Second Chance Read Free Page B

shoulder, shifting into park. He turned to Judd. “I’m sorry, son, but you can see if I take that exit ramp to O’Hare right there, we might not get out of there for days. You’re still a couple of miles from theparking garage, but I think this is as close as I can get you.”
    Vicki could see he was right. Nothing was moving on that ramp. Judd looked at her, and they both shrugged. Judd paid the driver and thanked him.
    Suddenly Vicki found herself alone with a strange boy on a chilly night, on foot in a world that had come apart at the seams.
    It was while walking with Judd that fatigue overcame Vicki. She didn’t want to say so, but she wondered with each step if she could take another. This had been one long, grueling, horrifying day. Now, she thought, maybe she could finally rest in her own bed. The memories and her loss would still haunt her, but she believed God would allow her to sleep. She knew she didn’t deserve to have him in her life, but she could do nothing less now than to trust him and believe in him and depend upon him.
    Finally, walking in the grass next to the shoulder of the road, which was filled with cars barely moving, Judd broke his long silence. “Vicki, I’ve been thinking and praying.”
    â€œMe too,” she said.
    â€œReally?”
    She nodded.
    â€œThat’s good,” he said, “because I don’tthink we’re smart to put off our decision any longer. Who knows what might happen?”
    â€œSo you already became a Christian?” she asked.
    He nodded. “I just figured it was really dumb to wait any longer. Not that I’m saying you’re dumb, you know.”
    â€œI did the same thing a little while ago, Judd. If what Bruce said is true, then I guess that puts us in the same family. We’re brother and sister now.”
    Judd nodded again. “I guess we are,” he said. “I could use a sister.”
    â€œI could use a brother.”
    â€œYeah, didn’t you say your big brother was living in Michigan and you thought he was raptured too?”
    â€œI thought you’d never ask.”

THREE
Lionel’s Shock
    L IONEL Washington had sprinted down the street away from New Hope Village Church, looking both ways for any sign of Ryan Daley. He knew the little guy had gotten quite a head start on him and only hoped that Ryan was not still running. If he was, Lionel would never catch him.
    Lionel was a fast runner, but this was ridiculous. He huffed and puffed and sucked air, running in the general direction of his own house. He hoped Ryan’s home was somewhere on the way. Maybe the kid had to stop and catch his breath himself.
    Lionel slowed to a walk and put his hands on his hips, allowing his chest to expand and his lungs to drink in more air.
    He squinted at a small form huddled under a street lamp two blocks ahead. Itcould have been anybody, of course, as people just like him—people who had lost loved ones and were scared to death and wondering what was going on—wandered about hoping to see someone they knew.
    When Lionel was within a block of the streetlight, the form rose and began to walk. It was Ryan Daley. This time, fortunately, he was not running. At least not until he turned and looked behind him. When he saw Lionel, he began to jog.
    â€œHey! Hey, kid!” Lionel called. For the moment, he had forgotten the boy’s name. “Wait up!”
    At first Ryan seemed to speed up, but then it appeared he had resigned himself to the fact that there was nowhere to go anyway. He stepped off the sidewalk into the grass and thrust his hands deep in his pockets, his chin tucked to his chest. Lionel figured he had been crying. Maybe he still was. He sure didn’t have to be ashamed of that, Lionel thought.
    Lionel hurried to the boy and stood next to him, matching his posture, pushing his hands into his pockets and looking down. “What are you gonna do?” Lionel said. In