Fire in the Sky

The Colorado Rockies loomed high in their snow crowned glory, denying the approach of spring. March was almost as cold as January in this small town of Leadville, just a few miles south of Colorado Springs. The sun was sinking in the west - it’s warmth slowly turning to cold. Marcy Bertoli was heading home after a tiring, though satisfying, day of teaching 4th graders.

Marcy, an attractive woman of 43, brown hair, lovely blue eyes, and trim figure, was usually smiling, but could look stern if need be. She was well liked by her students, and fellow teachers as well, at the West Park elementary school in the outskirts of town. Due to budget cuts, she had a larger class this year, plus no teacher’s aide to help with grading papers, or helping slow readers. So though the school closed at 4:00, she often stayed till 5:30 preparing tomorrow’s schedule. She loved the 9 and 10 year olds - old enough to care for themselves, but young enough to respect their teacher.

She eased her aging Honda out of the parking lot, and headed for the highway that led home 6 miles away. She sighed with weariness, and also with dread. Home was no longer the safe haven it once was. As she drove slowly home, she felt heaviness in her heart. Her two children Tom, 20, and Heather, 18, were both attending a Denver college.

She missed them so much. But the heartache was because of her husband, Clyde. Once the love of her life, he had lately become critical and controlling. She was a dedicated Christian, and prayed for him, but he made fun of her faith. She tried desperately to please him, but nothing she did was ever enough.