Read Online Heaven and Hell by Kenneth Zeigler - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Kenneth Zeigler
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be walking on air, yet it was neither scary nor confusing. After all, Chris was with Jesus.
They walked a few seconds before they materialized on the grounds of a great mansion. The mansion sat in the middle of a rolling grassy lawn, interspersed with flowers of a variety of colors. They lent a pleasant odor to the cool air. Beyond the wide lawn, a forest of tall trees in full summer foliage surrounded the estate.
The mansion itself was of two-story, Southern antebellum architecture, with four grand white pillars supporting a wide porch in front. Several wooden chairs were scattered about the wide wooden porch, and across the arm of one of them was draped a partially completed knitting project. A single strand of yellow yarn ran from the chair and across the porch, ending in a somewhat dismembered ball near the front door of the house. Not far from the ball, a sleeping black cat was curled up, its head facing the two visitors.
Jesus motioned for Chris to proceed toward the house, and they walked toward the four wide steps leading to the front porch. They were nearly there when the cat opened one eye, then two, to inspect the approaching visitors. The cat stood up and moved toward them.
“No, wait,” Chris said. A look of astonishment was on his face as he gazed intently at the yellow eyed cat. “This is incredible! Ebbie?”
The cat’s ears perked up, and she came running straight to Chris. She purred loudly as she moved around Chris’s legs, the way she always had in life. There were tears of joy in his eyes as he picked her up and held her close. Her purring grew louder.
“It’s a miracle,” whispered Chris, with his head next to Ebbie’s.
Chris remembered the last time he had held her, on that terrible spring evening. He had come home from a movie to find her lying along the road dying after being hit by a car. The cat that had brought him so much joy in his youth, the cat that had mourned with him at the passing of his mother, lay alone in the dark. Yet somehow that night, she had hung onto life, gripped it in her tiny paws until he had come home, if only to say good-bye one last time. She died in his arms that night.
The God who loved all of humanity had shown His loving mercy to a small ball of black fur, uniting them once more. Here, two good friends would never have to say good-bye again.
“Thank you,” Chris said, turning to Jesus.
“But, there is more,” Jesus said, motioning to the door.
Chris looked up to see a woman in a green print dress standing by the front door. “Mom?”
His mother, Jennifer, stood there in wide-eyed wonder. This was not the pale, weary woman he watched die in a hospital bed 12 years ago—she looked as she did when Chris was a child, young and full of life, no, even better than that, she looked positively angelic.
Jennifer came running across the porch, down the steps, and into a three-way embrace with her son and his cat. “Oh, Chris, I’ve missed you so much.”
Jesus stepped back to watch the happy reunion, a broad smile on His face. It was more than a minute before emotions subsided enough for words.
“Thank you, Lord,” Jennifer said. “Thank you for saving my son.”
“You taught him well, Jennifer,” replied Jesus. “I’m happy for the two of you.” Jesus turned to Chris. “Here is your starting point. I leave you with a beautiful mansion and wonderful company to share it with. I’m sure that the two of you have much to talk about.”
No, please stay for a while,” urged Jennifer. “I have a freshly baked apple pie cooling on the windowsill, all ready to eat. Please, Lord, join us.”
Jesus smiled broadly. “How could I possibly refuse an offer like that? One of your wonderful pies and such excellent company are not easily turned down.”
The three friends, and their feline companion, retreated to the house. Inside, Chris discovered a mixture of old Southern-style furniture and modern conveniences. It was magnificent.
“Having been
They walked a few seconds before they materialized on the grounds of a great mansion. The mansion sat in the middle of a rolling grassy lawn, interspersed with flowers of a variety of colors. They lent a pleasant odor to the cool air. Beyond the wide lawn, a forest of tall trees in full summer foliage surrounded the estate.
The mansion itself was of two-story, Southern antebellum architecture, with four grand white pillars supporting a wide porch in front. Several wooden chairs were scattered about the wide wooden porch, and across the arm of one of them was draped a partially completed knitting project. A single strand of yellow yarn ran from the chair and across the porch, ending in a somewhat dismembered ball near the front door of the house. Not far from the ball, a sleeping black cat was curled up, its head facing the two visitors.
Jesus motioned for Chris to proceed toward the house, and they walked toward the four wide steps leading to the front porch. They were nearly there when the cat opened one eye, then two, to inspect the approaching visitors. The cat stood up and moved toward them.
“No, wait,” Chris said. A look of astonishment was on his face as he gazed intently at the yellow eyed cat. “This is incredible! Ebbie?”
The cat’s ears perked up, and she came running straight to Chris. She purred loudly as she moved around Chris’s legs, the way she always had in life. There were tears of joy in his eyes as he picked her up and held her close. Her purring grew louder.
“It’s a miracle,” whispered Chris, with his head next to Ebbie’s.
Chris remembered the last time he had held her, on that terrible spring evening. He had come home from a movie to find her lying along the road dying after being hit by a car. The cat that had brought him so much joy in his youth, the cat that had mourned with him at the passing of his mother, lay alone in the dark. Yet somehow that night, she had hung onto life, gripped it in her tiny paws until he had come home, if only to say good-bye one last time. She died in his arms that night.
The God who loved all of humanity had shown His loving mercy to a small ball of black fur, uniting them once more. Here, two good friends would never have to say good-bye again.
“Thank you,” Chris said, turning to Jesus.
“But, there is more,” Jesus said, motioning to the door.
Chris looked up to see a woman in a green print dress standing by the front door. “Mom?”
His mother, Jennifer, stood there in wide-eyed wonder. This was not the pale, weary woman he watched die in a hospital bed 12 years ago—she looked as she did when Chris was a child, young and full of life, no, even better than that, she looked positively angelic.
Jennifer came running across the porch, down the steps, and into a three-way embrace with her son and his cat. “Oh, Chris, I’ve missed you so much.”
Jesus stepped back to watch the happy reunion, a broad smile on His face. It was more than a minute before emotions subsided enough for words.
“Thank you, Lord,” Jennifer said. “Thank you for saving my son.”
“You taught him well, Jennifer,” replied Jesus. “I’m happy for the two of you.” Jesus turned to Chris. “Here is your starting point. I leave you with a beautiful mansion and wonderful company to share it with. I’m sure that the two of you have much to talk about.”
No, please stay for a while,” urged Jennifer. “I have a freshly baked apple pie cooling on the windowsill, all ready to eat. Please, Lord, join us.”
Jesus smiled broadly. “How could I possibly refuse an offer like that? One of your wonderful pies and such excellent company are not easily turned down.”
The three friends, and their feline companion, retreated to the house. Inside, Chris discovered a mixture of old Southern-style furniture and modern conveniences. It was magnificent.
“Having been
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