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tonight, she would respect his wishes.
    “Umm?”
    He didn’t care. Rose exhaled and went to the garage with her newest addition to the candle collection. She paused on the bottom step, trying to shake the niggling thought that with all she did, she was as ineffective as a screen door on a submarine.
    She sank to the step, letting the darkness swallow her. Scents of motor oil and dried grass mingled with the fresh holly. She could hear the ten o’clock news and the kids upstairs banging around when they should be getting ready for bed. The Bergmen household was a far cry from the Cleaver household. How did Ward and June do it? Keep a sane, orderly life, yet be strong, productive-minded community leaders? For a second, Rose thought about joining Joey. She’d remove his paper and glasses, sit on his lap, and just talk. They hadn’t done that in a long time —just talk.
    Dear God, why do I feel so worn, so empty, so tired? I spend every waking moment doing what I can, but my efforts amount to sifted chaff, they’re meaningless. I try to keep people well fed, but it’s their soul that’s hungry. How do I nourish a soul with casseroles and cookies?
    Wearily she got up and turned on the garage overhead light. She still had to take a casserole to Lois Monday night. Dragging a ladder to the candle shelf, she made the newest deposit. The white dove looked content perched with its peers.
    On her way back into the house, she balanced the box of holly on her knee and tried to turn out the light. A sudden crash shattered the stillness.
    Wincing, she called out, “Honey? The candle shelf just collapsed.”

The first lighted Advent candle is traditionally the candle of Expectation or Hope (or in some traditions, Prophecy). Th is draws attention to the anticipation of the coming of a Messiah that weaves its way like a golden thread through Old Testament history. As God’s people were abused by power-hungry kings, led astray by self-centered prophets, and lulled into apathy by halfhearted religious leaders, there arose a longing among some for God to raise up a new king who would show them how to be God’s people. They yearned for a return of God’s dynamic presence in their midst.

chapter 6
    Eric was quiet and withdrawn at breakfast late in the following week. Rose noticed Joey shooting him curious looks.
    “You okay, buddy?”
    “Yeah. I guess so.”
    “You sure?”
    “He’s upset because neither of you made it to the science class parents’ day,” Anna volunteered.
    Rose paused with her forkful of scrambled eggs halfway to her mouth. She had completely forgotten.
    Eric’s eyes burned hot with anger. “You promised . I had to ride with Ben’s parents.”
    “Oh my gosh! I had to take a dish by Lois’s and I decided to do some last minute shopping . . . Oh, Eric, I’m so sorry.”
    “Yeah. I’ll bet you didn’t forget any of your meetings.” He shoved his chair back and bolted from the room.
    Joey glanced up. “What science class parents’ day? Why didn’t you tell me about it?”
    “I guess I didn’t mention it because I knew you would be at work.” Rose tried to defend herself, knowing full well she was in the wrong on this one. When did she become so defensive . . . so edgy?
    Anna sidled from the room.
    Joey shook his head. “I would have gone if I’d known. The event was important to Eric.” Silence encompassed the room as both Joey and Rose looked at one another. Joey continued, “So have you called Jean about Ken recently?”
    “No . . . not yet, but I will.”
    “You’ve been saying that for days. You’ll feel better if you do it, Rose.”
    Rose flushed. She felt bad enough without him laying a guilt trip on her. “I’ll call, okay?”
    Joey dropped his napkin on the table and stood up. “Did you ever think you might need to ease up on some of these outside activities?”
    She would have come up with a dandy retort, but he had already left the room.
    Pushing back from the table, she