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Tom, our resident Summoner, started making funny, loud noises and flapping his hands wildly. Aviyah let out a keen mental wailing that seemed to spike with Tom’s vocal distress. We all felt the jolt, even the drugged ones, as we later discovered.

After we were all knocked out, the small cell would break away from it’s link to rest of them, and the wires would be shut down. The room would rocket until we landed in a mostly abandoned mountain valley. There, we would be found.

______________________

“Well, ho ho, what do we have here,” a kindly elder voice queried.

The sight that presented itself to me was anomalous to what my ears heard. My ears heard someone old, but what appeared in my eyes looked only a few years older than me!

“Um, hi,” I said, rocking back and forth with Aviyah, who had pressed herself as close to me as she possibly could. “I suppose we’re new here.”

“I suppose you are,” the strange person answered. “Would you like my help? My name is Reverend Phaddy.”

“Well, first, I suppose these others need to wake up. I’m not exactly in charge here, Reverend Phaddy.”

“Yes, I suppose it would be difficult to do my work without the rest of them awake,” the elder sounding voice said, and with that, my companions began to pop awake in various stages.

Alexander sighed, tried to roll over, caught himself, and then his eyes popped wide open.

“Reverend Phaddy!

Something in his voice and Aviyah’s fearful mental babbling told me that we had found the elusive other class E.

_________________

I was right. Reverend Phaddy was indeed the other class E. In his own words, “I am capable of giving presents. Bodies can be renewed, even neurons. Giving that sense of presence is what I do best.”

I wondered. Could this strange man renew even long fried and damaged neurons like mine? It was medically impossible in my world, but I had to hope…

“It’s medically impossible to do the things he does,” said Alex. “He could drop all of us where we stand, whenever he wanted, except maybe Aviyah. But nobody’s ever heard of him using his abilities that way.”

Ah. That explained her fear, then.

“These are the things I will do,” Reverend Phaddy said gently.

“Alexander, you are the leader of these. Your desire is to always be able to know when to protect them, and to have the strength necessary to do so.”

A swirling power seemed to come from the Reverend.

“Thus shall I make you capable.”

A metamorphosis seemed to take place. Alexander, plain old Alexander, suddenly looked like he had become more buffed. Did Reverend Paddy give him physical strength? There was also the alertness, and his now enlarged, angled ears seemed to twitch and move and make up for his widened eyes…. This power was awesome.

“Tom Warren, the child of bubbles. You will find it easier to divide your attention between tasks, to help your friends.”

“Okay.”

He didn’t really get it, but he liked the thought of helping out his friends.

“Aviyah Williams, I see,” He said. I tried transmitting the idea that he’d noticed her, but he already had her rapt, undivided, and frightened  attention. She was transmitting ideas that he was bigger than her in some ways, and that just should’ve been impossible, and she was afraid… ”To you, I will grant the ability to look outside the box, and to appreciate some new things. The noise will receive some buffers.”

Man, transmitting those ideas were difficult, but I think I managed. I felt her understanding, acceptance, and decreased fear. That was good.

“To Anantha, I give the ability to know who can be trusted, to discern the emotional contents of the heart.”

“To Aoiko, I give the simple ability to explain what you’re thinking.”

“To Mark, I will give the ability to manipulate electromagnetic fields, and the ability to focus on multiples at a time.”

“To Natan, may your imagination become vivid and your paintings reality,” he said, giving the boy a very special sketchbook.

“Who are you, to have this authority,” Natan questioned.

“I am Reverend Shinryo Phaddy,” he said, gently. “Nothing more or less than what I claim to be.”

‘Doesn’t Shin mean God, in Japanese?’ I pondered to myself. ‘Yes, but it also means Death.’

“To Myka, I give the ability to forget all ills and remember all else.” ‘You are more correct than you know,’ I thought I heard whispered into my subconscious.

“Lastly, to Maya Williams, I give the ability to control convection.”

With that, the valley was shrouded in mist, and we were again alone.

Aviyah poked my forehead softly, with all five fingers, having been introduced already.  She showed me pictures of halls, doors, big rooms, and small rooms. Underneath it all, once again, was that concept of ‘Where?’

“Uh, could you take us about the wires? We didn’t really get much of a chance, earlier. It might help me and Aviyah get acclimated better.”

“That’s a good idea,” said Alexander. “You can reinforce the layout of the wires with mental images, right?”

I nodded, showing Aviyah the concepts of what we planned to do, and told her that that was why we had to vocalise. She laughed, without laughing, and asked why the others had to communicate through the strange noises. I tried to explain that we’re all different, but due to her quizzical response, one has to wonder about her comprehension.

We left, Alexander leaving instructions to contact him if anything interesting happened. I used my capacity to draw pictures in my head to reinforce the visual and spacial processes of Aviyah. As we went on, I observed that the screws of my mind seemed to grow tighter. My focus grew sharper, and I was able to communicate with Aviyah more succinctly. The pictures had no empty, confused spaces like they had moments earlier. Strange. I wondered where the focus was coming from? Aviyah?

Yeah, Aviyah was helping me focus. I was able to shield, a bit, to keep my mind recognizable as mine, but only barely. Was this the power of a class 5? Just how strong was I? I created a link to the mind of the girl, showing her love, and attempting to establish the boundaries between myself and herself. ‘I am this way.’

__________

We were interrupted soon afterwards. They had news. A large shipment of pudding was coming in.

“Say, do they spike the pudding or something?”

Alexander looked at me grimly and said, “Yeah, they drug it.”

“What do you do about it?”

“We strip it out and distribute it. What we can’t cleanse, we eat ourselves.”

I gulped.

“I guess I’m with you.”

__________________________

We made our way back to the Hidden cell. On the way in, Alex noticed something strange, and snatched his foot back. It was a blue and green haze, surrounding the boundary, and the ripples of green in the field of blue looked remarkably like bubbles.

“Quantum displacement?”

“Yeah. We’ll have to hurry.”

________________________

We were right on top of getting them all scoured. One second later, Aoiko (the cleanser) got tired. That was all it took. Man, that girl was like a camel. She lasted a good while and it was hard to observe that she was getting tired. Alexander gave me a nod. I blanched. Aviyah picked up on my fear and growing emotional sickness, and began to rock back and forth, unable to push it aside normally. Her fingers flickered back and forth, her eyes alert. The stage was set.

The first girl to eat from the bowl of fate was Anantha, an Indian-American with intellectual differences, and an ability to give anyone joy… She soon slumped into lethargy. All that were to follow, Aoiko and Alexander, also passed out in their turn. Aviyah’s body began to shake, and the air about her almost seemed to thrum…

I took my bowl, and then the explosion came.

Without risk there is no gain:
without danger of hurt no hope of bliss.

We are more than machine precisely because we are capable of error,
and from the angst of our missteps buds the unspeakable beauty of our own unique creations.

To live without the risk of loving is not living at all.

“Okay, so our next order of business, is to familiarize our new member with the layout of the place, especially the wires. The wires, by the way,” he says, continuing in my direction, “are tunnels we utilise for various purposes. Among them, sneaking around and delivering presents in general.”

The way he looks on the last phrase tells me that not all these presents are appreciable. I appreciate his sense of mischief, though. This shall be interesting.

“Also, we have a mission. There was a massive power influx last night. We think it was an actual EPAX.”

“A level five?” The brown eyed boy said, his eyes widening quite visibly in his blond framed face.

“That’s what it seems like,” Alex said, a serious look on his face. “We need to rescue her.”

“Alright, I know that there was something about her power levels and femininity in there…”

“E is level 5 power,  and stands for extraordinary. It was only theoretical until recently. That’s how rare it is. Like she’s one out of two known people of her ranking. The last initial refers to the chromosomes. X for girls, Y for guys. A is for cognitive status; in this case, she’s likely to be on the Autism Spectrum.”

“Thank you.”

“Right. Myke, you’re with Aoiko. Hort, you’re with me. The rest of you, hang out here for a bit.”

When they got back with the girl, she was very small, and wide awake. Her dark green eyes were alert, glancing all about her. She quickly presented a question and then a request to them: a picture of their surroundings with a sense of “where” to it. Then, just as quickly as that, almost, a sense of strong desire superimposed with a picture of Suzaku.

“You want me?” Suzaku asked, attempting to use the pictorial and conceptual thinking the little one obviously favoured.

“E-uh,” the little one sounded out, with a very strong affirmative concept.

Suzaku picked up the little one, and held her close, showing her a picture of a flaming crimson bird with a purple tail, completing it with a concept of ownership and slight amounts of self definition. Then, she used the query concept the girl had used earlier with the same amounts of self definition. The little girl repeated her original query, informing Suzaku that she would tell her later, because it would be more interesting then.

“Well, she’s very bright, despite thinking  in pictures.”

She showed the girl symbols of bondage and hiding, and gave her a sense that an overarchingly cruel force was the cause of the bondage, and a sense that they were safe in hiding. The little one winced and tightened her muscles, though her silent face didn’t betray a single emotion. A sense of fear passed like a miniature shockwave, and she clung to Suzaku. It seemed as though she was looking through her memories for a comforting one. She found the one she was looking for!

It was a picture of a man holding her, like a father, and the more you sensed the man, the more they got the sense that the man was infinite, and far above any finite person’s comprehension. There was a sense of Fatherhood, and some slight possessive emotion not un-akin to the names they were conceptualising earlier.

‘God is your Father?’ Suzaku asked in concepts. She got the full force of the name concept from earlier.

“Aviyah?” Suzaku thought, attempting to conceptualise the name so that not only the pictures weren’t lost, but also the sound wasn’t. She received a quizzical okay. She gave the girl the concept of a comforting welcome, with her arms spread wide to receive her.

“Welcome to the group, Aviyah.”

I had been imprisoned for all of five minutes before a red headed boy with a gentle smile approached me.

“So, hey, can you talk to me?” He said very chipperly. It made sense; he’d probably heard about my supposed lack of intellect. I hadn’t vocalized in words throughout my trial.

“Yep,” I said, hoping my not-total lack of facial expression would convince him there wasn’t too much wrong with me.

“Why are you here? Were you just pretending at your trial?”

“There was a kid who was talking trash about ‘retards’, and how he was glad they had started locking them away. I didn’t appreciate the way he was talking, and I glared at him. He teased me, asking if I was special myself, and so I kinda went berserk on him.” I said, chuckling and rubbing the back of my forehead nervously. “I’m Myka, by the way, and yes. I pretended so I could see how you treat them here.” What I didn’t specify was that by “here,” I meant his dimension. I wasn’t originally from here at all, and a spacetime rift had apparently deposited me here.

“I’m Alex. Alexander Adrastos. So, you don’t believe that government spiel that says special needs kids are crimes against nature?” The red headed boy asked.

“I would NEVER believe that! That’s just so messed up!”

“That’s good news,” he said with a grin. “Do you have any special talents we should know about?”

“Who are we?”

“We are a very special group of people dedicated to certain ideals,” Alexander says, a serious look on his face. “We’re most likely on your side.”

“Hmm,” I utter thoughtfully. “Well, I’m not too bad at motion physics, but I’m still working on my executive functioning and hand eye coordination skills. I used to be really, really good with those. I’m a gamer, if that means anything to you. I’m getting better very quickly.”

“Welcome to the club, then. We will be glad to have you.”

This club the boy mentioned turned out to be as anomalous as the prison itself. There were three clearly special needs kids, and three angry warrior-looking kids that I had pegged for gangsters. I was something of a mix of both, mildly brain damaged and an angry roughneck tomboy. I was their seventh member.

“So, what are we on about,” I queried.

“We need to destroy the prison without anyone dying, mobilize everyone, and get a move on to a safer place. We also hope to eliminate the chances of the anti-lifers who would destroy our allies before they’re born,” he said, clearly indicating the people who try to find special needs in a prenatal test for a chance at destruction before it becomes illegal.

“Okay,” I said, emotionally arming myself. “What part of your plans should I be working on?”

“Answers,” a bubbly voiced brown headed boy said. “Bubbles ripped to let her through! I asked for her to come!”

“This is Tom, our resident summoner. He seems to have powers to mess with the spacetime continuum,” Alex said, grinning with an explanatory look. “A lot of our special kids have interesting abilities, here. The rest of us are just in for anomie.” His eyes hardened. “They punish way too much, for things that don’t even really hurt. I was arrested because my dad protested the legalization of teaching of anti-religious behavior in school. I yelled that he didn’t deserve the punishment, in public, and half a day later I was here.”

Anomie was when a person did not like either the cultural goals, or the cultural methods of attaining them, and rebelled to some extent. It was maddening, the thought of a culture that did not allow people to stand for what they believed. It was easy to see why these kids fit in with the more special needs ones.

Apparently, the stronger and stranger-natured the person, the harder to understand. Also, it was sickeningly obvious how much those misunderstood were hated here. Who were these kids?

Anantha was a girl who had the ability to impact mood. Alex had told me that she was lucky to be alive.

“Children with obvious physical differences often die. There’s a lot of lawyers who specialise in getting parents off, saying that it was an accident and the kid’s fault.”

Aoiko was a girl who had some sort of crazy luck at strategies. She needed it. Back in my world, she would have been diagnosed with mixed type ADHD, and it was at least moderate. Mark was a extremely bright kid whose favourite hobby before being arrested was to hack governmentally based websites and be honest. There was Natan Kohen, a nearly all Jewish boy who loved chemistry and art. They caught him spraying an all-coloured infinity symbol on a government building.

“They are symbols of all that can be of the human capacity. All humans are diverse. All humans have lots of potential. The government doesn’t see it that way.”

Last of all, there was Maya Williams, a girl who had a penchant for explosions and loved the laws of physics.

“So I levered a boulder on one of their “clinics” when no one was there–it doesn’t make me bad, does it?”

“Your government is begging for rebellion!” I said, with my fists clinched and my jaws gritted, in a half grin.

“It is,” they agreed.

“So, you’re with us?” a brown eyed boy asked, happily.

“You better believe it.”

Sis Jamie Edwards stood in the circle next to Eris as the Praise team ladies prayed before service. The prayer had started out rough — unnatural — but they focused and eventually prevailed. The result was like a star burst crashing into in a freshwater lake: a huge breakthrough with refreshing water everywhere and ripples that caressed the shore long after the initial impact.

“Wow.” mused Jamie “We really did it. Does anyone have family they need to pray for?” Several ladies had loved ones who needed prayer: healing, salvation, direction. Wayward daughters, lost sons, and husbands who needed to be in church headed the list. They ignored the clock and prayed as other sisters, wondering why church was delayed, looked for them, then felt the power of their intercession and joined. Eventually the men were left alone in the auditorium awaiting service until Pastor Edwards found his beloved and returned to the sanctuary to lead the men in a similar season of deep prayer.

Church could wait. This was about relationships – saint to saint and saint to God. It was more powerful and resolved more problems than any church service could have done.

In the ladies prayer room, as the Spirit of intercession was lifting, a Spirit of intense Peace and Joy settled upon the sisters — some rocking as if they were drunk, some laying limp on the floor, all exhausted in worship. There was such a feeling of peace and well being that no one spoke — there was just nothing a person could say that would define or add to that experience. So they sat there, looked at each other, and smiled. Eventually the laughter started, then clapping, then a roar of applause, and finally all the ladies were standing again. They lifted their hands over their heads, looking up, and worshiped God one more time.

“Well Sisters” began Jamie as at length she lowered her hands “Let’s do some Church!”

“But Sister Edwards!” objected one of the women “It’s been like five hours!”

“We are a bit past the time for morning service aren’t we?” paused Jamie. “Then we’ll just have to get an early start for evening worship. Anyone forget a roast in the oven?” No one had. “What say we do this!”

The ladies all started to leave, except Eris.

“Come on Eris” coaxed Jamie kindly “You have a solo to praise God with today!”

Eris stood rooted to the floor. A tear started to flow from her eye. She said nothing. Several of the women turned around and returned to Eris, a look of compassion in their countenance.  ”What is it dear? You worked so hard to learn this song. You’ll be fine.”

“I .. I … can’t go out there. Not like this.” Eris fought tears but she was clearly loosing the battle “I .. feel … wrong. Like I’m indecent. I can’t stand in front of all those people wearing this dress.”

Jamie put her arm around Eris and waved to the rest of the women. “Well, the rest of you head on in and Eris and I will be with you in a few minutes. Start with some praise — let God guide you.”

“Come on dear” Jamie whispered “We have a clothing bank. You can change into something else you like better.”

The short, worldly skirt, and the tears, stayed in the clothing bank while a smiling, impressively attractive, yet modest, Eris exited in a rather fashionable outfit. Neither she nor Jamie could fathom how something of that quality and style got in the clothing bank in the first place. “Well, you are one lucky girl” sighed Jamie “If I had seen that outfit first it would have been mine.”

Church was good that night.

“It cannot be emphasized too clearly and too often that this nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religion, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason, peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here.” [Patrick Henry, May 1765 Speech to the House of Burgesses]

“Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!” Whump. The earth moved a bit from the impact, and then the peaceful afternoon resumed, birds resumed chirping, and the dust resumed settling around the crater which Smee had made as the earth conflicted with his trajectory the first time. Déjà vu. It was a bit deeper now.

Sometime later, after he regained consciousness, Smee found and reinserted most of his teeth, again, he even saw a couple he had missed the first time. Then he slowly fought his way back up the side of the crater, again. Finally reaching the top after hours of work, he propped himself up on one elbow, then the other, again, and rested tentatively on the edge of the crater, again, waiting to regain enough strength to climb the last little bit out, again.

“Nice afternoon” came the robust voice suddenly from behind him. The voice was made of solid metallic holiness: it instinctively inspired uncontrollable terror in the hearts of those who oppose God. It was Michael’s. Michael the warrior. Michael the really HUGE warrior. Again.

Smee shook so badly that he lost his grip on the edge of the crater. “Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!” The sound of his voice faded as he fell, then there was a little thump, then silence, before the birds resumed their chirping and the dust resumed its settling. Again.

“Well, I think it is a nice afternoon” smiled Michael smugly.

If Smee had been conscious and opened his eyes he might have enjoyed the view, at least until he remembered that his short arc over Groundswell would eventually end with a thump as the earth conflicted with his personal trajectory.

The sound of the wind whisping past him, the traffic below in the streets, the bright sun light and fresh air, all beckoned to Smee to awaken. And so, he slowly regained consciousness a bit: enough at least to ponder Continue reading "Eris Go Bauch!!" »

Eris stood in her bed room looking at her assortment of skirts. There was a ‘standard’ now — the skirt had to touch the floor if she knelt. This would be her first real time in the choir, and she wanted to look just right. Not only was it a privilege to help lead worship, but maybe, just maybe, someone nice would become interested. So…. not TOO conservative. Attractive, fashionable, but legal. Continue reading "Strictly Legal" »

The stars shined ever so brightly as Cat brought a stack of plates to the deck. People from the Bible study were filled with a feeling of gratitude and praise as they watched the night sky. The grill was about ready and some of the women helped Cat set salad and vegetables on the deck table while Buck and Daniel put the first batch of steaks on the grill.

“God is so good”

“Yes, yes he is”

In the atmosphere above Groundswell, Smee had arced out of Hell and was streaking like an asteroid back toward earth, specifically, Groundswell. Continue reading "Company" »

“NO!” Lucifer howled as he lept from his seat. He tore a stone arm off of his throne and smashed it into the floor. Cracks formed and pieces of stalactite fell from the ceiling. Demons rushed to avoid a crack splitting the floor away from Lucifer’s throne as glowing red lava oozed up the crack. “How long must I put up with this! NO MORE!”

“Oh, whatever do you mean?” said Reliant innocently “Surely not that the Rogers are now baptizing 20 more people into Christ? Why I should think you would rejoice that more people are escaping your fate. Oh. Wait. Yeah. That kinda conflicts with your general plan, doesn’t it.” Reliant smiled peacefully as he folded his hands in front of himself.

Continue reading "A New Message for Hell" »

“Then it is time?” asked Reliant as he sat on the house top overlooking Groundswell. Lights from the windows of buildings were illuminating the streets in almost romantic nostalgia. The stars twinkled above. It was a pleasant evening. “They have had two years now. The church is well planted, and we have kept hostile forces away from them.”

The figure in white sipped his Coke before he answered. Continue reading "Time is Up" »

And so it continued for about two years, until the church building was finished and the First Apostolic Church of Groundswell was running about 750 members in Sunday worship.

“Buck?” said Cat quietly.

“Yeah?” answered Buck.

“Do you think we should have children?”

“Cat! We’re in church.”

“Just, do ya?” Continue reading "Please, Not on the Platform" »

Mayor Horace Cumberland looked at the next document in the stack in front of him. Mary was flipping pages, summarising content, and pointing to the correct place to sign each one. Up came the building permit and formation documents for the First Apostolic Church of Groundswell, which was asking to build on the original site. Continue reading "Life Goes On" »

Pastor Paul and Jannie Edwards were staying with Buck and Cat Rogers. Cat had inherited her parents three bedroom home. The Edwards rented house had been destroyed when a gas leak was accidentally ignited. The evangelists Bro. and Sis. Love were also staying with them.

The Bible study that day had ended a bit earlier than usual, and they had played some games and fellowshipped, then someone had a rather deep life question, and God answered in such a way that the whole group was drawn into worship. Two more people received the Holy Ghost in the Rogers living room on Christmas Eve. Continue reading "God Blessed Us Every One" »

Thursday was another day. Buck worked 6AM to 3PM and headed home to Cat, who had already started preparing for their Thursday home Bible study. He called a short greeting to her and poured himself a clear, tall glass of ice cold cream, took a sip, and placed it down on the stove. A mischievous look in his eye he opened the microwave, revealing the freshly heated taco chips Cat had just placed there to freshen. Continue reading "We’re Never Truely Alone" »

The single organ note sounded through the almost empty church. Buck sang from unfathomable depths inside himself. Continue reading "Down to Business" »

“Hey” said Cat “We are home owners! I want to check out our house and get settled in. It’d be really nice to sleep in our own house tonight!”

“I’m up for it” said Buck, “Let’s go!” Continue reading "Settling In" »

“I want a four dimensional wall around Cat and Buck” Reliant told one of his units. “And use cloaking. I don’t want Hell to find them tonight, let alone disturb them. Who has the healing packages?” An angel waved slightly. “Good. Gentle but complete.”

“The girl I understand” began one angel “but why are we helping Puck?” Continue reading "Pillow Talk" »

Horace looked at Mary. “Better cancel that chopper.” She nodded and made the call. It took time to get help anyway. With the emergency situation as it was an air ambulance might never have arrived, but she made the call just the same.

“The jail is in chaos” said Mary. The guards had to gas the mob and just barely pulled their leader away before they tore him to ribbons. Continue reading "A Heart Full of Hate is its Own Punishment" »

“I don’t like seeing my body like this” said Cat. “It really bothers me for some reason.”

“Close your eyes.” replied Michael. “Gabriel should be back any time now. It usually takes right about one hour.” Continue reading "Thanathos es Necros" »

Rage was still the emotion of the moment for the crowd. They had known and very much liked Cat and Buck. And that is when Agape spoke.

“Bring the bodies into the church.” she said. Continue reading "Even a Lady Has Limits" »

Abbadon smiled to himself as he guided the mob to his quarry. “Put one in the space between those two buildings” he whispered into the Nodalist Pastor’s ear, “and one back there. They will come this way and then you will finally have them. You will finish the job you should have done 14 years ago.” Continue reading "Justice is a Lady: a Very Angry Lady" »

“Jannie?” called Paul “Jannie, where are you?”

“Here babe. What’s up?” responded Jannie, part of a tuna sandwich still in her mouth.

“Can you make us up some simple wedding invites? Buck and Katrina are getting married in a couple hours.” Continue reading "And Justice Loves Weddings" »

Mary saw Katrina and Buck heading to the construction as she left the Mayor’s office to take the blank marriage license that Mayor Cumberland had signed to Pastor Paul. Continue reading "Justice is a Lady" »

An earth quake raged through Hell as Satan smashed the arms on his throne in unspeakable wrath. Fire flew from his uncontrolled frenzy as demons ducked and ran for cover. The floor split open, lava spewed forth, stalactites and stalagmites Continue reading "The Morning After" »

“What is he doing!” screamed Abbaddan. “He’s betraying us! I swear to you Satan he is betraying us again!”

“Puck is no idiot.” said Dagon calmly. “Unlike some, he thinks far ahead. I don’t know what his plan is but that is nothing unusual. We have seen this before and he always has come through.” Continue reading "A Deal is a Deal" »

Paul had called the group together. Jannie, the Loves, Mary, and Cat were there. Well, the ferrets were there too, but you really never knew where they were unless you had some food.

“So now that we are past the storm, we need to form an outreach plan.” began Paul. Continue reading "After the Storm" »

Reply by Karen A Jones on October 12, 2008 at 4:39pm

Mean while, back at the church Jannie was busy preparing for the revival, she was gathering all the Pumpkin Scented Candles she could fine. When she notice a small hole in the wall and thought that she had heard voices coming from the other side. Continue reading "Some Payback Time" »

As Buck turned to walk into the town center and start meeting people there was a skidding sound as a timber slid down the roof, barely missing him, and landing in a mud puddle. The mud splashed up on him, his clothes and face. As he wiped his eyes free of mud a cherry female voice perked up behind him. Continue reading "Ah, Humanity" »

The men headed into the midst of the construction as Cat and Agape headed to what had been the kitchen. They located pots and 20 gallon thermoses and began purifying drinking water for the workers. They could over hear conversation. Continue reading "Angel Man" »

As the crowd approached Puck slipped invisibly next to Mary and prepared his next taunt. “Let’s see” he thought. “Yes, legs of a goat. Hairy. Horns. Red. I must be red.” And when the crowd was close enough to see, for just a moment, Puck appeared, standing next to Mary. Just long enough for the crowd to be sure what they saw. Continue reading "Not Even Halitosis" »

Comment by Karen Anise Jones on September 24, 2008 at 7:49pm

As Puck was waiting for signs of weakness from the small group of belivers, he noticed that a strange feeling started coming over him; he began to shake and tremble and said, “Satan is up to his tricks again.” Continue reading "A Little Thinking Can Be a Dangerous Thing" »

“I haven’t been to a church for almost 14 years “ resumed Mary, “since the clan came to our church and hung my grandpa and burned our church. They killed everyone but me, because my mother saw it coming when the white people came into our service – they were wearing their white robes and hoods, so she knew they meant business. They hung him because he was the pastor, and they called him a heretic. ” Continue reading "Despise Not Small Beginnings" »

Comment by Zachary Lawson on September 20, 2008 at 6:18pm

Upon the blackened, granite throne of hell, sat Satan. An imp by the name of Smee stood close by. Needless to say, Satan was in a dangerous, angered state. His attacks had failed. The hurricane diminished quickly after losing its demonic drive. The townspeople had survived and Cat, meddling Cat still breathed upon the earth. He loathed her with oh such a passion. Continue reading "Sometimes Battles are Won or Lost in our Dreams" »

“Cat honey” said Sis. Love gently, “I think you dropped this. Please forgive me for reading it. I wanted to know to whom it belonged.”

Cat nodded her thanks and sniffed as she placed the neatly folder page back into her torn skirt pocket. Continue reading "A Secret" »

“Cat? Cat! Cat! Are you all right?” Jannie knelt beside Cat where she lay prone on the floor, her glowing amber locks falling carelessly to hide her countenance, the carpet soaked from her tears. Paul was kneeling on the other side holding a fist full of Kleenex tissues as the Loves urged Margaret to her feet. All had felt the call to prayer, all had answered. But none had connected like Cat. Continue reading "The Payload" »

Comment by Karen Anise Jones on September 11, 2008 at 8:01pm

Back at the church Rev. Paul and the others was putting the sanctuary back in order preparing to have service. Jannie thought about the 40 cases of Pumpkin Scented candles that sat in the basement of the church, she thought about how the Holidays where coming and with all this mess breaking out right in front of them, she heard someone in the back ground saying, ” you know that Halloween is coming and you know what they say about who celebrates on that day. Just then Mary butten in and said,” that is just a bounch of hoge wash! there is nothing wrong with that day, another day thats all, besides that is my Birthday and I don’t celebrate that way a good old christian that I am. Continue reading "Alligator Kisses: Escargo. Time for a Delivery" »

Comment by Zachary Lawson on September 10, 2008 at 8:05pm

Chariots of fire swarmed from the sky next to Micheal and Reliant’s side. Simultaneously, the demons of hell began to shriek their battle cry as they emerged in pools of darkness from within the ground. The two sides glared at each other in cold silence. A bolt of lighting struck the ground and the battle began. Continue reading "It Ain’t Over ‘Till It’s Over" »

Comment by Bro. Nash on September 9, 2008 at 3:18pm

Reliant leaned against an outside post which was still holding up the front of the building. He looked nonchalantly at Michael with his eyes passively glowing an ice blue that saw into eternity and quipped “Bet I could have done it with one hand.” “Then you can take the next one” nodded Michael, his glowing white locks blowing mildly in the breeze, as they turned their eyes toward the southern skyline and then the kitchen. “The eye of the storm will pass in a few minutes, then *they* will arrive.”

Both angels pondered the importance of that fact grimly for a moment. The calm before the fight was rarely relaxing. Knowing what must come prevented that.

Reliant nodded grimly. “Will they be ready, you think? I mean this time. They killed the last batch.”

Michael pondered the question with a slight but knowing smile. “These pray. But some of them are young. Maybe they could use a little reminding just to be sure.” He looked carefully at the crowd of humanity huddled under the remains of the roof, still supporting the building with one hand. “The Boss is moving now. Look.”

Philia had finished drying the horse and started to curry the best he could without a decent brush. “She’s hurt.” said a small voice behind him.

He almost jumped out of his skin, but thought better of it: “it’s hard to climb back into your skin when you’re only three feet tall.” thought Philia. “Yes, she has a nasty cut, but there is no vet here.” He replied simply as he turned to look into the glass green eyes of Cat Amiga, a 16 year old lass with glowing crimson locks that framed her countenance in a stunning display of innocent beauty and compassion. Standing on the chair, he reflected with a wry suppressed grin, he could actually look eye to eye with the big people.

“Do you believe the things you had the puppets saying?” she asked, simply. “Of course” he replied. “I have seen it time and again in the mission field. God is good. He loves us, and we can cast all our cares upon him because he cares for us.”

“For all of us?” asked Cat innocently.

Michael and Reliant saw it at the same time. Michael let go of the building and drew his sword with one motion as Reliant pulled his Claymore from its sheath with both hands. Their eyes turned from ice blue to an explosion of red flame that culminated in a white hot golden blaze not unlike that of iron when it is welded. They both moved urgently toward the kitchen — Michael to the left, Reliant to the right. “Where are they?” they thought. “They must be near.”

“Even the things that maybe aren’t really required for us, but that are important to us — food, shelter, the people we love?” asked Cat. “Yes” replied Philia, “He loves us and wants the best for us.”

“And he really can heal?” asked Cat pleading. “You know he really can?”

The room simply stopped talking. The wind outside had died down. There was just an uneasy silence all at once, and the last of Cat’s words were heard by the whole room. Paul looked at Jannie. Something was wrong. Something he had not felt before. Disaster. Death. Pain. All at one time. Why?

Cat walked to face the horse. She looked at the four inch gash on the horses face. She could see the muscle below — it was bad. “Margaret, I don’t know what happened to Sissy, but I love you. In Jesus Name be healed right now.” Her hand raised to touch the horses nose, her eyes closed, Margaret bowed her head as though she were a person in prayer.

“THERE!” shouted Reliant. “In the roof. NOW!”

“I believe You Jesus.” said Cat. “Margaret, in Jesus Name be healed.”

“PRAY! QUICK!” screamed Paul as he fell to his face. “Jesus!” cried Jannie and Agape together as they likewise joined in unconditional agreement. “Blood of Jesus cover us!”

A loud crack sounded overhead as a sixteen inch main supporting beam shattered. The demon smirked as he pulled his decrepit blade from the dying wood. “Fools! They shall die as the others! You should have joined us while you had the chance! Now you shall end as they.”

Michael leaped above Cat and Philia: the beam would kill them if it hit them. Neither had a chance by themselves. The demon leveled his sword at Michael and lunged. Michael deflected the blow with his own blade, delivered an expert kick to the demon’s groin, and placed his body between the beam and the interceding girl below – he could not protect both them and himself.

By the third blow the demon had his goal — a clear shot at Michael’s chest. The pain seemed to be in every member of Michael’s frame at once. He almost lost his hold on the beam as it fought him to resume its race toward its intended victims. The demon raised his sword for the final blow, drew back, then swung with all his hate and venom to cleave the guardian angel in half.

His hand stopped in mid air as his arm continued forward, leaving hand and sword behind to tumble harmlessly away. In pain the demon reeled back and staggered to draw his remaining short sword. Turning, demon blood spurting from his amputated limb he glared wide eyed into the remaining wood of the roof. “Reliant! I know ’tis you! SHOW YOURSELF and fight for your god!”

Reliant stood grimly on the beam behind the demon. Blood dripping from his hungry blade he stared in indifferent hatred at the demon fool before him. “You mean like this?” he calmly propositioned as he stepped out from behind the post. “Would you like your sword back? Oh, but I see it may be shorter than expected.” The demon looked down to see pieces of his broken sword laying at the warring angel’s feet. “I suppose you had better make do with what you have. Because now I have ought to deal with you. Leave now or die the death.”

The beam slowed to a stop in Michael’s hand inches above the praying girl. Philia and Cat ran from the kitchen for a safer area with Margaret behind them, Cat’s hand holding Margaret’s halter. Michael steeled himself, his glowing eyes regaining their intensity, and headed for the demon’s back.

“Everyone out! NOW!” shouted Mayor Horace. “The whole place is liable to come down any minute!” The people ran as one man out the open side of the flagging building, and the ferrets came with them. The Loves grabbed the puppet box with one hand and Paul and Jannie with the other, then half helped, half drug them from the building.

“No need to be shy, fool” chided the wounded demon. “I’ll be quick, and merciful. Come. Bring it!” Michael held his chest together with one hand and his sword with the other as he closed on the demon from behind.

Reliant stood nonchalantly, sword outstretched, waiting for another opportunity to dine on demon rebel flesh. Michael stood silently behind the bragging oppressor and grasped his sword with both hands. “Are you sure?” asked Reliant, with more than a little smirk. “we could schedule your destruction for another day if this is inconvenient for you.”

“You disrespect me too lightly!” screamed the demon. As it raised it’s short sword to lunge at Reliant, Reliant nodded, and Michael brought his sword down with both hands and every ounce of hate he could feel full force onto the top of the demon’s helm. In slow motion it crushed the helm like a rock crashing into a pond of demon blood, then divided it asunder and proceeded down through the demon’s head, blood oozing in its wake. Through it’s neck, dividing its shoulders, its thorax, its thighs, until what was a venomous, bragging, demon was now but two pieces of demon standing for but a moment side by side, before they burst into flames and disappeared in a violent display of damnation as the demon transcended into the Lake of Fire.

Everyone having exited the building, it collapsed in upon itself. “We need shelter fast.” said Mayor Horace to Paul. “Do you people have a building near here?”

With only the fading scent of sulfur lingering, Reliant wiped his blade on a cloth and sheathed it so he could use both his hands, then gingerly helped his wounded comradet. “The next time I get to cut them in half” joked Reliant. “You should have seen the look on its face when your blade hit its helm.”

“Yes” replied Paul. “Everyone, this way!”

The hurricane approached again, the people headed to the church, and Heaven and Hell waited for the next round to begin.

Comment by Karen Anise Jones on September 6, 2008 at 9:34pm

Jannie could not believe what she was seeing, as she stood there with her mouth wide open and her eyes bucking out of her head..the wall was completely gone and there stood the most unbelievable thing she had every seen! Her face pale and speechless she turn to the others and, said, in a low voice” God has surely visit this place!”

Outside the streets where filled with debris and people running around everywhere trying to fine themselves. Paul, Mayor Horace, Rev. Gonefishin stepped out to see what was really happening and to their amazement there stood the most….

Comment by Zachary Lawson on September 7, 2008 at 2:16pm

…snails they had ever seen! Sis. Love explained how, most likely, they had been blown in from the coast by the hurricane. What it meant, no one knew; what to do, no one knew either. All they did was stand there and therorize what to do. Some thought it might have been a sign from God. They were right.

Comment by Bro. Nash on September 7, 2008 at 11:31pm

God wanted them to make escargo. Yes, escargo with mustard. And since one wall of the shelter was now missing, it would be escargo for the whole town.

Comment by Bro. Nash on September 7, 2008 at 11:33pm

In the mean time Mayor Horace had stood on a chair in the kitchen and dryed off the horse. The cut wasn’t nearly as bad as it looked at first, only a couple inches long. It would be ok until a vet could help.

Comment by Bro. Nash on September 3, 2008 at 10:24pm

You remember Mary, the social worker who tried to keep the Loves from entering? Well Mary was there too. She finally decided in the lull that she could reach the puppet stage without drawing too much public attention. “Mrs. Love?” she began, but she never finished. The two missing ferrets exited the stage at that point deeply involved in their own game of tag. When Mary saw them …

Comment by Bro. Nash on September 5, 2008 at 4:32pm

… the scream which she emitted shattered every ear drum for 10 miles and nearly every window…

Comment by Karen Anise Jones on September 5, 2008 at 10:45pm

in the whole town. Mary turned around and started screaming and shouting at Sister Love to get the ferrets. But! but! but! started Sister Love, started to say that the ferrets was not hers but, before she could say anything; Mary began tearing down the puppet stage and scared those poor ferrets right out the door. Rev. Paul, Jannie, Bro. Love, Anna, Rev. Gonefishin, and the children came running to the aide of Sis. Love.

Rev. Gonefishin began to…

Comment by Bro. Nash on September 6, 2008 at 10:46am

Jump up and down on his own. When the children saw this they were amused — the puppet was dancing! But when Mary saw it she turned absolutely pale, wide-eyed, she made the sign of the cross, and slowly backed away.

More cacophony would surely have followed but the right Reverend Gonefishin was apparently on an mission — he headed straight toward the kitchen in the back or the room, and in it to the back door. The room grew quiet as it watched the ferret move the puppet, and in the quite inside, with the huricane raging outside, then heard a unexpected noise.

Wheeeeeeeeee! Whinnie! Wxxxxx. (Ok, so I’m not so great at horse noises.) Mayor Horace C. headed to the door and pulled it open to reveal a young quarter horse mare, wet, scared, and very cold. As he reached his hand out she backed off, apprehensive. He spoke something to the horse that they could not hear, and reached into his pocket. Patiently he waited and she turned: he could see a cut on her face now, down her left cheek. Her barn must have been hit and she ran for her life. He pulled out the remainder of his lunch, an apple, and offered it to her.

Mary, not yet fully recovered from her fright with the “demonic” ferret-puppet, stuttered, “Sir, you can’t bring it in here. City ordanance number …’

Mayor Horace cut her off with a smile as the mare stepped through the door into the room, warm with the body heat of the people. “Now, Mary” he joked, “We can’t send a horse out on a knight like this!”

Comment by Zachary Lawson on September 6, 2008 at 11:36am

*RIMSHOT*

Comment by Zachary Lawson on September 6, 2008 at 11:39am

“Oh whatever” Mary said as the horse entered the bulding. By this time, the Loves had somewhat rebulit the puppet stage and were going along in the show pretty good when suddenly Sis. Love had a great idea…

Comment by Zachary Lawson on September 6, 2008 at 3:51pm

She would include the horse in the puppet show! It had limited verbal skills after all and they were short on people as well as puppets. However, just before she could put her idea into action, the building creaked and the walls buckled slightly as the wind outside howled louder and fiercer. Then, it abruptly stopped. Jannie cracked open the door to see what had happened. She gasped at what she saw..

This was a small town, not New Orleans, and the community center was a humble but lovingly constructed wood frame building with real wood floors and beautifully carved doors. The scene was anything but peaceful — a harried social worker with a clipboard stood on the steps directing two more harried social workers as they tried to calm a few very frightened single mothers with the crying children in their arms and holding to their skirts.

“Name.” she began.

Paul stepped forward. “Paul and Jannie Edwards, with Philo and Agape Love. The Loves are skilled children’s entertainers and brought their puppets.”

“Aren’t you that new preacher?” the woman with the clipboard asked. :”This is a public building. No religion is welcome in here. You’ll have to take your religious puppets and go somewhere else.”

The other two social workers had stopped where they were. One walked toward her supervisor. “Mary, the kids are already impossible to manage. The adults and derelicts will go nuts if we don’t do something soon to get these kids calmed down.”

Mary glared at her outspoken volunteer with such animosity that the storm seemed peaceful for a moment. “As I recall, Anna” she began, “Mayor Cumberland pays me to do this job, not you.” she stated with caustic venom everyone present could feel. “We have more than enough to deal with right now. IF you can’t take direction then I want you out of here, now. Well?”

“What are you two doing in my town!” snapped a voice behind them. “Phili Love you old dog! Welcome!”

“Horace Cumberland!” laughed Bro. Love as the Mayor gave him a bear hug. “How long has it been since we kicked terrorist hiney together? Seems like a million years!”

“Tell the parents to get the children seated around that desk at the end of the room” said Paul to Anna. “Tell them there is going to be a puppet show and start them singing something happy. Do you know Sons of Abraham? That will keep them occupied and get their minds off the storm.”

Anna nodded, worked feverishly to suppress a broad grin, turned on her heal and jogged into the building. “I told you he’d be here” whispered Jannie.

Comment by Kathie Richards on September 2, 2008 at 2:09pm

Jannie said “thank you Lord for showing me what to do with those candles. Thank you for helping me spread the light in more ways than one”

Comment by Bro. Nash on September 3, 2008 at 1:13pm

“Father Abraham, had seven sons! Seven Sons had Faaaather Abraham!” started Anna, followed by the children. The children crowded together and watched Anna as the Loves converted the puppet box into a portable stage.

Outside the storm raged progressively worse. “We need God’s Spirit in this place to bring peace in this storm” Paul told Janie. They held hands and quietly, briefly, plead the blood of Christ over their town and these people, and asked for his peace here. They all felt the Spirit move.

Outside the storm raged progressively worse, but inside that humble building peace came to watch a puppet show.

Comment by Karen Anise Jones on September 3, 2008 at 5:33pm

As the people gather to together for the puppet show, the spirit of God was so strong that instead of a show it became a praise and worship service. Anna leading the songs finished with the song, “The Spirit Of the Lord is Hear!”.

Paul moving in the Holy Ghost began to ministry to the need of the people and laying of the hands praying for those that had asked for prayer. As he was doing this Jannie began handing out the candles and saying Jesus is the light of the world and let him guide your path with his love.

When the Loves finished putting the puppet stage up, Sis. Love said, “Lord what more can I do to reach the people with the puppet show.” In a low soft gentle voice the Lord spoke to her heart.

Comment by Karen Anise Jones on August 30, 2008 at 7:52am

As she was thinking on this, she heard Paul asking her what was her plans on selling the the candles. She turned to him and said,” well I was thinking about selling some of them to Reverend Samuel Gonefishin and the Evangelist when they come to dinner tonight. Then Paul jokingly said why don’t you just sell them all 20 cases, that way you don’t have to worried your pretty little head about sell them. Jannie smile and said that is a good ideal but, God gave me this job to do and I am not planning on disappointing him; besides I will not be able to witness to the people about how great your sermons are. As they sat discussing their plans on how to sell the Pumpkin Pie scented candles the door bell ranged.

Comment by Barbara Barrow Bliss on August 30, 2008 at 11:00am

Paul had only moments ago come out of the shower. Therefore, Paul did not know about a ferret. Paul did not know about a miniature crocodile. Paul was becoming more aware of wet soggy boxes of pumpkin candles appearing all over his house. Paul was used to unusual things going on in his house and with his lovely wife Jannie. Sometimes it seemed like “disaster” was Jannie’s middle name. He jokingly often told her in a fake Cuban accent “I LOVE JANNY!” like Desi Arnaz used to remark about Lucille Ball. But nothing, NOTHING prepared him for was was waiting on the other side of the front door.

Comment by Ninja on August 30, 2008 at 6:27pm

Suddenly Goliath lunged past him and ran down the hall. Paul being deathly afraid of crocodile screams at the top of his lungs running in a circle dancing while saying oh my god oh my god oh my god. Jannie finding him hysterically losing control remembers his phobia and smacks her self in the head. What now she exhumed in a heavy sigh. Upon seeing Jamie Paul jumps in her arms still wet and shaking with only merely a towel. Sis Love coming in seeing this turns red barely containing herself from bursting out in laughter and leaves the room again. “Bro love I think you better take care of Goliath and put him back in his cage.” she exclaims

Comment by Karen Anise Jones on August 30, 2008 at 8:01pm

Jamie Paul still shaking for the incident turns to Jannie and said, “next time that door bell rings my dear you need to answer it or you will be praying me through to the Holy Ghost again. Sis Love was so tickle that she would not contain her laughter any longer, as she lift with Goliath closing the door behind her Paul and Jannie heard her laughting and tring to tell the mailman what had just happen. Mailman Bearerofgoodnews said, well I hope that he is over that because I have

Comment by Ninja on August 31, 2008 at 11:27am

an order of 40 cases of pumpkin pie candles for you right hear and a mysterious package from Transylvania that contains…

Comment by Bro. Nash on August 31, 2008 at 10:36pm

…. an explanation on how they were standing in the kitchen talking one moment and then all at once outside the door….

Comment by Kathie Richards on August 31, 2008 at 11:22pm

the wind starts blowing and it starts raining and the mailman announces the hurricane is coming….lets all go to the church and pray for everyones safety…….

Comment by Karen Anise Jones on September 1, 2008 at 12:17am

As they where leaving for the church; without any warning Mailman Bearerofgoodnews came to an sudden stop! He stood staring wide eyed at something or someone standing in the corner of the porch…

Comment by Bro. Nash on September 1, 2008 at 10:03am

The puppet The Right Reverend Samuel Gonefishin stood leaning against the porch railing, almost as if it were more than a small cloth hand puppet. “He’s trying to tell us something” said Sis Love. “Church is not a building. Church is the body of Christ. It is Us.”

“And where two or more of us are gathered” continued Bro. Love, “he is in the midst. Let’s take church to them.”

Sis. Love bent over and scooped up The Right Reverend Samuel Gonefishin, then stood there. They all seemed to feel the same idea, and then in unity. Paul and Jannie, the Loves, ferrets, and The Right Reverend Samuel Gonefishin headed …

Comment by Bro. Nash on September 1, 2008 at 10:36am

.. nowhere. “It occurs to me” said Paul, now dressed in proper preacher clothes, “that we should go where we are needed the most.” The group all turned to the postal carrier as Paul continued “Where are we needed the most?”

“At the community center downtown” answered the postman easily, ” The well to do folks have their own ways, but the poor only have children. They live in rented ran shackle houses and can’t afford their own transportation. The city collects as many as they can find and brings them to the community center. ” HE paused a minute for the image of so many poor all collected together in one place, frightened and alone in the crowd, then he ocntinued “But the city knows nothing about taking care of people beyong that. A loving heart and a good team of puppets could keep the childrens mind off of the storm.”

Bro. Love went back and picked up the puppet box, then asked the postman “Which way to the Center?”

“It’s in the center of town” replied the postman with a gentle smile, “that way.”

They started off toward the center, then turned to thank the postman. “Aren’t you coming with us?” Paul started: but he was gone. In the middle of the deserted street. Wind blowing shingles and trash around. Behind them, where the postman had been, was nothing.

“I think he’ll be there” said Jannie. “Bring some candles and matches.”

(Comment by Kathie Richards on August 28, 2008 at 11:05pm)

Oh no !! Candle wax started oozing out of the oven. By this time the water from the master bath had snaked its way toward the kitchen and Janie slipped down and landed in the warm candle wax and the water. What a mess.

(Comment by Bro. Nash on August 28, 2008 at 11:14pm)

“Oh, the box that was in the oven I set on the sink when I put in the pizza. I didn’t notice anything else. I’m sorry if I hurt something” said Bro. Love. “Oh it’s nothing” replied Jannie. “And I will take care of the dishes later.”

“Phili! Are you trying to cook again?!” came the kind voice from behind them. I could only have been Sis. Agape Love.

(Comment by Alison Foster on August 28, 2008 at 11:58pm)

She too was a midget only she was 3 foot and 11 inches tall, even shorter than Bro Love!!!! But that didn’t stop her from having bounds and bounds of energy, she bounced in with her big huge tote bag on her arm with air holes in it, now what could that be…. all of a sudden they hear a noise, “bark, bark, bark”, Oh no Goliath has made his presence known, what to do what to do!!! For Goliath was a…….

(Comment by Ninja on August 29, 2008 at 1:18am)

crocodile. For the Loves were missionaries from Australia and had a barking crocodile. This little guy was hungry to as he tried to bite into Jannie’s leg. Bro love quickly grabbed the barking crocodile and subdued him. The crocodile was very small as he was a midget barking crocodile. He managed to get away and crawl through the candle wax leaving many crocodile foot shaped wax prints all over the house. Get back hear before you break something Goliath. It was to late Goliath had all ready…

(Comment by Kathie Richards on August 29, 2008 at 2:52pm)

….stepped in the middle of the the candles on the floor. CRUNCH!.there went another box of candles. jannie said “man this is like a circus around here.” She started singing her little Jesus tune again. it was that or go crazy from the nonsense that was happening……

(Comment by Celeste (Saxon) Slatter on August 29, 2008 at 4:30pm)

As she hummed, she scrubbed furiously at the wax on the floor, then the counter. Sis. Gonefishin grabbed a towel and joined in the effort.

“Say, Sister,” began Jannie, “you wouldn’t happen to know anyone interested in buying some candles, would you? The holidays are close and just so happens I know where there are some lovely Pumpkin-scented candles.” Jannie would have said more, but at that moment she was interrupted by the sound of the smoke alarm….

(Comment by Bro. Nash on August 29, 2008 at 9:42pm)

As Goliath climbed into the leaking cabode Sis. Agape Love looked down at the floor to see her puppet, Sis. Gonfishin, swabbing away with a towel. “The Wal-mart on the corner said we can sell the candles there this weekend,” explained Jannie, “and they will match our sales with a donation from their store. It is a good thing these are fairly thick candles in the glass bowls, or they would have been ruined by now!”

“Sister Love” began Jannie, “I have a terribly personal question to ask you.”

Jannie paused pensively. Sis Love simply waited, smiling knowingly at what would have to come next.

“Go ahead” replied Sis. Love curiously, “what would you like to know?”

“Well sister, I just gotta know, why you are standing there so calmly when a puppet is under your feet, mopping the floor, apparently all by itself.”

“Oh”, she laughed. “Is that all? When we pulled up Phili let the ferrets out. They beat us into the house while you were upstairs. We trained them to help with the puppets, the kids love it, and it makes the adults wonder HOW a puppet can walk around on its own.”

With one deft sweep, she dipped down and scooped the puppet up, leaving behind a young ferret, which resumed mopping the floor, without the puppet.

“They actually think the puppets belong to them” sighed Sis Love.

(Comment by Barbara Barrow Bliss on August 28, 2008 at 6:39pm)

“Oh, Reverend….” the little yellow puppet stretched as far as he could stretch without a hand and arm inside of him. His tiny head not only looked right and left, but it could also spin all the way around………and then…..all the way around back the other way.

“Reverend?” His voice was more subdued. “Reverend??” Now he was just whispering.

(Comment by Bro. Nash on August 28, 2008 at 10:54pm)

Jannie had heard her husband’s plea and quickly excused herself from the as-yet un-introduced real live person who was the puppeteer. While she extradited Paul from the pile of candles she heard various small sounds downstairs, like someone bringing a suitcase and other items into the house.

Having extracted a brief smooch from her husband she sped back downstairs to discover the door closed, the puppet laying on an end table, and no human in site.

A soft voice behind her came from the kitchen. “Oh hello! I’m happy to meet you now. I just brought a few things in — house present you know — when we visit our Home Missionaries Agape and I like to bring some food and such with us — don’t want to be a burden you know.”

Jannie turned, expecting to look into the kind face of Bro. Love, but saw nothing. “We’ve not met before” the voice continued “It is a pleasure!” For a moment Jannie was almost unnerved — a voice from no where spake! But as her eye searched for the source of the voice, she saw movement from her peripheral vision — down. There, directly in front of her, was a middle aged man, the perfect image of what a 50 something seasoned evangelist should look like. Except, he was no more than four feet tall, head to toe!

“Ah. Yes, I’m a midget” Bro Love said happily. “It’s a gift from God that has given us an advantage time and again to do His work as no one else could! Don’t be embarrassed now. Agape will be in in just a moment — she went to the car for the rest of the puppets. I put a pizza in the oven for us.”

“Why, you didn’t have to do that” Jannie started. “Oh I saw your fruit salad, and it will be delicious!” Bro. Love continued, “but please allow us the pleasure of contributing to the meal too. Does your oven dial work accurately? I set it to 450.”

“Oh it seems to be pretty close” replied Jannie as she turned to look out the door for Sis. Love, “I’ve never had any .. THE OVEN!

Jannie remembered her husbands favorite comfy shirt needed to be put in the dryer,so she gave it a quick toss with a dryer sheet as she went to prepare the fried porkchops. Suddenly she smelt even more pumpkin…..oh no….

(Comment by Ellen Trayler on August 26, 2008 at 12:52am)

the dryer! the candles! quickly opening the dryer door and removing the slightly spotted shirt “well not to bad”as hubby comes thru the back door “thanks hon, that’s just the shirt i wanted to wear tonight when the evangelist comes” he says on his way to the shower with shirt in hand bbuutt …… she stammers

(Comment by Ninja on August 26, 2008 at 10:20pm)

Wondering why her husband did not notice the strong pumpkin smell she watches as he slams the door to the bathroom and turns the water on. She knew on days like this her husband would be in their for close to half an hour completing ignoring everything around him. This was his time. His time to forget all else and enjoy a hot bath. Well now what Jannie thought. My time is short and unless I can come up with a solution my goose is cooked.

(Comment by Bro. Nash on August 26, 2008 at 10:23pm)

“Baby, I’m moving your candles so I can use the shower. Mercy! There must be 10 cases of these things!” called Paul.

“Well, it seems that is what God wanted us to do dear” Jannie quipped as she headed off to answer the door.

(Comment by Barbara Barrow Bliss on August 27, 2008 at 10:41am)

Neither Paul nor Jannie had noticed the slight trail of water that had snaked itself from the base of the commode in the master bathroom, under the door, out and down the hall to the living room floor and the bottom of those cases of candles.

Paul reached down to attempt to pick up two cases at one time, unaware of the drenched bottom of the box.

(Comment by Bro. Nash on August 27, 2008 at 6:07pm)

(Ding-Dong!)(Ding-Dong!)(Ding-Dong!)

(knockknockknockknock!)

(click! Squeeeee!) The Right Reverend Samuel Gonefishin popped his head inside. “Hey! Anybody home?! Hello?”

Jannie heard the voice before she could see the evangelist. What she did not expect left her in rolls of laughter as she saw The Right Reverend Samuel Gonefishin, a bright yellow hand puppet, staring at her from the now ajar door.

“Hello? Anybody home?” shouted the puppet. “Well, come right in and bring your puppeteer with you!” offered Jannie in her most mature and hospitable voice. “the kids are waiting!”

(Comment by Alison Foster on August 28, 2008 at 4:21pm)

all of a sudden a loud awful crash was heard from the direction of the bathroom where Paul was fixing to take a bath, “Jannie come quick, ouch that hurt, ohhhh help me please!!!!!

(Comment by Ellen Trayler on August 28, 2008 at 6:12pm)

like a flash Jannie was up the stairs, but when she rounded the corner waves of laughter over took her.Candles were every where .rolling down the hallway,in the tub, in the commode.In between laughter she said “my, my the Lord sure does have a sense of humor!

(Comment by Bro. Nash on August 28, 2008 at 6:16pm)

The cute little puppet wondered why he had been abandoned until he notices one candle come bouncing down the stairs and roll right up to the door, where it obediently stopped.

“Ummmmm!” he said, “PUMPKIN! My FAVORITE!”

(Comment by Bro. Nash on August 24, 2008 at 1:51am)

The candles would sell: Jannie just knew it. God sent them to start this church — it was His work! He would see that it could support itself financially. Her husband had more than enough on his mind trying to organize this inner city outreach, so she would take care of hearth and home, be the best hostess she could. She was 20! That’s old enough! She would be the best Pastor’s wife ever!

But the candles. If that order form had just been a little more clear! She asked for 20 candles: what would Paul say when he found 20 cases of candles sitting in their living room?

(Comment by Ninja on August 24, 2008 at 1:52pm)

20 Cases! 20 cases of Pumpkin Pie scented candles. How in the world did this order get so messed up. What would she do with all that wax? Pacing the floor she anticipated the blank stare of her husband bearing down on her with a confused look: Jannie was determined to come up with a solution. The air thickened as her mind meticulously tried to turn the gears in her mind to determine how she would explain a total of 400 candles. The clock threatened with its quite ticks ever reminding her of her husbands return at 5:00 PM. He had promised he would be home in time and rarely did he not keep his promises. 10:12 AM. Plenty of time to try and determine what to do…but what?

(Comment by Bro. Nash on August 24, 2008 at 9:55pm)

And more importantly, with the Evangelist coming this afternoon where to put them? A few creative minutes later, and Jannie was happily humming as she dusted their meager living room furniture and vacuumed the rug. The dishwasher, the oven, the clothes dryer, the shower downstairs — no one would ever look there. And of course, one candle was neatly seated on the coffee table in the living room. “Now all I have to do is understand how God wants me to sell these candles”, she thought, before the rent comes due. That is a problem with COD deliveries.

But, realizing that it was God’s problem and not hers, she turned her thoughts to more pressing matters. What to make for dinner. Something that did NOT need an oven …

Paul and Jannie Edwards had no idea what they were to face when they volunteered to start a new church in an unchurched town near the gulf. A pair of home missionaries just out of Bible School, a seasoned missionary couple, some veterans of the desert shield operation, a race hate group embedded in religious extremists, angels, demons, and one red headed fireball. Add a simple huricane and stir.

Our first Short Story — the story continues with Cat’s in the Cradle II & III.

Characters:
Paul and Jannie Edwards. About 20 something. They are Home Missionaries just out of Bible College, married less than a year.

Philia and Agape Love. 50 something. Seasoned missionaries turned evangelists. They are sent to various home missions works to mentor the missionaries and help get the work started. They are midgits of ancient Egyptian linage, 2nd generation in the US. Philia is a veteran of Desert Shield and Desert Storm in the 1990′s, where he and (now mayor) Horace Cumberland worked together in the same military unit. They used trained ferrets for various missions and earned the name Ghost Patrol for their almost magical accomplishments.

Mary — 30. Granddaughter of a One God Holiness preaching Apostolic pastor, she suffered incredible emotional hurt at the age of 16 when the KKK murdered her grandfather and basically everyone she knew, then burned the church, because they baptized in Jesus Name and spoke in tongues. She has a masters degree in social science and is 2nd in command under Mayor Cumberland.

Katrina Svenson — 16. Her parents were the only white members of Mary’s church. They were killed with the other saints, but kept her alive because she was an infant. She has been raised by a childless couple in the church (of the KKK members) who murdered her parents and told her family died in an automobile accident.

Reliant, Michael, Gabriel, Puck, Abbaddon, Dagon — spirit forces.

Nodalist Church. A fictitious religious group that opposes Oneness of God, Baptism using the actual Name of Jesus, and refers to speaking in tongues under the anointing of the Holy Ghost as “of the devil” because “tongues has ceased”. This is done to avoid naming any particular denomination, which would be unfair or possibly defamatory.