I'm scared.  I'm very scared.

It's been five days now since The Accident that's trapped my daddy, and there's no sign of him (or the other miners) being rescued anytime soon.  Somehow they keep hitting roadblocks.  Time for daddy and the other men is running out.

Mama keeps telling me to have courage.  I am trying to be brave, for my sisters' and baby brother's sake, but it ain't easy.  All I can think about is my poor daddy being trapped, and I get a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach.

What makes it worse is that tomorrow is Father's Day.  I'm scared I won't have a father if he dies in the mine.  I've known too many people (including kids at my school) who no longer have a father; they walk around like zombies, and during this time of year, they act so sad.  I don't blame them:  I would be sad too.

Pastor Dave at church has rallied the church people to pray for the trapped miners.  This gives me some comfort because I know that God is listening to their prayers.  Besides, I haven't heard anything new other than the people are trying to rescue daddy and the other men; no news is good news as they oftentimes say.

I just hope the weather holds until daddy and the others are found and rescued.  Rain would make the dirt softer and risk the rescue efforts. 

The other day, Rachael, my youngest sister, made me cry:  she asked me if daddy was gonna be an angel.  I told her to hush; I told her that daddy would be found and then rescued.  He would then return to us, and he could start being our daddy again. 

Without daddy here, it's quiet.  Too quiet.  I miss his big, booming voice and his singing; he sings all the time.  He is one of the happiest people I know.  If I were to lose daddy, I don't know what I would do except go crazy with grief, maybe. 

Well, womeone's knocking at the door, so I'd best go.  Hopefully it's some news about daddy!  That would be wonderful if he was found and then rescued!  It would be the answer to all of my prayers!!  Bye for now!

~Edith Laureen Rogers.

*to be continued.*