Sitting in the back of the car, Tommy was sad Barbara would not allow him to get a dog. He had wanted one so bad. For so many years.
The world rolled by fast, as Dave drove down country back roads and the fields of corn sure were boring for Tommy. So he asked, "Why are all of us dressed in white?"
"It's Sunday; it’s God's Day. White represents the cleanliness that He wants us to live our lives with."
"Oh," said Tommy.
"And white clothes also keep us cool on terrible days such as today," she continued, and then to her husband, Dave, "If we put the top up, we can put on the air."
Dave laughed and reached over to pat her leg, but otherwise, ignored her.
"What does the color green mean, Barbara?" Tommy had picked his nose and was looking at a booger.
It was too hot in the church, so some of the boys had brought the long wooden pews outside and set them up along the side of the church. Most churches Tommy had been to were boring, but Tommy had never sat outside for a service, so he was a little excited. They seats were set-up right beside a river and birds were chirping everywhere and Tommy started wishing he had a gun cause then he would shoot a few, so he tugged on Barbara's hand and asked for one of those.
"I'll teach you what to hunt, Tommy." Dave laughed, thinking it was a good idea.
"Right on!" Tommy was exclaiming, as they were taking seats in the back row.
"I am glad I brought my hat today," Barbara was complaining.
And that is when Tommy noticed everything was different at this church. First off, everyone was black. And they kept popping out of their seats to clap their hands and sing. And the Preacher! He would run around everywhere, up and down and all around the congregation. Tommy could not help it. He did what they did.
"It's a mighty fine day, today. Oh, yes, it is! Our Lord gave us this day!" The Preacher was yelling. "A nice day for the water to cleanse our souls! Come and take a dip with Jesus. Won't you come?" He was looking at right at Tommy.
And oh, boy, Tommy was coming! This church was awesome! He couldn't believe they let you go swimming.
"The smell of that water will never come out of your clothes." Barbara grabbed Tommy by the back of his collar.
After church, Dave decided they would stop at McDonalds for French fries, but Barbara would not let Tommy use any ketchup on them. "Not in those clothes."
And Barbara added, "The first thing you do, when we get to the house, is move your butt to your room and get them off."
Remembering Barbara's words, Tommy was out the car door fast, when they arrived home. He heard Barbara say to Dave, "Can you believe the nerve of that preacher?"
"I think he's cool," Tommy paused to say through window, before running towards the house. He tossed over his shoulder, “I'm a quarter black."
"You mean a quarterback," Dave yelled out, correcting him.
And Tommy stopped to turn around for a second. He shook his head. "Nope. My Momma told me so all the time."
Dave and Barbara sent Tommy back to the State.
The world rolled by fast, as Dave drove down country back roads and the fields of corn sure were boring for Tommy. So he asked, "Why are all of us dressed in white?"
"It's Sunday; it’s God's Day. White represents the cleanliness that He wants us to live our lives with."
"Oh," said Tommy.
"And white clothes also keep us cool on terrible days such as today," she continued, and then to her husband, Dave, "If we put the top up, we can put on the air."
Dave laughed and reached over to pat her leg, but otherwise, ignored her.
"What does the color green mean, Barbara?" Tommy had picked his nose and was looking at a booger.
It was too hot in the church, so some of the boys had brought the long wooden pews outside and set them up along the side of the church. Most churches Tommy had been to were boring, but Tommy had never sat outside for a service, so he was a little excited. They seats were set-up right beside a river and birds were chirping everywhere and Tommy started wishing he had a gun cause then he would shoot a few, so he tugged on Barbara's hand and asked for one of those.
"I'll teach you what to hunt, Tommy." Dave laughed, thinking it was a good idea.
"Right on!" Tommy was exclaiming, as they were taking seats in the back row.
"I am glad I brought my hat today," Barbara was complaining.
And that is when Tommy noticed everything was different at this church. First off, everyone was black. And they kept popping out of their seats to clap their hands and sing. And the Preacher! He would run around everywhere, up and down and all around the congregation. Tommy could not help it. He did what they did.
"It's a mighty fine day, today. Oh, yes, it is! Our Lord gave us this day!" The Preacher was yelling. "A nice day for the water to cleanse our souls! Come and take a dip with Jesus. Won't you come?" He was looking at right at Tommy.
And oh, boy, Tommy was coming! This church was awesome! He couldn't believe they let you go swimming.
"The smell of that water will never come out of your clothes." Barbara grabbed Tommy by the back of his collar.
After church, Dave decided they would stop at McDonalds for French fries, but Barbara would not let Tommy use any ketchup on them. "Not in those clothes."
And Barbara added, "The first thing you do, when we get to the house, is move your butt to your room and get them off."
Remembering Barbara's words, Tommy was out the car door fast, when they arrived home. He heard Barbara say to Dave, "Can you believe the nerve of that preacher?"
"I think he's cool," Tommy paused to say through window, before running towards the house. He tossed over his shoulder, “I'm a quarter black."
"You mean a quarterback," Dave yelled out, correcting him.
And Tommy stopped to turn around for a second. He shook his head. "Nope. My Momma told me so all the time."
Dave and Barbara sent Tommy back to the State.
Comments
This blog feels all familiar to me.
Q
Queenie | Homepage | 06.08.05 - 1:19 am | #