Amish Girls Series - Book 2

Danika's Journey​

J.E.B. Spredemann

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​Chapter 1 - Tragedy
“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die...”  Ecclesiastes 3:1-2a

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Ri-i-i-i-ing. The seventh-grade students at Lincoln Middle School all took their seats in Ms. Harris' classroom. “All right class, put your books away. Today we are going to have a math quiz.” 

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Danika Morales groaned along with the rest of the students. She felt a tap on her shoulder, and a piece of folded lined paper fell into her lap.  Danika looked up to make sure Ms. Harris didn't see. She opened the note under her desk and read, Is your cell on silent? 

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She quickly wrote back, Yes, and then passed the note back to Cindy as she placed her book in her desk and removed her pencil for the test. 

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She felt her phone vibrate in the front pocket of her hoodie and took it out to glance at the text message. It read, Math is so boring. 

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Danika grinned. Cindy hated math as much as she did. I know how you feel. I don't know how I'll ever make it through medical school!  Can't wait till next period, she quickly texted back.                              
           

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“Hey, Dani, can you come to my house after school today?” Cindy asked during lunch.
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She loved spending time with Cindy, especially since her parents owned a nice cottage a block from the beach. Many times the two of them would take their surfboards out to ride some waves, or just sit on the sand and watch the tides roll in. 

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Danika thought for a moment. “No, I don't think I can today. My dad said I need to get caught up with my assignments. I hate homework.” She rolled her eyes, sipping apple juice through a straw. “Besides,” she added in a more serious tone, “Dad's having another treatment again today. I can't wait until he's done with all that stuff.”

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“Yeah, me too. I've heard it can be rough,” her friend sympathized. 

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“And now that you mention it, I should probably catch up on my homework too.” Cindy sighed, popping a couple of chips in her mouth. “I can't believe my mom and dad are getting a divorce. They were getting along just fine. I don't know what happened. Why does life have to change?”

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Danika hugged her friend. “I don't know. Don't worry. I won't change, I'll be your friend forever,” she promised.

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*** 

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When Danika walked through the door of her suburban two-story home, she quickly dropped her backpack on the couch and walked to the refrigerator to find something to eat. After she finished making herself a PBJ sandwich, she picked up her backpack and headed for her room. Since Dad won't be home for a while, I can check my email real quick and then finish my homework, Danika thought, as she searched through her backpack to find her smart-phone. She tried to keep her mind on her studies but her thoughts often drifted to her father. She couldn't help but worry about him.

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He was at the hospital again today. He had been diagnosed with cancer six months ago and was having another chemotherapy treatment session. The doctors said that the chemo would help him get better, but it definitely didn't make him feel or look any better.  When he came home from his treatments, he seemed even worse: he was constantly vomiting, he could hardly eat, and he had begun to lose his hair too. She didn't understand how that could make him get better. It just didn't make any sense. But his oncologist insisted that this was the only way to go, that is, if he wanted to stay alive.  Eventually, he'd said, her father's cancer should go into remission. 

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Danika sympathized with her dad; she couldn't help but bear some of the suffering he was going through. He didn't complain, but she could tell by the look in his eyes that he was in constant pain. She was sure he was just trying to be brave for her sake. After all, he was all she had left. Her mom had passed away in childbirth when Danika was eight years old. Not only did she lose her mother that day, but a much-anticipated baby brother as well. She couldn't bear to lose her father too. Where would she go? How would she survive on her own?

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Two hours later, her dad came through the door, assisted by the neighbor who had taken him to his appointment. Today, he had come in using a walker for the first time. This was not a good sign. 

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Danika rushed to him when she noticed his weakened state, “Are you okay, Dad?” she asked, her face fraught with concern.
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“I'll be all right, Pumpkin,” he answered bravely. “I just need to go lay down and rest a while.” 

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To Danika, it seemed as if that's all he ever did lately.  He'd come home from his treatments, rest, get really sick, start to feel better again, then go to another treatment. It was a vicious cycle. 

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“Danika, I want to talk to you about something. Please come and sit on the couch by me,”  her father requested as he rested on their tan sofa. The neighbor had left and promised to come back again when she was needed.

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“What is it, Daddy?” Nervousness crept in and Danika's hands began to tremble.

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“Honey, I feel like my body is weakening. I don't know how much longer I'll be around.” He paused, drawing a labored breath.

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Tears filled Danika's eyes. “Please don't talk like that, Dad. You're going to be fine. The doctors said – ”

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“Shh...it'll be okay.” Her father's hand gently stroked her thick nearly-black hair. “I love you, Pumpkin.”

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“I can't live without you, Daddy. Please don't leave me here by myself.” She sobbed.

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“Danika, I want you to listen to me. You have to be brave. You will get through this. Do you remember your Uncle Philip? He's your mom's brother – the one that came to Mom's funeral from Pennsylvania.”

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Danika tried to recall the man. “No, Dad, I don't remember.”

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“Philip is a good man." He closed his eyes. "After I'm gone, I'd like you to go and live with him,” her father stated wearily, taking her hand.

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“But Daddy, you're not going anywhere. You're staying here with me.  You have to! You can't go!” Danika cried, holding her father's now-limp hand. “Daddy?  Daddy?” She shook his shoulder trying desperately to wake him up, but there was no response. She panicked, breathing heavily.  “No-o-o!” She wept uncontrollably over her father's chest, as she realized he was gone.

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​(Danika's Journey available February 14, 2013, via Amazon Kindle - Click below)