Chapter Twenty-Nine>>>Go Bible Heroes
Instinctively, I pull the wooden cross around my neck out from under my shirt so it’s revealed. We come in peace!
At least a dozen pairs of eyes stare at Harper and I who are clinging to each other as we walk in. Her hand squeezes mine tighter as we close the large doors of the church.
“Hi…” I say tentatively to the large group of inquiring eyes, “I’m Taylor…this is Harper. We’re actually on a road trip from Tulsa…we pulled into your parking lot when the storm started to get worse.”
They continue to stare.
“We were hoping maybe we could wait the storm out here…if that’s okay…”
“Of course it’s okay!” A woman finally speaks up, “Come in…where are you headed?”
“Shattack, Oklahoma?” I reply.
No one seems to recognize the name of the town and I begin to wonder if it even exists. For all I know, we’re headed out to just another barn in the middle of nowhere.
“Take off your jackets,” an older woman beckons, “Take off your jackets and join us. There was supposed to be a meeting for Christian Mothers Fellowship tonight, which is why we gathered here. But I think it was cancelled…”
Another woman walks into the room nodding, “I just talked to Mary. It was cancelled. I guess she sent out an email…”
There’s a groan in the room. Damnit. Don’t you hate it when you miss your Christian Mothers Fellowship meeting? Almost ruins your whole week…
“I don’t think anyone should head home…not in this weather…” the woman who greeted us, who seems to be the leader of the group of women, tells them all, “I think everyone should wait until the storm passes.
Harper and I watch in interest as a younger mom steps forward, “I really need to. Jack has the kids and they’re not feeling well…Fisher was throwing up all day. I really should go home and help them if there’s no storm…”
The other women take her by the arm, “June…he’ll be fine with the kids. Don’t go out in this storm. The radio says it doesn’t look good…”
“I live five minutes away. I really need to get home if there’s nothing going on here…” she argues.
I find myself silently rooting for June. Go home, June! Go home and relax!
The women give her a sad but understanding look.
“You be careful…” One of them adds. “Drive safely.”
Harper and I continue to be amused as we watch the women give her comforting hugs before she gathers her things.
“We should have gone to the McDonalds…” she mutters, “This is so awkward…”
As soon as June leaves, the focus is back on us.
“We’re not the most interesting bunch…but it’s safe here,” one of the women adds. I feel like I’m in some creepy horror film. I feel like all of a sudden, one of the sweater vest wearing mothers is going to turn on us with a knife and chase us around the sanctuary until we eventually surrender in exhaustion. I have a sick mind…
“Ladies…lets pray for June and her safety on her way home,” the leader proposes, “Tyler and…”
“Taylor and Harper,” I correct.
“Taylor and Harper, my apologies. Would you join us?”
I watch as Harper does her best to keep a straight expression. Together we talk forwards towards the circle of middle-aged women. We all form a circle and slowly they begin to take each other’s hands. I can see Harper panicking inside, so quickly I grab her hand and the woman’s next to me.
Come on, Harper…calm down and cooperate you atheist heathen you.
Slowly Harper takes the hand of the woman in the snowman sweater next to her. I squeeze her hand to reward her.
“Let us pray. Dear Lord, please keep everyone safe during this unexpected storm today. Please protect June on her journey home…”
I open my eyes and peak at Harper who is looking around the circle in curiosity. Without meaning to, a chuckle emits from my lips and Harper looks over at me with a guilty expression on her face. She mouths something that I cannot understand.
“…and thank you Jesus for leading these two also unexpected visitors to our church. Thank you for showing them the light to come here for safety and to take refuge here. Give us the wisdom to be able to lead them to you in their time here.” Harpers eyes go wide. I close mine again real fast so I can innocently open them with everyone else.
“In Jesus Christ we pray and celebrate- Amen.”
I open my eyes to see 12 pairs of eyes looking at us with content smiles on their faces. The woman next to me squeezes my shoulder, “I’m so glad you two found our church for shelter. Thank you Lord Jesus, right?”
This situation is just bizarre. I retract my statement about my family’s church. These people really are bigger whack jobs.
“Sure!” I smile.
Let’s get something straight. I am a man of faith. I believe in Jesus, I pray on occasion, and I have quite a bit of Bible knowledge from years of Sunday school. But still, even as a Christian- these people are nutty.
“Thank you Lord Jesus…” Harper mutters sarcastically underneath her breath.
We all turn to the window as a crack of thunder echoes in the room.
“Do you and Harper want to join us in a game of Go Bible Heroes?” A woman asks.
We give her questioning looks and she holds up a colorful deck of cards.
“It’s like Go Fish…with Bible heroes instead of fish! Clever, isn’t it?”
“I’d say,” Harper nods, smirking a bit.
Before we can protest, the women drag us over to a circle of blankets they’ve laid out in the pulpit of the sanctuary. Harper and I give each other identical looks as we are dealt our hands of Bible heroes.
How the hell did we end up here?