Chris didn’t care about anyone or anything, except maybe his mom, her desire to see him graduate from high school, and his bike.
Chris’s life becomes nothing but a roller coaster ride through his senior year in high school as one joy follows one disaster all over again. Will he graduate? Will he win Monica’s heart? Will he make it to the mission trip in Brazil?
His first life changing decision comes just in time to hold him and keep him from falling off the deep end alone.
Excerpt
Never Alone
(Excerpt)
by Jan Sullivan
Chris met Jesus for the first time at this concert. He didn’t know what it was that drew him in, but he liked the feeling he got from the people with him. It was like they all genuinely cared for one another. The songs the band sang were pretty cool too. The band spoke about this Jesus as a man who could change your life. That he died so that you could be a part of his family. During a break, the lead singer led everyone in a prayer if they wanted Jesus in their life. Chris prayed for Jesus to forgive him, to come into his life and make him whole again. He went forward during what they called the “altar call.” Pam went with him. When they got to the front, all these people laid hands on him and prayed over him. It was an amazing rush. The entire arena erupted in applause and shouts of praise. When he and Pam went back to their seats, people he didn’t even know started saying things like, “Welcome to the family” and “Glad you could join us!” and “Jesus loves you!”
The concert continued and Chris felt as though it was a party just for him. He knew that something inside of him had changed and things would never be the same. Life would be good from here on out. He would have no worries because Jesus would see him through everything. He felt loved for the first time in his life.
The youth group had plans to go on an international mission trip to Brazil this summer and Chris wanted to go badly. He filled out all of the paper work and went through all of the interviews. More than anything, he wanted to serve Jesus. He felt like he finally had some direction in his life, but he wasn’t really sure where he was going. Though he was worried about where the money for the trip would come from, he remembered the youth minister telling him that if it was God’s will, the money would come. Chris’s dad was harder to convince.
“You bet God will provide the money, because none of it is coming out of my pocket!”
“But dad, can’t you contribute a little bit?”
“Chris, I can’t even pay the electric bill, why would I give you any money? You eat up all the groceries I spend my money on. I’ve contributed to your ‘cause’ enough as it is. Get a job!”
So he did. Chris got on at the local dairy mart scooping ice cream. It wasn’t so bad, but he hated smelling like soured milk when he got home at night. He kept reminding himself that this was only temporary and that he needed to talk to Mr. Paris.
The next day at school, Chris made an appointment to talk with Mr. Paris. Finally being called to the office during fourth period, Chris walked into the office with eagerness to find out if there was anything he could do to make sure he graduated this year. The youth director, as a form of encouragement, wanted him to get the diploma in order to show how much he wanted to go to Brazil.
“Mr. Paris, I don’t know what I want to do yet, but I know I want to graduate!”
“Well, this is a surprise, Chris. I really felt that maybe you had given up.”
“I don’t know what it is Mr. Paris, I think I am just looking at life a little differently now.”
“Ok then, there is a computer program run by the state that you can work on after school to get your credits in. Would you be willing to stay after and really work hard?” Mr. Paris questioned.
“Anything,” Chris replied with a new found hope. “I just gotta tell my new boss that I can only work weekends now.”
“You got a job? Well that is a surprise!”
“Yeah, I am trying to raise money to go on this mission trip to Brazil this summer with my new youth group.”
“Well, I’ll be…Tell you what, you stay committed to this and get your diploma, and I will contribute a hundred dollars to your trip.” Mr. Paris offered generously.
“Wow, thanks Mr. P! You don’t have to do that!”
“You are right, I don’t. But there are things I can’t talk about here that I would love to share with you after school hours. Let’s just say, I believe in what you are doing.”
“Cool! I promise to work really hard! When can I start?”
“It will take a few days to get the program set up with the school board, so let’s shoot for next Monday. OK?”
“Alright!” Chris responded enthusiastically and then headed back to class after vigorously shaking Mr. Paris’s hand.
Knowing that it takes a while to get a passport, Chris went home from school that afternoon, and immediately began searching for his birth certificate. His parents weren’t home, so he went into their room and found the “important” papers. Chris pulled the file that said, “birth records.” Flipping through the documents he came across his own; Christopher J. T. Thompson.
This is so cool, he thought and continued reading the document. Disbelief sat in as he read the names on the mother and father lines. They were incorrect. Those weren’t his parents. They didn’t even share the same last names.
Chris double-checked the document immediately thinking he was looking at the wrong certificate. The birth date was the same. His name was the same. Everything, including the hospital he was born in was the same, except the parent names. Chris felt the bottom of his stomach fall out as he sat back in shock. What is this? He thought to himself. Surely there is a mistake.
After a few minutes, Chris immediately began looking through the documents again searching this time for answers. In the legal section of his dad’s file, he hit pay dirt, “Adoption Papers.”
Why didn’t my parents tell me? What are they trying to hide? My dad hates me. Why would he want to adopt me? Chris sat on the floor leaning back against the bed with question after question running through his head. Chris didn’t know if he should confront his so-called “parents” or not. I just gotta think this through. Chris put the papers back in the file and quickly left the room.
Britain 2099: people with disease and disabilities are not tolerated. When Travis is discovered to have epilepsy, he is put away in one of the feared institutions. Then he discovers his seizures are powerful enough to send him back in time, and that'
