Calvary painted love's picture for me.

Another Children's Story for Intermediate Ages.

IN THE SOUP
Amy was freezing. She was so cold that icicles were growing on the tip of her nose. Or at least it felt like it. She pulled off her layers of outside winter clothes and slid into the seat beside her friend, Jennifer.
“It sure is icy out there! Every time I breathe out I have a cloud in front of my mouth. Look, so do you!”
“ Jolly neat!” exclaimed Jennifer, opening her mouth in a round “O”. “It’s not happening to the guys over by the heater, though. The heater roasts them to perfection while we freeze our toes off over here by the door.”
“Yeah, but we won’t be this cold for long. We don’t need central heat in South Africa like we did in America, because the weather is much warmer here. By this afternoon the sun will shine in through the windows and it will feel like a fresh autumn day in the United States.” Amy had moved to South Africa four years ago with her parents, who were missionaries, but she still
remembered the snow and ice of the American winters. “I don’t look forward to going outside during recess, though. We’ll have to thaw out all over again when we come in.”
Jennifer seemed to brighten as she said, “At least we have warm soup to look forward to.” The bell rang for the start of class and they had to wait quietly while the teacher took the roll and performed a few other homeroom tasks.
Amy drifted into her familiar world of dreams, remembering the homemade soup from the previous day. Her mouth watered as she thought about the scent of fresh vegetables and simmering barley wafting on the air. While she had waited for her soup to cool, she had cupped her stiff hands around the mug. She’d felt its warmth through her gloves. The steam had floated upwards, swirling around her face, reminding her of a butterfly flitting around a poinsettia bush, looking for pollen.
The soup cost five cents per cup, and Daddy had given her five new copper pennies again this morning. “Hurry and call us up to order, Teacher,” she thought. “Pennies”… suddenly, into her pleasant daydreams came a whisper, “What if you…”
Amy looked around to see if anyone could hear the voice that had been as clear as a bell in her ear. No, no one else seemed to have a clue what was going on in her head. She was not used to hearing this, though the thought was very tempting. “I would have two cups of soup instead of one, wouldn’t I, and it is so delicious,” she mused. Daddy had just preached about conscience this past Sunday. And Mommy always said that it does not pay to tell a lie, and stealing will never make you happy. Besides, it would be breaking not only one but two of the “Ten Commandments.”
There was a fight on the inside of Amy that she had never felt before. She thought it must be how two opponents felt in a boxing match, getting it from all sides. A blow was struck for the man in white on this side and then one for the one in black on the other. It still seemed like a good idea, though, since it was so cold outside.
“Anyone else?” said Mrs. Nieman.
Amy realized that she had almost missed the chance to order soup altogether while she had been daydreaming. Before she had any more time to think, Amy marched up to the desk. Teacher was looking down at her book. Amy put down her five pennies and said, “Two, please!” Back at her desk, she felt a great lump forming in her stomach. Her heart was also beating so fast that she was sure everyone could hear it. She would be able to drink two cups of soup, instead of one. So why did this idea suddenly make her feel so nauseous that she could hardly concentrate in class?
Once, Jennifer looked over at Amy and said, “You have been quiet since the bell rang. Penny for your thoughts?”
The mention of pennies triggered that miserable feeling in her all over again. But she managed to look up and say, “Oh you know me, dreaming, as usual.”
Recess arrived at last. Everyone scampered off to where the steaming cups of soup were waiting, but Amy was not as eager as before. She was one of the last to reach for her soup. As she did, the good voice echoed in her heart, “You should leave one cup there…” but she had come this far and couldn’t back out now. Someone might remember that she had ordered two cups and ask questions.
The soup was just as hot and smelt just as good as it had yesterday, but something seemed to be missing. It did not want to settle in Amy’s stomach around the lump that was already there. She struggled through the first cup of soup and was starting in on her second when she heard a voice in the distance, “Sorry, girl, but there is none left. I set out as many cups as your teacher paid for and they are all finished.”
The last girl looked as though her heart would break. She was quivering with cold and tears were streaming down her face. “I haven’t been able to buy soup before, and my mother gave me some of her grocery money today since it was so cold. She will be mad if I come home and say that I haven’t eaten. She’s expecting me to have this warm meal at school.”
Amy knew what she had to do. She did not like that awful feeling of guilt on the inside of her stomach. “Here’s my chance to make amends,” she thought.
She walked over to the girl and said, “Would you like to share a cup of soup? I had two.”
“I can’t take yours,” whispered the timid voice of the other girl.
“ My name is Amy, and I have a feeling this soup has your name on it,” said Amy.
“Well, if you’re sure. My name is Emily, and—thank you—very much.”
Amy sighed, “You’re welcome,” and both girls walked away, relieved.