When I got back to my room Mom and Rachael laid cold cloths on my welts and even Janet asked if I was O.K. I said, “Yes,” but I wouldn’t speak to Rachael.

Chapter 29

MY WICKEDNESS BROUGHT THE FAMILY BACK TOGETHER. When we gathered for dinner that night everyone was united in being nice to me because I had been strapped so hard. Rachael and Janet gave me a lot of sweet pitying smiles and Mom acted like I was a wounded soldier or something and kept hovering around. Dad was nicer to all of us than he had been the whole vacation. He gave me one hundred lire to buy an ice cream cone after dinner. When I asked what time I had to be back from walking around the square that night, he said, “Eleven o’clock will be fine.”

Mom and Dad seemed to be getting on better too. Dads head wasn’t hurting very much now and Mom had gotten the manager to agree not to charge us for the toilet tank Dad had pulled down. Dad joked about how Mom could talk anyone into anything.

And everybody laughed, even Mom, when I said, “Especially if she threatens to use the Gospel Walnut on them.”

“Oh, Calvin, how can you be so levitous?” The way Mom said it really meant that she thought I was pretty clever and was glad that with the welts and the buckle cut I was still joking around. When we were done eating and were waiting for the fruit bowl to be brought over by the waiter, Dad said, “How’re you feeling now, boy?”

“Fine,” I said.

“Sitting okay?”

“It’s a little sore.”

Then he reached out and gave me a quick pat and said, “Well, you were brave, I’ll say that!”

Janet and Rachael, who had seen my welts, both nodded in agreement. Janet told me that my strapping was the family record for sure.

Mom said, all cheery to change the subject, “Has Jennifer opened up at all this year?”

Rachael said, “Yes, I’ve been praying that you’d have the opportunity to witness to her this vacation.”

“Your prayers have been answered,” I said. “We’ve had some good talks about the Lord.”

I don’t know why I lied but I guess it was because I wanted to keep the mood happy.

“Praise the Lord,” Mom said.

“That’s a real answer to prayer,” Rachael said. “Thank you for sharing it with us.”

Even Janet smiled, though I don’t think she really believed me.

“We’ll invite her to church this Sunday,” Mom said. “Shall I ask her or do you want to?”

“I will,” I said.

“I brought some tracts with me,” Janet said. “You can give her one.”

“Thanks,” I said.

I knew I’d never invite Jennifer to church or give her the Great News Publishers tract Janet handed me from her purse.