PREVIEW: Allison
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The LOST GENRE GUILD
Biblical Speculative Fiction
| Deborah Cullins-Smith's short story "Allison" can be found in Light at the Edge of Darkness along with 26 other stories of Biblical speculative fiction.
Read more about the author, Deborah Cullins-Smith. |
Today she would see her mother.
Allison glanced down at her carefully chosen garments. She thought about wearing a
fancy, fluffy dress, but just didn’t feel right in such frivolous trimmings. She never
had possessed a “pink bow personality.” Now Jenny represented the picture of a
perfectly frilly little girl! Allison loved her friend, but sometimes envied the dainty
sugar-and-spice pixie of a child. Beside Jenny, Allison felt awkward and tomboyish.
“Be yourself,” Rachel had told her many times. “If you are comfortable, this meeting
will be easier for both of you.”
With a sigh, Allison resigned herself to blue jeans and a sweater, her normal attire.
“I hope Mommy won’t be disappointed in me,” Allison said to her reflection in the
long mirror. “Maybe she won’t mind that I don’t wear ruffles and lace.”
Her mother . . .
How her little heart soared. Yet . . . there was just a touch of apprehension, too. She
knew that she couldn’t go to live with her mother, but she longed to see her—just
see her—even if only for a moment or two.
Of course, God knew best. She trusted Him with all her heart, and she knew with a
child’s confidence that His decisions were always right, His timing was perfect, and
He was never, ever late. So she waited with quiet faith, and prayed with all her
heart. Sometimes the strong longing weighed upon her like a huge block of marble.
But her trusting little heart remained steadfast. God would answer her prayers
someday. And in the meantime, she waited, praying a little harder each time she
knelt.
“It’s all arranged, angel,” Rachel had said, sweeping into the child’s room last night,
her eyes sparkling with excitement. “You’re going to see your mother tomorrow,
Allison. Isn’t it wonderful?” She danced into the room, and twirled the child in a wide
circle, before they collapsed on the end of the bed in a breathless heap.
“I am?” Her voice sounded squeaky. “My very own Mommy?”
Allison’s tummy did flip-flops, and her eyes filled with joyful tears. To yearn for so
long, and pray so hard, and wait so patiently; it hardly seemed real!
“Really, Rachel?” Allison asked. “Really, truly?”
“Really, truly, my angel.”
Allison glanced down at her carefully chosen garments. She thought about wearing a
fancy, fluffy dress, but just didn’t feel right in such frivolous trimmings. She never
had possessed a “pink bow personality.” Now Jenny represented the picture of a
perfectly frilly little girl! Allison loved her friend, but sometimes envied the dainty
sugar-and-spice pixie of a child. Beside Jenny, Allison felt awkward and tomboyish.
“Be yourself,” Rachel had told her many times. “If you are comfortable, this meeting
will be easier for both of you.”
With a sigh, Allison resigned herself to blue jeans and a sweater, her normal attire.
“I hope Mommy won’t be disappointed in me,” Allison said to her reflection in the
long mirror. “Maybe she won’t mind that I don’t wear ruffles and lace.”
Her mother . . .
How her little heart soared. Yet . . . there was just a touch of apprehension, too. She
knew that she couldn’t go to live with her mother, but she longed to see her—just
see her—even if only for a moment or two.
Of course, God knew best. She trusted Him with all her heart, and she knew with a
child’s confidence that His decisions were always right, His timing was perfect, and
He was never, ever late. So she waited with quiet faith, and prayed with all her
heart. Sometimes the strong longing weighed upon her like a huge block of marble.
But her trusting little heart remained steadfast. God would answer her prayers
someday. And in the meantime, she waited, praying a little harder each time she
knelt.
“It’s all arranged, angel,” Rachel had said, sweeping into the child’s room last night,
her eyes sparkling with excitement. “You’re going to see your mother tomorrow,
Allison. Isn’t it wonderful?” She danced into the room, and twirled the child in a wide
circle, before they collapsed on the end of the bed in a breathless heap.
“I am?” Her voice sounded squeaky. “My very own Mommy?”
Allison’s tummy did flip-flops, and her eyes filled with joyful tears. To yearn for so
long, and pray so hard, and wait so patiently; it hardly seemed real!
“Really, Rachel?” Allison asked. “Really, truly?”
“Really, truly, my angel.”
The Lost Genre Guild's mission is to promote quality works of Biblical Speculative Fiction (spec-fic)
through its authors, fans; to endorse new releases that fit this criteria; and of course, to glorify Him.
through its authors, fans; to endorse new releases that fit this criteria; and of course, to glorify Him.
WAITING IS NEVER EASY when you are only eight years old, and
Allison squirmed, impatiently awaiting the arrival of her
caregiver. Rachel had been her guardian for as long as Allison
could remember. Her gentle voice and comforting arms made
the tiny child feel secure and cherished. Rachel’s presence
almost made up for the absence of Allison’s mother—almost.
Allison brushed a trembling hand through her curly honey-brown
hair. All her life, she’d waited for this momentous day. Finally,
God granted all those earnest prayers, those requests tearfully
whispered at her bedside.
Allison squirmed, impatiently awaiting the arrival of her
caregiver. Rachel had been her guardian for as long as Allison
could remember. Her gentle voice and comforting arms made
the tiny child feel secure and cherished. Rachel’s presence
almost made up for the absence of Allison’s mother—almost.
Allison brushed a trembling hand through her curly honey-brown
hair. All her life, she’d waited for this momentous day. Finally,
God granted all those earnest prayers, those requests tearfully
whispered at her bedside.
