Warning* This chapter deals with a Christian conversion. If that bothers you, you had better not read it...but I hope you will anyway. That's just how I believe.
A couple of weeks later, Julie had her stitches removed and the bruising had faded to a minimum. Unfortunately, the doctor told her that she would always have a scar from the accident. It didn't bother Julie much because every time she saw it, it reminded her that she at least escaped the accident with her life. It also reminded her of the Proverb her father had quoted to her that night. While people still picked on her for the remainder of the school year, it didn't matter quite as much. She knew that her God loved her and carefully created her with a special design. He gave her the power to love and accept those that most the rest of the world would turn away.
As graduation day approached, Julie told Peter with excitement that she had been accepted to a great university that was only a few hours from home. She had decided on a major in Special Education because she felt she could really make a difference. She had observed in her school that most of the learning disabled students would be passed over. The time spent with them by their teachers was of no real value. She hoped to change that.
Davy and Stella did get back together, and this time it lasted a lot longer than a week. Stella had finally found her own apartment, and as a graduation present, Mr. and Mrs. Parker allowed Cindi to go move in with her big sister. She and Cindi also spent a week out in Utah so Cindi could visit Stevie.
Babs, Betty, Derk, and Keith all wound up in jail on graduation night for vandalizing a statue of the first mayor. Mister Morris went to visit them, not as Julie's father, but as Rev. Morris. There he counseled them and asked them if they knew who Jesus was. When they said no, Rev. Morris explained how Jesus came to Earth, lived a life of perfection, died, and rose again on the third day. To everyone's surprise, Derk gave his life to Christ right there in the jail cell.
"Hey Peter," Julie said one summer day as they shared a soda, "the funniest thing happened to me this morning. You won't believe it!"
"What's that?" Peter asked.
"Derk Watson called me this morning. I have no idea how he got my phone number. Anyway, he called to apologize for all the times he treated me so rotten. He also said he was sorry for making fun of all the nerds, hippies, beatniks, hoodlums, and especially the special education people...like Cindi. He said he had planned to call her next. He was also sorry for the way he treated you and Davy at prom. He then said dad had led him to Christ when he was in jail," Julie exclaimed at almost a mile a minute.
"That's wonderful!" Peter said.
"I know! I can't believe my life was so different two months ago. I used to be the most unpopular kid in school, then I realized the few friends I have truly love me. I thought no guy would ever love me. Then I found you. I realize now that any guy who is just in love with your looks isn't really in love with you at all I think I had to be the most depressed person in the world," Julie told him.
"Julie, as long as you are always yourself, you don't have anything to worry about," Peter told her.
Julie replied, "I promise I always will be."
The End
Chapter 10
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