On the Victory Trail by Marsha Hubler Page A

first.”
    â€œFine,” Mr. Chambers said with an understanding smile. He joined Chad and walked to where the others were gathering.
    Skye knelt beside Sooze. “What is it?” Skye whispered.
    â€œI need to talk to you,” Sooze’s voice quivered. “Alone.”
    â€œHow about over there?” Skye pointed toward the chapel. “There’s nobody around.”
    The girls walked to the bench in front of the cross. Sooze sat in obvious pain, gasping for breath. Then she started to weep out loud.
    Skye sat down next to Sooze and slipped an arm around her. “Did somebody say something?”
    â€œIt’s nothing like that,” Sooze said, wiping her nose on her sleeve. She glanced toward the cross. “All that stuff about God you’ve told me since I moved in here — it finally sank in tonight when I listened to Pastor Newman. I mean it really sank in. I want to invite Jesus Christ into my life, and I’m not just saying that ’cause I’m scared. I see now that I’ve been fighting against myself.”
    â€œSooze, God loves kids like us. That’s what’s so neat about him. Jesus died so we could be at peace here on Earth and live with him forever someday in heaven.”
    Sooze studied the cross. “Well, what do I have to do? I’ve never belonged to a church. Do I have to join? I’ve never even prayed. How do I pray?”
    â€œJust do what I did. It’s not that hard, Sooze. Ask God right now to forgive you and wash away your sins. Jesus already took your punishment, so there’s nothing for you to do but thank him for it and accept it. Just talk to him honestly. That’s all he wants.”
    Unaware of the yells and laughter from the woods, the two friends talked and prayed. A sliver of pink from the setting sun shone through the trees, illuminating the cross as the two bowed their heads. For the first time in her life, Sooze prayed out loud. Opening her heart wide before God, she asked him to forgive her and to come into her life.
    â€œAmen.” Sooze said with a relieved tone in her voice.
    â€œSooze,” Skye said, looking into her friend’s eyes, “God just made you brand new on the inside. You’ll never be the same again. You’ll see.”
    The friends threw their arms around each other and cried tears of joy.

chapter thirteen
    W e’re going to a football game,” Mrs. Chambers shouted above the noise and laughter of the TV in the Bodmer living room. “Sooze asked if we could stop by for a few minutes to see you.”
    Skye and Sooze plopped down on the floor and let Mrs. Chambers have the green chair. With November’s chill and the threat of snow, all three were bundled up in heavy coats, on their way to Madison’s last game.
    Mrs. Bodmer had already nestled into her favorite spot on the sofa hours earlier. Her frizzy hair was now red. Purple fingernails held a cigarette that she puffed every few seconds.
    Sooze’s mother lifted the remote control and forced herself to click off the TV off. “I was wondering what brought you this way. I hope this isn’t anything more than a social call.” Her eyes shifted to Sooze. “And aren’t you a pretty sight? What have you been eating to get so big so fast? You’ll soon be as big as me, and that’s saying something!”
    â€œIt’s not from food, Mom,” Sooze said. “It’s from my meds.”
    â€œWhat meds?” she asked flippantly.
    â€œSteroids,” Skye said. “They help her fight the pain from the tumor.”
    Mrs. Chambers shifted her weight. “Sooze’s medicines do strange things to her body, Mrs. Bodmer. But we didn’t come to talk about that. Sooze wants to tell you something.”
    â€œWhat trouble are you in now?” Mrs. Bodmer snarled.
    â€œI’m not in any trouble at all,” Sooze replied calmly.
    â€œThis time Sooze has good news to