Chapter 14

CHAPTER 14 "What did Ms. McKay say?" Sadie asked as the kids walked home from school. "She told me I can take the test again," Michael answered. "She's giving me a second chance." "That's great!" Merle said, his mouth full of chicken nugget. Merle was beginning to like going to school. Even if it meant spending most of the day crammed into a

backpack, he could reward himself with chicken nuggets on the way home. "Remember, Michael, if you work hard, you will prosper!" Pearl reminded him. "I will, Pearl. Ms. McKay said the highest grade I can get on a retake is a B, but that's still a good grade," Michael said. "I'm ready to study hard!" Just as Justin and Sadie were ready to break off to head to their own houses, a man in a suit and sunglasses, walking a dog, approached the friends on the sidewalk. Something about him seemed odd to Michael. It was a cloudy fall day, the type of day when most people wouldn't be wearing sunglasses. Plus, who wears a suit when they walk their dog? Merle and Pearl ducked back into Michael's backpack as the two passed, the man's dog sniffing at the air. The dog began to bark, but the man said nothing and kept on his way.

"I think I've seen that guy somewhere before," Michael said quietly to his friends once the man and his dog were out of earshot, "but I can't remember where..." "So, I did some research, Merle and Pearl," Sadie said, changing the subject. "You said you saw Jesus giving the Sermon on the Mount, which was around AD 27. And that you were around when Paul wrote his letter to the Thessalonians, which was sometime around AD 53. So, I'm guessing you must have gotten lost in that cave somewhere around AD 70." "What year is it now?" Pearl asked. "2020," Justin said. "That's..." Pearl paused, then got an idea. "Michael, how many years since we got lost in the cave? Math question." Michael thought a moment before responding, "It was 1,950 years ago. 2020 – 70 = 1,950. That's easy. Just subtraction." "We're off to a good start!" Pearl said.