The Cabin

           

THE CABIN

"Why?" whispered Daniel quietly shifting his weight. 
"Because we don't want the others to know we are coming," answered Dad, "and, if you continue to move, you'll give away our position."
"Jesus, please give me your peace." Daniel prayed quietly.  He knew that his mouth would get him in trouble. "Please help me to be quiet." 
His African-born dad was very strict sometimes but Daniel knew that his dad loved him a lot. 
Earlier, Daniel and Kenya had been playing in the woods when they found the cabin.  They knocked on the door, but it seemed no one was home.  Daniel talked the four year-old Kenya to enter the cabin.  She took the dare and let herself in.  Right after that, the owner returned and found Kenya.  Daniel ran as fast as he could and found his father.  And now here they were, watching and wondering what to do.
"Dad..."He turned to his father. 
Suddenly, he felt his father, quickly put a hand over his mouth and pulled Daniel to him.  Although he was in shock, he could see why his father had been cautioning him to keep quiet.  The door to the cabin had flown open and the light from a candle, spilled out of the cabin.  Some of the light highlighted the trees where Daniel and his dad were hiding.  Somebody's head looked out and then went back in, closing the door.
"That, Daniel is why we have to be very quiet.  I'm going to remove my hand," whispered Dad
Daniel slowly nodded his head.  Fear shot through his body and he was too scared to move, let alone say anything.  He felt safe in his father's arms, but he began to be afraid for his sister.
Dad whispered, "We'll get her back! Now Daniel, I've called the police and they should be here as soon as possible.  Right now, you and I have to pray because the only way we will get Kenya back is if we ask the Lord to guide our steps so that we both don't make some very bad mistakes.  I want you to pray and yes, you can pray out loud, as long as it's a quiet whisper."
Trembling, Daniel opened his mouth and stammered, "Lord...Lord... we need you.  Help us...Lord.  We can't do this without you.  Please... look after Kenya... and keep her safe.  Help me not to make another bad mistake.  In Jesus' name, amen."
"And Lord, thank you so much for my brave strong son," added Dad. "Help us both to see this through."
He reached out and held Daniel tightly.  "Remember son, you are my brave strong Daniel. Remember. God brought the biblical Daniel out of the lion's den.  He will bring us out of this too."
Suddenly they heard a loud irritated man's voice from the cabin.
"Stop that crying at once!  I hate children!"
Daniel gripped his father, tightly.
From the cabin came a little voice, singing bravely, "Yesu ni wangu, wawuzima wa milele.  Yesu ni wangu wawuzima wa milele....."
Kenya was singing a Swahili song meaning, "Jesus is mine, he's the Lord forever more."  Daniel felt strength pour into him. 
Suddenly Daniel heard a police car siren and it pulled up to the cabin.  They saw two police men walk up to the cabin.
The candle in the cabin was quickly put out.  The two police men drew their weapons and approached the door of the cabin.  One of them stood to the side and the other knocked.  The door slowly opened and the police men asked the man if he had seen a little girl anywhere near his cabin.  The man said no.  The police-men turned to go.
"He's lying! He's lying!" Daniel shouted as he ran to the police.
Surprised, the police men turned and questioned him and his Dad. 
His father sang, "Yesu ni wangu wawuzima wa milele."
A small girl's voice answered, "Jesus is mine, and he's the Lord forever more."
The police-men went inside and found Kenya, tied to a chair.  They brought her out and she leapt into her father's arms.  They took the man off to the police station.
Kenya gave her dad and her brother a very big hug.  They all went home singing their favorite song, "Yesu ni wangu wawuzima wa milele," as they thanked the Lord.  And of course they were in time for dinner.  Daniel and Kenya promised never to wander so far away from home, again.  And Mom served up a delicious dinner.  They all said a prayer of thanksgiving for Kenya's safe return.
Doris' Biography: Doris was born and raised in Uganda and has been performing since she was a child. She is a musician, singer, dancer (and chereographer), storyteller, playwright, and actress. Her professionalism in the artistic world has been recognized since the late 1980's when she wrote the "Obugaga Bwaffe?" for Nyonza Singers who are based in Uganda; the biblical play that she wrote for another Ugandan-based group, Dokamastos along with various dance projects for which she won an award in the 1987 Kenyan International Music Festival. She lives in Laurel MD.  She is also a performing arts teacher at the Tabernacle Learning Academy, Laurel MD.