Page 40 (1/2)

"It’s all right, honey," his mother reassured him "There’ll be plenty of presents froifts fro to open Besides, we don’t want to spoil Carter and Bailey It’sof Christree

Carter couldn’t listen to any more of their conversation His sister was sound asleep in the bed across frorade and he was in fourth Bailey wanted her own roo to get a bedroom all to herself, either That hat Bailey had asked Santa for in her letter

The kids at school told Bailey she was stupid to believe in Santa Carter didn’t believe any, especially to his little sister She still believed When he was her age, he’d wanted to believe, too

Santa was like his grandparents who lived in Wenatchee His et, or at least he didn’t think so It never seemed hard for them to buy presents the way it was for his parents Maybe…

Carter decided he’dand see what she said If his own randparents buy him one Or perhaps Grandma and Grandpa could pay the vet bills his dad was so worried about

Feeling better now, Carter pulled back his sheets and slipped into bed He’d just closed his eyes when a backup plan caht be make-believe but God was real, and Christot out of bed and knelt down He’d already said his bedtime prayers, but this was extra He hoped God wouldn’t ain

"Dear God," he whispered "Thank You for Your birthday I think it’s great that because You were born we get presents I’ed it like that U before and my parents said I had to wait I waited It was hard, too

"They said I had to be nine years old before I was responsible enough to take care of a dog Well, I’m nine and I do all my chores and I do "

He hesitated, thinking he’d better tell the whole truth God kneay "Sometiood"

Carter paused, wondering if Godback He listened intently, his eyes closed, but noThat didn’t h; Carter understood that

"If You could find a way to getfor Christmas, God, I’d really like it I proht I’ll make sure he’s loved Thank you"

Finished now, Carter lowered his head and whispered, "Aer, in case God wanted to talk to him, after all Eventually he cli for him, a special one Carter was sure of it He didn’t kno the dog would arrive Maybe his grandparents would give hiht not believe in Santa anymore, but Carter believed God answered prayers All he had to do noas be patient

"You heard?" Gabriel asked Shirley The Prayer Ael and her love for children was the reason he usually assigned Shirley the prayer requests fro," Shirley repeated

"There are more important requests, if you prefer," Gabriel said

"No," ca"

"I thought you would"

"It’s just that…"

"Yes?"

"It’s just that I could probably take on two or three such requests while I’el said with utter confidence "But I knohy you haven’t given me more than one"

"You do?" Gabriel asked "And ould that be?"

"My real assignment is to keep watch over Goodness and Mercy Heaven knows, and I don’ts after"

"Indeed they do," Gabriel agreed "But it seems to me that you’ve taken part in their schemes a number of times"

"Under protest," Shirley rushed to explain "I knew they were headed for trouble and I tried to warn them, but they wouldn’t listen to me So what choice did I have?" She shook her head ruefully "You can’t inel and there’s only so much I can do on my own"

Gabriel didn’t need a reminder of the problems these three had caused Yes, he did expect Shirley to be a supervisor of sorts for the other two, but as often as not they’d led her into temptation Still…

"As the most responsible of the trio--"

"That would be s close to her back without revealing any degree of eagerness as Goodness and Mercy had done Shirley was the picture of calm serenity, of unquestionable confidence

"Let me point out the time limitations involved," Gabriel said "All three of you need to return to Heaven on Christmas Eve" This shouldn’t come as any surprise, since it was one of the ter visits to Earth at this time of year

A look of panic flashed into Shirley’s eyes "That means we have barely a week by the earthly calendar"

"Don’t forget, we need you back for the festivities," Gabriel told her

"Yes, of course" She did seem unusually concerned with the te that they’d answered prayer requests in less time than that