The happy crowd that joined Cindy and her brothers as they walked with the others down the shady streets of Heaven sang with joy as they went past towering mansions of marble. Winding steps led to broad verandahs and wide terraces. Happy people waved from their homes and delighted voices rang like bells in the clear air. It was an emerald paradise. Multicolored flowers bloomed.

"Is this where you live, Grandma?" Cindy asked as they turned into a path leading toward a tall majestic house that peeked through bushy trees.

"Yes." Grandma smiled. "We have been working on it ever since we came to Heaven."

"It looks so much like the house where you lived on earth," Cindy said. "Of course it's many times better but it reminds me of that home."

"Look, there's the lilac bush in the yard," Ricky added. "In the same spot as the house where you used to live."

"I always loved that place," Cindy said. "Look, there are hollyhocks growing behind the house just like the ones back home."

"The Master knows and remembers what you liked on earth," Joyful Angel said.

"I feel as if we'd gone back to those days, when I was a little girl. It was such a neat place." Cindy was filled with peace. "But it's different and much nicer, of course."

They walked up the steps to the verandah. There were no doorways, only marble columns. Grandma led them into a large room. Cindy could see a broad, winding stairway at the far end of the room. The floors were made of light silver marble that shone with a luster. Roses of every color were scattered on the floor. Cindy stooped to feel them.

"They look like real flowers," she said.

"They are real flowers," her Grandmother told her.

"Come and see the library." Grandfather led the way

They crossed through the room and entered the library. The walls were lined from ceiling to floor with books. A row of shelves extended into the center and a desk was attached to a bench. The spicy odor of carnations filled the air.

"Look at all the books," Cindy said as she read the titles. "All my favorites."

"Yes," Joyful answered. "You will have many of your favorite things in this life just as you had in the old life."

"Were all the books written by people on earth?" Cindy asked.

"Not all of them." Happy Angel picked up a book and handed it to her. "This book was written here. Writers use their talents here, just like artists keep painting."

They walked up the winding staircase to the upstairs. Cindy looked at the steps and giggled.

"This staircase reminds me," she laughed. "We used to slide down the staircase at your house Grandma."

"I knew you did," Grandmother smiled. "But I looked the other way and pretended not to see you."

"And you weren't the only one who did that." Happy Angel looked at David and Ricky.

"We had to keep up with Cindy," Ricky laughed.

They walked into the hall. Pink flowers climbed the walls "Sweetpeas," Cindy exclaimed, "I love sweetpeas. How can they grow without any dirt?"

"They seem to live on the air." Grandmother laughed. "I worked so hard on earth to make my flowers look good and they were always dying. These just blossom and are so easy to grow. They never die. You never have to weed the flowers or the garden. And no watering to do up here."

"Does it rain?" Cindy asked.

"No, we have an underground system just like was found in the Garden of Eden." Joyful Angel answered.

"No mowing the lawns either," Grandfather added.

"The boys will like that," Cindy said.

"Were you in the Garden of Eden?" David asked the angels as they toured the beautiful home.

"I was there. I wasn't one of the main characters, thank goodness," Joyful answered. "But I was there."

"It must be great to be an angel," Ricky sighed.

"We think it would be wonderful to be a human being," Happy said. "But we are satisfied with the way the Creator made us."

Grandmother stopped at a large room. "This is your room, Cindy."

"We'll go find your rooms," Grandfather told the boys. "And let these women catch up on their talking."

" Oh, look at it, isn't it beautiful?" Cindy cried. "Yellow and sunny. It's so bright and pretty. You knew just what I would like."

Cindy's room had a comfortable couch, chair and tables. There was a large writing desk. Little yellow and purple pansy faces grew on the walls. Bowls of fresh fruit were placed on end tables. At one end of the room was a huge window that looked out over a park of Heaven. An archway opened onto a private terrace.

Soft rugs lay on the floor. The chairs were made of silver cloth. A large golden bowl stood on the table near the front window. It was filled with pink and yellow roses. Their sweet fragrance filled the air.

"I'll leave you now," her Grandmother said, "You can rest and freshen up."

"It feels like Hanukkah." Cindy hugged her dear grandmother.

"Yes, it does, doesn't it?" Grandma smiled as she left.

Cindy laid down on the couch-bed. It was soft and comfortable but too excited to rest for long she jumped up and grabbed a huge red apple out of a dish.

"I've never tasted an apple like this," she said looking at the fruit in her hand. "It's delicious. It's so sweet it tastes more like ice cream."

As she stepped out of the open door onto the terrace Cindy could see the clear, blue waters of a lake nearby. On her terrace beneath a sheltered nook was a porch swing. Flowering shrubs looked over the hills of Heaven and small yellow flowers lifted scented faces to peep up from deep silken green.

The grass seemed made of velvet. All the trees had branches with blossoms and fruits of many kinds. Cindy could see for miles. Beneath the trees in happy groups there were children, laughing and playing, running and catching in their hands bright-winged birds as though sharing in their fun. All through the grounds people walked with an air of peacefulness and happiness. She was so absorbed in looking around she didn't see the figure that approached her and stood watching her.

"Hello, Cindy," a voice spoke to her.

"Oh." Cindy turned and looked into a pair of kind eyes. She knew immediately who it was, this was Jesus. She twisted her hands behind her and hung her head. She wasn't worthy to meet Him.

"Are you finding everything you need?" The voice was as sweet as a song.

"I never dreamed Heaven would be so wonderful," she said. "But Jesus, I don't deserve to be here."

"I paid the price, Cindy," He said. His eyes were filled with assurance as He smiled.

"Thank you, dear Jesus," she said. "I'm so lucky to be here."

The Master took her hand and they walked beside the lake. As they talked He was so kind and good that she wasn't scared to ask him questions. She asked the question that had been on her mind since she stepped into this glorious land.

"Why did David, Ricky and I get to come to Heaven when my brother Joseph and my parents had to stay on earth?" She asked.

"You weren't old enough to be accountable yet, Cindy," Jesus said. "Joseph and your parents had rejected me. They made their choice and had to stay behind."

"Oh," Cindy said. "But I don't feel sad. I think the day will come when they will come here too."

"You are wise, Cindy," Jesus said. "There is no worry or sadness in Heaven. You will soon have training," He told her.

"Training?" she asked.

"Yes, and then you will be educated in many things."

"It sounds interesting," Cindy said.

"You'll enjoy our classes. Now it's time to go back," Jesus said. "Whenever you want to talk to me all you have to do is call."

"Such a wonderful land." Cindy waved good-bye to her newfound friend. She went back into her room and ran down the steps.

"Grandma, Grandpa," she cried.

"Yes, Cindy," Grandma looked up from the book she was reading and smiled.

"I just talked to Jesus," Cindy exclaimed. "He was so wonderful."

"Me too," Ricky agreed. "We took a walk and talked about all kinds of things."

"I talked to Him and we had a nice visit," David said. "That's strange isn't it?"

"Yes, it is," Cindy said. "How could He have been with all three of us?"

"It's one of the miracles," Grandfather smiled at the three young people. "Jesus can be in many places at once. That's why we never have to worry about talking to Him."

"There's a lot to learn here in Heaven," Grandmother said.

"I'm so glad we got to come here," Cindy said. "It's far greater than anything I could ever have imagined."