The Road Not Taken

The Road Not Taken

It was a beautiful Sunday morning and Sarah woke up smiling hearing the birds singing. She stretched, got out of bed and headed downstairs where the fresh smell of pancakes was tantalizing to the nose. As she came around the corner into the kitchen, she came across her father reading the newspaper and the smiling pretty face of her mother. "'Morning Pumpkin!"

"Good Morning, Mum." Then she turned to her dad and kissed him on the cheek, "Morning Dad," he shuffled the newspaper to set it down, and hugged his daughter.

"Hey there, honey."

The breakfast was superb as always whenever her mother cooked. Once they were finished, they went upstairs to get ready for fellowship, or church in the home. Her father always said "...that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ." ~John 1:3 whenever she asked why they didn't have regular church like everyone else. It wasn't like she hated fellowship. The Todd's were lovely people and the sweetest people alive. It was just that Mr. Todd's sermons would get a little boring. And, whenever she got into a daze, weird things would happen...

Like last week, for instance, Mr. David's toupee started floating around in the air, landing on Mrs. Smith's sleeping head causing her to wake up with a start. Thinking she was missing out on a hymnal, Mrs. Smith started singing out quite loudly (and badly). Then Mr. Todd, thinking it was a message from GOD, got quite excited and went through this whole story on how GOD will speak through people.

Even though fellowship was far more entertaining that way, her father knew it was her and she got one of his huge lectures, which she absolutely despised.

Sarah sighed and started combing her long auburn hair. And while looking into the mirror at herself, couldn't help but smile at Mr. David's reaction at watching his toupee floating in the air.

She went to her closet and pulled on a yellow sundress while willing herself not to let anything happen. She pulled on some white sandals, grabbed her bible and hopped down the stairs.

During the ride to fellowship, she was recalling the lecture her father gave her, and how angry she had become when he wouldn't listen to her. She didn't know how many countless times she had told him she couldn't help what happened, but he just went on and on about it ignoring her. She had gotten so angry that a bolt of strange lightning had penetrated through the house and struck about two inches from her father, but didn't do any damage to the house, anyone or anything. Then she ran out of the room and locked herself in her bedroom. She then smiled when her mom knocked on the door and came in then said to her, "Ya know...I didn't realize Mr. David even wore a toupee." Her mother always knew how to iron out her wrinkles. The beautiful brown haired woman with the bright blue eyes that held so many secrets. She had her mother's eyes and her father's auburn hair. 'Hmmm...I wonder what secrets my mom holds...' she thought, but couldn't continue since they had just arrived at the Todd's house.

They got there and chatted a little. Sarah went off with her friend Michelle who wanted to show Sarah her new kitten. Then, to Sarah's disappointment, fellowship was getting ready to start. Sarah said a quick prayer so that she wouldn't cause anything odd to happen and sat down next to her mum and dad.

They began with singing and moved onto prayer. Then Mr. Todd told everyone a story that always led into what he would be teaching. "Yesterday," he began, "I was walking my dog around my neighborhood..." Sarah was listening and laughing along with everybody else at what was being said. And she suddenly found herself going into the daze, but she did not notice it because she was still listening even if the words were being a little drowned out.

She started starring at Mr. Todd's bible and noting the age and usage that had worn its pages. She also noticed the love that had been woven through all of its pages. She noticed the little sticky notes poking out everywhere, no doubt for today's lesson. She hardly noticed she was dazing out until in the back of her mind she heard Mr. Todd say, "...and when that came up it reminded me of a particular verse in the bible. Will you all turn to..." He was just about to tell everyone which verse, but when he reached for his bible, it jumped over his hand. He became quite confused because every time he reached for his bible it would keep on jumping away.

Everyone was watching him with interest, but Mr. Todd was getting quite frustrated and was now leaping in the air at the quite stubborn bible. It was right when he tackled it to the floor that Sarah woke up out of her trance, but the damage was already done.

Her father suddenly stood up saying something about Sarah not feeling well and then dragged her and her mother out the door. The drive home was in a tense silence that only made Sarah dread what was to come when she got home. They all walked into her house and her father stormed up to his room and after a few minutes came out and told his daughter to come up since he "had and important matter" to discuss with her.

Her mother smiled down at her and watched her slowly march up the stairs. Sarah's mother, Josie, knew her father's intentions were for the best, but also knew that they severely put her daughter down. It wasn't the greatest fun to have the bible put against you for something you couldn't control, but as much as she tried to consul her husband about this he wouldn't budge, he was as stubborn as a bull.

It was then that she noticed a note sticking out in the frame of the front door. It was labeled:

"Miss Sarah MacAllister

Room above the kitchen

13 Hollow Street

Sleepy Carrie

Richmond"

Josie gasped as the memories flooded her. Picking it up and pocketing it so that it wouldn't be found, she walked into the kitchen. Then, without warning, she heard enraged running, the bolt of lightning, the enraged shouting of her husband and a door slam. She smiled to herself at the usual routine. Not at the pain, of course, but at the stubbornness of both father and daughter. They would have their own way no matter the costs.

She heard a door open and some stifled sobs. "Honey, come here." And her little eleven-year-old girl ran into the waiting arms of her mother.

After several rants about the injustice of fathers, homemade cookies with milk and a shoulder to cry on, Sarah was feeling better. So much better that her mother thought it the time to give her daughter the letter.

When Josie handed Sarah the letter, Sarah was quite shocked at the address, and when she turned over and saw the Hogwarts stamp, she was so very confused that the expression on her face made her mother laugh.

When she opened it, it read:

HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore

(Order of the Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards )

Dear Miss MacAllister,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.

Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Minerva McGonagall,

Deputy Headmistress

Sarah inwardly cringed since she was going to go to a Christian private school, but that was soon covered with sheer joy at the thought of figuring out everything. And soon found herself dancing around the kitchen with her mother. She wondered why her mother would be dancing since she thought that her mother thought Witchcraft was evil, but she forgot this all in the moment of happiness.

Albert (Sarah's father) heard a lot of commotion downstairs in the kitchen and left his room to see what was going on. When he walked into the room, he noticed both mother and daughter hugging and a letter in the daughter's hands. He scowled at the sight in front of him, but curiosity over came him. "What's the lovely dancing about?" And as if he had flipped the switch to off, they both stopped and starred at him wide eyed. With this he got frustrated, "Well, since I seem to be intruding I'll leave you two be..."

"NO! NO! NO! It's alright!" Josie stammered, "you just startled us, that's all."

"Yeah, we didn't expect you to come down here." Sarah said, then thought, 'I didn't think you were finished brooding,' but thought better of saying this out loud.

"Well, what's the good news?"

"This," and Sarah reluctantly handed her father the letter.

He read over the letter, turning it over and over several times. He looked up at Sarah and scowled at her, and then walked out of the room. Sarah became extremely nervous and looked at her mom, "Mom?"

"Yes, sweetie."

"What's he doing?"

"Probably clearing his mind."

Sarah sighed, knowing the meaning behind her mother's words. She knew that her mother meant he was upstairs, in his room, reading over the letter and reading his bible. Then finding verses on what GOD said about Witchcraft.

"Honey."

"Yes mum?"

"I'm going to go talk to your father. I'll be right back."

"Yes mum."

Josie knocked on the door and walked into the bedroom. She found her husband in a chair; with bible in hand. "Al, I think we should tell Sarah." Hearing no words of protest, she continued, "I think she should know so that she understands where all this comes from. And I--" She was cut off by a very quiet voice coming from her husband.

"Josie, there are several reasons for my doing this. First, I want the best for my child. And second, I don't want this...this...witchcraft to lead her into evil."

With that Josie said, "Darling, I know you want the best, but think about your daughter...does she want the same thing?" Albert started to speak, but Josie continued, "And what you may think is the best may not be the best for her. Further more, I don't think anything could lead our little girl into evil. I also remember you saying you'd love her no matter what choices she made in life."

Albert sighed, but was still on the conclusion that he was right. "This is just a phase, Jos, sooner or later she will forget about all this and all the strange happenings will die away." He paused, "And I just want to teach her that now, while she is still young, and while she is willing to listen. I don't want her going to that school!"

Josie nodded her head. She knew she couldn't budge her husband's views, and only Sarah could change his mind.

When they went downstairs, they found Sarah reading in the family room. Father, with bible in hand, walked up to his daughter, but before he could say anything she said to him, "I know what you're here for and I know what you are going to do. But, it isn't going to alter what I want and what choice I am going to make."

With that, Josie sat next to her daughter and Albert sat across from them on a recliner. He pulled out his bible and read: 'For rebellion is as the sin of Witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.' Samuel 15:23. Even in the bible GOD says that Witchcraft is evil. And if GOD says so, then that means it is a truth. And this is why I don't want you to go. I don't want you corresponding with evil, I don't want you learning evil, and I don't want you making this sin. I don't want you making any sin, but we aren't perfect, and that is why GOD sacrificed his Son; he sacrificed him to wash away the sins of the world. But Sarah, this could lead you away from GOD and all that he has accomplished, and I love you too much to let this happen. I'm doing this out of love. I don't want you going to this school because I love you and want the best for you. I know it is hard on you now, but sooner or later, you'll thank me for it. Now, I don't want anymore talk of the nonsense of this school."

Sarah was sitting there quietly starring at her toes. Then she spoke in a very quiet, but very strong voice, "Daddy, the bible also says in John 3:16 'For GOD so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not parish, but have ever-lasting life.' So, if what you say is true about GOD sacrificing his Son to wash away the sins of the world, and going to this school is such a sin then He can wash that away and forgive me. And since I believe that Jesus is the Son of GOD and he was risen from the dead, then I shall have eternal life." She took a deep breath, and with much determination, said to her father straight in the eye, " And with that conclusion, I am going to Hogwarts and I will become a Witch. And you are not going to stop me."