It was late in the afternoon and Jennifer's mother was getting ready to bake some cookies for the evening meal. Jennifer loved to help her mother, even though she always made a big mess. Her mother didn't mind as along she helped clean it up. Pulling a chair over beside her mother, Jennifer climbed up with her wooden spoon ready to mix the batter. Her mother was always happy to have Jennifer's company, mess and all.
Mint chocolate chip cookies were on the menu. Jennifer's job was to stir the cookie dough and to put the chips in the dough. But somehow, her little fingers had a hard time staying out of the cookie dough.
"Jennifer", her mother said.' get your fingers out of the cookie dough. You have germs on them. Now go to the bathroom and wash your hands. You know that all good cooks always wash their hands before they cook and keep their fingers out of the food," explained mother.
Jennifer really did know better but cookie dough with mint chocolate chips with just too much of a temptation. When she returned from washing her hands, she helped her mother put the drops of dough on the cookie tray ready for the oven . She couldn't wait for them to finish baking. Her mother told her that she was not to eat any before dinner , because it would ruin her appetite. Jennifer didn't understand why one cookie would spoil her dinner. It didn't make any sense to her.
When the cookies came out of oven, they were put on a rack to cool. The aroma was too much of a temptation for Jennifer. As soon as her mother left to go out into the garden to gather some veggies for a salad for dinner, Jennifer could not resist another minute. She climbed up unto the counter and wrapped two cookies in a napkin. She then jumped down and ran off upstairs into her room. She put one cookie under her pillow and ate the other hiding in her closet.
But after she ate the cookie, she didn't feel very good and it wasn't her stomach! Something was wrong. Somehow that cookie didn't taste very good.
When Jennifer's mother came in from the garden, she noticed that two cookies were missing from the rack. "Oh no,' thought mother.'I hope Jennifer didn't take two cookies when I told her to wait?" Her mother's heart was broken. Her little girl had disobeyed. The last thing she wanted to do was to discipline her, but she knew she had no choice.
No sooner had she had that thought, when Jennifer came down stairs with a cookie wrapped up in a napkin. "Mommy,' said Jennifer handing her the wrapped up cookie. "I don't feel so good. I took two cookies, ate one and hid the other under my pillow. I need to put this one back."
Mommy took the cookie from Jennifer and said, "Jennifer, I was very disappointed when I saw that two cookies were missing after I told you not to to eat any before dinner."
"I know mommy, I disobeyed you and I stole two cookies, but I am so sorry. As soon as I ate the cookie, I knew something was wrong.
I didn't feel right. I keep hearing a voice in my head saying, 'eat the cookies, your mother will never know'. But, I knew that it was the devil tempting me. I remembered what you told me, "When you know what is the right thing to do and you don't do it, it is sin and you will not feel good.' I felt awful mommy and even the cookie didn't taste good. Will you please forgive me?"
"Jennifer, you did the right thing. God gave us a conscience to help us to do what is right. I am very happy that you listened to your conscience and said no to the devil. Stealing is wrong and you will never feel good when you steal or when you disobey your parents. It is God's way to keep you safe in a world that is so full of evil."
Mommy and Jennifer hugged. It felt so good to be forgiven. Because Jennifer had confessed to her mother her sin, her mother chose to show her God's grace and did not discipline her that night. Jennifer learned the importance of telling the truth . From that day on, she had learned how important it was to listen to her conscience and do what was right.
CHAPTER 8
This adventure of George and Jennifer started in the summer when their two families decided to camp at Lake Ivanhoe for the weekend. They had never camped there before. The children loved camping, and especially this year because they would have many new places to investigate.
Saturday morning George and Jennifer were up early, packed a picnic lunch and were allowed to hike only the safe trail marked by white paint on the trees. As long as the children followed the white paint they would not get lost. What excitement filled their hearts as they put on their back packs and headed down the trail.
"Can you believe it Jennifer? We are explorers. Today, we are going to experience a great adventure." said George.
"I'm ready, George. I think it will be an incredible day."
As the two children headed down the trail which was bordered predominately by pine trees, they came upon a meadow. George became very curious and wanted to know what might lay beyond meadow.
"Hey, Jennifer," said George. " We got to investigate the meadow. Who knows what we might discover, Jennifer."
"But, George, I think we better stay right on this trial and follow the white paint."
"Jennifer, it wouldn't matter if we go off just a little bit. It would be an adventure." George tried to encourage Jennifer to go with him. But, she would not budge. "OK, Jennifer, have it your way". So the two children continued down the path along a bubbling brook.
"Let's wade in the brook George."
" That sounds great Jennifer. My feet are sweating. So, the two children sat down on a rock and took off their sneakers. The water felt so delicious cool on their feet. It wasn't long before George noticed through a grove of pine trees, an old broken down abandoned house.
"Jennifer, do you see that old house over there? We have to investigate"
"It looks pretty haunted to me, George. I think we better stay right where we are. I don't want to get into trouble." Jennifer carefully responded.
"We have to, Jennifer. You know we are explorers, and who knows what we might find. Maybe there is a treasure or something? Come on Jennifer. Just a peek, we will be fine" said George excitedly
"OK George, I will go with you, but we better not stay long. It looks too spooky to me." Jennifer hesitantly replied.
They waded out of the brook, put their sneakers back on, and headed toward the abandoned house. What a mess it was. The paint was peeling off , English ivy grew all over the sides of the house. It did look scary. No one had lived in it for many years, so they thought. But could they be wrong?
Slowly the children started up the old rickety stairs onto the front porch. The porch floor had several broken and missing boards. They had to be how careful how and where they walked.
Slowly with great caution, George opened the front door. What a mess they discovered. Cloths were thrown all over the room. The curtains were filthy and raggedy. The carpet had dirty spots on it and smelled like the barn yard. The beds were not made and the sheets were so dirty. An old suit case sat on the bed. It was very curious why it was there.
In the kitchen, breakfast dishes and cereal were still on the table. The only thing in the refrigerator was half gallon of sour milk and a little orange juice.
"Hey, George we better get out of here, right now." Jennifer said nervously. "I think someone is really living in here.
"Not so fast Jennifer, " George told her. "We got some more exploring to do. What about that suit case sitting on the bed? Aren't you curious about that?"
George went back into the bedroom. When he opened it, inside was thousands of twenty dollar bills.
The children's eyes pooped out of their heads. They had never seen so much money before. "What are we going to do, George?" questioned Jennifer.
George put a couple of twenty dollar bills into his pocket. "We better take this to my Dad now."
The two children ran as fast as they could back to the camp grounds and told their parents about their adventure. Just that morning, George's father had picked up news paper from the camp store. On the front page was a story about a bank being robbed in Gunterville, not very far away.
George showed his dad the two twenties dollar bills. "We better call the police right now. Can you tell them where this house is.?" asked George's Dad anxiously.
"No problem Dad. Jennifer and I know exactly where it is." promised George.
It wasn't long before the police to arrived. George and Jennifer lead the way. When they got near the abandoned house the police spread out and surrounded the house with their guns ready to shoot. The chief of police kicked in the front door, "Don't you move" said the Chief. The robbers were caught by surprise, and didn't know how to respond. Quickly, the police arrested the two robbers and put hand cuffs on them.
George and Jennifer's day of exploration ended with a big surprise. What didn't know was that there was a reward of $1,000 for anyone who know anything about the robbery. Both George and Jennifer got $500.00 a piece for leading the police to the robbers. The next morning their names were in the local newspaper telling everyone about their greatest adventure they experienced.
