On the Victory Trail by Marsha Hubler Page B

tell you, if you can believe it!” Skye could not keep the delight from her voice.
    Mrs. Chambers added, “She’s been making some very good choices lately, and I think she should tell you about them herself. Go on, Sooze.”
    Mrs. Bodmer crossed her arms. “Well, what is it?” She stared glumly at her daughter.
    Sooze leaned forward slowly and rested her elbows on her knees. “I’ve been learning all kinds of stuff at the Chambers’ house, Mom, to help me get my head together. They’ve been telling me about God, and a few weeks ago, I asked Jesus Christ to come into my life.”
    â€œAnd what does that mean?” Mrs. Bodmer barked, running her free hand through her frizz. “Don’t tell me you got religion now! That’s all I need to hear!”
    â€œIt’s not religion, Mrs. Bodmer,” Mrs. Chambers said. “It’s a personal relationship with God — the creator of the universe. When someone accepts what Christ did for us on the cross as Sooze did, God makes that person new, inside and out. Sooze is a different person now.”
    â€œYeah,” Skye added. “I accepted Christ too, and I’ve only been in trouble once since then. God gives — ”
    â€œHey!” Mrs. Bodmer snapped. “I told you the last time that I didn’t want to hear any of this God junk. My kid still have that tumor in her head? Huh? Look how much good God’s doing her! Now if that’s all you came to talk about, there’s the door!”
    â€œBut, Mom,” Sooze pleaded, “you don’t understand. This is different. If you’d just listen — ”
    â€œThat’s it! No more. You got no business coming into my house and cramming this religion stuff down my throat.” Mrs. Bodmer blew a short blast of smoke out her nose and scowled at Sooze. “And I’m surprised at you for falling for this baloney, Susan. What’s the matter with you?”
    â€œMom,” Sooze’s voice cracked, “God is real — and he loves you!”
    â€œEasy, Sooze,” Mrs. Chambers warned.
    â€œYeah, and pigs can fly!” Mrs. Bodmer’s face turned beat red. “If that’s all you came to tell me, I’m not interested. Let me repeat it, so it’s nice and clear. I’m not interested — period!”
    â€œI’m sorry to hear that.” Mrs. Chambers stood and zipped her coat. “All right, girls, I think it’s time to go. But, Mrs. Bodmer, would you consider doing one thing for Sooze?”
    â€œWhat?” Mrs. Bodmer said gruffly.
    â€œThanksgiving is in a few weeks. Would you come to our place for dinner? We’ll have turkey and all the trimmings. If you like football, Tom will have games on all afternoon.”
    â€œYeah,” Skye agreed. “We’d love to have you. Wouldn’t we, Sooze?”
    â€œPlease, Mom. I could show you my bedroom and the barn and the horse I ride.”
    â€œWe’ll even come to pick you up,” Mrs. Chambers added.
    â€œI’m busy!” Mrs. Bodmer fired back.
    â€œWe were never busy before on Thanksgiving,” Sooze said. “We always ate frozen dinners and watched TV.
    What’s different this year?”
    â€œI told you I’m busy. Thanks, but no thanks.” Mrs. Bodmer turned on the TV.
    â€œThen how about Christmas?” Mrs. Chambers said loudly.
    â€œI’m busy!” Mrs. Bodmer said even louder without thinking twice. “I’m just busy!”

    Skye and Sooze followed Mrs. Chambers into the back of the Booster Club stand at the football stadium. In a red apron, Mr. Chambers stood at the stoves and labored over French fries in troughs of hot grease. Morgan sat in a corner peeling potatoes. Two adults at the front counter were selling fries like they were made of gold.
    â€œHey, it’s about time you got here to help.” Mr. Chambers smiled when he saw his wife.