The Wages of Sin

 by Sarah and Alex G. 

Nine year old Andi Carter sighed. It was a dark, rainy day. There was nothing fun to do in the house. She would much rather be out riding her horse, Taffy, than sewing and reading books (unless they were dime novels.) Andi got out of her chair where she finished some book Mother had her read. She was bored.

Andi decided to ask Mother what she could do. She knew Mother might assign her some chores, but it was worth a try.

Andi skipped out of her room and stopped at the stairs. She eyed the polished banister. It was too tempting. She couldn’t resist sliding down. Andi hopped up and settled herself on the railing. Then, she slowly loosened her grip, and flew down.

 “Whee!” Andi cried, bracing herself for the hard landing on the hardwood floor. Thud! She fell flat on her backside. Andi looked around for their housekeeper, Luisa. If Luisa caught Andi sliding down the railing, she would scold Andi in Spanish. Andi hated being scolded.

Andi quickly sprang to her feet. She slowed her pace and walked into the kitchen where Mother was canning peaches and pickles, tomatoes and preserves. All this food would be stored for the wintertime. Andi had always thought canning season was very busy. Andi came up behind Mother and tapped her on the shoulder.

“Mother!” Andi said impatiently. Mother turned around and smiled. 

“Hello, dear. What were you doing out there? I heard a thud.” Mother gave Andi a knowing smile. “Sliding down the banister?” Mother asked. Andi nodded slowly.

“Mother, I’m bored, do you know anything fun I can do?” Andi asked, fidgeting with her braid. Mother dried her hands on a towel.

“Well, I was thinking there are some old toys in the attic that you might like to play with since it’s rainy outside. Would you like to go and get them?” Mother asked. Andi didn’t really like to play with toys and dolls, but she thought it was better than being bored.

“Okay, Mother. I will.” Andi said, then walked out of the kitchen and up the stairs.

Creak! The door to the attic opened slowly.

Andi gulped. It was scarier than the last time she was up here with Justin last year. Light came through the window and shone on old, dusty boxes, a table, three chairs, and… a huge chest.

Andi gasped. “I wonder what’s in it!” She exclaimed.

It looked just like the treasure chest in her teacher’s history book! Miss Hall loved reading about it out loud to the class. Andi shuttered with excitement and ran her hand along the lid. Was it locked? Andi looked around the chest for a lock. Nope, no lock. She did see hinges, though. Andi opened the chest and slowly peered inside.

“Ugh, just silly old pictures!” Andi said disappointedly.

She was just about to close it up again when something caught her eye. An old, crumpled page with the words WANTED printed in bold letters at the top.

Andi gasped, hesitating before picking the paper up. She smoothed it out and read. No, it couldn’t be. Andi took a step backwards. She felt like she was about to keel over. Andi kept gasping over and over again, dumbstruck at what she saw on the paper.

A picture of Mother took up most of the paper. But… the name under the picture wasn’t Mother’s. Carrie Johnson One thousand dollars Wanted for murder and thievery.

Johnson was Mother’s maiden name too! Did Mother have a twin? The question swirled in Andi’s head. She had no desire to find the old toys anymore.

“Andi!” Mother’s voice came from around the door. Andi jumped.

“Yes, Mother?” She asked. Andi slipped the wanted poster in her dress pocket and slammed the trunk shut. Andi rushed out of the room. Mother stood there with her hands on her hips.

“Have you found those toys yet?” she asked.

Andi who was standing in the doorway, was trying to shake off what she saw.

“Andi! I asked you a question.” Mother clapped her hands together. Andi jumped.

“Uh, no, I uh, I didn’t.” Andi stuttered. Mother frowned.

“You should have found them minutes ago. I told you where they were.” Mother said. “Did you change your mind about playing with them?” She asked.

Andi pasted on a fake smile, then said sweetly, “Yes, Mother, I did. I changed my mind. I would rather practice my stitching.” Andi said untruthfully. Andi would rather do anything else than sew, but she wanted to please Mother. Mother smiled.

“Yes, that would be a good idea. You could use the practice.” Mother said. Andi knew Mother was pleased that she wanted to practice embroidering. Most of the time, it was a struggle to get Andi to sew.  

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Andi sat in a chair, sewing stitch by boring stitch. Andi was shocked at what she had seen in the attic, and she was afraid of confronting to Mother about it.

Ugh. My mind just can’t stay on stitching. I’ve made up my mind. I’m going to ask Mother about Carrie. Andi thought as she put down her needle and fabric. She got up from her seat and walked into the parlor where Mother was reading a book.

“Mother?” Andi asked. She peered around the large double doors. Mother put her book down and patted the seat beside her.

“Come over here, Andi.” Mother said. Andi ran in and plopped herself down beside Mother. Andi took a deep breath.

“Mother,” Andi began. “I found something, in the attic.” She said. Andi slowly pulled the poster out of her pocket and unfolded it. She dropped it in Mother’s hands and looked down. After a few seconds, Andi looked up at Mother. At first, her face was sad, then broke into a little smile.

“This,” Mother pointed at the face on the page, then sighed. “This is my little sister.” Andi gasped. Andi didn’t know Mother had a little sister! Andi listened closer. “She married a stagecoach robber and lived in town for a while. Then, one morning I went to visit her, and she was long gone.” Mother’s face turned grim. “Soon, wanted posters with her face on them started popping up around town.” Mother continued.

Andi was so shocked.

“She was guilty for murder, robbery, any crime you could think of. One year later, she was killed trying to run from the law. A sheriff fired a shot, and it hit her. I cried for seven days straight. I never would have imagined her life would end that way.”

Her eyes got teary, then she handed the poster back.

Andi lay in bed that night, shocked at Mother’s story. It scared Andi to think that her aunt got killed from running away. How did Carrie even think of being a robber? And not loving Jesus?

Andi didn’t know how life would be not to know or love Jesus, and she never wanted to know. This had changed her life forever. She now knew the importance of not being sucked into evil. That night, Andi promised God she would follow his ways only.

Dear God, please help me stand strong against evil. Thank you. Amen.