Blessed

By Stephen Clark Reese and Cindy Reese

Kirsten Brown, a seventeen-year-old girl facing tremendous challenges. Her family was drowning in turmoil—her mother battled alcoholism, her father engaged in an affair, and her brother struggled with meth addiction. To make matters worse, Kirsten had earned a reputation as a "loose girl" around town, fueling the whispers and judgment of others.
One day, as Kirsten accompanied a friend to a gas station, an unexpected encounter turned her world upside down. While her friend pumped gas, a stranger approached Kirsten. With a gentle smile and eyes filled with warmth, the stranger delivered a profound message, claiming it came from God Himself.
Intrigued and curious, Kirsten listened intently as the stranger spoke about God's unconditional love. The message stirred something deep within her, igniting a spark of hope amidst the darkness that had consumed her life. Determined to uncover the meaning behind this encounter, Kirsten embarked on a journey of self-discovery and spiritual awakening.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Stephen Clark Reese
• Release date: Feb 6, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224168804

Stephen Clark Reese

Stephen Clark Reese was born in Santa Barbara, California. He and his family returned home to Texas in 1968 when he was 9 years old. Stephen and his wife Cindy, live just outside of Paris, Texas. They have two daughters and eight grandchildren. Stephen publishes a blog entitled “Graviton, My Thoughts, My Imaginations”. Stephen and Cindy are involved with many outreach ministries including Residents Encounter Christ, a volunteer program with the Buster Cole State Prison in Bonham, Texas. Stephen works as a network administrator in a north Texas school district.

Book preview

Blessed

Stephen Clark Reese

Cindy Reese

Blessed

Copyright Stephen Clark Reese 2023

Published by OpenGate Publications

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission from the author.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

A special thanks to Anita Bean for the prayer on page 162

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 - An Angel Unaware

Chapter 2 - The Church

Chapter 3 – Overdose

Chapter 4 – Nightmares

Chapter 5 - The Mission

Chapter 6 – Jacklyn

Chapter 7 - Jake’s Return

Chapter 8 – Jail

Chapter 9 - After Jail

Chapter 10 – Homecoming

Chapter 11 – Lunch

Chapter 12 - The Promise

Chapter 13 - Johnson’s Corner

Chapter 14 - The Trial

Chapter 15 - God Spoke

Chapter 16 - The Lake House

Chapter 17 - The End

About the Authors

Chapter 1 - An Angel Unaware

I could say that I never imagined my life turning out the way it has, but the truth is, I never really gave much thought to my life. Looking back, I guess I was just being tossed in whichever direction the storms of life blew me. I wasn’t concerned about my future, and I sure didn’t give any thought to what would happen to me when my life was done. Like most teenagers, I believed I was indestructible, yet at the same time, I also couldn’t see living past the age of thirty. Like all too many people today, all I was worried about was what made me feel good for the moment and what made me happy. All of that changed with one brief conversation.

I still remember how it started as if it were yesterday. That morning in my room, I put on the shortest pair of shorts I could find and the skimpiest halter top I owned and ran downstairs. My mother was sitting at our small table in the kitchen, drinking her usual breakfast of whiskey, bourbon, or whatever else she could find. A dirty green bathrobe hung open, revealing a wrinkled white t-shirt and a pair of old black shorts. That and her disheveled brown shoulder-length hair made it apparent that she had just recently crawled out of bed. Do you plan on going out looking like a tramp? My mother asked before taking her next drink.

That’s what everyone calls me, I smarted off. I wouldn’t want to disappoint anyone.

You should learn to show a little respect for yourself. You don’t want the boys to think you’re easy!

News flash, Mom! I said, raising my voice, I am easy!

Where do you think you’re going, Kirsten Brown? Mom yelled as I went out the door.

OUT! I screamed, slamming the door.

Just a typical conversation between a mother and her seventeen-year-old daughter, right?

My best friend Penny was waiting for me at the curb in her parent's Trailblazer. I opened the passenger door, hopped in, and slammed the door. What’s wrong with you? Penny asked.

My mother, as always! I said, almost screaming.

She’s probably angry because your dad is sleeping around, Penny quipped.

Don’t get me started on my dad, I said, staring out the window. Let’s just hang out at the mall, then we can get high later. Oh, and don’t let me forget to get condoms, I’m seeing Jake tonight.

On the way to the mall, Penny pulled into the gas station. After digging around in her purse, she fished out a twenty-dollar bill. I’ll be right back, she said as she went to prepay. Penny left the driver’s side door open, as she always does when she pumps gas. I sat in the passenger seat, lost in thought.

I saw him out of the corner of my eye, the man at the next pump. I glanced up and smiled. Considering my mood, I’m really not sure why. I turned back to look out the front window at nothing in particular. A few seconds later, a voice said, Excuse me.

Oh, great, I thought. One little smile and this jerk thinks he can hit on me! This guy was old, really old, probably around thirty. I looked at him with a bored expression and said, Yes?

May I ask your name? He asked.

I hesitated a second but finally said, Kirsten.

Hi, Kirsten, nice to meet you.

I nodded my head up and said, S’up.

Can I tell you something? He asked.

Oh, here we go, I thought. He’s going to tell me how hot I am or describe in detail what he wants to do to my body. What a jerk! Well, let’s get it over with so I can laugh in his face. Sure. Why not?

He hesitated a second, seeming to gather his courage, then said, You are highly favored and blessed by God. He wants you to know that He has a plan for your life. Seek Him, and He will give you the desires of your heart.

Seconds passed until I realized that my mouth was open. Before I could respond, he turned and walked back to his car, got in, and drove away. I watched his gold Ford pull into the street and disappear in traffic.

What was that all about? I heard Penny ask. I didn’t even realize that she was standing in the doorway of the car. What did that old guy want? Was he hitting on you?

No, he was some religious kook, I said, coming out of my stupor. He said something about being blessed and God’s plan.

Wow! Penny shook her head. You never know where those right-wing nut jobs will pop up.

Penny pumped the gas, and I pushed the whole thing out of my head. The funny thing is, it kept creeping back in. The more I tried to forget it, the more it kept coming back. And when it came back into my head, it was accompanied by a funny feeling in the pit of my stomach. It was like something was buried deep in my gut and trying to get out. The harder I held it back, the more it tried to escape. I finally managed to get it under control by the time we got to the mall.

We had spent most of our money on weed, only saving a little for lunch. We couldn’t buy anything, so we just hung out. We tried on clothes, looked at jewelry, and checked out shoes. But at two o'clock, we were sitting in the food court eating fries and sipping soda. Penny rolled her eyes and nodded across the food court. Talk about nut jobs.

I looked toward Penny’s nod and saw a bunch of kids from our school. When we were being nice, we called them the Church Kids. When we weren’t being nice, we called them things like the Holy Rollers or Hypocrites for Christ. Most of the time, we weren’t very nice. I didn’t know most of the kids' names, and honestly, I didn’t care. I did recognize Celeste George and her brother Todd. I recognized Celeste from my homeroom. She was sickening, always smiling, always happy. This I interpreted as being fake, nobody can be that happy all the time! I recognized Todd because he was a star basketball player and because he was cute.

I started to say something rude and probably a little obscene. I really don’t remember what I was going to say because when I opened my mouth, that knot in my stomach returned, so instead, I just said. Whatever.

As they were walking away, Celeste turned, and her eyes caught mine. My first thought was to flip her off. I raised my hand, and the knot in my stomach twisted, so I just dropped my hand to the table. Celeste half raised her hand and a couple of fingers. I looked away quickly and thought, crap! She thinks I was waving at her!

Uh, excuse me! Penny said. What are you doing? Did you just wave at them?

No! I was shooing a fly.

I hate to tell you this, but I think Celeste the Chest is now your BFF! Penny said, pleased with her newfound rhyming abilities.

I rolled my eyes. Kill me now! I would die if all I had was a Holy Roller for a friend! We laughed.

The next couple of weeks went by without anything unique to interrupt my routine. My mother kept drinking, my father spent most of his time at work to avoid her, my brother spent his time locked in his room, and I spent my time partying with Penny or with my boyfriend Jake. The incident at the gas station was a distant memory, that is, until one day at Jake’s apartment.

Jake was living with his brother in an apartment over on the west side. His brother was at work, so when we arrived, we had the place all to ourselves. We watched TV, smoked some weed, and snacked. Before long, we were making out on the couch.

Of course, Jake’s hands were everywhere, and of course, I let him. But this time, as he ran his hand across my body, instead of enjoying his touch, that feeling in my stomach came back, and with it came an overpowering sense that something was wrong. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but it was as if something was out of place. I don’t know how to describe it, but I just didn’t feel right.

As we kissed, Jake’s hand was reaching up higher and higher. Suddenly, I had an urgent need to flee. I grabbed his hand and, through Jake’s pressing lips, said, Wait.

Jake fought my grasp and kept kissing. With a little more force, I said again, Wait!

What? Jake said, with his lips still on mine and still fighting.

I said wait!