Life lessons of being nice when others are not!

Alexis Trumble is getting ready to celebrate her eighth birthday. The only thing putting a damper on her celebration comes from Tyler, the new boy in her class. Tyler’s family moved into the area at the beginning of the school year and since arriving, has made it his mission to tease and pick on Alexis.

Join Alexis as she journeys on a path leading to freedom. Discovering first-hand the meaning of forgiveness that comes when you let go and are nice even when others are not.

The pounding outside her window penetrated her dreams. Alexis frowned and sat up in bed. Wait, she thought, rubbing her eyes, isn’t this Saturday, so what’s with the noise?

     Determined to uncover the cause of the racket, she kicked off the covers and made a mad dash to the window. Parting the curtains, she was blinded momentarily by the glare of the morning sun. 

     The sky was cloudless, a sharp contrast compared to that of yesterdays, when a storm containing ominous clouds and thunder loud enough to rattle windows rolled through the area. In its aftermath, there were limbs from the cherry tree, planted by her grandfather, scattered across the lawn. Clearly, from the debris and water pooled in the driveway, the winds and rain had been stronger than she’d imagined. 

     As she glanced down, she spotted her father Spencer, dressed in his work clothes. He was kneeling by the fence, repairing a section dislodged by the storm. Nearby sat Garrett, her blonde-haired eighteen-month-old brother. He was pounding away on his toy workbench, mimicking the actions of his father.  

     To capture their attention, she tapped on the window, causing it to rattle. Her father, hearing the noise, looked her way and waved. Garrett, following his father’s gaze, was overjoyed at seeing his big sister. A grin crossed his face as he raised his hammer and with all the power he could muster, brought it crashing against the top of his workstation.

    Alexis, now wide awake, returned to the bed and jerked the blanket she’d booted earlier back in place. She tossed the pillows, knocked to the floor in her haste to get to the window, onto the bed. Finished, she snatched her jeans and favorite shirt, the one with the princess design, from her closet and headed off to dress. With her teeth brushed and her face washed, she reached for her hairbrush, the one from her grandma Jenny, with purple butterflies. Four brush swipes later, her hair was in a ponytail, secured with a pink scrunchie. Eager to join her family, she slipped on her shoes and made a beeline for the stairs. 

     Out of habit, she gripped the handrail as she worked her way down the staircase. Half-way, she called out to her mom, who was in the kitchen fixing breakfast.

   “Mom,” she hollered, jumping the last two steps, making a loud ker-plop as her feet hit the floor. “I’m starving. What’s for breakfast?”