Chapter 16

12,682 words! I'll finish soon! Do you like Nikki's singing?

Chapter 16
Bub dragged Nikki down to her cell. She put on a good show, kicking and screaming the whole way.
“Let me go!” she screamed, struggling against her bonds.
Before they got too far Mr. Tramble called just Bub back. “Bub,” he whispered. “Make sure that she doesn’t get loose. Don’t untie her yet. I want to see if she can get loosen her own to see if she needs more guards. Also, don’t give her food or water until I say so. Got it?”
Bub nodded fiercely. He walked back to Nikki and started pulling her down the hall again.
“By the way Bub!”
“Yes, sir?”
“Make her stop her screaming, it hurts my ears.”
“Yes sir. You, shut up! Or else!” Bub yelled at Nikki.
“No! Let me go, you big lug! You’ll pay, Mr. Tramble! I’ll get you for this!”
“So many people have said that, honey! But none have!”
“Don’t call me honey!”
“I’ll call you whatever I wish, honey! Enjoy your stay in Le Cell!”
Bub finally got Nikki into her cell and said, “Sorry, but I can’t untie you. He wants to test if you can get out of your bonds. I wouldn’t if I were you, because then he’ll put you into a heavier guarded cell.”
“Thanks. I know you’re risking a lot to do this.”
Bub blushed. “Well, you’re welcome!”
Bub left, and Nikki was alone. She had an urge to get out of her binds, for she knew a trick to do so, but she didn’t want to be guarded more. Nikki tried to fall asleep by counting sheep, recalling her friends and her parents, but nothing worked. Finally, she prayed.
“God, help me to get out of here. I’m so scared. What do I do? I want to find my parents please, help me! I know You can. Please, let my mom and dad be okay. I trust you, Lord. Please also keep Riley, Kylie, Mrs. Pinebaum, Jacques and Bub safe. Could you possibly make sure that Bub doesn’t goof up? He’s a cool guy, but I'm afraid he’ll crack under pressure. Please give everyone in on this plan extra strength. In Your name I pray, Amen.”
When Nikki finished, she felt strangely peaceful. She lie down and fell asleep.
Nikki awoke expecting to be sore, but all aches and bruises that she had accumulated over the trip seemed to be gone. “Thank you Lord!” she yelled. “Pharaoh, Pharaoh! Whoa, baby let my people go! Free! Free! Yeah yeah yeah yeah!” she sang the popular song from the worship on Sunday mornings in the orphanage church. “Well a burning bush told me just the other day, that I should come over here and say, got to get God’s people out of Pharaoh’s hand. And lead them all to the Promised Land. I said, Pharaoh, Pharaoh! Whoa, baby let my people go! Free! Free! Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah! Well, me and God’s people coming to the red sea, and Pharaoh’s army coming after me! So I raised my rod and I stuck it in the sand. And all of God’s people walked across dry land. I said, Pharaoh, Pharaoh! Whoa, baby let my people go! Free! Free! Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah! Well Pharaoh’s army was a coming too. So what do you think that I should do? So I raised my rod and I cleared my throat. Uh-uh, and all of Pharaoh’s army did the dead man’s float! I said, Pharaoh, Pharaoh! Whoa, baby let my people go! Free! Free! Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah! ”
“Stop that racket!” yelled Bub, pounding on the cell door.
“Who says?” said Nikki cheekily.
“The boss! So shut up!”
“No! I'm going to sing, sing, sing, I'm going to shout, shout, shout! I'm going to sing, I'm going to shout, Praise the Lord! When those gates are open wide, I'm going to sit by Jesus’ side! I'm going to sing, I'm going to shout praise the Lord!” she sang again. Nikki winked at Bub. “I’m singing to praise God. So why don’t you complain somewhere else?”
“Shut up, or I’ll have to gag you!”
“Well, isn’t that sad. You have to gag a little girl.” Nikki made a sad face. “Whatever you do, you can’t make me stop singing! I will hum if you gag me, and I can hum really loudly. One time at the orphanage, I hummed so loud it sounded like a vacuum! Mrs. Pinebaum thought that one of the aides was vacuuming in the next room! Do you believe me?”
Bub shook his head no, he didn’t.
“Well that’s too bad, because it’s true! Did you like my singing and music? Those songs were Christopher and Katy’s favorite songs just then. Little Chris also like This Little Light Of Mine, I’m Going To Let It Shine! Do you?”
“No. Now be quiet.”
“You know what?”
“What?”
“I’m going to keep singing. This Little Light of Mine! I'm going to let is shine! This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine! Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!”
Bub then gave Nikki a look that meant; Please stop, I don’t want to get in trouble.
“Fine! I’ll be quiet, for now! But you never know when I might break into song!” Nikki sang the word song. “Aah, I love to sing!” she sang. “Okay, I’ll be quiet now. Bye Bub!” Nikki turned around and went to sleep again.
Kylie looked around. Wow, I guess I fell asleep in the car. Not very comfortable, I’ve noticed. Hey look! It’s Niagara Falls! How awesome! “Riley, wake up!”
“What?” Riley groaned. “Ooh, sleeping in the car is not fun!”
“What ever. Just look at that!” Kylie pointed to Niagara Falls.
“Whoa! That’s awesome!”
“I know!”