Suma: A Short Story: Part 2

Spring came six new pups were now a part of the pack, making the pack the size of 16 wolves; nine males, seven females. Suma and his siblings were now a year old. One a sunny spring morning, Suma traveled alone to the rendezvous point. The sun was causing a beautiful affect upon the forest as the rays lit the leaves above. He took this time to think. As he did, he realized he hadn’t spoken to Epsilon in awhile, nor Delta, nor Kappa. They had all been rather busy promoting their own interests. Epsilon was far ahead of him now, but Suma was being patient. He felt that if he went slowly, but surely up, he would be slow in falling, if he ever fell. If he used all that he had to get where he wanted to be, he would have nothing left to stay there. With these thoughts, Suma was content with patience. Epsilon once told him that he tried to be patient, but when he saw an opportunity, he felt better taking it rather than chancing loosing it, and it hurt him not to take it. To Suma’s displeasure, he often saw that it was Epsilon’s rash prudence and impulsive behavior that brought him favor rather than his patient, thought out behavior. Delta was still fighting her decline, but the harder she fought the faster she fell. Kappa remained satisfied, though he did trod the edge occasionally. Suma noted that while Delta was beginning to lose heart, “the very thing that might save her life,” Suma thought, Kappa and even Epsilon were beginning to grow arrogant and cocky. It was midsummer when Suma was once again in the same rank as Epsilon, a Beta-wolf. Epsilon had found his place organizing hunting. Suma wondered if Epsilon was settling for it, or was still aiming for the highest goal, the Beta-male, second in command, with only the Alpha-male to answer to. If so, Suma would not have rivalry with him. A short chat with him dispelled such hopes. Epsilon’s mind was still very much on the position as Beta-male. What they both soon discovered was that, though strength and skill might help get you there, it was intelligence, favor, intellectuality, and patience that might promise the coveted seat of power; all of which skills Suma had so diligently learned and possessed. As Suma began to rise to Beta-male, his three siblings were struggling. Kappa followed the footsteps of his father exactly and that late winter was found guilty for the same offense. Suma, who was now close to the Alpha-male, attempted to passively talk him into mercy, but the Alpha would not have it. Kappa was killed the very day he was convicted. Epsilon, struggling with his arrogance, finally picked a fight with the wrong dog, a fate Suma had long predicted and dreaded. For three days he was guarded at the rendezvous place, forbidden to eat, drink, or leave, while the Alpha decided what to do. He didn’t actually think about it much, he was busy with other things. That is why nothing was decided until the third day.

“Sir,” Suma spoke to the Alpha-male on the third day, “Epsilon is still a prisoner. His guard is taking up three of our able wolves for hardly a worthy cause, as many have offended in the same way before him and fate was chosen within the day. Forgive me if I am being overbold in my views, but I see not why we must waste good wolves for such a trivial task.” He was not yet Beta-male, but the Alpha favored him, and often called Suma to consult with, for at the moment, there was no Beta-male.

“The cursed family,” the Alpha answered irritably, “it is the curse of their father that ails their doom. His family will never live peacefully beside mine; I should never have accepted it, allowing the pups to live. The fool should be killed as his father and brother before him. Why did their father have to produce such able offspring who spoil their value with their idiocy? Now I must regret to lose him.” Suma hoped to influence the Alpha into giving no punishment and let it pass, but if that should fail, his following plan had to be done before Epsilon lost strength. The Alpha’s last comment gave him hope.

“Sir, forgive me if I am wrong,” Suma interjected, hiding his urgency, “but I can see you are in no mood to kill another wolf. Why put yourself at any displeasure. He is what you say; only an able fool, hardly worth any attention.”

“Yes, only a fool,” the Alpha resolved, “but a punishment must be made. I cannot have my pack rising against me. If not death, what would you suggest?”

Suma hid a cringe at these words. It was the last cringe he ever felt, it was the cringe that he had been waiting for. All his hiding his thoughts and true feelings had finally turned his heart into a walled city. This was the last blow, as the final gate was closed. It was not that he no longer had a heart; it was that no longer was there any free access from the outside to the heart. Every word, every action was analyzed, and rarely did any pass through the iron gates.

Fortunately, Suma had also expected such a question, and proceeded to suggest a punishment harsh enough to please the Alpha-male, but merciful enough that Epsilon might survive. “Perhaps run him off,” Suma proposed, “he would most likely be ambushed by another pack in another territory and killed anyway.”

“Very well,” the Alpha consented, “see to it yourself that it is done.”

Suma made his way back to the rendezvous where Epsilon was. “The good Alpha has decided to spare his life,” Suma coldly told the guards, “he is to be run off from this territory, never to return.” Suma looked at Epsilon, hoping he could read into his eyes that he was trying to save his life. Epsilon, still wounded from the fight and weak from not being allowed to eat or drink for three days, stood up, his own eyes told Suma; he understood. Epsilon left that day, but Suma held hope that he had been strong enough to make it to an unmarked territory to live peacefully and free. Suma’s sister, Delta, his only sibling left in the pack, lost her struggle soon after. After nearly provoking a fight with a higher female, the Alpha-female reprimanded her, and threatened “to finish the fight.” Delta’s courage and spite failed her. She cowered from the Alpha-female, revealing who she really was, and fearfully accepted life as Omega-female. After a few days, most the fear fell away, but enough stayed that Delta never challenged her position, but she was miserable. She often babysat the pups, who she hated, and distracted other wolves when they were about to fight, an act quite contrary to her nature. She despised life and everyone in it, but she was too afraid to lose it and too afraid to attempt fending for herself. Her pride stung every day. She was wholly and completely dependent and enslaved to her fear. Suma kept a watchful eye on her. He had already lost two siblings, one being his best-friend, as best-friends go. He knew that the Alpha-pair were not his parents as they were all the others. Suma reached his goal soon after the affair. He was Suma, Beta-Male. During this time, Suma had more contact with his mother, Theta. One could hardly tell Theta was his mother. Suma treated her with respect, but any further relationship was impossible and was not wanted. Theta had worked so hard to be accepted by the Alpha-male, to be what she thought was loved. Seeing Suma reminded her of all that was, all that hung by a thread, and all she owed. She wanted so deeply not to fear; she wanted so passionately to know she was forgiven of her past and that she was protected the persecution of the Alpha-female and the past that haunted her. The Alpha-female’s life was hardly better. She, too, lived in fear. Every day she had to aggressively protect her position as Alpha-female, every day she was burdened by the fear that she would be replaced, and that all she knew would be gone and she would have to survive alone. The one male that had been her own, with whom she bore offspring with, was the very one whom she could not trust to protect her life, although it was with him it hung. This gave Suma’s position more power, for, since the female’s influence were divided between Theta and the Alpha-female, the Alpha-male relied greatly on Suma’s influence, often deciding one way or another depending on what Suma thought. From that, Suma learned another skill, influence. He learned that influence used correctly and cautiously brought amazing power. Patience taught him how to use Influence properly and effectively. Favor and Cleverness taught him how to use Influence for his benefit, or the benefit of others. The Alpha-female despised Suma. Many times her plot to rid herself of Theta forever was foiled by Suma’s patient, convincing words of advice against such a plan of action to the Alpha-male. Theta, who knew nothing of Suma’s influence, only feared that he was reminding the Alpha-male of what she had done, and he would lose favor in her, therefore, did not like him, either. Theta has ceased to truly live, she only survived. She felt no emotion, the emotional trauma earlier in her life had killed her, she had no hope. She was almost a living dead. Suma did not like what his mother was doing, he felt it was not fair to the Alpha-female or the Alpha-male or even herself. He couldn’t help but have compassion. This was one of the only reasons he secretly influenced in her favor, besides, she had raised them to be old enough to possibly survive rather than abandoning them immediately and he understood the desperation, the fear, and the hopelessness of her situation. In a large sense, she didn’t have any other options. She was drained, dreaming only of love, freedom, and forgiveness, something she feared she would never have with Suma reminding the Alpha-male of her past. Even with the opposition, Suma’s patience and knack at pleasing his superior kept him relatively safe from loss of position, but he, too, often lived in hidden fear.

It was late winter again, the snow was deep. Suma was three years old and it was breeding time. Suma kept watch of his position with a sharp eye. He was not the same Suma. He was still patient, influential, prudent, and a fierce fighter when need be, but he was colder, less feeling. *So much fear surrounded him, that it was no wonder that he blocked it out, and became outwardly emotionless. He secretly cared about others, but the secret was kept even from himself. Most breeding times went very smoothly, but this late winter was different. A few of the females were flighty and flirty, wishing to breed, too. One female, eager to show her contempt toward her place in the hierarchy and prove that she was unruly and uncontrollable by the Alpha and Alpha-female, approached Suma invitingly several times a day. Finally, one day, she exclaimed that the hierarchy was such a bore and she would much rather go out and start a pack of her own, being the Alpha-Female. She looked at Suma and asked if he wouldn’t like that, too. Why should he have to be second best to her father? “You aren’t even his son,” she mentioned coyly, “he killed your father and your brother! You certainly owe nothing to him!” Suma shook his head, he did not want to be the third in his family, that could threaten his mother and sister livelihood and waste all of his hard work and patience. The female, Veeta, looked disappointed, but did not give up. She came back the next day, and the next. She continued to pursue him aggressively, evasively suggesting running away and beginning their own pack at the top of the hierarchy. Suma admitted, not to her, but to himself, that the hierarchy was a tiresome thing, often unfair, and cruel, but it was the way of life, and rebelling against it only to create one for themselves was a foolish thought. Finally, as spring was close in coming, the Alpha’s daughter exclaimed that she was very much disappointed in him; “If you will not free me from this hierarchy, this prison!” she vented, “I will free myself, and you shall pay for your folly!” Suma refused to be moved. He knew it was only a matter of time before the Alpha would die and he would become Alpha, and he would not break his vow not to make the same mistake as his father and brother. He had worked patiently and hard for the position he was in. He was content to wait for the promised position rather than run off with a female he had no desire for and no character at all. The Alpha’s daughter’s threat did make him wary. He knew how fragile all this was, he could not admit that he wasn’t worried. He decided that if everything fell anyway, he would not regret standing firm. It was no use running from injustice by being rebellious or unjust. Injustice would come, no matter where one was, it was unavoidable. In a way, it was part of life, and life was simply avoiding the brunt of it. Still, Suma felt sure that perhaps something better was waiting for him, somewhere in the future. Meanwhile, he would have to deal with the matters at hand. Veeta’s revenge didn’t take long. The next day she was very moody and acted as though someone had done some great wrong to her. The day after that, Suma heard a friend pressuring her to tell what had happened, and Veeta ‘hesitantly’ telling the friend that Suma had tried to mate with her, but she would not let him. That friend told many other friends, and soon, the Alpha had called her to hear her confirm the rumors he had heard. She confirmed them with tears in her eyes. Suma, who had been watching at a distance, was impressed at Veeta’s acting skills. He knew he would not get a chance to defend himself, with two of his family behaving thusly and Veeta being the favorite daughter. Furious at being betrayed – or so he thought – by another of the ‘cursed’ family, the Alpha’s wrath was turned on Suma. Even then, Suma felt nothing, no regret, no mourning, but took it quietly. In a single cold day, Suma went from Beta-male to Omega-male. The Alpha claimed to be showing mercy by not killing him, but truth be told, he did not really want to lose such a valuable wolf as Suma, who would work hard and productively in any position. Suma could not lie to himself and say that the change was easy, it was most difficult, but even so Suma was ever patient and continued to shove away his feelings. Delta was not as quiet, and raved about the unfairness of her situation, not thinking for a second the true injustice of Suma’s life. Soon, though, she realized that she could make Suma do all the work while she had her fun. Delta was not as patient and no longer more alluring as Veeta, but she knew what she wanted and how to get it much better than Veeta. Despite what had happened and his sister’s selfish actions, Suma still had a strange small hope that there would be a favorable turn of events after another terrible turn, but even that hope was slowing slipping away as hopelessness took its place.

A year passed, and the forest was again white. Suma was relaxing at the rendezvous place, finally with nothing to do; he hoped to enjoy the quiet, beautiful forest when the female temptress came around again. “Tell me,” Veeta asked, “do you regret resisting me?” Then she again begged him to ‘rescue’ her, to take her away and to start his own pack with her. “There is nothing here for you,” she insisted, “come with me and we will have a future.” When he refused, she became angry again. “Are you so stupid,” Veeta exclaimed, “can’t you see you are the lowest in the hierarchy?” Suma- for nearly the first time – lost his patience and angrily told her that if he were to leave with her, he would become a slave to her; a worse master than the others. He would never leave with her, ever, and he pitied anyone who would. She left in a huff. A month later, she was pregnant. How could she be so stupid, Suma wondered. He was not angry. He felt ashamed of losing his patience, and regained his composure even in the worst of circumstances. Delta did not share love for anyone but herself, yet when she heard of this, she felt an urgent feeling to warn Suma. Perhaps she thought she would feel guilty if she didn’t, after all he had done for her. Perhaps she saw no reason not to; after all, she had no love for the pack. Or perhaps she was as selfish as ever, and supposed that if he escaped; she might later escape to him for him to take care of her again. Whatever her reason, she insisted that he leave because he was the easiest scapegoat for the real violator. Suma did not need her urging, and on that cold, moonlit night, Suma fled. He did not know where he would go, or what he would do, but he could not stay if he wished to live.

(Sorry it's late)

Next part:

For those of you who are wondering, the next part of this story will be coming this Monday.

Suma: A Short Story Part 1

Status-Quo

Once upon a time, before the west had people, a litter of eight wolf pups were born in the territory that would one day be called Oregon. Theta, the mother, wept in the darkness, dampening the already damp dirt, snow clung to the opening, threatening to invade the safety of the den. Their father, who had, in folly, mated, violating the hierarchy and his social position, was killed by the impatient, dominant Alpha-male five weeks after they were born. Theta struggled to keep her litter a secret, managing it for a week longer, long enough for them to begin to eat meat (6 weeks), before the fear was too much and overtook her and, in attempt to please her Alpha and save herself from death, became one of the Alpha-male’s mates, abandoning her offspring. The Alpha-female was not pleased her mate’s distraction, his distraction of Theta not only caused her, rightfully so, to be jealous, but also weakened her authority in the pack as Alpha-female. Theta sought protection from the Alpha-female’s fury through the Alpha-male’s favor. Her protection was found, and the Alpha-female was powerless to do anything to defend her rightful authority and livelihood. Meanwhile, Theta’s pups struggled to survive the harsh winter, alone. Before spring was gone and their lives but seven weeks old, four of the pups died in the cool dark den because they were not mature enough to survive without their mother. The other four, Suma, Epsilon, Kappa, and Delta, were fortunate enough to find their way to the rendezvous and joined the pack and the six other pups that were born to the Alpha female and were accepted, despite the Alpha-female’s understandable bitterness. The rendezvous was an open area with some large rocks, an old den, and dirt and grass.  The spring was warm and bright, perfect weather and condition to raise strong, healthy pups. There they play fought with the other pups, ate with the other pups, and played with the same “toys” – feathers, animal skin, bones - as they did. Regardless of their activity together, there was no confusion of who came from what family. Suma, Epsilon, Kappa, and Delta were from one, and the other six were from another, and it was not to be forgotten by anyone. Out of all the siblings, Suma was fondest of his brother Epsilon, his only other sibling that had sense. Epsilon, a handsome, agile young wolf, was a mellow extravert and Suma an active introvert. Epsilon was still more active than Suma, similar in body, but extremely mature compared to their two other siblings. Delta, an attractive, lithe young female, and Kappa, muscular built, who always followed along with Delta, were very active, extraverted, and causing trouble in all imaginable ways. Their lives were careless and reckless. Even the mini-hierarchy of the pups meant nothing to them. They did what they pleased, a ruinous lifestyle. Despite Suma and Epsilon’s cautious advice, they would not hear of giving up their frivolous ways. As long as that moment was a joyful one or soon to lead to an amusing instant they were happy, and they could not imagine anything more important. Suma and Epsilon focused more on intelligent play, such as fighting, hunting, mimicking adult wolves to learn the future way of life.  Most wolves develop their aggressive skills first, then their submissive behaviors to avoid fighting. Although this was true in Epsilon, Suma first acquired a weapon deadlier, if in the right character, than aggressiveness and intelligence together. He had acquired patience. With this weapon added to his own intelligence and strength, he was second to only one, Epsilon, who made up for the lack of this weapon in other areas. Suma’s patience taught him to be cautious and watchful, giving him quickness in learning, and a skill in fighting and foreseeing. Epsilon, who was more inclined to be rash, had difficulty learning this, but was wise enough not give up effort. By the end of the summer, Epsilon and Suma had distinguished themselves as potential future Beta-Wolves (Beta wolves = highest in the hierarchy besides the Alpha pair) and Delta and Kappa distinguished themselves as the pack fools, a reputation that bothered them naught. Nothing had hindered their amusement; therefore they cared about nothing but amusement. Around this time, on warm, windy end of summer day, Suma overheard two Omega females discussing the pups.

“Delta and Kappa will be the Omegas before next spring,” the younger female, Tiesa, remarked, “I promise… the helpless, hopeless fools!”

“Hopeless they may be,” the older female Zere answered cautiously, “but helpless and fools they are not. Kappa is a brainless bear, and he’s as strong as one, too. And if Delta is a much like her mother as she has shown, she has as much spite and connive as she does beauty and strength to match them both. Have you seen how lithe and agile she is?”

“Their mother?” the Tiesa asked in surprise before the first finished her last sentence.

“Indeed, do you not know, Theta the Alpha’s mistress is their mother,” the Zere answered, “Delta’s likeness to her mother is Veeta’s – you know the Alpha’s favorite daughter – likeness to the Alpha-female in her youth. They are both headstrong temptresses, but Veeta can’t afford to be as frivolous and ridiculous as Delta.”

“Why ever not?” the younger one puzzled, “I would suppose that the little brat being the favored daughter could afford it, while Delta being born from an inferior, disgraceful birth wouldn’t.”

“Delta is charming by nature and no one dares challenge her.” the Zere explained, “She is a formidable opponent and is as easily provoked into a fight as she is provokes others. The whole family inherited their father’s daunting strength; Kappa received the most of it.”

“Terrible strength he has,” the Tiesa murmured, “a giant.”

“Of course she’s got his and Theta’s pride and ambition, too,” the other continued on about Delta, “She won’t be humiliated easily, you’ll see. I’d not be surprised if she leaves or ends her life before she experiences being an Omega.”

“Epsilon and Suma, are they part of the family?” Tiesa attempted to move on, “no, no, they are far too intelligent. Did the family have any intelligence at all?”

 “The two oldest brothers,” Zere exclaimed with delight. It was obvious she enjoyed showing off her knowledge of the disgraceful family, telling their story without discretion. “Yes, yes, they are a part of the family. Now, don’t get it in your mind that the parents were born fools. No, the arrogance was always there but the folly was tipped off by their false security in their achievements and intelligence.” Zere was thoughtful for a moment, “Suma and Epsilon seem to have skipped out on the arrogance. If they keep the course, they just might make a good name for themselves.”

“Good name?” Tiesa asked, “If they keep their course, they’d be Betas before fall if not for the Alpha-female.”

“And Theta,” Zere added, “she won’t like having the reminder that the Alpha-female hates her because of what she did and that each time she sees them she’ll remember afresh.”

The two moved on to other topics, and Suma slipped away feeling sick, without knowing why. Seldom did siblings care about each other, but he did. He felt ashamed of Delta, Kappa, and Theta’s folly as well as his father’s, whoever he was. Suma seldom thought about the matter, but it was always in the back of his head. It never did seem to matter anyway, everyone was for themselves. It was a hard life, and one had only time to look out for their own livelihood.

At ten months old, the nomadic period had come to the pack, and the pups were able to show what they were worth. During the nomadic hunting time, Suma and Epsilon were among the more valuable pups, the pups the adults spent more time teaching and paying attention to, due to their self-taught skill they learned as pups. Before the month was out, Epsilon had played an active role in bringing down one buffalo, three elk, and had alone brought down two deer in one day. Suma was close behind, sometimes assisting Epsilon in his hunt, sometimes hunting on his own. On several occasions, the game would have been lost if it hadn’t been for Suma urging patience. A year had passed since they had been born, and they were both well respected. Together, Suma and Epsilon, as predicted, began to quickly rise to Beta-wolf. Delta was struggling to gain respect, or at least seduce it, but charm, arrogance, and drama only went so far in adulthood. Suma cringed as he watched Delta continue to act like a pup as an adult. Had she only listened, Suma thought. Contrary to prediction, clumsy Kappa, who had been abandoned by beautiful Delta, found merit through strength and settled down contently as a subordinate wolf, where he safely had his fun. As he showed promise, Epsilon attempted to coach him, but Kappa wouldn’t have it. He had realized he was strong and was now arrogant. “Just like his father,” Suma heard a Zere scoff to Tiesa.

A Girl's Treasure: A Short Story

A Girl’s Treasure

by Lynsi Keye

Once upon a time… in a beautiful garden, sat the most beautiful young woman… If one looked at her through the world’s eyes, you could not say so, for she was not living to satisfy the world’s standard of beauty. Nor was she of or in the world. All who saw her could not help but awe. Such a wonderful creature, living in a wonderful place, and she belonged to one, Jesus.

                Through pain and suffering this girl had saved her treasure, much greater than jewels, pearls, or even diamonds; her heart. Painful it was, to keep her heart whole.

                You see, each heart as a key, and a girl can give that key to whomever she wishes, be it wise or foolish. Those who have the key may use it as they please, be it wise or foolish. A wise girl listens to the instruction of her parents, and to Jesus, but a foolish girl, the instruction of her peers, the world, and her own flesh also known as “the heart.”

                This girl gave her key to her parents, who cared wisely for it, until she came to the right age. At the beginning of her teen years, she struggled, trying to prevent herself from taking the key, and foolishly giving it to some young, charming boy who “loves” her one day, but would dump her the next for someone else.

                Through stress, strain, tears, and much, much prayer, she lasted those years, with her key, and heart safely kept, for she had now given her key to Jesus, whom was to always have it.

                From her gay, happy-go-lucky teen and young adult years, this girl became a woman. In her womanhood, she fell in love, and married, giving her husband the second key, for Jesus would always have the first.

                Still, this stage was hard; marriage is not all diamonds and roses. From sweet young love, this woman matured, and gave birth to children, and came into mother-hood.

                From child-hood, to teen/young adult- hood, to woman-hood, to wife-hood, to mother-hood, keeping a close eye on her heart and key the whole time, yet knowing Jesus would always have her whole heart.

                Mother-hood caused heart-ache, too. Children are wonderful, but it can hurt, and take much energy. With the help from parents, husband, Jesus, and friends, she made it through. Her kids turned out wonderfully, each following her careful instruction to watch their hearts, and be wise with their keys.

                When her kids were gone, she missed them terribly, but she still was joyful, for she still had her husband and Jesus, and she would be able to see her children grow up, and have children of their own.

                Sure enough, she became a grandmother, and what a precious time of life that is. When old, you love young ones, for they remind you of your child-hood, which seems so long ago.

                With each grandchild, the dear old woman carefully warned them to watch the key to their hearts.

                Alas, with each life, comes a death. In this case, it was her parents. This sorrow fell upon her dear heart very hard, for it was them who had taught her to guard her heart, for it is one of the greatest treasures she will ever have. In her sadness, she turned to Jesus, and her husband for comfort. Then with knowledge that she would see them again, in heaven, she continued on with life.

                She helped mentor her grandchildren, and all who God gave her. Much of this deeply touched her soft heart. “Children,” she thought, “need more than just toys; they need the joy of the Lord, and the knowledge of his love for them.” And she did all she could to make sure that every child she met, knew of this love.

                Sadly not everyone listens to wisdom. Many of them took the path o the world, where it seemed fun, gay, and definitely easy for a child of teen years. But as the old woman had warned, this life brought more pain the joy. Again and again these teens got themselves burnt, by sticking their hearts in a fire, just because it looked like the “cool” thing to do. Some finally turned away from that life, but damage had been done, their heart was broken, hard, and filled with hurt.

                Although she was sorry that they made that wrong choice, the woman felt glad she had protected her key, and heart.

                Older and older she grew, and soon her husband made that journey, too. The journey to heaven, to live forever. Now she gave two more keys to Jesus, one of her husbands, and the one of her parents. Through many, many tears, prayers, and fellowship, she lived this one out too. She trusted Jesus, and continued to pour into others. Soon she was filled with joy again, in serving others, and trusting Jesus.

                One day her granddaughter called, in tears, for her favorite actor/singer was dead. This young man had broken as many hearts as he could get his hands on, yet his heart still ached horribly, too. He was famous, and thousands loved him, so it was a shock that he was now dead.

The granddaughter claimed he would be a legend, and everyone would always remember him, but Grandmother warned that just because he was great in the worlds eyes didn’t mean he was great in God’s eyes. She told the young lady that this man, too, would soon be forgotten.

The grandchild laughed, and said that she did not know him, and she should have seen the funeral. Thousands of people had come, and many of them had cried, too.

                But after only a year, the girl saw that her grandmother had been right, the actor/singer had been forgotten, even by herself.

                One day, while sitting by her fire, the old woman, nearly ninety-nine, took out some old picture albums to look at. She gazed at the pictures taken so long ago. Some were taken during the happiest times of her life. There were many of her wedding, and playing with her kids, but her favorite pictures were those when her family went on a mission’s trip to Africa. And her favorite picture of all was the picture of her and her family, with some African orphans, smiling.

                Just then, the beautiful old woman heard a voice, a whisper almost. The words were not audible, but they were calling her home. The woman smiled, and nodded, yes it was time to go. She placed her hand on the picture, and whispered, “God be with you, forever.”

                That was her last breath, for she was taken home, to be united with her loved ones, and meet her beloved savior, Jesus Christ.

                The next morning they found her, sitting on the couch, the fire had gone out, her hand still one the picture, and a smile on her face.

                Though her funeral was not huge, she was and is not forgotten by the ones she served. She was greatly honored as a woman who loved to serve God by serving others. “What you do to the least of these, you do to me,” someone repeated a verse, “and she certainly blessed the least, and may God bless her.” 

                But as generations come and go, so do the memory of great people. It happens to everyone, some are remembered longer than others, some shorter, but if you give your heart and key to Jesus, he will never forget even the smallest act of kindness you showed.

                Now she lives in a perfect world, in a new body, where she and Jesus can forever be together. She is happy; she is home. Yes, that is her. She is the beautiful woman in that beautiful garden. Not once does she regret leaving her first key in the hands of Jesus.

                There are several reasons for this story. One, death is not something to fear, if Jesus in your heart. Two, your joy should be in Jesus, not in this world. Three, just because you’re famous does not mean you will never be forgotten, but if you love Jesus, he will never forget you. Four, the main point, guard your heart, and the key to your heart, for it is a precious treasure, give it to Jesus, because he will always watch over you, and love you. He is perfect.

               

               

The Silent Sound: A Poem

This is just a little poem,

A poem just for you,

Not the one I’m writing,

But the one right below:

The Silent Sound

Silence has a sound

Sometimes quiet, sometimes loud

North or South, here or there

Up to nearly everywhere

The sound of silence is all around

So, wherever you are, near or far,

Listen to hear The Silent Sound

So this is the little poem,

The little poem I wrote for you.

Small it might be

It holds the biggest love,

Just for thee.

Lynsi Keye

Hi! My name is Lynsi Keyes. That is actually my pen name and you will often see it spelled Lynsi Keye, not Keyes. My bad. Lynsi is not pronounced Lindsey! It is pronounced Linn-see. Keye[s] is pronounced like Keys. Pretty easy. Yes, they do have stories behind them. I'm an author! Maybe one of these days I'll finish the stories with the characters with those names in it so you can see. :D

I love to write a lot of different genres. I've tried my hand at poetry and continue to. I like to write short stories. I am in the process of writing several long novels, one of which is almost done. I am also working on many others that take place in a fantasy world. I also do children's stories as well as pictures stories. Since I cannot  at present draw well enough for a novel  - at present! - I take pictures off of Pinterest. All photo credit goes to there, unless I say otherwise. I do do some photography of my own.

As for reading! I love legends, myths, and other things like that. I like Lord of the Rings, Narnia, and the Sherlock Holmes canon. I am very much a booky (bookish? something... :P) so I can sometimes get irritated with unnecessary or huge alterations in movies and TV shows. I enjoy certain types of philosophy and apologetics. I've read A Case for Christ and A Case for Faith (the latter was my favorite). I also enjoy Creationism science. It is very interesting. I used to be interested in politics but I've been rather frustrated with it lately. It's always nice to know that Jesus is King.

Which leads me to my next topic. I am a die-heart Christian. I love the Lord Jesus with all my heart and am very grateful for His love and forgiveness! If you are the type who want religious people to keep their beliefs at home under the pillow, I'll tell you I am not religious. I have a relationship with my Savior and believe the Bible to be His inspired Word and want everyone to find the love, peace, faith, hope, joy, forgiveness, and FREEDOM I've found. If you don't like that either, I don't think my stories are for you. Jesus is a HUGE part of my life and it would be easier to stop talking about my family than to stop talking about Him. And, if I really love Him, I don't see why I'd try. That's just the way things are. :D


Is there anything else? Oh yes! Vocabulary. I label my stories. I might write after the title:
1) Short story
2) Poem
3) Novel
4) Children's Story
5) Something

1 can actually be fairly long, just not novel long. 4 is short and kept very child friendly. 5 means I have no idea what this is. It's not a poem, it's not a short story, it's just a short writing... the rest are self-explanitory.
Oh, as for 3... they will be posted in intervals, when I finish them. Hopefully by the time I've finished posting one, I'll have another finished!

Oh, and a real quick shout-out to homeschoolers! :D I've been homeschooled all my life and have recently started going to college.

Oh, and I am still working on figuring out the blog, so if the pages on the top don't seem to work, I haven't figured out how to post on them, yet.

-Lynsi