SIX

Across the loft to the other side was a support beam that came up from the ground of the barn and was one of several which held the roof in place. It was round, and on the side facing him Charlie saw something curious.At about eye level there were uneven burgundy marks in the wood. There were four tally marks up and down with a slash through them which extended from top left to bottom right. There was one more tally mark underneath the others, and it was also straight up and down.

Six.

What could the marks represent?

Charlie bore the marks of abuse upon his back and there was nothing he despised more than one human being wielding their power physically over another person who could not protect themselves. He desperately desired to break the chain of abuse.

There is always hope. We can hope and pray for life without fear of being beaten or abused in some other way by someone who is supposed to take care of us. We can hope and pray for someone who will come and rescue us. We can hope and pray that people who should be responsible for us won't turn their backs and ignore what is happening.

Sometimes there might be someone who is willing to help and it can come from an unexpected source. This is a story of hope.