About this book: This book is semi-fiction. Many of the events and stories are based on true life events.
PRELUDE:
Is Anyone There God?
Her eyes sprang open early that morning. With a wide grin on her face, Ally knew it was her favorite day of the week, Sunday. She'd get up and tip toe around the house as she got ready for Sunday school. She went to the kitchen and got herself some water from the tap. She carefully held her hand over her cup as she quickly drank it, before any roaches could fall in her cup. Then she found a block of cheese in the fridge and quietly cut a slice into small pieces. She slipped back into the tiny room she'd shared with her brother and sister, and slowly lifted the edge of the mattress. She carefully dropped the tiny cheese slices into the hole of the mattress frame, for the "mommy and daddy" of her baby mice friends. Then she checked on each little baby mice, gently stroking them with her little fingers.
She quietly dug through the piles of clothes on the floor until she found her "best" Sunday dress. The sun was just beginning to peer through the window. She threw on her clothes and quietly slipped out of the house without waking anyone else. She had a good walk ahead of her to get to church.
The neighborhood was quiet, and all she could hear were the leaves gently rustling around her. She felt a little scared and began to hum one of her favorite songs, "Jesus loves me." It always seemed to calm her when she was scared.
They were singing her most favorite song in Sunday school that morning. She excitedly participated. She knew every word and every movement. "I'm in the Lord's army, yes sir! I'm in the Lord's army, yes sir! I may never march in the infantry, ride in the calvary, shoot the artilery..."
"Teacher!! Teacher!!" Sue Ann raised her hand... "Ally smells like pee!" she proclaimed to the whole class.
The teacher took Ally out into the hallway. "Why don't you run home and change your clothes dear." Ally knew she'd miss Sunday school by the time she walked back home and walked back to church. She walked out the church doors, and glanced directly across the street, at the other church. Every church was the same to a 6 year old. She smiled, as she sang, "I'm in the Lord's army..." and marched herself across the street to the Church of Christ for Sunday school.
She savored every moment in Sunday school. She smiled and proudly sang to Jesus. Before she left, ever Sunday, she prayed for her family too. She was always sad when Sunday school was over. But she'd put on her best soldier smile, and march on home, ready to face what was waiting there at home... every day...
"Ally! Ally!! Do you not hear me calling you to the board?" Mrs. Vanar said. It was another Monday morning in her 1st grade class. Ally always seemed to be in trouble for staring out the window during class. Mrs. Vanar said Ally just wasn't using all of her potential and daydreamed too much. But only God and Ally knew what was outside that window every day at school..."Wow, did you really make that bird God?... God, why were they up fighting all night again? Do you think he'll come back home this time?... God, I know you heard me praying in the back of the car when he was driving us home drunk. You saved us again. You love me so much...God, please make the bruises on my mom go away... God, you're my best friend. You will always be my best friend..."
As she slowly made her way to the chalkboard, not quite sure of the math problem she was supposed to be doing, she heard the class giggle. Ally hadn't seen the hole on the back of her worn pants when she got dressed that morning. She wasn't sure why they were giggling. Her face burned at the sound of their giggles. "Did they hear me talking to God?" she wondered...
-Porcelain Soldier
She quietly dug through the piles of clothes on the floor until she found her "best" Sunday dress. The sun was just beginning to peer through the window. She threw on her clothes and quietly slipped out of the house without waking anyone else. She had a good walk ahead of her to get to church.
The neighborhood was quiet, and all she could hear were the leaves gently rustling around her. She felt a little scared and began to hum one of her favorite songs, "Jesus loves me." It always seemed to calm her when she was scared.
They were singing her most favorite song in Sunday school that morning. She excitedly participated. She knew every word and every movement. "I'm in the Lord's army, yes sir! I'm in the Lord's army, yes sir! I may never march in the infantry, ride in the calvary, shoot the artilery..."
"Teacher!! Teacher!!" Sue Ann raised her hand... "Ally smells like pee!" she proclaimed to the whole class.
The teacher took Ally out into the hallway. "Why don't you run home and change your clothes dear." Ally knew she'd miss Sunday school by the time she walked back home and walked back to church. She walked out the church doors, and glanced directly across the street, at the other church. Every church was the same to a 6 year old. She smiled, as she sang, "I'm in the Lord's army..." and marched herself across the street to the Church of Christ for Sunday school.
She savored every moment in Sunday school. She smiled and proudly sang to Jesus. Before she left, ever Sunday, she prayed for her family too. She was always sad when Sunday school was over. But she'd put on her best soldier smile, and march on home, ready to face what was waiting there at home... every day...
"Ally! Ally!! Do you not hear me calling you to the board?" Mrs. Vanar said. It was another Monday morning in her 1st grade class. Ally always seemed to be in trouble for staring out the window during class. Mrs. Vanar said Ally just wasn't using all of her potential and daydreamed too much. But only God and Ally knew what was outside that window every day at school..."Wow, did you really make that bird God?... God, why were they up fighting all night again? Do you think he'll come back home this time?... God, I know you heard me praying in the back of the car when he was driving us home drunk. You saved us again. You love me so much...God, please make the bruises on my mom go away... God, you're my best friend. You will always be my best friend..."
As she slowly made her way to the chalkboard, not quite sure of the math problem she was supposed to be doing, she heard the class giggle. Ally hadn't seen the hole on the back of her worn pants when she got dressed that morning. She wasn't sure why they were giggling. Her face burned at the sound of their giggles. "Did they hear me talking to God?" she wondered...
-Porcelain Soldier