Because Of One: Trey Franks And The New Town 2a51f

BECAUSE OF ONE

Trey Franks and the New Town

Beverly Fludd Gaillard

Copyright © 2019 Beverly Fludd Gaillard.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

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Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973 1978 1984 2011 by Biblica, Inc. TM. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-9736-7780-2 (sc) ISBN: 978-1-9736-7781-9 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2019916562

WestBow Press rev. date: 10/28/2019

Contents

Chapter 1 Coming Home

Chapter 2 The Strongest

Chapter 3 The Beautiful

Chapter 4 The Smartest

What About You?

From The Author

Scriptures

About The Author

CHAPTER 1 Coming Home

Trey looked out the car window and smiled as they drove up to their new home. Trey knew this place quite well because it was his grandma’s house. Grandma Retta had gone to Heaven like his mom and now Trey and his Dad, Derek, were moving back to his hometown. Derek had lost his job and his mom left him the house so things should begin to be better soon. Trey was nervous and excited about the move because he always ed the good times, he had at Grandma Retta’s house. She played games with him, made him special meals and always prayed with him before he went to bed. Trey thought about how grandma Retta always said, “Prayer changes things”. He didn’t really know what that meant but he loved his grandma and believed what she said. Trey’s Dad, Derek, was not excited about moving back home. He was bitter and angry and sometimes he wasn’t very nice to Trey. Derek said, “Trey, come down here!” Trey ran down the stairs “What is it, Dad?” he shouted. “Trey, how many times have I told you to put your bike in the garage. People will take your things if you don’t put them away. I can’t afford to buy you another bike if it’s taken. You are getting to old for me to have to always remind you of the same thing.” I’m sorry Daddy; I’ll try to be better”. “You better if you want to last in this place”. Trey looked at his Dad for a moment then he asked “Daddy, what’s so wrong with this place. Derek stared out the window for a moment then he answered, “The whole place has changed so much since I grew up here. It was once a really nice place to live and play. Me and my friends would ride our bikes to the park and play on the playground or play baseball or football. We didn’t have to worry about anyone hurting us, or riding trash in the streets. We could trust our neighbors and never had to worry about someone breaking into our home and taking the things our parents worked hard for. It’s just changed a whole lot.” Derek paused for a moment and looked at Trey. “I know I’ve been hard on you, but I wanted better for you and now I can’t even give you that”. “It’s ok Daddy, like grandma Retta said, “Prayer changes things”. “Look, I don’t want to hear that anymore!” Your grandma and mom believed in that stuff and

now they are both gone. We are still here, and we have to make it on our own.” “I don’t believe in any of that fairy tale stuff”. “But daddy grandma said God will make a way. “I said I don’t want to hear that anymore, Derek yelled. Now go to bed!! Trey turned and walked upstairs with his head hung down. He brushed his teeth, put on his pajamas and prayed that his daddy would have a better day tomorrow.

Now the mayor of the town was a very bad and selfish man who didn’t care about the people. He stole their money so he could have a big house and a fancy car. His children attended private schools, wore the most expensive clothes, and ate in the finest restaurants, while many other children went hungry. One night as Mayor Tyler slept, he was visited by three angels. “Whose there?” he yelled with a scared voice. “You need to leave right now or I’m calling the police. I have a baseball bat and I am not afraid to use it, he shouted as his hands shook with fear. “We are Angels from Heaven and we’ve come to deliver a message to you”. “Angels? A message to me? About what? I haven’t done anything! This must be a dream.” The angels said, “The people of this town have done so many bad things before God. In 30 days, God will send a Tornado that will destroy this town, unless you can find one that is good in the sight of God.” “Thirty days to find one person. Oh, that should be easy,” the mayor said. The angels replied, we will return in 10 days to check your progress in finding the right person, then they disappeared as quickly as they came. The mayor looked around for a moment, then he pinched himself to make sure he was awake. Mayor Tyler was so sure that it would be easy to find the one person, so he turned over and went back to sleep. The next morning Mayor Tyler called a special town’s meeting. The people, filled with curiosity, began to fill the town center. “So, what do you think this is all about, someone asked.” “I don’t know but it must be something very important that he called a special meeting, they replied.” Trey and his dad came too. The room was packed with all the people of the town. Mayor Tyler got up and told the people about the three Angels that visited him last night. The people began to laugh as they thought he must have been dreaming. Mayor Tyler said to the people, “this was not a dream. We have 30 days to find one good person to save the city.” The people became very upset. Some started crying while others looked surprised at what they just heard. The mayor quickly added, “I’m not afraid and I don’t want you to be afraid, because I know we can find at least one good person in 30 days”. “We have some of the best folks in the world living right here!!! This will be easy.” The people starting cheering and clapping their hands. Someone from the audience asked, “So how do we find this good person?”

Trey yelled out, “We can pray” because my Grandma always said, “Prayer changes things”. Everyone started laughing so loud that Trey’s dad grabbed his arm and made him sit down. “I told you no one wants to hear that, his Dad said in anger. Trey and his dad left the meeting and went home. Trey went upstairs and he prayed. Mayor Tyler told the people, “I have a plan to find the right person.” “A good person is a strong person, so we will have a contest to see who the strongest person in town is.” The people were happy and excited about the idea and many signed up to take part in the competition.

CHAPTER 2 The Strongest

The day of the competition came, and hundreds of people filled the ballfield. There was so much excitement in the air as the people prepared themselves for the contest. Some came to take part in the competition while others came to cheer them on. Others were selling popcorn, candy, cotton candy, hotdogs and sodas. It was like a big festival. There were all kinds of athletes there, football players, weightlifters, boxers, runners and even a couple of cowboys. There were firemen, policemen, soldiers and sailors. Everyone turned out to help save the Town. Mayor Tyler walked to the center of the field and with a loud voice and a bullhorn, he shouted, “Let the games begin!” The people cheered with excitement. The mayor and the other judges watched as everyone showed off their talent. The competition lasted for two days, but at the end of that time they had found the “strongest person” in the town. His name was Joshua Logan. Joshua had been a football star turned soldier. He was strong and fast. The people rejoiced because they had found the “one good person” and now the town would be saved. That night the mayor was so happy, that he put on his favorite pajamas with the feet in them, laid down with his thumb in his mouth and slept like a baby. He had saved the town! On the tenth day the angels returned just as they promised. Mayor Tyler was so pleased with what he had done that he called the local TV station to come out and witness the event. He had saved the town and had 20 days to spare. He was dressed in his finest suit, shoes shined, hair neatly combed, nails perfectly manicured and smiling from ear to ear. Joshua Logan was dressed in his military uniform all neatly pressed. With camera crews looking on, Mayor Tyler cleared his throat and began talking. “Angels of Heaven, I have found the “One Good Person” who will save the town from the tornado, Joshua Logan. He is our strongest person!” Joshua saluted the angels and held out his hand to shake theirs.

The angels looked at the mayor and said, “This is not the right person.” “We will return in 10 more days to check your progress in finding the “one good person in the sight of God.” Then as quickly as they appeared, they disappeared out of sight. “Turn the cameras off!” yelled the Mayor. The people began to cry and shout, everyone thought this was the right person who would save the town. The next day Mayor Tyler called another special meeting. There was not an empty seat in the place. Once again Trey and his dad came to the special meeting. The people were yelling at the mayor. “I thought you said the strongest person was the right person!” someone yelled. “Yes, what do we do now?” another person asked. “We don’t have much time left!” The mayor tried his best to calm the crowd. Trey’s dad looked at him and without saying a word Trey knew to sit down and not say anything. He watched as the people and the mayor argued back and forth. It didn’t seem like anything good was happening. Then finally someone asked again, “so how do we find this one good person?” Trey looked at his Dad who was talking with some of the other people and before he could stop himself the words blurted out of his mouth. “We could pray because my grandma said prayer changes things.” For one split second everyone was quiet, then the mayor burst out laughing and immediately everyone in the room began to laugh. Some people almost fell of their seat with laughter.

Derek grabbed Trey by the hand, and they left the meeting. “Trey, I told you not to say anything and what did you do? You did just what I told you not to do. No one wants to hear anything about what grandma told you. I don’t know why you can’t understand that.” Trey started crying and then he said to his dad. “I tried to obey you but something inside of me made me jump up.” Derek looked at his son and said, “Let’s just go home.” When they got home, Trey went upstairs to get ready for bed. He brushed his teeth, put on his pajamas and then he prayed for the town. Meanwhile, back at the meeting, the mayor said, “I have another plan to find the one good person. A good person is beautiful, so we will have another contest to find the most beautiful person in town.” The people were pleased with this idea because surely the most beautiful had to be a good person. Many signed up to take part in the beauty contest.

CHAPTER 3 The Beautiful

When the day of the contest came, hundreds of people turned out to see who would be named as the most beautiful in the town. The one who would save the town. They were short and tall, big and small, light and dark, red heads, blondes, afros, ponytails, and even some with hair the color of the rainbow. All different kinds of people took part in the contest. They walked the runway to model their fashions, showed off their talents in the talent show and even gave speeches. It was quite the event! The mayor was surprised at all the different talents the people had. The contest lasted well into the night and at the end of the night they had their winner. Her name was Madison Jordan and she was young, tall, with olive colored skin and long dark hair. Her smile lit up the room. She was BEAUTIFUL! Madison had to be the “one” because she was the most beautiful. The town was sure to be saved. Everybody was happy including Mayor Tyler who was very proud of himself. He said, “I’ve done it for sure this time!” He went home and slept like a baby, as if he didn’t have a care in the world. Like clockwork the day came that the angels would arrive. This time only two came. The third Angel was given a new assignment; he was to watch over Trey. Just like the last time the mayor wore his best suit, shoes shined, hair neatly combed and nails perfectly manicured. This time no TV reporters or cameras were allowed in the meeting. Mayor Tyler walked up to the angels with confidence while Madison Jordan following quickly behind. The people were excited and nervous, yet everyone remained quiet as the mayor began his speech. Trey and his dad sat quietly. “Angels of Heaven, the mayor said, I give to you the “one good person” who will save our town, Madison Jordan.” “She is the most beautiful!” Madison smiled and the whole room lit up with her beauty. The people shouted in excitement. “Woo Hoo, Madison will save us!” shouted the crowd. “Yeah the town is saved!”

The angels looked at the mayor and said, “She is not the one.” “We will return in ten days to check your progress with finding the “one good in the sight of God.” As quickly as they appeared, they disappeared out of sight. The people began to cry and scream because they were afraid.

Mayor Tyler quickly got in his car and drove away. Trey and his dad left also. Neither one said a word on the drive home. When they got home Trey slowly walked upstairs to get ready for bed. He brushed his teeth, put on his pajamas and prayed. Trey’s dad came to the door and saw his son praying. Derek walked in, got on his knees beside his son, and that night they prayed together that the town would be saved. Meanwhile at the home of the mayor there was no sleeping that night. Mayor Tyler walked back and forth trying to figure out what went wrong. “What else can I do, he said?” “I’ve given them the strongest and the most beautiful.” “What do you want from me?” the mayor yelled with his fist raised to Heaven. Mayor Tyler was angry and afraid. Suddenly he had another idea. “If it’s not the strongest and if it’s not the most beautiful, it has to be the SMARTEST!” “Of course, it must be that! What else could it be?” Mayor Tyler knew he had figured it out. Once again, he was so proud of himself. “I will go before the people in the morning and let them know.” “They will be so happy with me.”

CHAPTER 4 The Smartest

The next morning Mayor Tyler brought the town’s people together again to tell them what he had decided. Trey and his dad sat in the audience. “I know you must be afraid now because the strongest and the most beautiful person were not the right one, but after I thought about it, the one good person has to be the smartest, said the mayor!” “Who else could it be? So, we will have one final contest to find the smartest person in town. Some of the people agreed and begin to sign up for the contest, others were not so sure. At the end of the night only seven people had signed up for the contest. Mayor Tyler was upset but he tried not to let the town’s people know. After the meeting many people went home and started packing up to leave town. They wanted to get far away. They were afraid that they would not be able to find the one good person in the sight of God and the town would be destroyed. Off in the distance they saw hundreds of angels surrounding the town. They could not leave. That night as Mayor Tyler lay in bed he began thinking about the final contest. Suddenly, he realized something the he should have figured out from the very beginning. It was as if someone turned on a light bulb in his head because he finally realized he was the “SMARTEST” person in town! He was the ONE! “Why didn’t I think of this before, he said? It must be ME! Who else is as smart as I am? Who else can lead the people like I can? It couldn’t possibly be anyone else? Mayor Tyler was filled with pride. I can’t wait to let everyone know that I have saved them!” The next morning the town’s people gathered in the town center to hear another important message from the mayor. Trey and his dad were there too. “Friends and Neighbors, the mayor said, the 29 days have been very hard for our town. We have worked together to give the angels what they asked for, but we have not been successful yet. Today I stand before you with the right answer! I present to you, The ONE! The mayor raised both his arms straight up and stood still like a statue. “So where is the ONE?” shouted a man in the front row. Everyone began looking around and waiting to see who would walk on the stage.

The people began to shout, “Yeah, where is the ONE?” “Right here, Mayor Tyler replied, it’s ME!” YOU!!! The crowd shouted. “Yes ME!” “It was me all along, that’s why the angels never accepted the others, because it was always supposed to be me!” The people starting yelling, screaming and some began crying. “We are DOOMED they shouted!” Then someone blurted out “we can pray, because prayer changes things.” The people looked around and everyone stared at Trey but this time it was Derek, Trey’s Dad. No one laughed this time. Trey grabbed his dad’s hand and they walked to the front of the room. Derek said “we’ve been searching for the one good person among us when we had him right here all along, my son Trey. He was the only one who understood that it wasn’t the strongest person or the most beautiful person or the smartest person who would save the town, it was the one with a good heart. I never understood what my mom meant when she would say prayer changes things, and sometimes it made me a little angry with her when she said it, but, I think she meant that prayer is the only thing that can make things right when everything goes wrong. Prayer can change things around when you don’t know what to do. Trey is the person the angels have been looking for.” One by one the town’s people got down on their knees and they began to pray, even Mayor Tyler. The next day like clockwork the last angel returned. Mayor Tyler didn’t make his usual fancy speech and he wasn’t dressed in his finest suit. He walked up to the angel and said, “We’ve finally found the one good person in the sight of God and here he is.” Trey walked up and got on his knees and prayed. The angel said you have found the right one. Because of this one the town will be saved. Then as quickly as he appeared, he disappeared out of sight. The Town was saved!

What about you?

Trey was kind and had a good heart.

1. What special quality do you have?

Doing the right thing takes courage. Trey was willing to speak up even though it was not popular.

2. What would you say to a friend if you saw them doing something that was not right like stealing something that did not belong to them?

We are special because we are all different.

3. Name some things that makes you different from others.

From the Author

I hope you enjoyed the story of Trey and his new town. He was willing to stand out and speak up which took a lot of courage. Trey understood that the thing that makes us special is not being the strongest or the most beautiful or even the smartest. It is having a good heart! Being strong, or beautiful, or even smart is important to many people, but the thing that is even more important is who you are on the inside. You are special in God’s eyes and in the eyes of those who love you. Our differences are what makes us special! We are like the stars in the sky, each different but each as important as the next one. We need each star to light up the sky. Don’t be afraid to be who you were created to be. Never be afraid to shine! Beverly Fludd Gaillard

Scriptures

BEAUTY

1 Samuel 16:7 NIV – The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance (how we look on the outside), but Jesus looks at the heart.

I Peter 3:3-4 NLT – Don’t be concerned about outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry or beautiful clothes, instead put on the beauty that comes from within, the lasting beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious (great worth) to God.

STRENGTH

Ephesians 6:10 NIV – Finally be Strong in the Lord and in His Mighty Power.

Psalm 18:32 NKJV – It is God who arms (gives) me with strength and makes my way perfect (going in the right direction and keeps me safe).

SMART

James 3:13 NLT - If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living

a life of honor, doing good works and being humble.

Colossians 3:2 NLT - Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.

About the Author

Beverly Fludd Gaillard is an author, speaker and former public school teacher. Her time spent in the public school system along with her role as mother and grandmother has given her first hand knowledge of the need to encourage, develop and guide young people to become their best selves. Beverly Fludd Gaillard believes the positive voices in the ears of our young people has to speak louder than the negative voices of society that they hear daily. Her books are positive tools on the path toward accomplishing this goal.