Rachel, twelve years old, was coming home from school, and as she entered her house she heard her parents quarreling in the living room. They stopped as soon as they saw her enter the room. She stopped to see what they were arguing over, then continued upstairs to her room. A little later, Bianca,her younger three year old sister came walking through her door. Bianca was feeling down that their parents were angry at each other, which also made Rachel feel down. Both Rachel and Bianca then went over to their older teenage brother Jared's room, and Rachel told Jared that they should do something about their parents' quarreling downstairs. Jared came up with an idea.

When John and Martha were arguing, their three children slipped into the room while they weren't paying attention. The instant they were spotted the parents stopped fighting. Then Bianca, in a sad voice, asked them if they were mad at each other. All three kids looked real innocent and sad. The two denied that they were angry with each other, and Martha gathered all the children on the couch and put on a movie.

Meanwhile John went out on the town to do some drinking and try to cool down. But late that night he came home drunk and picked another quarrel with Martha. But Rachel was still up and overheard them from where she lay on her bed quietly crying.

More and more often Rachel's parents would be arguing when she got home from school. It became a regular thing in their house. Only when one of her parents went on a business trip would it be peaceful in the house. These were the quiet times cherished by both parent and

children. But as soon as one of the parents came back the peace and quiet would be ruined and John and Martha would end up in an other argument.

Often all three children would gather in one room to comfort each other when their parents were arguing. They just wished they could have a normal life like their friends' families--happy and not fighting. Rachel and Jared were especially worried about their parents splitting up. They would beg both of their parents not too leave each other, but both would say that it could no longer work between them.

Martha finally brought up the idea of divorce to the family. The kids immediately rejected the idea. But Martha was really stressed out at work and it got worse when she came home from work. So she decided that it would be best that they get divorced because John was irresponsible when it came to minding their children. She not only had to clean up after them but also to deal with John's impatientness for dinner.

Martha and John talked, and they agreed on a separation that would give each other time to cool off and a chance to think about the situation. But when John told the kids he was moving out to an apartment they thought their parents were getting a divorce and they all got depressed. Martha and John both tried to explain to them that they weren't getting divorced and that they just needed time-out from all the stress and a chance to cool down. Then Martha drove John to his apartment with their children. But when Martha and the kids pulled away the children's faces were covered with sadness.

After a couple of weeks passed, Rachel, Bianca, and Jared became very miserable. They didn't listen, eat or sleep right. When both John and Martha noticed the way they had become, they decided it would be better to get back together and agreed to get family counseling. After that, John and Martha started communicating and cooperating with each other again and their marriage was saved. The kids slowly returned to normal, and now their family is one of the happiest there is. The children's wish had come true!

Matthew Shorty