Point of No Return by Paul McCusker Page B

cover. He grabbed it, climbed off the chair, and threw himself onto his bed. Dust flew from the book’s jacket. The binding cracked as he opened it. On the inside, his grandmother had written:
    For Jimmy,
    Do not let people look down on you because you are young, but be to them an example in your speech and behavior, in your love and faith and sincerity. (1 Tim. 4:12)
    Love, Grandma B.
    Was this the answer to his wish-that-was-really-a-prayer? “Don’t let people look down on you,” it said. “Be an example in your speech and behavior.” Is that what God wanted him to know? He couldn’t be sure.
    Then Jimmy thought about his grandmother. He suddenly felt a longing to talk to her, to see her. She had always acted as though Jimmy would become a Christian one day, and now that he had, he wanted to make sure she knew about it. Had his dad told her? Would they let him call her? Maybe he could go and visit. He wanted to do something.
    He remembered once again how his family used to pray together. He wondered how it would feel now to pray—and really mean it. He closed the Bible and crawled off his bed. Getting on his knees next to it, he carefully folded his hands and began, “Dear God—”
    Just then, Donna walked into the room. “Jimmy,” she said.
    Jimmy instantly fell to the floor and pretended he was searching for something under his bed. “What?” he shouted. “Don’t you ever knock?”
    â€œSorry!” she said. “What are you doing?”
    â€œI’m looking for something!” he said, still talking loudly from his embarrassment.
    Donna looked puzzled. “Oh,” she responded. “Well, Jacob’s here to see you.”
    â€œJacob Wright?” Jimmy asked as he stood up.
    â€œHow many other Jacobs do you know?” Donna said as she walked out. Jimmy heard her call down the stairs for Jacob to come up.
    Jimmy was surprised. He couldn’t imagine that Jacob would show up without his father. He wondered what he was doing there. He also wondered what he would have to talk about with a kid who never seemed to talk.
    Jacob peeked into the room. “Hi,” he said softly.
    â€œHi,” Jimmy said.
    â€œI heard you had a hard time today,” Jacob said.
    Jimmy knew that Jacob was taught at home by his mom, so he didn’t go to their school. “How did you hear about it?”
    â€œMy dad saw Jack Davis at Whit’s End, and he said your friends were teasing you at lunch. You tried to witness to them, huh? They didn’t act the way you thought they would.”
    Jimmy stared at Jacob for a moment. “They’re idiots,” he finally said, and all the feelings from lunch came rushing back to him. He felt angry and wanted to cry.
    â€œThey don’t get it,” Jacob said quietly as he sat on the edge of the bed. “Maybe they’ll never get it. That’s the way it happens sometimes.
    They all make up their own minds. All you can do is what God says to do and try to tell them.”
    â€œBut Tony’s my best friend! He was supposed to…to understand.” Jimmy hung his head. “I said it all wrong.”
    Jacob smiled. “Just because you became a Christian doesn’t mean you’ll turn into Peter or Paul and be a great preacher right away,” he said. “I know. The same thing happened to me the first time I tried to tell someone about Jesus.”
    â€œReally?” Jimmy asked, brightening a little.
    â€œYeah,” Jacob confirmed. “I felt embarrassed and mad, and…I thought I might cry in front of everybody. It was terrible.”
    Jimmy sat down on his bed next to Jacob. He looked intently at the brown-haired kid who didn’t talk much but came by at just the right time as if he had been sent by someone.
    Jimmy realized he wasn’t alone after all. His wish-that-was-really-a-prayer had been answered.
    They talked until