Thru the minutes and Hours of time

Thru the minutes and hours of time
I let the dire take over, what was mine
My thoughts and feelings became unruly
I just wanted to hear, I love you truly
Life had become just a way to live
Learning from others to take and not give
I forgot how to care, understand and listen
For in my heart, real love was missin
Then from her voice the words did say
Hey you over there, you’re going the wrong way
You have taken the path more travelled and worn
The path were hearts get battered and torn
If you can listen and try to understand
I will show you we can walk, hand in hand
See showed me what true love was all about
She loved me for real without a doubt
I was over taken with what she had to impart
Leaving her behind with a wounded and broken heart
Now i don’t have her, for she has closed her door
My heart bleeds with emptiness upon the floor
I have re-realized what love is all about
To understand and care, without a shout
To first think of others feelings and concern
To hear their hearts and needs they yearn
For if she ever lets me back in her heart
I swear before god I wont tear it a part

A New Journey Begin...(Chapter Five) *End*

Abby got out of the car and walked to where her father stood. She turned and waved good-bye to Tyler, as if asking him not to hang around. Taking the hint, Tyler got back into his car and drove away.

"Well," smiled John, "do you have anything to tell your father?"

"How did you know that Tyler proposed?" asked Abby, in astonishment.

John hurried his daughter into the house.

"Izumi! He did it! Tyler asked Abby to marry him!" cried John, happily.

Izumi came into the room with a sober face.

"Just wait till I call Terry!" said John, running to the telephone.

"You'd better put down the phone, Dear," warned Izumi. "I think you're a little premature."

"What do you mean?" asked John, the telephone receiver still in his hand.

"Look at her face," advised Izumi.

For the first time since she had come home, John took a good look into Abby's face. The subdued look on her face made his heart fall to his toes.

"You didn't accept him, did you?" asked John.

"I told Tyler I had to think about it," replied Abby, quietly.

John hung up the phone. Izumi walked over to her daughter and lovingly put her arms around her. Seeing his two girls side by side, John had to smile, in spite of his disappointment. They looked so much alike.

"Well," he sighed, "at least you didn't turn him down. But, I don't understand, why do you need to think about it?"

"Please, Dad," asked Abby, "give me time to think. I need to know my own heart better."

Abby turned to go to her room.

"Sweetheart," said Izumi, touching Abby's hand, "don't marry him if you don't love him."

Prayerfully, Abby went to bed. She remembered the frankness in Tyler's face when he asked her to become his wife. Her heart had skipped a beat, when he had said the words, "I love you."

"But," she wondered to herself, "do I love him?"

"Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts... and lead me."

"The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just."

A New Journey Begin...(Chapter Four)

"Jake's story reminds me of someone we know," observed Izumi, thoughtfully.

"I know, I thought of Terry, also," agreed John. "Though, Terry never had it that bad. Thank God!"

"That's because God made the two of you friends," smiled Izumi, lovingly. "It's all right with me, John. I think, though, that we need to keep him away from our Abby, until we're sure of his character. Christian or not, he's been in an adult state penitentiary for nine years."

"I agree," affirmed John.

After the couple prayed and asked God to bless them and the guest that He had so Providentially placed in their way to help, John went outside and told Henry their decision.

Upon hearing the news, the Sheriff clapped John on the back.

"Now, what do you want for rent?" asked the Sheriff.

"Henry, we're not in this for the money," smiled John.

"No more than I," grinned the Sheriff. "But, I don't think it's wise to outright give him the rent for free. The idea is to make him independent-- if not in fact, then in technicality. How about ten dollars a week? Though, I know rent for a nice little house like that would go for considerably more."

"That's fine with me," replied John. "We'll get it ready for him. I'll have to turn on the gas and electricity, and make sure the major appliances are working."

"I'm sure he'll appreciate it," said the Sheriff.

"You said Jake was fifteen when he was incarcerated?" asked John, thoughtfully. "Plus nine years in prison... that makes him about twenty-four, doesn't it?"

"I believe it does," replied the Sheriff. "Why do you ask?"

"Izumi and I aren't comfortable with the idea of letting Jake be around our Abby-- at least, not immediately."

"I'll make sure Jake understands," said the Sheriff. "There is one thing you should know-- I almost forgot it, entirely."

"What's that?" asked John.

"Jake doesn't like to be touched," related the Sheriff. "Dick says he's just getting used to shaking hands, but it's possible he could act a little violent to any other physical contact."

"I see," said John, gravely.

"Don't get me wrong," said the Sheriff. "Jake doesn't have a history of violence... except for the one conviction, of course. What I mean is, he isn't a trouble maker. And, he'll be going to therapy two times a week. If he doesn't attend, it'll be in violation of his parole, and he could be sent back to prison. I realize it's asking a lot, but does your offer still stand?"

With an uneasy groan, John shifted his weight from one foot to the other.

"Our Abby's going to be engaged soon," he reasoned. "So, she won't be around the house as much in the future. Terry will be back from the business trip in Hong Kong, early next week. Since he and I work from home, Izumi won't be by herself. After taking everything into consideration, I suppose it's still all right for him to come. But, Henry, I want you to tell him, that if he does anything to threaten or hurt my family, so help me, I'll turn him out of that house, myself!"

"I'll make sure Jake understands," repeated the Sheriff, turning to leave. "All he needs is a chance, John."

"I'm willing to give him one," said John.

"God bless you folks for your willingness," said the Sheriff, shaking John's hand and getting back into his pickup, for he had made this errand while on his own time, and not while he was on duty.

Just as the Sheriff's vehicle was pulling away, Tyler's car drove up to the Johannes house. He got out and opened Abby's door for her.

"Did you two have a good time, tonight?" greeted John, expectantly.

A New Journey Begin...(Chapter Three)

"Is Abby all right?" asked Izumi, suddenly becoming concerned.

"As far as I know, Ma'am," smiled the Sheriff. "This is about another matter, altogether."

John put on his jacket, kissed Izumi, and stepped outside with the Sheriff.

"What is it, Henry?" asked John, puzzled by his friend's strange behavior.

"Do you remember hearing me talk of Richard Doyle?" asked the Sheriff.

"The warden of the state penitentiary in Watertown?" replied John.

"The very one, Sir," affirmed Henry. "Well, Richard, I mean Dick, called me up yesterday and told me about this inmate he's been helping for about two years. His name is Jake Murphy and he's going to be paroled early next week. Jake doesn't have anyone on the outside, so Dick has been trying to find him a job and a place to stay." Here the Sheriff hesitated, as if trying to choose his words carefully.

John stiffened, sensing something hard was about to be asked of him.

"The thing is," continued Henry, "with a record like Jake's, he doesn't stand a chance on the outside, without someone to kind of help him along. That's where I come in. So far, I've been able to find him a job as a janitor at the Old Mill Camp Ground, but I haven't been able to find him any place to stay. I was wondering if Jake might be able to rent the little yellow house from you-- you know, the one you used to live in before you married."

"What was Jake convicted of?" asked John.

"Second-degree murder," answered the Sheriff.

"It's out of the question!" exclaimed John. "I can't have someone like that living right next to us!"

"Well, now," said the Sheriff, "I can understand that-- I really can. But this is what you might call, a special circumstance."

Then the Sheriff began to relate the history of Jake, or the amount that Warden Doyle had told him of, and how Jake and the prison warden had become friends.

Beginning at the tender age of four, Jake Murphy's father raped and tortured his son. The Sheriff didn't give any more detail on that point, for he didn't know any more. At twelve, Jake ran away from home and lived with his grandmother. When Jake turned fifteen, he returned to his father's house, and waited outside in the bushes for him to come home. Jake was carrying a sharp kitchen knife from his grandmother's house. You see, he intended to kill his father.

When the father returned home and found his son there, a fight of words and fists ensued, which at last resulted in the death of Mr. Murphy. According to Jake, he had changed his mind at the last moment, and had only finally struck out at his father to save his own life. The district attorney, however, didn't see it that way. Because the knife had come from Jake's grandmother's house, and not his father's house, the district attorney argued that this was evidence of premeditated murder. Jake's attorney argued that it had been self-defense. The D.A. said there was a witness-- an old woman across the street who saw the whole thing. When it was proved in the D.A.'s office that her eyesight wasn't everything she had said it was, the D.A. offered Jake a plea-bargain of second-degree murder, instead of the first degree charge that he had originally wanted. Seeing little choice, Jake accepted. He was tried as an adult and sentenced to sixteen years in an adult state penitentiary.

"John," continued the Sheriff, "seven years into his sentence, Jake attempted suicide. Soon after, Dick became warden. He took an interest in Jake, and witnessed to him. When he accepted Christ, Dick said there was a noticeable change in him. Now I come to the present. Jake's been in the state penitentiary for nine years, and he's up for parole. Since Dick was willing to recommend his release, they're going to let him out on parole next Monday. Like I said before, I was able to find him a job as a janitor at the Old Mill Camp Ground, but for the life of me, I just can't find anyone willing to rent an ex-con a place to stay. Three Mile Bay is determined to not help Jake Murphy, and that's a fact! John, if you could see your way to let him rent the little yellow house, it surely would help."

John sighed heavily. After hearing the story, he had to admit that it did sound like a special circumstance.

"I have to talk it over with Izumi," said John. "If you'll wait here, Henry, I think we can give you an answer, shortly."

John went inside the house and related the sad story to his wife.

A New Journey Begin...(Chapter Two)

Today, Abigail, or Abby, as most people called her, found a different solace in her fishing than usual. She needed to relax and do some serious thinking. Her education wasn't the only thing confronting her. Tyler Greene, a boy she had known her entire life, was going to take her out that evening. Abby's womanly intuition had guessed that he was about to ask her to marry him.

"Dad would love that," she thought, aloud.

"Abby!" called Izumi from the house screen door, "Tyler is going to be here, soon! Shouldn't you be getting ready?"

"Just five more minutes!" negotiated Abby, flicking her line to a new spot in the water, where she thought she saw some activity.

"Tyler is a good man," reasoned Abby. "He's a Christian, comes from a solid family, is reasonably good looking, and has a promising future. Why, then, don't I love him? What's wrong with me?"

As these troubling thoughts flooded her mind, a gentle breeze from heaven whispered in her ear, "Wait."

The minutes flew by, and now it was John's voice calling to her across the beach,

"Abby! Tyler is here!"

"I'm coming!" shouted Abby, reeling in her line.

She put on her sandals and walked back to the house, her fishing pole casually swung across one shoulder.

"Are you ready?" greeted Tyler, coming out to meet her.

"Sorry, Tyler," answered Abby, "I know I'm late. Just give me ten minutes."

"All right," allowed Tyler, "but don't drag your feet. Dad's expecting us to be there on time!"

Tyler's father had generously invited them to an "interesting" lecture about the importance of meaningful fiscal reform in the banking industry. Except for the imminent marriage proposal from Tyler, it looked to be a dull night out.

Ten minutes later, Abby was ready. The early evening sky was already changing hues as she and Tyler got into the car and drove away.

"I think he's going to ask her, tonight!" John exclaimed to Izumi, as they walked back inside from seeing the couple off.

"How do you know that?" asked Izumi, startled by this news.

"Didn't you see how Tyler kept nervously checking his pocket, as if he was making sure the ring was still there?" asked John.

"No, I didn't," replied Izumi.

"You don't sound as though you approve," observed John, recognizing a look of cautious hesitation in his mate.

"In the past, I've thought Abby and Tyler would make a perfect match, but, now..." Izumi paused. "What makes you so sure Tyler's the one for our Abby?" asked Izumi.

"Well," replied John, "everything points to him. They've known each other all their lives, they're both Christians, and all four of their parents want this to happen!" he added with a triumphant smile. John drew Izumi close to him. "I know they'll be as happy as we are, Little Dove."

Izumi returned her husband's loving kiss, but something inside her wanted to run after Tyler's car and stop him from proposing.

"Abby's education and future husband are already laid out for her," said John. "All she has to do is go out and meet it."

Just then, there was a knock on the front door of the Johannes home. When John answered it, he was greeted by Sheriff Peterson.

"Sorry to intrude on your evening, John," said Sheriff Peterson, "but I was wondering if I could have a word with you outside."

A New Journey Begin...(Chapter One)

Eleven years after John and Izumi Johanneses' journey of the heart, their daughter, Abigail, was now poised to set off on a journey of her own. At eighteen, Abigail was the image of her mother. She had Izumi's deep blue eyes and raven black hair. However, unlike Izumi, Abigail had a loving and secure childhood, so her temperament was considerably more confident than her mother's ever was. It was proof of the loving atmosphere that John and Izumi had cultivated in their nineteen years of marriage.

John and Izumi's love for each other, tended by God's loving hand, had only grown stronger and deeper through the years. Their happily-ever-after love, was playing out in simple, everyday life, proving that romance doesn't end after the "I do's"; when two people become one, it's only the beginning of the story-- not the end.

"John!" laughed Izumi, running from the living room, "Stop it!"

John chased his wife into the kitchen and caught her by the waist. From her bedroom, Abigail could hear the playful laughter coming from the kitchen. The teenager rolled her eyes. When were her parents going to act like adults?

Abigail's graduation had just taken place a week earlier. Both parents had proudly attended the ceremony, each taking enough photographs and video footage of her graduation to embarrass even the most devoted child. Now that she had completed high school, her parents expected her to go to a Christian college. Abigail, however, was unsure if college was in her future. She had long planned to continue her education, but when it actually came time, Abigail was unsure. Much to the annoyance of John, she couldn't explain her feelings. Abigail didn't know it, but the Holy Spirit had given her a small still voice that told her to wait.

With a sigh, Abigail tossed her year book into a box, along with the memorabilia her parents had accumulated of her graduation, and unceremoniously shoved it beneath her bed. She needed to think.

Never one to need an excuse to go fishing, Abigail grabbed her fly rod. After donning her fishing waistcoast, sunglasses, and favorite green baseball cap, she stepped outside and walked down to the shoreline, which was less than half a mile from her front door. A cool lake breeze played in her hair as she took off her sandals and waded into the fresh water of Three Mile Bay. Even though the constant breezes frequently played with her fly line, Abigail reminded herself that at least it kept the mosquitos away. The warm June sun had also enticed others outside to do some fishing, mostly tourists who wanted to spend their vacation at one of the largest freshwater bays in the world.

Abigail loved the waterfront house that her great grandparents had left her mother, and she loved Three Mile Bay. But, most of all, she loved to fly fish! She could often be found on the beach, standing knee deep in water, her fly rod in one hand, her slack line in the other, all the while her lips moving to the music her iPod afforded. To Abigail, this was the closest thing to heaven on earth.

While John's ancestors had been boat builders and fishermen by trade, the fishing gene had bypassed him altogether, and gone straight to his daughter. Izumi could not understand the attraction her only child had to the pastime, but like a good mother, she was happy that Abigail was happy.

The fishing gene in Abigail had had some help, however, in the form of Terry Davis, John's long time friend and Abigail's unofficial uncle. Terry had taught her the basics of fly fishing, and had instilled in her a healthy respect for the rugged beauty of her surroundings.

"God's creation is a wonderful thing, Abby," Terry would often say. "Just think, He only took six days to create all this!"

While Abigail's interest had made her popular with the boys, most girls her own age had a difficult time relating to a girl who could talk for hours on end about fly lures. Because of this, Abigail's closest female friend was her own mother.

Last Bear...

有一個年輕人喜歡上了在便利商店打工的女孩,他每天都會到女孩工作的店裡面買一包香煙,

漸漸的兩人開始互相熟悉,當女孩工作感到無聊乏味的時候,

年輕人就會出現,他會陪女孩說說話 ,或是逗女孩開心.

女孩也知道年輕人似乎喜歡上自己了,可是自己已經有很要好的男友.

有商店夾公仔機...女孩很喜歡裡面的娃娃,

年輕人知道以後,當天他終於對她表白,希望女孩能接受他,

不知如何是好的女孩,只能殘忍的告訴年輕人,她和他是不可能的,

因為她已經有深愛的男友了,年輕人聽了之後默然的點點頭,

他不死心的問女孩,自己真的沒有機會了嗎?

善良的女孩不忍心....

於是她手指著娃娃機裡面的絨毛娃娃說,

除非你夾滿100個娃娃,而且一天只能夾一個.

原來女孩希望用時間來沖淡年輕人對自己的感情 ,

她心想,一天夾1個娃娃, 最快也要三個多月之後才有100個,

而且年輕人應該不會真的有耐心夾滿100個娃娃吧


這三個月的時間,她會盡量與男孩保持距離,

年輕人還是每天到商店來,可是女孩開始變得冷淡,

他總是試著聊一些女孩有興趣的話題,不過女孩依然愛理不理.


因為她知道唯有這樣做,才不會讓年輕人越陷越深.

年輕人或許是感覺到女孩的用意,

於是他每天夾娃娃,有時運氣好夾一兩次就中了,

有時運氣差,零用錢花光了也夾不到,只好跟朋友借錢繼續夾,一直到夾中為止.

無論花多少錢花多少時間,他每天一定會夾一個娃娃,

只是他無法與女孩分享夾到娃娃的喜悅,

因為他知道女孩有意要避開他,

為了怕引響到女孩的情緒,他只能在櫥窗外頭微笑的對女孩點點頭.


好幾次,看到年輕人因為夾到娃娃興高采烈的樣子,

女孩都想要衝出去對他說,

我是騙你的,你不要再夾了,就算你真的夾到100個娃娃,我跟你也是不可能的!

但是一想到年輕人希望破滅的樣子,女孩就於心不忍,她只能不斷猶豫.

就這樣1 天,2天,3天..,年輕人的娃娃數量不斷的累積,而女孩刻意與年輕人保持距離的結果,

則是讓自己在工作的時後更顯孤單.不知道是哪一天,女孩子因為在外地工作的男友無法回來陪她過18歲的生日,

與男友吵了一架,而那天年輕人仍一如往常的來到便利商店,

不同的是那天年輕人竟走進了店裡,他對女孩說,

可不可以破例讓他在今天夾兩個娃娃回去,

可是因為和男友吵架而心情不佳的女孩,很生氣的當場拒絕了他.

就這樣,年輕人走到娃娃機旁,默默的夾了一個娃娃回去,

在年輕人離開的時後,他對櫥窗裡的女孩看了一眼.

隔天以後,年輕人再也沒來夾娃娃了.剛開始女孩雖然覺得奇怪,但是仍然慶幸自己終於放下了心中的大石頭.

可是漸漸的,她突然覺得不習慣,

因為那個每天都會為了她來夾娃娃的熟悉背影,

好像空氣一樣就消失不見了,這時女孩才發現到,

原來她心中的失落感遠遠超過年輕人所帶給她的負擔.

只是一切都...女孩開始想念以前年輕人來店裡陪她聊天的點點滴滴.

哪怕他只是站在櫥窗外頭沉默不語的夾娃娃,

似乎都會帶給她莫名的安全感.

所以女孩每天上班時,總是不斷的抬頭張望,

那個熟悉的身影來了嗎?


可惜的是,年輕人始終沒出現, 只剩下那台沒人使用的娃娃機.

有一天,女孩下班後,在店門口遇到了以前常和年輕人一起來的朋友,

她焦急的問他年輕人的下落,可是年輕人的朋友則是一臉黯然,

他帶女孩來到年輕人的家,

當他開啟年輕人的房間的門時,映入女孩眼簾的是

一群娃娃機裡面的絨毛娃娃,以及躺在床上動也不動的年輕人.

原來年輕人的脊椎有病,必須要開刀才能保住生命,

可是開刀有一半的機率會失敗而導致全身癱瘓,

年輕人在開刀的前一天晚上,也就是女孩和男友大吵一架的那天,

希望女孩給他機會夾2個娃娃,因為他已經累積有98個了,

然而卻遭到女孩的回絕,隔天之後年輕人手術不幸失敗變成植物人,

年輕人的母親拿了一封信給女孩,那是年輕人在手術之前寫好的:

其實我早就知道,就算夾到了100個娃娃,

妳也不可能會喜歡我,我之所以這麼做並不是故意要造成妳的困擾,

而是希望在我有限的時間裡,

證明我曾經很用心的去愛一個人,

這樣就足夠了,如果妳看到了這封信,

那表示我再也無法為你夾娃娃了,對不起,或許我的努力還不夠吧,

沒能夾到100個娃娃親手送給你..

女孩看著床邊的99個絨毛娃娃,那是99顆無法承受的真心,

眼眶裡的淚水早已決堤而出...

隔天女孩來到年輕人的家,

她將第100個絨毛娃娃放到年輕人的手中,

這時已經變成植物人的他,

眼睛流下了淚水...