Honestly, Olivia!
By Jean Boonstra
Mrs. Lee’s getting ready to leave her classroom at Discovery Mountain Academy for the day. There’s just one problem—she can’t find her red sweater.
“Hello, may I ask you a question?” the young woman asked.
“Oh, hello, are you a parent?” Mrs. Lee asked, not really paying much attention. She was still looking for her sweater.
“A parent?” the voice answered. “No, I’m here looking for my brother.”
“Oh come in,” Mrs. Lee answered, and then she looked up and gasped in surprise!
“Oh, I’m sorry did I startle you?” The young woman replied with concern.
Mrs. Lee laughed nervously. “Oh no, I just noticed the lovely red sweater you’re wearing. You said you’re looking for your brother. Are you Olivia?”
“Yes, Jake’s sister,” Olivia said with a smile. “Have you seen him?”
Mrs. Lee scratched her head. “He should be in the Bible classroom. Did you look for him there?”
“I did,” Olivia answered. “I didn’t see him.”
“Did you try the cafeteria?” Mrs. Lee asked.
“I looked there and in the science classroom,” Olivia explained. “I’ll text him again. Hopefully this time he answers me.”
Mrs. Lee couldn’t help staring at Olivia’s sweater. “I like your sweater,” she commented. “I have one just like it.”
“I’ve had this for a long time,” Olivia said, reaching for her phone to text her brother.
Mrs. Lee looked at the details in Olivia’s sweater. It looked just like hers. Suspiciously, she started to wonder. Could this be her sweater?
“Olivia,” Mrs. Lee stammered nervously. “I don’t like to accuse people without proof, but…”
“Oh, excuse me,” Olivia interrupted. “That’s Jake he finally texted me back! He’s in the Bible classroom now.”
“Oh, I’ll walk there with you,” Mrs. Lee answered, leading Olivia down the hallway.
“Olivia, you found me,” Jake said with a big grin as he greeted his sister.
“Yes, finally Jake,” Olivia said smiling.
Mrs. Lee watched them talk. She couldn’t take her eyes off of the red sweater! Thinking quickly, she asked Jake if she could talk to him out in the hallway for a moment.
“Is this official school business, Mrs. Lee?” Jake asked.
“Jake,” Mrs. Lee asked, ignoring his question. “Something weird happened. I couldn’t find my red sweater and then out of nowhere your sister showed up in the school. She’s wearing the identical sweater!”
Jake crinkled his forehead as he thought about Mrs. Lee’s comment. He hesitated and then gasped! “Hey, you aren’t accusing Olivia of….”
Mrs. Lee interrupted. “I am accusing her of something.” Mrs. Lee put her hands on her hips and whispered loudly. “Jake! I think your sister stole my sweater!”
Did Olivia really steal Mrs. Lee’s sweater? Or could they both have identical red sweaters? Listen to this Discovery Mountain mini adventure, and exercise your faith along with Mrs. Lee!
