Chapter 9: The Wait Summary

Despite the pain that his leaving would cause his parents and his best friend, Pete was certain that he would be doing the right thing by leaving with the Preacher than night. Guilty about his plans, Pete did all the chores around the house that he had been putting off. Later, his mother came home with a car full of groceries. Helping her put them away, he felt an ache seeing the things that he knew she had bought just for him. He felt pain that evening at dinner—watching his father and wishing that he'd had more chances in life.

After dinner, Pete told his parents that he was heading for church to help with the clean-up and that he'd be late in getting home. He was relieved that his parents hadn't noticed the missing ceramic cross...