LOVES TRAILS: A JOURNEY OF FORGIVENESS

nt, knowing I should be getting ready for school. But today was different. I wasn't going to Franklin High. In

use was quiet. Mom was probably still asleep after working late last night, and my little siblings were getti

e at school that I was skipping today again, not even David and Mirabel, my best friends. I didn't want to explain w

en this job. My dad, once the proud manager of one of the fast-growing Fast Food Restaurants in Southern C

e were drowning in bills, and with Dad gone, the pressure to help out fell squarely on my sho

he morning was slow, and as the minutes ticked by, I found myself staring blankly at the

, stern man in his fifties, with sharp eyes that missed nothing. I'd always

t with an edge that made me sit up straighte

n the hallway. As we walked, my mind raced, wondering what this could

files. He gestured for me to sit down, then closed the door behind us. The silenc

re hours than we originally agreed upon. And I couldn't help but see tha

e right words. I hadn't expected this. I thought I could just keep my h

eed to work, Mr. Thompson. My family... we

his eyes. "I understand that, Jake, but school is important. You

't lie. Not to someone who had been kind enough to give me thi

ant, and there was some money that went missing. They blamed him for it, but he didn't do it. I know he didn't. But now he has been sentenced,

told him. He was silent for a moment, processing my words. I could see the g

your father. That's a heavy burden for someone your age. But you can't carry all of

ss. How could I focus on school when my family was falling apart

something out so you can keep your job and still attend school. But you need to promise me you'll f

pected Mr. Thompson to be so understanding. "I p

nod. "Now, go on. Take a break.

a little lighter, like maybe things would be okay after all. But as I stepped back into the

nswered the c

stern voice on t

lied, a knot forming in my

continued, sending a cold shiver down my spine. "We

y possibly want with me again? Before I could say another word,

And whatever it was, it was ab