A TRUE STORY - LOST IN TIME 

By Tessa Harvey


    Alice Thornton saw the small family leaving across the street. She had prayed for them for years. Her two sons, Philip and Stephen had been killed in the war. Somehow she had held on to her faith in God.
    Alf, her husband had become quiet and withdrawn. He had owned the grocery store, where Will had worked. Slowly he had slipped away from her and from life. Alice had borne his death with fortitude and courage. But the pain never lessened. Reading the Psalms of God in the Bible had helped.
    Others had suffered before her, especially Jesus who had died on a cruel Cross. Jesus had died for her. She knew and believed that He, Jesus, would still have gone to the Cross even if there had been only her in the world. Unlike other faiths, Jesus had RISEN from the dead!
    Some hours later, Peggy knocked on the door. Sighing, she let herself straight into the front room. All the houses here were built the same. Her mum was tucked up asleep in her armchair.
    Well, she was late for work, so leaving some scones and a casserole to be heated later, Peggy headed for the door.    
    Then she caught sight of a piece of paper near her mother's hand. An old pencil stump lay on the floor, chewed and battered by teething babies long ago.
    Tears gathered as she read the note addressed to her. The writing was spidery and slanted upwards towards one corner.
    Dear Peggy, you are my beautiful daughter. Yes, I loved my boys, your brothers, but you are my joy and I love you. Thank you for looking after me. I love you darling always....and the words trailed away.

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