things that were so much fun to do in Nain. Nurl loved and trusted her friends, and she never got tired of doing fun things with them, or in helping someone she saw was in need. But the most fun part of Nurl’s life in Nain was certainly all the crazy adventures she and her friends got involved in. There was never a dull moment or a boring day. Nurl and her friends were always getting into some kind of a crazy situation.

Most everyone in Nain knew Nurl and loved her—with the exception of a few boys, which is normal, of course. And everyone who knew Nurl knew that Jesus was her best friend. Nurl did not make any bones about it. That alone made her special, because her friends always depended on Nurl and talked to her about what to do when they needed guidance. Nurl was never at a loss for words concerning her Jesus.

Want to have some fun? Start reading Nurl’s stories. You never know what fun things she will do or where she will go, but you can be sure of one thing: she is going to enjoy every minute, and her Jesus will be right there with her!

Now it’s finally time! Together, we will discover what Nurl of Nain is up to in the upcoming stories.

Whatever it is, I know she is having fun!

STORIES

m2.jpgturnip%20seed%20kids.jpg

NURL OF NAIN

AND THE TURNIP

SEED KIDS

64153.png

I t was one of those days, so Nurl decided to go window-shopping. And where was the best place to do that? Well, the marketplace, of course!

Everybody in town shopped at the marketplace, which consisted of many streets right in the middle of downtown that had small shops and stores stuffed with just about everything you could imagine. Nurl decided she would go to one of her favorite spots today: the toy store! Nain had several other toy stores, but Toys for Us had the best selection of all the latest really cool toys and games that you could usually only buy in the larger towns.

Nurl of Nain just had to go there. There was a selection of new collector dolls that she just had to see. The paper had a two-page ad informing everyone that a new selection of specialty collector dolls had arrived at the toy store. Nurl saw that ad and asked Mamma if she could go and look at the new dolls. Mamma said she could.

Nurl finished her chores quickly. By the time she finished helping Mamma and rode her bike to the marketplace, most of the shops had already opened their doors for business. Nurl still got there a little early, because she was too excited to wait any longer, and she wanted to beat any of her friends who might go there too. Nurl knew that those new dolls would sell out quickly. They always did.

There it was! The words Toys for Us were painted on a huge sign, with the letters in many bright colors. You could see it all the way down the block. Every kid in town loved to go there. And why not? It was a wonderland of treasures!

As Nurl walked into the store, she spotted one of her friends, Kathy, who also saw Nurl and waved at her.

"Hi, Nur! Kathy chirped, Did you come to see the new dolls too?" Kathy was a bit out of breath. Her mom had brought her early to the toy store, then went over to the coffee shop, leaving Kathy to look at the new dolls.

Hi, Kathy! Nurl replied. Yeah, I rode down early to see the new dolls before all the other girls show up here! I heard they are really cool, and I want to look them over before they sell out—you know how that goes!

Nurl headed down the doll aisle with Kathy. She looked around to see if any of the other girls were there already. Nope … not so far.

The two friends quickly spotted a new display of collector dolls. The store had even built a special wall unit to display them so that every doll could be seen, yet protected.

Nur, they’re right over there! Kathy said, pointing at the special display set up just for those dolls. Oh, Nur! They are just the coolest dolls I have ever seen!

Oh my gosh! I knew they would be special, but I can’t believe these dolls are so cool! Nurl said to Kathy, her eyes wide open. They both just stood there and stared, looking from side to side. Nurl finally picked up one doll and carefully looked it over. She could not believe it!

In the meantime, some other girls and their mothers had had the same idea, and before long, the doll aisle was teeming with girls looking at those new dolls. It looked like a whole lot of kids had seen that store ad.

And what were these dolls? Why, they were the new Turnip Seed Kids, a very special series of collector dolls. They were already quite famous, and it was the largest collection of those dolls Nurl had ever heard of. She had only seen them in magazines, never in Nain.

It was amazing. There must have been twenty different dolls, all dressed in different colors and styles. Each doll had a special outfit. Some had glasses, some had foreign costumes, and some even had their own toys included. How in the world could you ever pick just one? Nurl wondered. They just have everything!

Nurl could not believe it. She was ecstatic. Oh, Kathy, she said. I have wanted one of these dolls ever since I first saw them in a magazine—you know, when they first came out! I have collected them for quite a long time, and Dad even built me a special case to display them. They are the cutest dolls I have ever seen!

Nurl was almost drooling as she looked from one doll to another. She and Kathy squeezed in closer for a look, but everybody else had the same idea, and looking at them up close got harder and harder. It was fast becoming a madhouse of girls and mothers.

Kathy! Nurl squealed, pointing at the case. "Look at that one! Have you ever seen anything so cute? Oh, I want that one!" Nurl pointed at a doll with a pink satin gown all encrusted with white pearls and lace. The doll’s hair was beautifully curled, and she had a lace hat with pearls to match, kind of like a princess.

Nurl could not take her eyes off of that doll. She just had to have it before someone else bought it. But how? It looked like there were not many of those dolls on display. She also saw one more doll in a beautiful purple dress that was almost as cool.

Kathy, Nurl started in again. I’ve just got to have that doll. I love her! I have got to have that Turnip Seed Kid. And if I could have two, I would get that beautiful purple one too! Nurl was almost shaking.

Nurl knew from experience that when the dolls sold out, the store would probably not get another batch that were quite the same. It was now or never. But where would she get the money to buy that doll? Nurl had to think about that.

It was almost ten in the morning. Kathy and her mother left for home, but Nurl stayed behind, trying to figure out a way to get that doll. The crowd of girls had attracted more people from the street who just wanted to see what was going on. Nurl was becoming more upset by the minute. The more girls who looked, the more chance that some other girl would buy her doll.

Oh … look, Mommy! a small blonde girl said, tugging at her mother’s coat. Can I have that one? She pointed at Nurl’s doll.

Oh no! …. Nooo … Not that one! Nurl thought to herself. Please … not my doll! Nurl swallowed hard and shut her eyes, praying that Jesus would help to save that one for her.

Then the little girl’s mother said, No, honey, not today! and they walked over to another part of the store.

Whew! One down, Nurl thought.

Outside, many shoppers were walking by the front window, stopping to look at the displays. Nurl thought she better ride home quick and tell Mamma about that doll she wanted.

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Mamma was washing the front windows when Nurl burst through the front door.

"Mamma! I rode home so quick … I just had to tell you what I found!" Nurl started in, pretty much out of breath.

Well, what in the world has got you so winded, Nur? Mamma asked, having a pretty good idea already. Mamma knew that Nurl had gone to the toy store, and she had also seen the two-page ad in the paper herself.

Oh, Mamma … I just have to show you the most beautiful doll I have ever seen at Toys for Us! I have never seen anything like it, ever!

Mamma stopped cleaning the window to listen, and Nurl kept talking. She told Mamma all about the huge display, every single detail. I never ever thought we would get any of those dolls in Nain! Then she thought about her doll. "I’ll just be sick if anybody buys her … she is the most beautiful doll I have ever seen! Ever!"

Mamma laughed. Nurl was fidgeting and squirming all over the place until Mamma reminded her that she had better get changed, as she was supposed to be at the church by eleven to help out. Nurl had completely forgot about it in all the excitement.

Oh no! she exclaimed. I forgot, but I will change really fast and ride my bike over.

No, honey! Mamma said. I was going grocery shopping anyway, so I will drop you off and pick you up in about three hours. Now go change, and we will get going!

64554.png

Nurl changed as fast as she could, and Mamma drove her right over to the church. Mamma let her off at the sidewalk as Nurl wilted a bit, still quite concerned over that doll. Mamma chuckled to herself.

Nurl walked into the large room downstairs where the church ladies were already bustling about. She began to help the ladies clean the kitchen area to get ready for the potluck the next day after church. But the whole time she was cleaning, she was praying that she would find a way to get that doll before some other girl bought it.

When they were finally all finished, there was still a lot of outside work to do. Nurl saw Mr. Anderson come inside to get the workers.

Hi, Mr. Anderson! Nurl said cheerfully. I’m all ready to help you clean up outside!

Mr. Anderson took Nurl and two boys back outside to show them all the areas they would need to clean up. Nurl grabbed an old rake. Mr. Anderson showed them all the leaf piles and brush that needed to be raked and grabbed a rake himself to help. The boys did too, making faces.

How are you, Nurl? asked Mr. Anderson. I am so glad you showed up today, as it looks like none of the rest of your friends are coming.

Nurl knew where they were: probably at the toy store! She let out a huge sigh.

OK, you guys, said Mr. Anderson. Let’s rake up all the leaves and haul them back to the burning pile so we can burn them before the wind comes up.

Nurl raked piles of leaves furiously. The boys loaded them up and took the leaves in a big wheelbarrow out back to the burning pile, where they dumped them in a huge heap.

It’s a nice day to work outside, Mr. Anderson, Nurl said. I thought it was going to rain today, but it is pretty nice.

Nurl worked really hard finishing all the leaves and then started pulling out the dead flowers and sweeping the sidewalks. There were only the three kids there—Nurl and a couple of boys—and Mr. Anderson. It took a quite a while to finish the cleanup outside.

Then Nurl went back inside to see what else they had to do. She felt a little tired already. The church ladies had fixed lunch for everyone. Anyone who was there working got to have a potluck lunch. Nurl was starved! The hot food was extra-tasty on this cool fall day.

Nurl loaded her plate and went to sit by two ladies she liked. She slicked down that lunch quickly and then got to the best part: upside-down cake for dessert, covered with pineapple, whipped cream, and nuts. Mmmmm!

When lunch was over, one of the ladies from Cradle Roll asked Nurl if she would like to help paint the small wooden chairs for the little children to sit on. They had bought bright new colors of paint. That sounded like fun. So Nurl put on an old paint shirt they gave her and picked out an old brush. She found a small chair to start on. She sat it on newspaper so the paint would not get on the floor.

Nurl started to paint the small chair with the bright green paint first. It had looked really easy, but before long, she had gotten paint all over her hands. She learned to be careful really quickly. It was fun to use the different colors, and soon the colored chairs were finished.

After Nurl painted, she cleaned up her painting mess and scrubbed her hands, which were several lovely colors! Nurl felt tired, but she would not let that stop her. She kept on helping the ladies until the whole mess was cleaned up.

When that was finished, the next thing to do was clean up a couple of the classrooms used for Bible Study. Nurl started upstairs to help clean those rooms. She picked the older kids’ room first and began to stack the books and craft stuff back up on the shelves. Nurl was still spotted with the colored paint, which just would not come off.

Nurl, would you please take a break from cleaning and help me to staple all these lesson plans for the next Bible Study? Mrs. Christopher asked.

Of course she would! Cleaning or stapling? Stapling would be fun!

While the rest of the ladies cleaned, Nurl took her huge stack of papers over to the study table and sat down so she could staple them all together. She stapled and stapled, and her hands even got a little sore. Well, at least she could sit down.

It was getting later in the afternoon, and Nurl could see the orange rays of sunset from one of the stained-glass windows. She sighed again. Nurl had cheerfully tried to help with as much as she could, but she sure would be glad to be finished.

The other two boys who had been helping had disappeared after lunch, so the women had to finish without them. Meanwhile, Nurl had painted and scrubbed and washed windows, wiping furiously. She had stapled and cleaned until she was just pooped. She could not believe that it was almost five thirty. Where had the whole afternoon gone?

Her mind went back to the toy store again. Nurl imagined hundreds of girls fighting to see, all looking at those dolls!

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Well, they were finally finished for the day. Nurl yawned and got her jacket on as Mamma pulled up outside. What a welcome sight! The ladies were still putting all the cleaning supplies away as Nurl waved and told them goodbye.

Oh, Nurl, Mr. Anderson said, walking over to her. Before you go, I just wanted to thank you for all your help. You are the only young person who stuck it out the whole day. It looks like the boys took off after lunch when they found out that they were not going to get paid.

Nurl was glad she had not asked for anything at all. Oh, you are very welcome, Mr. Anderson. I did not come to get paid. I just wanted to help do whatever needed doing. My church family has helped me so many times, and I just love to do it! Nurl said humbly.

She said her goodbyes to all the church ladies, waving, and went outside to Mamma’s car. It was getting dark.

Hi, Mamma! said Nurl. Thanks so much for picking me up. I am really tired after all that cleaning. She started telling Mamma all about her afternoon.

The evening lights around Nain were already twinkling as Mamma drove home. They could see the neighborhood families sitting down to dinner as they drove by. Nurl pulled her sweater up close, as she got a slight chill.

Mamma parked in the garage. Nurl and Mamma went inside, where Dad was getting a fresh cup of coffee.

Hi, girls … glad you’re back! he said, pouring himself a large steaming cup. Dad loved Mamma’s coffee!

Nurl was so glad to be back home again. She had forgotten about her doll for a little while, but now she remembered. Oh no! I hope some girl has not talked her mother into buying my doll, Nurl thought, feeling a little sad. She had already pictured how the new doll would look in her bedroom, how beautiful it would look in the display case Dad had built. Nurl figured she would probably never see that doll again. It would be in some other girl’s bedroom. She got very sad, but there was nothing she could do about it.

Dad had built a toasty fire for Mamma and Nurl to take the chill off, and Nurl sat close to the fireplace with her arms on her knees, watching the flames dance. After she warmed up a bit, she laid back on the rug watching the flames crackle and drifted off to sleep. In her dreams, she was dressing that new doll in her fine pink dress and beaded shoes and fixing her hair. Then she put the doll back in the display case and locked the door with a golden key. It was a glorious dream.

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The next day was church. Nurl got up early, after a lot of dreams, and dressed for church, still trying to think of a way to buy that doll. She better just forget the whole thing! The doll was way too expensive, and it was probably gone already. At least the church was all cleaned up, inside and out, all ready for all the people to come to worship.

Nurl went down to eat her breakfast, and the phone rang. Mamma dried her hands and answered it. Oh yes … why, thank you so much, Mr. Anderson! I’ll tell her! Mamma said, looking right at Nurl, then hung up the phone.

Mamma … what did Mr. Anderson want? Nurl asked, puzzled. Did I forget to do something at the church?

No, honey, nothing like that. He was just calling to thank you so much for all your hard work and to let me know how much everyone there enjoyed your help! Mamma said. You know, Nurl, a couple of the other ladies called too and said how much help you were to them, and they mentioned that you never asked for anything in return. You know Daddy and I appreciate how hard you work around the house too, and maybe we don’t tell you often enough, Mamma said, smiling.

I agree with Mamma, Nurl. You do a great job around the house! Daddy said, sipping his coffee.

Go ahead and sit down, and I will get your breakfast, Mamma said with Dad watching.

Nurl walked over to her chair and began to pull it out so she could sit down. But what was that on the floor by her chair? Mamma … there is something on the floor under the table.

What? Well open it and see what it is! Mamma said, trying to act very serious indeed.

Dad watched too, smiling.

Nurl pulled out the huge heavy sack from under the table and set it by her chair. She looked at Mamma, who motioned for her to open it up. Nurl slowly opened up that huge sack, very slowly, and …"Oh my gosh! … What is this? I don’t even believe it! Mamma … Daddy … this is the very doll I wanted so much! How did you know?"

Then Nurl remembered telling Mamma about the doll the day before. She ran over to Mamma and gave her a really big hug, and Dad got one too.

"Oh, thank you! I just love her so much!" Nurl said, holding the doll close in its special golden box.

"Oh, Nurl, I am so glad you love the doll, but you got so excited that you didn’t finish looking in the sack!" Mamma said.

"What? I only saw the doll in the sack! Nurl said, puzzled. I was so shocked that I did not look to see if there was anything else!"

So Nurl went back to the large sack and opened it up again, peeking inside. Her mouth flew open in surprise. And what do you suppose it was?

"Mamma! Nurl screamed. I just don’t believe it! Are you sure this is for me too?"

Mamma and Dad were both laughing as Nurl’s eyes got so big that they looked like they would actually pop. Inside that sack was another Turnip Seed Kid! And it was actually the only other doll, other than the pink one, that Nurl had liked.

Oh, Mamma! How did you know? How did you know about the two dolls that I loved, and especially the one in pink? Nurl asked.

Well, let me explain what happened, Mamma said. "Mr. Anderson called me earlier. He told me that he and the ladies at the church were so impressed with your work and all your help that they wanted to do something special for you. The boys left quickly, wanting money for their work, but you helped out and wanted nothing. So they all got together and decided to do something special for you.

Mrs. Anderson had overheard you talking about the beautiful pink doll at the toy store, and the ladies had set aside a small amount of money for the cleaning fund. So Mr. Anderson sent her down to pick up the doll for you before the store closed. I had gone down to the toy store on the way to pick you up too. And who should I see at the toy store but Mrs. Anderson, who was buying the pink doll for you. She mentioned that you liked one more special doll too, so I bought her for you. It was a small gift for all the help you have been for Daddy and me. We hope you love her, and thank you so much for all you do to help around the house.

Nurl could not even believe it. She had actually received two collector dolls and had not even thought she would get one! Oh, I just don’t know how to thank you, Mamma and Dad. I just appreciate it so much! This is so cool! Nurl’s face turned bright pink, and her eyes had a small tear. It was an answer to my prayers … a double answer! she added, her eyes really tearing up now.

She got up, hugged Mamma and Dad, and put her dolls back into the sack. She immediately ran upstairs to look at them. Nurl was so excited that her tummy was in knots. She opened up the sack again but could hardly sit still long enough to look them over. There was even a card in the sack that Nurl had missed. It read as follows:

To Nurl of Nain! This is just a small token of our appreciation for all your help and hard work. You helped us clean inside the church and even helped with the yardwork outside the church. We did not know how to thank you so thought you might like this!

Nurl set the note down. Like it? Nurl thought. I love it!

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Later that day, after church, Nurl sat on her bed and laid her two new dolls carefully on the covers. The first doll she looked at was her first choice, the beautiful pink satin doll, the one she had wanted more than anything else in the case. But the second doll was the only other doll she would have loved to buy, and it was so beautiful too! That doll was dressed in royal purple with sparkling hair jewels everywhere and looked like a queen doll.

Nurl just could not believe that she now had two of the coolest dolls in town to add to her collection. She spent the afternoon looking at every little thing that came with those dolls.

Later that night, Nurl knelt by her bed with her two new dolls tucked away safe in their display case. She thanked Jesus for those two new dolls—dolls she had never ever thought she would have. She crawled under her covers and lay her head on her pillow still smiling, and looked out her bedroom window at all the stars in heaven.

From that day forward, every time Nurl looked in the display case at her new Turnip Seed Kids, sitting side by side in their boxes, she remembered that work day at the church and how Jesus had answered her prayers once again. She named the Turnip Seed Kids Faith and Charity to remind her of that glorious day.

FUN AT THE

MARKETPLACE

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N url of Nain woke up smelling the fresh summer flowers right outside her window. The smell tickled her nose, and she stretched with a smile on her face. Oh well … I guess it’s time to get up! Nurl said, tumbling out of bed.

It was a warm summer day, and Nurl loved summer! She peeked out of her bedroom window and looked around. The sounds of birdies tweeting in the neighbor’s tree made her smile. They were so happy!

Today, Nurl was going down to the marketplace to get some fresh fruit and veggies for Mamma. But she also wanted to taste the dates and figs Mr. Amenhotep had shipped in from Egypt for his shop. He always gave Nurl a sample, and of course, Nurl never turned down a treat! She could tell that it was going to be another glorious day.

Nurl got dressed and ran down to tell Mamma that she was going to go get the fresh stuff Mamma wanted at the marketplace.

Why, thanks, honey! Mamma said. I really appreciate it. I am so busy today!

Mamma is really busy every day, Nurl thought, and if she could help Mamma out a bit, she would.

Nurl ate a quick breakfast and helped Mamma with the dishes. Then she grabbed her stuff and ran to the garage to get her bike out. She had her trusty backpack on to carry extra treats that would not fit in the basket on her bike. Mamma had already given her enough money that she could bargain and get even more for her money.

OK, Jesus, Nurl said. I am going to the marketplace today … and as usual, I need you to help me to find just what I need at the very best price!

Nurl always played this game with Jesus, and He always delivered. Nurl of Nain had become quite a bargainer with the local vendors. Jesus always seemed to guide her to the best bargains and helped her to get the best price. After all, it was His money too!

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Before long, Nurl was slowly riding through the old cobblestone streets of the marketplace. The stone streets added to the Old World charm of the whole downtown area, and Nurl just loved it. This was the home of all the treats in Nain! Nurl had made it a point to know almost all of the vendors and shop owners, and they certainly recognized her, as she was there all the time.

It was still early, but already many people were starting to shop for their daily items, and plenty shopped just for fun. Nurl was usually one of them. A lot of tourists visited the marketplace too. Nurl heard the laughs of children playing outside while their parents shopped inside. The marketplace even provided donkey and pony rides for the younger kids, and horse and buggy rides for the adults who just wanted to take a tour to relax.

Nurl’s friend Tony was working with the horses today, and he would let her have a free ride just to encourage other kids to ride. Of course, Nurl loved it. Sometimes she would help Tony to groom the horses, and afterward, she got to feed them fresh carrots and apples.

Nurl loved the marketplace. It was the lifeblood of the town. It was exciting! For blocks in every direction, you could see colorful older shops sandwiched in between the larger stores. Each little shop was decorated, and many shops were from other lands and cultures.

Anything you ever wanted or needed was somewhere at the marketplace. There were fresh fruits of every kind, and tasty vegetables from all over the area and some from other countries. There were fish markets and special meats, very fancy candles, and all kinds of local arts and crafts. There were antique stores, repair and home stores, and Nurl’s favorite—the shoe and clothing stores. But Nurl had a lot of favorites. It was glorious!

People were happily trading and shopping, buying and selling, and the money was clinking in the registers as the people lined up to buy. The marketplace was the very hub of Nain. Most of the town’s business offices and medical buildings were located on the streets all around the marketplace too. If Nurl ever wanted to track down any of her friends, the marketplace was where she would find them.

Nurl went by Mr. Amenhotep’s shop first, as he had one of the tastiest fruit and vegetable stands in town. He was always glad to see her, and before long, Nurl found herself savoring a tasty Egyptian date. And today, he even threw in some extra dates and some candied coconut. Nurl was really in luck! She bought some fruit for Mamma and got a sack of treats to save for herself to nibble on later.

Nurl got on her bike and feasted on tasty dates as she rode along checking out the shops. She stopped by Antonio’s Pizzeria, which filled the air with the smells of fresh pizza. It was just heavenly. Boy, could Antonio ever make a pizza! Nurl circled and parked her bike to go in. How could she go by a shop smelling like that?

Hi guys! she said as she spotted Mary and Jasmine in a booth by the window. Nurl quickly