Author and Novelist Glynn Young
“I was afraid, Dad,” Jason said, “if I said what had happened, then you or no one else would have wanted to adopt me.”
“My son,” Michael said, “while it may have shocked us to know, I don’t think it would have changed our minds.”
“I think I know that now, Dad,” Jason said, “but I was afraid you’d make me leave.” He paused. “Sometimes I feel I don’t deserve you and Mom.”
Photograph by Justin Chrn via Unsplash. Used with permission.
At the British Museum
An older American couple stood in line ahead of them. “You have a beautiful child,” the lady said, turning toward them.”
Sarah smiled. “Thank you. Right now, I’m thankful he’s chosen to cooperate and just stare at all the pictures.”
The lady smiled and then looked at Michael. “I suppose people have told you how much you look like King Michael.”
Michael laughed. “I think I’ve heard that a few times.”
Photograph by Grant Ritchie via Unsplash. Used with permission.
“It’s Michael’s voice that’s remarkable,” said Father John. “He seems rather soft-spoken in everyday conversation, but his voice carries fully in the sanctuary. You can hear him as plainly in the back as the front, even without the microphone. It resonates with humility and sincerity. You hear him speak, and you know he believes what he says, you know you can trust what he says and that he speaks with authority. It’s a gift that very few ministers or speakers have.”
“Jason,” Michael said gently, “the best thing you can do for those children is to take care of yourself first. No one your age should be bearing the burden of caring for six children.”
“Nobody else will. Nobody wants them.”
“God wants them, Jason.”
“So where’s God going to put them, Father Michael? What’s He going to feed them? Is He going to walk right into the warehouse and say ‘I’m here. Your problems are over’? That’s not going to happen.”
Photograph by Tanja Heffner via Unsplash. Used with permission.
“No one’s home,” said an elderly woman standing on the porch next door. “She left early this morning with a suitcase, so she must have been going out of town. Robert and his chum left a little while ago. They should be in school at this time of day.”
Michael said a short prayer of thanks for busybodies. “Did you see which way they went?”
The woman nodded. “To your right, likely for the square at the end of the block. Do I know you? You sound familiar but my eyesight isn’t the best.”
— From Dancing Prophet
Photograph by Cristian Newman via Unsplash. Used with permission.
Scott knelt before Sarah in the emergency room.
“Sarah,” he said, “Michael’s going into surgery. It’s likely to take a long time. His injuries are serious but he’s hanging on. And I’m not going to mislead you. It’s bad. He’s been shot near his heart and in his shoulder, near where it joins with his arm. His left lung collapsed, and they almost caught it too late. But they caught it. He’s lost a lot of blood.”
“Scott,” Sarah said to her brother, “please save Mike.” She began to cry in great sobbing breaths.
– From A Light Shining
Photograph by Piron Guillaume via Unsplash. Used with permission.
An award-winning speechwriter and communications professional, Glynn Young is the author of three novels and the non-fiction book Poetry at Work.
