Month: September 2023

God and Girl is my first novel, written in 2015. I'll post it, a chapter a day, over the next few weeks.

“Good morning to all. Thanks for coming out to worship our Lord and Savior this glorious Sunday morning.” Dad said.

It was now my last day of summer vacation. Tomorrow, my 9th grade school year will begin. I have a feeling my old life is ending, my childhood even.  My race to adulthood will start. I am scared and excited.  Starting high school is not the pivotal moment here. I am speaking mainly of Ellen. She has walked into my life and already changed the computer in my mind and the heaven in my heart. Part of being scared is what I feel happening in my faith, my faith in God, and my faith in Dad.

This is scary because this has been my life so far. Was that my childhood? Were these things just a pacifier until I was ready to walk on my own?

“Ladies and gentlemen, we are at a key point in history, a major crossroads. Not since the days of slavery here in America have we, the church, and we Christians, faced such a threat to our religious freedom. We know that America dealt with slavery head on during the Civil War but also during the 1960’s. The result of the Civil War was legal freedom for slaves. But, it took over 100 years for real laws to provide real freedom to slaves. I’m speaking of the civil rights laws, including voting rights for blacks, in the 1960’s to truly make a difference for every black man and woman here in America.

Today, the tide is reversing. The law-making government is still in business. And now it is making laws to take away our civil rights and give so-called civil rights to homosexuals. Will these freedom-making laws start the next Civil War in America?

There is no argument that our Bible says that homosexuality is a sin. That is, if you believe the Bible. Let me ask you. Do you? Do you believe in an inerrant Bible?  Assuming we do believe in inerrant and infallible scripture, what difference does it make?  We have to ask ourselves, are we willing to die for our faith? In other words, the past is over, today is here.  Are we going to provide sufficient evidence for our persecutors, for our children’s children, that they could easily conclude we were in fact Christians?  This is where we are. We must decide if we are going to live out our faith, or continue to be satisfied being called a Christian, just showing up for church on Sunday morning.   Are we going to spend the rest of the week going about our daily lives without stepping onto the path where the enemy is steadily marching with laws, lasers, and loud chants that they will not be denied their right to marry?  Are we going to stand by the roadside and let the enemy steal a non-existent right to equal treatment under the law, including the right to be married by me right here in this church?

I said earlier today the tide is turning in reverse. Think with me carefully. Blacks are real people. They didn’t choose to be born black. They were born black because of God, because of God’s plan. They are of inherent value. They are just like we are. They are human. If we as whites have, as our Declaration of Independence says, inalienable rights, then blacks do too. For many reasons, blacks have been persecuted by whites.  We finally, after way too long a time, got it right. Yes, there is still racism, but much progress has been made to give blacks the respect they deserve. Now, don’t say that I am satisfied that blacks are treated today as equals with whites in every way. No, we have miles and miles to go. But, what was the catalyst that repositioned blacks to have the power to be treated as humans, equals with whites?  It was the law.

Note it is the law, American law, law as stated by the U.S. Supreme Court, that is now repositioning Christians and taking away our power, the power of religious freedom. The common argument out in secular land focuses on the homosexuals, the gays, that the new law is providing them with the right to be treated as equals. But, gays are not blacks. We have seen why blacks were being persecuted. Nowhere in scripture do you see that blacks are inferior, that they are not human, that to be black is a sin.  However, the Bible does say that homosexual behavior is sin. Ladies and gentlemen, we must stay with the Bible. Homosexuality is a sin. It is a behavior that a person chooses to engage in, like adultery or stealing.

What our government is doing, through its Supreme Court decision, is attacking our Bible. No, it is rewriting our Bible. It is saying that the Bible has it all wrong–that homosexual behavior is not a sin, that homosexuals have an inalienable right to be homosexuals, like blacks have an inalienable right to be blacks and be treated equally with whites. Our government is telling us Christians, that your day is over, that your beliefs are outdated and that things must change if we are going to progress.

Ladies and gentlemen, I see dark days ahead. The government, under pressure from the newly enlightened, will not stop their lawmaking with giving homosexuals a constitutional right to marry. I truly believe this is the tip of the iceberg. I believe your freedom to worship how you want is about to be denied, that public worship will become a thing of the past, that your only right to worship will be behind your bedroom door and silently in your heart. I believe that the Christian church as we know it is about to become the new slavery.   We Christians will be the new slaves. We will be told what to do, how to do it, and when to do it. Churches will no longer have their special privilege under our tax law. Our tax exemption will be destroyed.

What do we do? Do we sit by and let this happen? Or do we, like the early Christians, take a stand for what we believe?  Are we true Christians?

I have tried this morning to lay out my understanding of what is going on and what I believe is about to happen. Some of you, maybe many of you, will disagree. We can have disagreements over things that haven’t happened, things we might call speculations. But, friends, family, we absolutely know that the U.S. Supreme Court has already ruled that gays have a right, a constitutional right, to marry. This is not speculation. This alone should wake us up. This alone should motivate us to take a stand.

This is what I think we should do. I have been meeting and talking for several weeks with Doug Carter from the home office of the Southern Baptist Convention. We have delved deeply into what is going on. We have tried to come up with a response, a visible and vocal response to the Supreme Court’s decision. Here is what we propose.

We will organize a march from Boaz across the big bridge in Guntersville. Why a march? For one reason, it is symbolic. It symbolizes the Selma to Montgomery march led by Dr. Martin Luther King in 1965. That march was a march for black freedom. Let us never forget the opposition that those brave black men and women faced on that march and on the Edward Pettis Bridge when confronted by law enforcement and white citizens who used violence to try and turn back the marchers. But, they were defeated themselves, because of the faith and commitment of the black leaders and followers.

Our march will be for religious freedom, and we too may face opposition. I pray it not be violent opposition, but we must be willing to face even that. Hopefully, our church will not be alone on this march. We will be inviting every Christian church in the area to participate. We will also allow any other Christian church, those out of the area, to come and participate. What do we hope to accomplish? Exposure to begin with. But, the goal is to influence our nation and our leaders to return to Christ, to return to God’s law, thereby restoring religious freedom to this country, the very reason this country was founded.” Dad said.

In a strong sense, I am proud of my Dad. He is a man of conviction, a man of action. He is true to his beliefs. I am also scared. I can’t put my finger on it but all that Dad said in his sermon seems foreboding, like it is predicting something in my own life. A battle? My own battle? Hopefully, I am wrong. Hopefully, that feeling is just my stomach ready for Mom’s famous taco salad we plan to have today for lunch. How silly I am. That was the old me talking, the child in me refusing to die. Well, like it or not, my childhood days are over.

Mom’s taco salad was great as usual, even though I think I like it better with chicken instead of hamburger. Dad didn’t press things, hardly mentioning his sermon, although I did learn that Mom herself will be involved in helping organize Christian voters.  Mainly we talked about last minute things we needed to do to get ready for school tomorrow. After dessert, leftover peach cobbler from Thursday night, I came to my room. I needed a nap.

I lay across my bed, but the thoughts of Ellen flowed like the waves of water across Niagara Falls. I remembered last night’s talk about poetry and got excited that we would be together in Mr. Johnson’s Poetry class.  Journey to love was such a peaceful and satisfying phrase. I got up and sat at my desk and opened my poetry notebook to an empty page.

Where are you my love?

I am thinking of you.

Do you hear me?

Do you feel me?

How can I call you my love?

We have just met.

But, haven’t we known each other forever?

Wasn’t I there, silently, secretly, last winter when you were lonely, and longing to find me, longing to touch my face and kiss my lips?

Oh, my dearest Ellen, be honest with me, please have been honest with me last night by the fire.

Your words about a journey to love with me, with you, with us, were the start of our lives together.

I meant every word.

I pray you were wholly honest with me.

You have already changed my life and I have never held your hand, I have never lay in your lap and considered your blue eyes. I have never walked with you, swam with you, biked with you, but maybe I have.

Yes, my life has changed already by you smiling at me. You, all of you, the you that this world cannot contain, is penetrating my mind, it is shaking up old pillars of faith, I thought were immovable.

I am yours my dearest Ellen.

I give you every right to me.

I give you the right to love me. I give you the right to know me through and through.

I give you the right, us the right, to walk together, me with you, you with me, forward, hand in hand, arm in arm, heart in heart, no matter the fight, no matter the law, God’s or man’s.

I am reaching for you

my love,

reaching my hand

out to you.

Take it my love,

and let’s start our

journey to love.

Well, these words just came. Simple words, to some, silly words. But to me, words from my heart, words that I meant for sweet and lovely Ellen.

I rewrite my words, my poem, on good paper, heavy bond, and seal them up in a matching envelope, a white envelope, one of innocence and purity.

I will give it to Ellen tomorrow in poetry class.

God and Girl is my first novel, written in 2015. I'll post it, a chapter a day, over the next few weeks.

I finally read my Biology assignment on Saturday afternoon.

I would need to reread it before class on Monday, but I sure got the feeling that religion and evolution were like oil and water.  They were incompatible.

I couldn’t help but feel like I had been living under a rock my entire life. I felt overly protected, especially by my Dad and the church. It seemed odd but quite interesting, even a little exciting, to think that anyone could say there was another viewpoint on the origins of life and that religion was a myth. My religion? My Christianity? A myth?

The Introduction and Chapter One was, unsurprisingly, about evolution.  The author’s understanding and related beliefs got me to thinking that maybe the Bible isn’t all I thought it was, maybe not all I had forever been told it was.  If life, plants, animals, fish, birds, bacteria, have a common ancestor that originated billions of years ago, then it seems rather clear that there could be no Adam and Eve, or any other life forms spoken into creation by God as the Bible describes.

This all makes me wonder what, if anything at all, in the Bible is true, truly happened.

Dad would die if he knew what I was thinking.

As often is the case on Saturday night, Lisa, Sarah, and I hang out at Ryan’s house. Mrs. Grantham met me at the front door and said she liked my hair pulled back and then said everyone was already in the rec room.  She told me to head on down since she knows I already know my way around.  

“Hey there wonder girl.” Ryan said as I walked into the rec room.

“Back at you wonder boy, here’s some chips, dip, and a case of Evian natural spring water. You know I gotta have my mountain minerals.”

“The gang is out on the patio with a potential recruit. Let’s head out.” Ryan said.

As we walked out the sliding glass doors onto the patio I seemed to freeze. There, once again, was Ellen, the drop-dead gorgeous Ellen. At Nina’s, I had some way missed her curly black hair, maybe I recall she was wearing a baseball cap. But, I had not missed her oceanic eyes, deep blue, dazzling, penetrating my heart. Or, it seemed. And, something else I had missed, she was much more developed than me. Baggy clothes like she had on at Nina’s had hidden her figure. Now, she had on shorts and a sleeveless blouse, a little lower cut than my mom would let me wear, even to family dinners with only family present. She was smiling at me. That same mysterious smile I remembered when we were parting at Nina’s, when she said she looked forward to seeing me again.

“Ellen, I doubt if you have met Ruthie.” Ryan said.

“Are you always behind with your facts, Mr. Ryan? Ruthie and I met days ago. That’s when I learned you two were lovers.” Ellen said.

Ryan was so embarrassed, he is naturally shy, and now he had been so directly besmirched. It seems Ellen was quick on her feet and quite open with her thoughts.

“Ryan, have you been two-timing me?” Lisa just had to throw in.

“Okay, enough, enough. Ellen, you are too much.” Ryan countered.

“Well, Mr. Hotshot, love is a multifaceted thing. You and Lisa quickly jumped to the wrong but natural conclusion. Couldn’t it be true that you love Ruthie and that Ruthie loves you. You guys are friends aren’t you, and long-time friends at that from what Sarah tells me? So, don’t you two love each other, at least in a just-friend’s kind of way?” Ellen said.

“Well, I guess you could say that.” Ryan added.

“Just when I was beginning to think my dreams had come true. Just when I had believed that Ryan was my favorite of all my many lovers.” I added.

“Oh, so you are funny and quick yourself?” Ellen asked.

“Not really, just finally getting a chance to tell Ryan how I feel, how I’ve been feeling about him for a long, long time.” I said, giggling along with Ellen and Lisa.

“Okay, again, enough.” Ryan holding up his hands as though he was warning us to stand put, to shut our mouths. His face was just turning from red hot to warm pink when Sarah walked up with Sam, Ryan’s golden retriever.

“Hi Ruthie. Ryan, your creek is just about dried up. You need to buy more water, so we will have our natural soul music when we build our fire.” Sarah said.

Ryan and his family live out in the country. Their place has a back yard that backs up to a big creek that usually has quite a bit of water flowing through. Unfortunately, it hasn’t rained much this summer and the creek has about dried up. The creek is lined with big oak trees at the back of Ryan’s yard.  We built a fire ring out of big rocks we pulled from the creek.  We love sitting around the fire away from the world, down by the creek, out under the stars.  It is one of our favorite pastimes.  We do it every week, or at least every Saturday night that we can.

“I know, I know we need water. I’m praying for rain but still waiting.” Ryan said.

“So, when it rains, will you believe it was because of your praying?” Ellen asked Ryan.

“Wow, what a question. Are you making fun of my praying, of my religion?” Ryan asked.

“No, not at all. I just was trying to learn a little more about how you think. Maybe I was just warning you a little, tossing you a softball. Warning you that my Mom in Biology class will be trying to teach us critical thinking. She has this policy that nothing is too fragile, too off-limits, to talk about if it could be relevant to the current issue.” Ellen said.

“Okay, thanks for the tip.” Ryan said looking at me as though he was about to faint, as though he needed a wall to lean against.

“I’m starved. Let’s eat.” Lisa said with perfect timing.

“I brought Smoky Q’s famous chicken wings. You guys can thank my mom later.” Sarah said as we all came back inside the rec room from the patio.

After we all made our plates and sat down at the big round table Sarah asked Ellen if she missed Chicago.

“In a way, I do. It was a great place if you like living with a million-other people and like always having something fun and interesting to do. But, so far, I like Boaz. It is such a simple place, a laidback place, a place that I feel I will be able to get to know myself much better. Also, it’s a great place to meet new friends.  Thank you, guys, for inviting me and including me tonight in your special group.” Ellen said.

“How was school in Chicago?” Lisa said.

“I went to a private school in my sixth, seventh, and eighty grade years. A lot of private schools are religious schools. This was not. It was a private secular school. Now, don’t think it was therefore atheist. It was a great school with great teachers. It was all about education. You were treated with respect and expected to contribute.” Ellen said.

After we ate, Ryan’s mom asked him if he would go pick up his sister across town at a friend’s house. He asked Lisa if she wanted to ride with him. She did. Sarah, Ellen and I started cleaning things up.

“You two go on down to the fire. I’ll finish up here and be down in a little while. I have a call I need to make.” Sarah said.

Ellen and I walked down to the fire. Ryan, an Eagle scout, loved fire. He always built the fire before we arrived. He said that none of us knew how and that a good fire takes time and needs to settle in.

“It’s a little warm for a fire, don’t you think?” Ellen said as we pulled our chairs back a little.

“You won’t get any argument here.” But, it makes good light and it makes for good conversation. There is just something unifying about sitting around a fire.” I said.

“I don’t know much about sitting around an outside fire, but I suspect it could also be quite romantic with the right person.” Ellen said.

“I suspect you are right. Darn, I know you are. I guess it is every girl’s dream to meet just the right person and start a journey to love.” I said.

“I like that, journey to love. I might use that in a poem or some other writing.” Ellen said.

“Do you like poetry?” I asked.

“Yes, it is my anchor. It is what gets me through the rough spots in life. Maybe it will be my way to love. Maybe I will soon start a journey to love.”  Ellen said.

“Wow. I love poetry too. I’m taking poetry class this year, with Mr. Johnson.” I said.

“Awesome. Me too. I chose it and art as my two electives. Of course, you know already about me being in art class.” Ellen said.

“Seems like we have quite a bit in common.” I said.

“Yes. Maybe we will start our own journey to love in poetry class. Funny me. I guess I was trying to say, you could start your journey to love with someone, and I could start my journey with someone else.” Ellen said.

“Or, you could have been saying that we could start our journey to love together.” I said, surprised that I would have said something so bold, especially to someone I barely knew. 

I was shocked that I had said this. It just came rolling off my tongue. Just like I had known Ellen forever, and that we were mighty pals or mates and could say anything and everything to each other. But, something deep inside me was thrilled that I had said this. It was like there was a something deep inside me that was trying to connect with Ellen. It felt like that something that appeared at Nina’s, the first time I laid eyes on the gorgeous Ellen.

“Oh, I think you might have some reasoning ability. I sense you are a thinker. Please note that I didn’t say you were wrong in your conclusion.” Ellen said. 

“You guys want to roast some marshmallows?” Sarah asked, suddenly appearing from nowhere.

“I’m just fine with right now. I have food to eat you know not of.” Ellen said.

“I sense a little poetry brewing.” I added.

“Maybe, these words will brew up, start up, a wonderful journey.”

I looked at Ellen and saw the fire reflected in her eyes for a split second. Then she turned a little more towards me and looked and smiled maintaining her gaze a long time. I could see the brightness of her baby blues. Journey to love is all my heart would say.

Sarah, Ellen, and I sat around and tried telling ghost stories for another 30 minutes or so, and then Ryan and Lisa joined us. 

The next two hours went by in a blur. It was like I was in a fog. Great for me, Ellen was in that fog with me. Many times, during these two hours, we caught each other’s eyes. I felt, seriously, confidently, that we had stepped together on a path. I hoped it was for real.

God and Girl is my first novel, written in 2015. I'll post it, a chapter a day, over the next few weeks.

This week is flying by. Registration was on Monday, the radio talk show on Tuesday morning, and our lake trip that afternoon.  Wednesday, Mom, Rachel, and I spent the day on house and yard work.  And then, another trip to the nursing home with Ryan and our youth group last night.   I am flamed out.

Mom and I have just left Snead State and are headed to Nina’s Art Studio in Albertville. Mom is a full professor of Political Science at Snead, our local Junior College. Mom has adapted well from her dreams of teaching at an Ivy League University. Snead State and its students are mighty fortunate to have a teacher with Mom’s educational background. Plus, she is so engaging with her students, always taking a personal interest in each one.

“Okay dear, we are here. Don’t forget your list.” Mom said.

“It hasn’t flown out of my pocket since you reminded me five minutes ago.”

We walked into Nina’s and were surprised to see several students I knew, at least their faces. Kent Jones was with his Dad. Kent won last year’s regional championship in pencil sketching.

We gathered up two sketchbooks, a basic set of water paints, an easel with paper flip board, and ten pencils. We were looking at a display of some of Nina’s paintings when a woman about Mom’s age walked over and said, “Nina is very talented, isn’t she? I think she could do well in a big city studio.”

“Yes, I agree. So many in our community cringe every summer worrying that she will be wooed away by some art institute or big corporation. We all breathe more easily when we learn in the summer that she is still with us. I think she serves every school in the county in some way. We are fortunate in Boaz to have her two days per week.” Mom said.

“The more I learn about the talent in this community, the prouder I am to live here.” The other lady said.

“Hi, I’m Becky, Becky Brown.  Nice to meet you.”

“Same to you. I am Emily Ayers.”

“And this is my daughter Ruthie.” Mom said.

“Hi Ruthie. So nice to meet you. I think it is wonderful for young people to be interested in art. I assume you are a student at Boaz?”

“Yes, I’m just about to start the ninth grade.”

“Oh, and here is my daughter Ellen,” Mrs. Ayers said as a young girl about my age walked up with an armload of supplies. “Ellen, please meet Becky Brown and her daughter Ruthie.”

I had barely seen Ellen’s face when she first walked up, with the easel blocking my view. But, when she set everything down on the table behind her and turned towards us saying she was glad to meet us, I saw the most gorgeous girl I have ever seen. I know my mouth must have dropped open fast and probably with loud verbal exclamation points rolling off my tongue. There is no doubt that my heart, forgive the cliché, skipped a beat. It seemed my mind woke up, for the first time in my life, telling me that I was truly alive and that it was time for me to be me, to be my own person. I will never be able to explain exactly how I felt the very first time I looked into Ellen’s eyes.

“Ruthie, Ellen will also be in the ninth grade at Boaz. It appears you will be classmates in your art class since there is only one art class for 9th graders.” Mrs. Ayers said.

“I take it you and your family have just moved here.” Mom said.

“Yes, my husband, Travis, was transferred here from Chicago. He works at Progress Rail Services in Boaz. And, our dear Ellen will be a student at Boaz High.”

“And Mom will be a student of sorts at Boaz High herself.” Ellen said.

“Funny Ellen. But, you are right, as the new Biology teacher I will definitely have a lot to learn.”

“So, you are taking Mr. Hickson’s place?” Mom said.

“Yes, I hear he was a wonderful teacher. I have big shoes to fill.”

While Mom and Mrs. Ayers were chatting back and forth, Ellen and I exchanged direct eye contact a couple of times. It was as though we had known each other our entire lives. It was like a non-verbal exchange of secret thoughts.

“It has been very nice meeting you two. I’m sorry we have to run.” Mom said.

“No problem, Ellen and I need to go also. We have a lot of errands today, as I’m sure you two do.”

“It was very nice to meet you Ellen. I look forward to getting to know you.” I said.

“The pleasure was all mine, as people less goofy than me have said before. Seriously, I hope to see you again very soon.” Ellen said.

Mom and I turned toward the checkout lane and Mrs. Ayers called to me, “Ruthie, please don’t forget to complete your reading assignment before next Monday.”

“I’m planning on doing that today.” I said.

“You already have homework?” Mom said as we stood in line to checkout.

“I have to read the first chapter in a book Mrs. Newsome gave me when I registered on Monday. It is a supplement to our Biology textbook. The syllabus said to read the introduction and Chapter One before school starts.”

“What is the name of the book?” Mom asked.

“Why Evolution is True.”

Mom just stared at me, not saying a word.

Mom and I spent the rest of the day running errands for school, with Rachel joining us after Mom and I returned from Nina’s. It seems Rachel was completely out of clothes, or at least, the right type of clothes. Mom indulged her most every desire. Mom whispering to me that Rachel doesn’t know what she is getting into by starting middle school. I told her I agreed. I sure hope starting high school isn’t as hard as my first few weeks in the sixth grade.

We arrived home at 4:00 and could smell the roast beef Mom had been slow-cooking all day in one crock pot along with pinto beans in another. She had promised Dad last Sunday that she would serve him his favorite meal on Thursday evening: roast beef, pintos cooked with jalapenos and onions, cornbread, mayonnaise-based cabbage slaw, and peach cobbler for dessert. He said this was what his mother would cook on special occasions when he was growing up.

I helped Mom finish up. She gave me my first lesson in how to cook cornbread. Normally, Mom had rather cook by herself, but she acted rather clingy towards me all day, especially after we met Mrs. Ayers.

Dad was 15 minutes early getting home. Totally unusual. But, not surprising. He never forgets his favorite meal.

Dad truly enjoyed his meal, going back for seconds, twice. I do a good job making Dad believe that I love each dish as much as he does. Rachel and Jacob are not so deceptive. Mom eats slowly, with small bites, always saying she is saving room for dessert.

After dessert, and right as Rachel and Jacob both had mystery calls to make, Mom dropped the bombshell.

“It looks like we are in for an interesting school year.” “How so?” Dad said.

“Ruthie and I met the new Biology teacher today when we were picking up art supplies at Nina’s. Seems like a very nice lady. Seems like she is going to make her students think about a lot of stuff. Things like evolution.” Mom said.

“Evolution? Why? How do you know this? Evolution is just a theory.” Dad said.

“Dr. Ayers is her name. She has chosen a book to supplement the standard Biology textbook. Ruthie was given her copy when she registered Monday. And, she has to read the Introduction and Chapter One before school starts.” Mom said.

“What is the name of the book?” Dad asked.

“Why Evolution is True.” Mom said.

“Ruthie, please go get me your book.” Dad said.

I went to my bedroom and picked up the book from my night stand and returned to the kitchen handing it to Dad. He continued to sit, looking at the book, front and back, inside, reading or scanning the first few pages. The Introduction I suppose.

“Well, someone doesn’t have to read much, just the first paragraph of the Introduction, to know where this is going. Listen to this: ‘Evolution unites us with every living thing on Earth today and with myriads of creatures long dead. Evolution gives us the true account of our origins, replacing the myths that satisfied us for thousands of years.

Some find this deeply frightening, others ineffably thrilling.’

We believe that Genesis Chapter 1 tells us the true account of our origins.  And, Christianity is not a myth. Evolution is just a theory. One which I know very little about. I just know that it is totally opposite of what we believe. We didn’t come from monkeys. God created us. Where is this Mrs. Ayers from anyway?” Dad said.

“Chicago, she said her husband was transferred here. He works at Progress Rail.” Mom said.

“Ruthie, see what you can find on Google.” Dad said.

I went again to my bedroom and grabbed my laptop. I returned to the kitchen while it was booting up.

I kind of zoned out from Mom and Dad’s voices as I did my searches.

“Here it says Mr. Travis Ayers has joined Progress Rail Services in Boaz, that he has worked for CAT in Chicago for 15 years, that he is married to Emily Ayers, a former professor at the University of Chicago, and they have one daughter, Ellen.” I read.

“Here is a post on the University of Chicago’s website about Mrs. Ayers. Apparently, she was a widely known and published evolutionary biologist. Says they are going to miss her and wish her the best as she moves to Boaz, Alabama with her family.” 

“Well, that is pretty clear what she believes. She is an evolution apologist. But, how can it be legal in Alabama to teach evolution in public school.” Dad said.

“I actually remember seeing the headlines of an article a couple of months ago about the Alabama Department of Education changing its Science Standards. Ruthie, Google that if you will.” Mom said.

“Here it is. I’ll read the first part: ‘Alabama is updating its decade old Science Standards to require that students understand evolution and learn about climate change, topics that can still be controversial in the Bible Belt state. Educators say the new rules — part of a major change that includes more experimentation and hands-on instruction and less lecturing — doesn’t require that students believe in evolution or accept the idea that climate is changing globally.’”

“I guess that explains it.  The City School Board wants to be progressive and submissive. You can bet your bottom dollar Mrs. Ayers will make sure students do, truly do, believe in evolution.” Dad said.

“Honey, let’s go for a walk and get some fresh air.” Mom said.

“I’ll clean up the kitchen.” I offered.

“Thanks, dear. We love you.” Mom said.

God and Girl is my first novel, written in 2015. I'll post it, a chapter a day, over the next few weeks.

“Honey, you need to get up. We need to leave in 10 minutes.” Dad said knocking on my bedroom door.

At first, I was clueless what he was talking about but then I remembered I had promised Dad nearly a week ago that I would go with him to WQSB and sit in with him at a talk show.

I shot out of bed, showered, and grabbed a honey bun as we walked out the door.

Dad and I arrived at the radio station right on time, a few minutes before his scheduled air time. Scott Larkins, the talk show host, met us in the reception area.

“Hi Scott, this is my daughter Ruthie. She is an important part of the Church’s exercises and I like her to be in the trenches with me as much as possible. She will be in the ninth grade at Boaz High this year.” Dad said.

“Hello Ruthie, and nice to meet you. I’m glad you came. Are you open to fielding a question or two this morning?” Scott said.

“Well, uh, I hadn’t really thought about that. I just came along to be with Dad and to learn more about the issues as seen by your callers. But, I guess I could, if you and Dad think I can handle it.”

“Great, let’s go on in and get set-up.” Scott said as he led us into the studio where he handed headsets to Dad and me. I felt my stomach turn over when I set down across from Scott and besides Dad with a microphone in front of me.  I wished I were anywhere but here.

Scott then told us how his Call-In Talk-Show works: “Laura, my assistant, is behind the scenes, so to speak, fielding the calls before they reach us. This is to make sure, or hopefully make sure, that we don’t get surprised with some lunatic and or vulgar call. When we are ready for our next call, and assuming she has one waiting for us in queue, Laura will tell me—you won’t hear this over your headsets. She will say something like, ‘we have Jim with a question on line one.’ I will press the line one button on the phone and we will be live with Jim. Please keep in mind that we are live and the listening in world can hear everything anytime that sign up above me is lit up.”

I looked up and saw the large “On the air NOW” sign on the wall up behind Scott. I looked over at Dad and he mouthed “no sweat, piece of cake.” Easy for him to say. Has he totally forgotten that I am a child? I also found it interesting that Scott hadn’t given us any advice whatsoever about what to say and what not to say. I guess that shows the reality of live radio.

“Okay, here we go.” Scott said as the bright green “On the air NOW” sign came on filling the studio with what I suspected were a zillion photons. I imaged this is how a person feels in a hospital operating room when she is lying there waiting to be cut open.

“Good morning to you and thanks for tuning in to Straight Talk here at WQSB Radio. Today we have Joseph Brown and his daughter Ruthie. Joseph is the lead pastor at First Baptist Church in Boaz. Ruthie is a ninth grader at Boaz High School. We are talking today about homosexuality and the recent U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling that gays and lesbians now have a constitutional right to marry. And, of course we are interested in how this affects churches and pastors. Now, let’s take our first call.

Good morning Thomas. Welcome to Straight Talk.  What’s your question?”

“Pastor Brown, will you perform gay and lesbian marriages?” Thomas asked.

“Hello Thomas and thanks for your question. No, I will not. First, let me say that my position is not because I hate homosexuals. I do not.  I, in fact, love them because they too are God’s children, made in His image. But, I do not condone homosexual behavior. The Bible says it is a sin. The Bible is God’s Holy Word, and I believe the Bible.” “Our next question is from Tina.” Scott said.

“Pastor, I have heard and read that homosexuality is not just something someone chooses to be.  I’ve heard it said that it is caused by a gene.  How do you reconcile your belief with this?” Tina asked.

“Hi Tina and thanks for your question. The Bible says homosexuality is a sin. This tells me this type conduct is something someone chooses to engage in and they have a choice. I am not a scientist, but I question whether your gene question has been proven. What you have heard is just someone’s opinion. I believe the Bible is clear, as we see in the book of Romans, people can become blinded to the truth and do all sorts of things that are not in keeping with God’s will. Thanks again for calling Tina.”

“Okay folks. We are going to take a commercial break and be back in two minutes.” Scott said.

The “On the air NOW” sign is no longer lit.

“Your answers are clear and concise Joseph.”

“Here is everybody a bottle of water.” Laura said as she came in and handed Scott a note.

“The next caller, has a question for Ruthie. You up to it?” Scott asked me.

“I guess so. Hopefully, it won’t kill me. Do you know the question?” I asked.

“Yes, your Dad says he won’t marry gays or lesbians. Do you think your Dad would allow you to have gay and lesbian friends and secondly, do you think your Dad would marry one of your siblings if they were a homosexual?” Scott said.

“I guess I can try to answer that.”

“Welcome back everyone to Straight Talk. We have a question for Ruthie from Daron.  Hello Daron, what is your question?” Scott said.

“Do you think your Dad would marry you and your female partner if you asked him to? Obviously, this is just an assumption. I am not saying you are gay.” Daron asked.

“Hello Daron. I truly don’t know what my Dad would do in that situation. I love him and know he loves me and his family. But, I also know he is a man of principal and is fully committed to God and His Word. I suspect my Dad would try to counsel me and show me that I was acting more from emotion than anything. Whatever he decided, I believe we would still be father and daughter. I can’t see that changing.”  I said.

Straight Talk continued for another half hour or so with the most common questions being whether the Supreme Court’s ruling would lead to a deterioration in religious freedom, and the government forcing pastors and churches to marry homosexuals. And, it came up again, the question of whether a person is born either heterosexual or homosexual.

After the program, we chatted with Scott a few minutes and drove home. The only thing Dad said about the program was that he was very proud of me for coming with him and answering my question the way I did. He told me he loved me very much.

Dad dropped me off at home and didn’t get out. He was needed at Church and said that he would see me tonight at supper.

It was almost 9:30. Sarah’s Mom, along with Sarah, Lisa, and Ryan, would be here soon. We were going to Guntersville Lake for the day. Since middle school this had been an annual event—kind of a celebration. Our last real fun day before school starts back. Today, it felt more like a funeral. I kept replaying the question I was asked at the radio station. What played most in my mind was my response to the caller’s question.

I heard a car horn honking just as I closed the front door behind me. I looked out and saw the gang was right on time. I went to my bedroom and grabbed my bag and headed out.

“Where’s Ryan?” I asked, getting in the back seat with Lisa.

“He didn’t complete his chores yesterday, so his dad wouldn’t let him come.”  Sarah said. 

As we drove to Guntersville, Sarah’s mom, Mary, asked me if I had completed my Biology homework. I told her no, but that I had plans to do that tonight. She also asked what my parents thought about the evolution book. I told her I haven’t even told them.

“That surprises me Ruthie. You better show that book to your dad and mom. I suspect they will have quite a bit to say about it.”

“I will. What do you think my parents will say?”

“I suspect your dad will be rather upset. You know Christians don’t believe in evolution. It is totally contrary to the Bible. And, you know how your dad feels about the Bible.”  Mary said.

“I guess you are right. I don’t really know anything about evolution. All I have heard is that it says we came from monkeys.” “Did you bring your pink bikini?” Lisa asked.

“Yes, of course. You know my parents would let me have a two-piece bathing suit. Especially with these boobs.”

“A one-piece, bottoms only, would serve you best most righteous Ruthie.” Sarah added.

“Okay girls, let’s grab a bucket of chicken and fixins and y’all will be set for food.”  Mary said.

After she bought lunch at Kentucky Fried Chicken, she drove to the City Park along the river.  Mary let us out and said she would be back by four.

Lisa, Sarah, and I spent the day wading in the river, sunbathing on the man-made beach, and eating a ton of chicken and biscuits.

“Apparently the river and the Guntersville City Park doesn’t attract any good-looking guys. All I have seen all day were toothless grounds keepers.” Lisa said.

“Well, guys are over-rated anyway.” Sarah added. But, that hot babe over there in your pink bikini would light up anyone’s world.” Sarah said looking at me.  

“She does have an awesome body but the type of special friend we are talking about needs much more than that. I say boys, or as Sarah thinks, girls, have something to offer that guys don’t. And that is heart. You know girls have real emotions and can share their feelings. I like that.” I added.

“Well, it’s obvious for sure now. Ruthie is gay.” Lisa said.

“Don’t say that. I am not gay.” I blurted out in defense. If I didn’t deny this before my best friends who would?  In the pit of my stomach I felt like I had just lied on the witness stand, in the courtroom where Jesus was on trial, and the prosecutor was questioning me to find out if there was enough evidence to convict me of being a Christian. I felt like I was going to throw up.

The rest of the afternoon moved like a snail.

“Sarah, I’m here.” I heard Mary yelling through the pine trees. We gathered up our things and walked to her car. The ride home was quiet. I couldn’t say anything. But, I did think. I thought a lot about that girl in her pink bikini.