A Treasury of Miracles for Friends Read Online Free Page B

idea, hadn’t it? And when one of the rocks broke the window, Jared had been the first to flee the scene. Of course, both boys took equal punishment for it, but Beth began to doubt the benefit of Jared’s role in Andy’s life.
    The two had been in mischief again after that.
    When they were thirteen and fourteen, Jared had grabbed the keys to his father’s pickup and taken Andy for a joyride through a local farmer’s field. Beth could still remember talking to Andy about that event.
    “Why, son? Why did you get in the car?”
    “Mom . . .” Andy had shrugged, his face blank. “I couldn’t let Jared go alone.”
    For the most part, Beth had merely tolerated Jared’s role in Andy’s life. She closed her eyes.
If only I’d broken up their friendship all those years ago, Andy wouldn’t be pursuing such a dangerous job . . .
    She blinked and the images from the past disappeared. The reason they’d stayed close was because of Joe. Her husband had been happy and upbeat until the day he died, and his attitude about Jared had always been positive.
    “He’s a kid, Beth,” Joe had always told her. “Of course they’re going to get in some trouble. But he’s a good boy. I think in the long run Jared will be good for Andy.”
    Beth wanted to believe Joe, even now. Firefighting, after all, was not a bad thing. But it wasn’t safe, and the idea that Andy had gotten into it after Jared only convinced her that the older boy was still leading Andy into places where she didn’t want him to go.
    She looked out the window again and exhaled hard. What was this feeling strangling her heart? For a moment she considered her feelings, the frustration and suspicion and, yes, meanness she exuded so often. Then her eyes shifted and she saw the Bible sitting on the table.
    God, why can’t I let Andy go? And how come I can’t learn to like Jared? The situation keeps coming between me and Andy. God, I need your help.
She felt the sting of tears in her eyes.
Otherwise Andy’s going to hate me.
    For a long while she waited, and then slowly, bit by bit, a feeling began to surface in her heart. She needed to give up her way of thinking in both areas. First, she needed to give Andy back to God.
    “I can’t keep him safe, God.” She whispered the words into the empty room. “So you take care of him. That way I won’t have to worry.”
    Second, she needed to believe that her dead husband had been right. Jared was loyal to Andy, and the two had certainly done as much good together as they had bad. Beth bit the inside of her lip and looked out the window to the dark sky beyond. “Okay, God, fine.” Her voice still barely audible, she pictured the two boys. “Help me love Jared. Help me appreciate his friendship for Andy. And help me see it as a good thing in my son’s life.”
    The boys were halfway to the fire department when Jared turned to Andy and chuckled. “You must really be mad at her.”
    “I guess.” Andy leaned against the passenger door and studied his friend. “She said some rotten things.”
    “Wanna talk about it?”
    “No.” Andy glanced at the road in front of them. He would never let Jared know his mother’s feelings, that she didn’t think him a good friend. Andy managed a smile. “No big deal. Same old story, you know? Too protective; won’t let go. That kind of thing.”
    Jared nodded, but as he did, he glanced down at Andy and his face fell. “Hey, man, put your belt on. Remember the rule?”
    Andy remembered. The rule was something specific to their fire station, and it played over in his mind:
Firefighters show the way; buckle up every day.
It was a good rule. Not that it really mattered. The odds of a wreck were one in a million, right? He caught Jared’s eye and saw that his friend was still watching him.
    “Come on, buckle up.” With his chin, Jared motioned to Andy.
    Andy was about to reach for the belt when a thought hit him. This was just what his mother had accused him of, wasn’t it?