cusation, "After hearin' yer report, El, I'd say Amanda 'as more ta confess than the deeds she told 'er mum just now."
          "You bet she does!" Elpis said emphatically.  "At this moment, I'd say her situation's very grim. . .very grim indeed."

AMANDA'S FACE SUDDENLY brightened.  "Mom. . .I remember when you made Lexie and me memorize Psalm 119:133.  By the way, I still remember it perfectly.  Let's see. . .I think it goes: 'Direct my footsteps according to your Word; let no sin rule over me...'
          "Is that right?  Is that how it goes?"
          While Mom answered, Amanda slid out of bed and went to the window. In the dimly lit courtyard below she could see that the old iron and wood bench she and Brett had frequented during the summer was covered with snow.  The memory of them together, happy, caused another flood of tears.  She wiped them away and said somberly, "Gosh, Mom, I guess I didn't realize how far I'd strayed from my roots. . .from you and Daddy --  and from Jesus!"
          Diane Berntson's words of wisdom finally broke through her defenses; soon Amanda was sobbing without restraint.  Before she hung up she said, "I know it's late, Mom, but thanks for listening to my. . .my blubbering!  Give Daddy a hug, okay?. . .Yes, Mom, I'll pray. . .Yes, I promise. . .I love you too.  G'nite."
          Amanda went into the bathroom and splashed cold water on her face. Only inches from the mirror she stared at her image, scrutinizing the tiny lines around her eyes and mouth.  To her horror she thought she looked five years older than her twenty-nine years.  After spreading moisturizing lotion on her face and dripping Murine into her eyes, she returned to the bedroom.
          "Repent!" she shouted as she collapsed into her chair.  "All you sinners, repent!" 
          Okay. . ." she thought to herself, but where do I begin?  If I repent for ALL of my sins, it will take days. . .weeks. . .decades!  Frustrated and on the verge of tears again, she decided to make herself a cup of chamomile tea.

THE OBSERVER HOVERING above the brownstone was furious.  He had tried to get close enough to hear the conversation, but a protective shield was around the woman.  "This is NOT happening!"  His eyes narrowed on his prey.  "Yesterday she was mine!  MINE!"  He  began formulating a plan.  The one he had used on a young woman living in New Jersey would work just fine.  Amanda's even weaker than Jersey, he thought.  He grinned wickedly, then went to find the Brett Cantrella.