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"When I called you the first time, you said you were looking at the Liberty Bell. Is that right?" she asked.

"Oh, yeah," said Adam.

"Tell me about the bell, then," suggested Charlie.

"It was big, and had a crack running down one side of it," said Adam, trying not to close his eyes.

"I could have told you that," smiled Charlie. "How's the weather there?"

"I don't know, the window's closed," he yawned.

"Right now it's really pleasant outside," related Charlie. "That means tomorrow is going to be another scorcher. My window is open," she continued, "and from here, I can see a full moon. The stars are out in force, tonight. There's a slight breeze, just enough to gently rustle the bushes outside my window. Everything is so peaceful."

Charlie continued to talk, while Adam listened. When she at last heard his regulated breathing, and soft snore, she knew he had fallen asleep. Charlie put down the satellite phone and snuggled down into her bed.

Just as she was falling asleep, she heard the familiar sounds of Chuck wandering the house. With a patient sigh, she got up to lead her father back to his bed.

"Please, Daddy," she said, tucking him in, "please, try to go to sleep."

Chuck rolled over and closed his eyes. Thinking he was asleep, Charlie returned to bed. A few minutes later, however, she heard Chuck bumping around in the hallway. Charlie looked at the clock. It was three in the morning. She got up, and led Chuck to the television set in the living room. Clicking on the set, she found a documentary and sat Chuck down on the couch.

"Here's the remote," she said, placing it into his hand.

She waited for a few moments to see if he was content to stay put. Seeing he was, the weary girl returned to her bed. She tried to fall asleep, but the TV was turned up so loud she could hear it all the way from her room.

"Honestly," she exclaimed to herself, getting back up. She went to the living room, and turned down the volume. "Daddy, you and Adam should get together and form a club for insomniacs!" she joked, more to herself than to her father. "If you two keep it up, you're going to have another member!"


Adam's first concert in Philadelphia was an instant success. The next morning, Charlie watched the news, and was thrilled to see a few clips from the concert. There was Adam, sitting in front of his piano, the spotlight fully on him. He was the picture of confidence. Who could have guessed, that just the night before, he felt helpless and frightened? Charlie thanked God for giving Adam help, at a time when it was so desperately needed.

A few hours after the concert, Charlie received a call on the satellite phone from Adam.

"You should have heard the applause," he told her. "I've never heard anything like it in all my life! Everyone said how much they enjoyed the music, but I couldn't stop thinking that you were the one responsible for it," said Adam.

"Me?" asked Charlie, puzzled.

"God really used you, last night," confided Adam. "I'm truly grateful. Sometimes, just getting into bed is an incredible struggle. I keep thinking, 'I should be asleep by now!' I just have to remind myself that God doesn't give us a temptation without a way to bear it. I apologize again, for waking you up."

The sincerity in his voice deeply touched Charlie. Here was a man who had all the acclaim the world had to offer, and yet, he struggled with the same temptations and weaknesses that everyone must face.

"I'm so glad I could help," replied Charlie. "Whenever you need to talk to me, I'll be here."

The freedom that the satellite phones gave, suddenly transformed Charlie's life. She never talked to Adam as much as she did now. At any time, she could reach for the phone and chat with her friend anywhere in the world. While this was not exactly the original intent of the phones, Adam had to admit that it was comforting to hear her voice, and to listen to the news back home. Yes, the two friends were becoming closer and dearer to each other than ever before.

If Constance only knew.

"He [God] giveth His beloved [Adam] sleep."
~ Psalms 127:2 ~

"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, Who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."
~ 1 Corinthians 10:13 ~

"Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken."
~ Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 ~

end of chapter

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