=06 THE PLANE CRASH

It was the last Friday of the month and time to update the church missionary bulletin board. Dean Miah (code named: Knee Miah) and his mom were busy with the project of their love for missions. Young Knee asked, “Mom, can I go outside and practice flying this paper airplane dad folded for me last night? I'll stay out of the street.” His mom said it was ok. The thing was. That wasn't the whole reason Knee wanted to go out on the church lawn. He wanted to pretend he was a detective and he wanted to see if he could spot any mysterious grass piles or clues to learn who was putting them there, and then removing them.

This young detective was getting better at launching his streamlined paper airplane but came close to losing it in the bushes, a time or two. Without realizing it, he was now launching his plane in the grass in front of the church. His bad knee was beginning to bother him a bit, but there was more of the church grass and bushes to look for clues. He imagined himself standing in front of his Beginners Sunday School class and explaining some of the important clues he had discovered and their meaning.

His next airplane launch was his best ever. A small breeze caught it and floated out over the street and crashed in the gravel near the far curb. There was no way he was going to leave it there, when his dad worked hard folding it for him. Knee Miah paused, looked both ways on the street and proceeded across to get his airplane. About two steps from his airplane, Knee's bad leg caused him to stumble and fall in the small amount of gravel. He went down and he really hurt. His bad knee, the one that was the birth defect was skinned and turning red like a tomato. It sure didn't look like Knee was going to jump right up and move out of the road.

It almost scared Knee Miah when a teenage boy rushed out from the piles of trash and condemned building not far from where Knee now lay – in real pain. With just a few words, “You're OK. I Gotcha! Don't be afraid,” the teen picked up Knee Miah and carried him back across the street and carefully sat him on the church steps. Knee silently watched the teen take off his own ripped shirt and tie it around Knee's injured leg. The teen (we'll learn later was called, “Noah Count”) stepped up to the church door, rang the door bell, and then hurried back across the street. Noah grabbed his bike with the wobbly wheel and quickly rode away without looking back.

Only seconds later, Pastor opened the door and saw Mrs. Miah's son (that's Knee) in need of some quick first aid. Among the young whimpers and occasional “OUCH!”, Knee was comforted. On the way home, Knee explained to his mom what all had happened – especially the teenage words, “You're OK. I Gotcha! Don't be afraid,” Knee let go of the ripped shirt the teen had given him, only when his mom promised to give it right back to knee as soon as she was finished washing it.