The Big Sneeze

Skyler looked and acted like he felt a lot better the next day. At first recess, Skyler and his friends bumped into Ben on purpose and gave him a hard time. When Ben thought they had finally left, he prayed for Skyler. “Wha’cha doin’ Benny?” Skyler said. “Talkin’ to yourself ‘cuz yer crazy?” He laughed and mocked Ben, and his friends made fun, too. Oh no, thought Ben, I didn’t think they’d hear that. Ben tried to just walk away, but Skyler moved in front of him. Ben turned to the side to go a different way but his friends circled around him. Skyler crossed his arms. “I said, ‘Wha’cha doin’, Benny.’” Ben began to be a little frightened. He knew God didn’t want him to be afraid, so he whispered to God to help him be bold. “Wha’d ja say? Are you a mouse that ya can’t talk louder? Benny the Mouse!” Ben stood up as tall as he could and put his shoulders back. As hard as it was, he looked Skyler straight in the eye and said in a voice as boldly as he could make it. “I was praying.” The boys all laughed. “Praying! Ha ha! Benny the Mouse was praying!” Ben just stood there trying not to feel frightened and yet feeling a little bolder, too. It was an odd feeling. “Wha’cha praying for Benny the Mouse? That you won’t wet your pants?” Skyler kept mocking. “No.” “Wha’cha praying for then? Huh, Mouse? That you’ll be healed after I beat you up?” Ben knew this was his test. He prayed quickly, (under his breath this time,) for more boldness and the right words to say. “Tell me, Mouse! Or are you too scared?” Ben looked him straight in the eye again and when he opened his mouth to speak, he suddenly didn’t feel afraid any more. He knew God was with him and protecting him. He also suddenly knew he was going to say the right thing. “I was praying for you,” he said. Skyler hooted and laughed loud. “Praying for me! What? So I wouldn’t beat you up?” Skyler stepped closer. So close that one of his feet was stepping on one of Ben’s feet. The other boys moved closer, too. “No,” said Ben. “You weren’t praying so I wouldn’t beat you up? You’d better!” Skyler raised a fist. “I was praying that you’d find out how much Jesus loves you, and that He wants you to be happy.” Ben prepared himself to get punched, but Skyler’s fist stayed in the air. “Ha! You better pray for you to be happy.” Skyler stuck his face right into Ben’s face, “Cuz one of these times I’m going to mash you to mush, Mouse!” “You’re feeling better, aren’t you?” Ben ventured to say. Skyler glared at him a moment and then the end of recess bell rang. “Come on guys, let’s leave Benny the Mouse to finish his prayers. He needs them.” They all laughed as they turned away.