Jason was nodding and grinning. “I picked all nine of them. And I’m gonna see how many I can eat this year.”
“Yay!” Everyone was clapping.
The girls jumped up and down.
The boys got up and gave each other high fives.
“Jason’s real cool,” Stacy said. But nobody heard her. There was so much noise.
“This is double dabble good!” Abby shouted.
Finally they sat down again.
All but Jason. He wasn’t finished talking. “I wanna thank somebody for all this fruity stuff,” he said. He was looking at Stacy.
She ducked her head.
“Stacy’s idea was never dumb. The fruity loop is a real cool idea,” Jason exclaimed.
“It was God’s idea first. Don’t forget that,” Stacy reminded him.
Carly raised her hand. “I prayed for you, Jason,” she said.
“Thanks,” he said.
“And you got a new puppy out of the deal,” Eric pointed out.
Jason scratched his head. “I can’t figure out why my parents let me keep Muffie.”
“Because they saw kindness in you,” Stacy said.
“And gentleness and joy,” added Abby.
“Self-control,” said little Jimmy.
“And faithfulness to feed and care for Muffie,” said Dunkum.
“Don’t forget patience!” Dee Dee and Carly said together.
“Peace, too,” said Eric.
“And last, but not least—love,” said Stacy.
Shawn was nodding his head. “Stacy’s right,” he said.
Stacy looked at her watch. “Guess what? It’s the New Year!”
“Happy New Year!” Jason was first to say.
Stacy was quite sure that it would be happy. Very happy.
With God’s help!
THE CUL-DE-SAC KIDS SERIES
Don’t Miss #22!
BIG BAD BEANS
Jason Birchall is having bad dreams. Last night three giant carrots chased him to school! His mother’s health-food kick is the reason. And he doesn’t need the pressure. Jason’s trying to earn enough money to buy Eric Hagel’s flashy mountain bike. But he’s running out of time, and Muffie, his new dog, is no help.
Couldn’t ten bucks just drop from heaven?
About the Author
When Beverly Lewis was a little girl, she and her family “adopted” an Eskimo spitz dog. Maxie was frisky and white. He pulled Beverly and her sister, Barbara, on a snow sled to the grocery store one winter. Maxie was also very big and as fluffy as a cloud. When he ran across the yard, his coat seemed to float in midair.
The Fruit of the Spirit part of this book came from Beverly’s memories of Vacation Bible School. She and her church friends often had contests to see who could memorize Bible verses first.
Collecting the Cul-de-sac Kids books is lots of fun. Why? Because you don’t want to miss a single book!
Also by Beverly Lewis
Amish Prayers
The Beverly Lewis Amish Heritage Cookbook
GIRLS ONLY (GO!)†
Youth Fiction
Girls Only! Volume One • Girls Only! Volume Two
SUMMERHILL SECRETS ‡
Youth Fiction
SummerHill Secrets: Volume One • SummerHill Secrets: Volume Two
HOLLY’S HEART
Youth Fiction
Holly’s Heart: Collection One ‡ • Holly’s Heart: Collection Two ‡
Holly’s Heart: Collection Three†
SEASONS OF GRACE
Adult Fiction
The Secret • The Missing • The Telling
ABRAM’S DAUGHTERS
Adult Fiction
The Covenant • The Betrayal • The Sacrifice
The Prodigal • The Revelation
ANNIE’S PEOPLE
Adult Fiction
The Preacher’s Daughter • The Englisher • The Brethren
THE ROSE TRILOGY
Adult Fiction
The Thorn • The Judgment
COURTSHIP OF NELLIE FISHER
Adult Fiction
The Parting • The Forbidden • The Longing
THE HERITAGE OF LANCASTER COUNTY
Adult Fiction
The Shunning • The Confession • The Reckoning
OTHER ADULT FICTION
The Postcard • The Crossroad • The Redemption of Sarah Cain
October Song • Sanctuary (with David Lewis) • The Sunroom
www.BeverlyLewis.com
†4 books in each volume ‡5 books in each volume
Beverly Lewis Books for Young Readers
PICTURE BOOKS
In Jesse’s Shoes • Just Like Mama
What Is God Like? • What Is Heaven Like?
THE CUL-DE-SAC KIDS
The Double Dabble Surprise
The Chicken Pox Panic
The Crazy Christmas Angel Mystery
No Grown-ups Allowed
Frog Power
The Mystery of Case D. Luc
The Stinky Sneakers Mystery
Pickle Pizza
Mailbox Mania
The Mudhole Mystery
Fiddlesticks
The Crabby Cat Caper
Tarantula Toes
Green Gravy
Backyard Bandit Mystery
Tree House Trouble
The Creepy Sleep-Over
The Great TV Turn-Off
Piggy Party
The Granny Game
Mystery Mutt
Big Bad Beans
The Upside-Down Day
The Midnight Mystery
Katie and Jake and the Haircut Mistake
www.BeverlyLewis.com
From Bethany House Publishers
Fiction for Young Readers
(ages 7-10)
ASTROKIDS™
by Robert Elmer
Space scooters? Floating robots? Jupiter ice cream? Blast into the future for out-of-this-world, zero-gravity fun with the AstroKids on space station CLEO-7.
THE CUL-DE-SAC KIDS
by Beverly Lewis
Each story in this lighthearted series features the hilarious antics and predicaments of nine endearing boys and girls who live on Blossom Hill Lane.
JANETTE OKE’S ANIMAL FRIENDS
by Janette Oke
Endearing creatures from the farm, forest, and zoo discover their place in God’s world through various struggles, mishaps, and adventures.
Mystery Mutt Page 3