Prince Tennyson Read Online Free Page B

reading? “How did you find that Luke part so fast?” I asked.
    Mom shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know.”
    I wasn’t buying it. As quick as I could, I climbed off the bed and knelt on the floor below her and watched her face.
    She moved the Bible and looked at me funny. “Chelsea, what are you doing?”
    â€œYou’ve read the Bible before, haven’t you?”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œThere is no way you could’ve found that Luke place so fast. I know. I tried.” I pointed right at the book in her hand. “How come you never told me you’ve already tried to find out if God was real?”
    â€œOh, honey.” Mom snapped the book shut. “Just because I’ve read the Bible doesn’t mean I know He’s real.”
    I thought about that for a moment. I didn’t want to think about what that would mean. Instead, I sat up taller and leaned in really close to my mom. “Well, since you’re so good at finding the places in the Bible, will you help me?” I was perfectly serious, and I wanted Mom to know it, too.
    I think she knew it, because she put her hands on my shoulders and chewed on her lip before she let out a big sigh and said, “All right. Because I know how important this is to you, okay?”
    â€œReally?” I smiled so big it made my mom blink.
    â€œReally.”
    I didn’t wait to see if her smile made it to her eyes. Instead, I jumped up and gave her a big, huge hug.

    ***
    Later that night when Hannah and I were getting ready for bed, she said, “That’s a weird book. How come it’s in here?”
    I just smiled to myself and slipped my nightgown over my head. “It’s a new book I’m reading.”
    I caught Hannah’s face just in time. She looked totally amazed. “What?” she gasped. “You’re reading that huge book? Really?”
    â€œYep.” I picked up my clothes. Then to be nice, I scooped up hers as well and carried them to the hamper across the hall in the bathroom. When I came back, Hannah was sitting on her bed.
    â€œBut why?” she asked.
    She was six. She asked “why” a lot. Grandma said it was a good way for her to learn things. I thought it had more to do with getting attention and making people talk to her. It was a good trick. If I was smart, I would use it more. “Because it’s something me and Mom are doing together to see if we can find out if God is real.”
    â€œWow.” Hannah had no idea what I was talking about. I knew she didn’t. She just said “wow” so she would sound big.
    I brushed my hair off my face and then walked over to turn off the light. I made sure the hall light was still on before I flipped the switch.
    In the darkened room, I heard Hannah snuggle herself into the covers. I jumped into my bed quickly and then snuggled up too.
    My mind raced with all the fun stuff that would happen when Mom and I read the Bible together. I couldn’t wait to spend more time with her. It was almost like a dream come true—except I’d never dreamed it before. I never thought Mom would begin to act like her old self again. It was so weird and so very cool all at the same time.
    I thought Hannah had already gone to sleep, but I was wrong.
    â€œChelsea?” she whispered. “Are you asleep?”
    â€œNo,” I whispered back. “What do you need?”
    She was quiet for a few seconds and then she said, “I was just wondering if you ever thought about Daddy.”
    â€œDad? All the time. Why?”
    Hannah’s bed squeaked as she rolled over to face me. “Because I was really little when he went to war, ‘member? I was only four when he left. And lots of days I can’t ‘member him anymore. Can you ‘member him?”
    I was very grateful I was a determined girl right then. “Yes, I remember Dad.”
    There were a few minutes of silence before Hannah