No Cell Phones!

Sophia’s dad owned and operated Buttercup Farms Day Care. Sophia’s mom worked many hours in the city, so Sophia helped her dad with snacks and cleanup.

“We have a new girl with us today,” Dad greeted Sophia at the door after school.

“Do I know her?” Sophia hung her backpack and sweater on the coatrack.

“I don’t think so. Her name is Aubrey. She goes to a church across town,” Dad replied.

Sophia followed her dad into the family room. Lucy and Jasper were playing a board game. They waved Sophia over when they saw her. “We are starting a new game. Want to play?” Jasper put colorful tiles in the game bag.

“Yes, I would.” Sophia sat on the floor next to them. She saw feet in pink socks dangling from the sofa. “Is that Aubrey?” she whispered to Lucy.

Lucy held a finger to her lips. “Sh. She doesn’t want to play with us. She’s playing on her cell phone.”

“I can hear you,” Aubrey said from the sofa. “It’s not nice to talk about people behind their backs.

”Sophia walked to the sofa. “Hi, I’m Sophia. Why don’t you come over and play with us so we can talk to your front?

”Jasper and Lucy giggled.

Aubrey never looked up from her phone. “Board games are so old.” She paused the game on her phone. “Why don’t we connect on our phones and play Foxy Moxie together?

”Sophia shrugged. “I don’t have that game.”

“You can get it for free.” Aubrey swung her legs around and sat up on the couch.“I don’t have a phone,” Sophia explained. “If you don’t want to play a board game, we can play charades. Or we could play the game where we pull out blocks from a tower and try not to knock it down.

”Aubrey groaned and fell back onto the couch, still playing on her phone. “No thanks.How can you not have a cell phone? That is just weird.

”Jasper plopped onto the couch next to Aubrey. “I have that game. Give me your username, and I will send you an invite.”

“Wait.” Lucy joined them on the couch. “I’m loading it now.”

“Hey, I thought you were going to play the tile matching game with me,” Sophia said.

“Foxy Moxie is way more fun,” Lucy said. “Got it. What are your screen names?

”Sophia twisted her brown hair and rubbed it against her cheek. While the others played on their cell phones, Sophia went to the kitchen. “Do you need any help, Dad?”

“No, thank you. I’m good here.” He closed the dishwasher. “Wouldn’t you rather play with your friends?”She sat at the counter and leaned her head in her hands. “I don’t have a cell phone.

”Dad laughed. “I didn’t know you needed a cell phone when you are in the same room.”

“It is really not funny, Dad.” Sophia wiped at her eyes. “They are all playing a game together on their phones.

”Dad sat on the stool next to her. Sophia looked up at him. “Why can’t I have a cellphone? Everyone else has one.

”Dad rubbed her shoulder. “Honey, I don’t think everyone else has one. At least not every ten-year-old.”

“Almost everyone does, Dad.” She took a deep breath. “Some of the other kids make fun of me.

”Her dad looked at her with kind eyes. “You know Mom and I have rules. No cell phone until you are older is one of those rules. Remember the Bible says to ‘set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” (Colossians 3:2, NIV).

“I remember.” Sophia twirled the ends of her hair.

“Our possessions are temporary. They break, get lost, and rust. The money we put in the offering each week for missionaries is eternal.”

“We help missionaries spread the good news to the world.” Sophia sighed. “I like that.

”Dad nodded. “And truly, our belongings never bring real happiness. Only Jesus in our heart does that.

”Sophia hugged her dad. “Thanks for reminding me what’s important.” Sophia smiled.

Sophia went to her toy box, dug around inside, and pulled out three beanbags shaped like fish. Next, she pulled out a plastic bucket. She set it on the floor and tossed the beanbags, one at a time, at the bucket.

“What are you doing?” Aubrey peeked over the sofa, her cell phone still in her hand.

“Playing beanbag toss.” Sophia tossed another beanbag, and it landed in the bucket.

“How do you play?” Aubrey walked over to Sophia’s side.

“We toss beanbags at the bucket and see how many we can get inside,” Sophia explained.

“Can I try?” Aubrey tucked her phone into her back pocket and held out her hand.

“Sure.” Sophia picked up the beanbags and handed them to Aubrey. Aubrey tossed all three beanbags. Not one landed in the bucket. “This game is dumb.” She put her hands on her hips.

Sophia giggled. “That is what I said the first time my dad taught me to play. I kept missing the bucket.

”Aubrey laughed. “OK. I will try again. After your turn.

”Sophia threw the beanbags and got two out of three into the bucket.

“You are pretty good at this.” Aubrey picked up the beanbags and took another turn.

“I’ve had lots of practice,” Sophia said.

“Oooh. Beanbag toss! Can I play?” Lucy stood in line behind Sophia and Aubrey.

“Of course.” Sophia handed her a beanbag.

“Me too!” Jasper tossed his phone onto the coffee table and got in line.

After each had taken several turns, Sophia suggested another game. “How about we play balance beam now?”

“Do you have one?” Aubrey gasped.

“This one is a do-it-yourself balance beam.” Sophia got masking tape from the desk drawer and stuck a long line to the rug. Jasper held one end while she pulled the other. “Now we see who can walk the farthest and stay on the line.”

Sophia walked about halfway before losing her balance. “Kind of like that.”

“That looks fun! Can I try next?” Aubrey stood at the end of the line and walked on the tape. When she lost her balance, she snapped her fingers and said, “Almost made it to the end.”

“You are good. We may have to make you walk backward.” Lucy laughed.

“Ooh. Let’s do that next.” Aubrey jumped up and down.

After Jasper and Lucy left for the day, Sophia picked up the toys.

“Let me give you a hand with that.” Aubrey helped pick up pieces of a puzzle they hadput together.

“Thanks,” Sophia said.

“I had a lot of fun today,” Aubrey said. “I have never played any of those games.”

“Our family has fun playing them together.” Sophia tossed the beanbags into the toy box.

“I’m going to teach them to my mom and dad.” Aubrey stopped to look at Sophia.“If I can get them away from their cell phones long enough.” She laughed and Sophia did too. “I’m sorry I was rude earlier—about the cell phone.

”Sophia said, “It’s OK. I don’t miss having a cell phone most of the time. I’m used to doing things that make me move my body, like the balance-beam game and bean bag toss.”

“Those games are fun. I’m glad you showed me new old games.” Aubrey rubbed her cheekbone. “Well, not old. I like vintage better.” She laughed. “And I made three friends when I put down my cell phone and connected in the real world.

”Sophia smiled. “God wants us to connect with each other. And with Him too. He’s the best Friend we can have.”

“I’m going to spend less time on my phone and more time connecting with God and my friends,” Aubrey said.

Sophia raised an eyebrow and smiled. “No app needed.”

by: Leann Austin