"Gram,” said Nick. “I wonder about school this year. Fourth grade’s tough.  I wonder about my reading level. I wonder if I’ll make the basketball team.”

 "I wonder about third grade,” said Bela. “I wonder if I can find a new best friend since Emily moved away.”  Bela carried a big stick as they crossed the bridge in the park behind Gram’s house.

             "Wonder is the beginning of wonderful,” said Gram.  She looked down at the water. “Maybe a stepping stone can help.”

 Nick and Bela asked, “What’s that, Gram?”

             “Clue number one: it gets you where you want to go.”

“Let’s look for it!” Bela slid down the grassy bank and plunged her stick into the stream.

“I’m clueless,” said Nick. “How about another clue?”

 “Clue number two: a stepping stone is rock solid.”

 Nick jumped to a big rock in the middle of the creek.  "We can use this to get to the other side, Bela.”

“It’s too far for me to jump.” 

 “I’ll make you a bridge.” Nick began laying a trail of stones.

  Gram found a grassy place to sit and took out her pocket Bible. “Here’s clue number three: a stepping stone is your helper.”

 “The hunt for the stepping stone is on!” said Bela.

 Nick crossed to the other bank. Sitting on a log, he tossed stones in the stream. “I’m still worried about school. I’m like these minnows swimming in circles . . .”

“Let’s help each other,” said Bela. “If we can solve the ‘stepping stone problem’ maybe we can solve our school problems.”

“Okay. We have three clues: a stepping stone gets-you-where-you-want-to-go, it’s rock-solid, and it’s a helper.”

 “I still don’t get it.” Bela picked a bouquet of daisies. “I’ll give these to Gram for another clue.”

Nick stood up on the big rock. “Wait, Bela! We stepped on stones to get where we wanted to go—”      

“Yes . . . !” Bela laughed. “And that big rock is rock-solid and helped us get to the other side.”

“Gram!” called Nick. “We solved the stepping stone mystery. It’s this rock.” The cousins climbed up the bank to Gram.

  “You’re right, but there’s more. Let’s sit a minute.” Gram opened her Bible to

 “Our stepping-stone rock,” said Bela. “I’ll ask God, our Rock, to help me step over to third grade and make new friends.”  

 “I’ll ask God to help me step up in my reading and step high in basketball.” Nick handed a small stone to Bela. “Here’s a third-grade stepping stone for you.”

Bela put it in her pocket.  “And here’s a fourth-grade rock for you.  God is our Rock . . . now can help other kids’ get-where-they-want-to-go.”

 “Yeah. We’ll be so busy we won’t have time to worry about ourselves!”

     ©2011 Patricia Karwatowicz