It hadn't been an easy life and by no choice of his own. Steven was born the oldest child of missionaries. The mission field is tough for anyone, but especially the children. Born into a lifestyle that required them to grow up in a foreign country, speaking a foreign language, and constantly scrutinized by everyone who knew how missionary children should act. 

The other children had handled it better than Steven. He hated the things required of him.   Most of all, he hated singing in church. He had a beautiful voice and it was noted by many. He knew he sang well, but hated being forced to use his talent whenever his parents decided. 

 When Steven was twelve, his parents--rather his mother, decided that the mission field was no place for kids and the entire family returned to the United States. Steven was happy to be home, although he knew very little about it. He knew he was where he belonged. 

The transition to American education wasn't difficult because his parents enrolled him in a Christian school. Public school would have been too much. 

Steven was allowed to transfer to public school when he started high school. There Steven was introduced to all kinds of wonderful things. For the first time Steven saw how people lived when they had money. He liked what he saw and determined to one day live like that.

He was introduced to drugs, 

Vanessa donned the black robe being careful to show it the respect it deserved.  She had worked long and hard to earn the position of Family Court Judge and was both honored and humbled by the achievement.  The court had been plagued with mismanagement, resulting in a backlogged schedule equaled by no other court in the district.  Vanessa was determined to run the court efficiently and fairly.  Since taking the oath six weeks ago, she had been able to clear cases previously scheduled for seven weeks.  She was gaining ground, but there was still too much to do.

“All rise.  The court of Family Law is now in session. Honorable Judge Vanessa Hart presiding.”

Vanessa took her place on the bench.  “Bailiff, call the first case please.”

“Case number 68064.  Johnson vs. Johnson.  All parties please step forward.”

Vanessa watched as a 16 year old boy walked forward, followed by a middle aged man.  The boy’s arms were tattooed and his head was shaved.  What spoke to Vanessa were his eyes.  They were vacant, as if there were no living creature behind them.  She turned to look at the man behind the boy.  Her heart skipped a beat and she audibly gasp as she recognized him.  

The GED class at The Hope Pregnancy Center was going well.  Students were coming on a regular schedule and working hard while they were there.  Class was almost over when Brittany walked in. 

“May I help you?”  Miss Carolyn asked.

“I’m here to sign my boyfriend up for the GED class.” 

“Does he know it?” Miss Carolyn asked with a chuckle in her voice.

Rebecca's less than sunny mood had started on Monday and steadily declined with each passing day until by Thursday storm clouds were looming over the entire family. Saturday was their wedding anniversary. They were young with two small children and one large mortgage which seemed more impossible to pay
every month. Going out to celebrate their anniversary was so out of the question it hadn't even been discussed. There seemed no end to their financial Titanic.

Joan had been cooking for two days.  She enjoyed cooking for her family.  The pies had been baked and salads prepared.  The rolls had been steadily rising all morning and were ready to be put in the oven.  The turkey was cooked to perfection. 

Joan could hear the family laughing in the living room.  She smiled as she listened to the teasing.  There was always teasing when her grown children were together.  She looked around her kitchen and remembered the many meals she had cooked here. 

Tomorrow she and her husband would move