Eyes on the Unseen Prize

  ***

  “Nick!” Piper screamed from the second floor of their home. “You need to come up here!” Her heart was pounding and her palms were covered in sweat. She danced about their bedroom in her nightgown and slippers, just to expend some of the energy welling up inside of her. Her face was beaming with joy as the excitement mounted within.

  Thank you, Lord. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

  “Honey, are you alright?” Nick yelled back as he ran out of the kitchen and leapt up the stairs. He found her dancing about the bedroom with a white piece of plastic in one of her hands.

  “Nick, I’ve got great news!” She said as she waved the plastic around, preventing Nick from getting a clear glimpse of the test strip.

  “Is that a pregnancy test?”

  Piper giggled as she waved the plastic around in front of Nick that displayed the word, “Yes.”

  “Yes, you’re pregnant?” Nick asked.

  “Yes! I’m pregnant!”

  Nick grabbed Piper and hugged her, holding her tightly for several minutes while kissing her. “Thank you Lord!” He proclaimed. “My wife is pregnant!”

  “I’m just so happy, Nick.”

  “I am too. Believe me! We’ll have to celebrate. Throw a party and let everyone know.”

  “Yes, definitely. But we shouldn’t throw a party just yet. It’s a little too soon to tell people. They say pregnancies should be kept a secret for three months, just to be sure that the baby is strong enough to come to full term.”

  “Oh, no problem. Our baby will be very strong. Just like us. This is just so great, Piper. I’m thrilled beyond belief.”

  “I’m going to book an appointment with an obstetrician. I’ll need to get checked out.”

  “Piper, I love you. I knew this would work out for us. I knew that God would answer our prayers. It’s all about having faith and feeling blessed.”

  “I have faith too, Nick, but I also had my doubts.”

  A flash of light surged past one of the windows in the bedroom, catching Piper’s attention. She walked towards the window and peered outside into their yard and the yards of the neighbors nearby, wondering about the source of the light. Did she imagine it? Did Nick see it? She looked up into the sky and down around the trees and about the yards, but saw nothing.

  Then something moved. A small black dog was moving between the bushes just below her. It was similar in size and breed to Chipper and would be a perfect addition to their home.

  “Nick, there’s a little black dog in our yard. Let’s go check it out.”

  “A dog?”

  Nick and Piper walked into the yard where they found the little dog. It was sitting still near one of their bushes, watching them intently. Piper noticed its collar, so she moved closer to check whether the collar bore the owner’s identification. Maybe the dog wasn’t meant for them.

  She held her hand out, allowing the dog to sniff it and become comfortable with her. Then she gently swept her hands over the collar, looking for any identification. A small gold-colored locket was clipped to the collar, but the only word on the locket was the word Faith, the dog’s name. The dog had no other identification. Piper’s hopes were again spiked as she caressed the dog’s raggedy fur. A few fleas jumped out of its fur and into her hands, informing her that the dog was likely a stray that needed a good bath. She picked up the dog and carried it into the house and into a tub. Nick followed her, seemingly aware and accepting of her plan to become the dog’s owner.