Janie’s Assurance
Ten year old Janie Bailey stretched her arms high above her head with a big yawn. Today was the day. Her school spelling bee was at 5:00PM. She had practiced long and hard in the last week of preparation for this major event. Her family was counting on her to win the grand prize of 5,000 dollars!
Janie knew that her family could use the money, her father was working two jobs as it was and they were still behind on their rent. Her little brother, Danny, was starting first grade next year and her parents would need the prize money for those extra expenses. Janie felt pressure to win from everyone except for her mother.
“Even if you don’t win first, honey, you will still be a winner in my book.” Her mother had told her the night before.
Medical bills took up most of her fathers income. Her dear mother did not mean to be sick all the time. But that didn’t change the fact that her mother stayed in her bedroom and stared out the curtain-less window, days on end.
White tufts of snow continuously fell. Drifts piled along the sidewalk just outside of their apartment. Janie made a mental note to shovel the snow before it turned to ice. She didn’t want Crazy Old Cat Lady to slip on it. Their next door neighbor was famous for rescuing animals, having a especially soft spot for kittens.
Janie got dressed, throwing on a hand-me-down yellow shirt and worn blue jeans. She brushed her long, auburn hair and quickly tied it up in a sloppy ponytail. That will have to do for now, she shrugged into the bathroom mirror. The girl staring back at her was plain, nothing special. The only thing Janie felt like she was good at was spelling the words her teachers gave her. They said her mind was like a steel trap. That must be good, right?
She looked down at her sweaty palms and pushed away the doubt threatening to creep into her steel trap. Stubbornly shaking her head, she shook a finger at her reflection in the mirror above the chipped and rust-stained sink.
“You are going to win that prize whether you think you can or not. You have to do better than the best you can do!”
Her self-talk was interrupted by her brother’s call.
“Janie! Phone!” His high-pitched five year old voice pierced the dusty air of the apartment complex.
Danny had appointed himself as the “official phone picker-upper” and met each incoming call with a speech that would make any adult smile at its sweetness. Danny was always sweet, unless you messed with his Lego creations. Then, you better watch out for the little man and his pea shooter.
“Coming!” Janie practically tripped out the bathroom door, hurrying.
Danny handed her the phone and she placed it to her ear, “Hello?”
“Is this Janie?”
“Yes.”
“Hi, this is Hattie Williams, your next door neighbor, do you remember me? You probably see me playing with my kittens with a feather duster next door. Well, anyway, your poor mother said that I need to drive you to your spelling bee since she wasn’t feeling good and your father is working his night shift. I will pick you up at 4:30PM to give us enough time to get there, okay dear?”
“Ok, see you then.”
When the Click! sounded on the other side of the line, Janie hung up on her end with a sigh. What if I don’t win?
4:30PM came around, and with it came a honking car horn announcing the Crazy Old Cat Lady’s arrival. Janie quickly set Danny up with a movie and told her mother goodbye.
“Wish me luck!”
Mother halted Janie in her rushed tracks, “Luck won’t have anything to do with you winning, dear. I said a prayer for you tonight. If you win, it will only be because God is answering my prayer in the way I wish. And even if you don’t win, God is still answering my prayer, just in a different way. God sometimes says “Yes” to our prayers, then other times He says “Wait” but He always has our best interest in mind. Have faith, Janie, for He is always faithful. Now,” she winked, “go break a leg!”
Janie smiled then ran to Mrs. Williams’ car.
What if God doesn’t answer Mama’s prayer? What if winning has everything to do with luck and nothing to do with God? How can I have faith in God when everything seems to be going wrong? Her thoughts jumbled.
The spelling bee was held in a large classroom. Children lined up in the front row. Thirty minutes passed as each of the participants took turns spelling words. Soon, the group of kids began to diminish in size as each word got harder. There were five kids left—Janie was among them.
Her heart beat faster as they called her name and told her the word to spell. She cautiously walked up to the microphone, “Encyclopedia, e-n-c-y-c-l-o-p-e-d-i-a.”
“Correct.”
Breathing a sigh of relief, she got back in line. A few minutes later there was finally only one other girl left to compete for the prize. Janie and Kelly—the girl who Janie recognized as the most popular girl in school.
God, if Your listening, help me to win this prize. Not for me but for Mama, Daddy, and Danny.
The lady who was hosting the spelling bee, spoke to Kelly first “Kelly, your word is assurance.”
“Assurance, a-s-s-u-r-” Kelly hesitated with a gulp, “e-n-c-e.”
The buzzer went off, “Incorrect. Kelly, you may take a seat. Janie, you may now have a chance to win the grand prize by spelling the word ‘assurance.’”
Janie squeezed her eyes shut, pleading to a God who she didn’t even have assurance that He was listening to her prayers. She fidgeted with the bottom of her yellow t-shirt, fisting it tightly in her left hand. She slowly came up to the mic.
“Assurance, a-s-s-u-r-a-n-c-e.”
“Correct! Congratulations, you won the grand prize of 5,000 dollars!” The crowd cheered, and among them, the Crazy Old Cat Lady whistled her applause. Janie winked at her and waved back. She couldn’t believe it!
For the whole ride home, Janie was amazed and couldn’t wait to tell her parents the good news. I guess God was faithful after all!
Janie closed her eyes reverently in prayer, thanking God for His faithfulness.
How did you like reading this story? This is my second piece of flash fiction here on the blog! Read my first piece shared HERE.
