Down At the Obed River

(Casey)

I watched Momma walk down the slippery rocks and step into the water. Brother John was holding her hand, but she didn't look like she even needed his help. Momma held her head up so high, her long brown hair falling all the way down her back. She looked just like the Queen in one of her made-up Fairy Tales. Sometimes, when Momma is crying so hard, I brush her hair until I think my wrist might break. It always calms her down, eventually.

Tonight, Momma was calm all on her own. She didn't even make a face when the water was all the way up to her waist and it must have been so cold. Momma hates the cold. She always cries more in the wintertime.

The people crowded around the river's edge, pushing me back. I shoved past grown-up hips and elbows until I was out front again. I made it just in time to see Brother John grab Momma behind her neck and pull her down into the water. The water was so dark and still for a minute, that it almost looked like it had swallowed her up for good. I held my breath with her. Brother John pulled her back up again. She looked over at me and we both breathed out. Miss Ginny was knee-deep in the water holding up a towel for Momma, but she walked right past her. Momma walked straight to me and hugged me until we were both soaking wet. We just stood there like two crazy ladies- hugging and crying for I don't even know what. I always cry when Momma cries. Don't get me wrong, I am not a baby anymore. I can read and write and cook two different dinners.

But still, there I was, crying my eyes out and hugging my Momma for all of those church folks to see down by the Obed River.

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(Joey)

It's way too cold for swimming. But Momma went anyway. I wanted to go in the water too, but Miss Ginny told me I couldn't. Casey looked real scared when Momma went under the water, but I wasn't. She is always calling me a baby, but she isn't even two whole years older than me. Momma can swim all the way to the bottom of the pool at Aunt Sissy's house. She can also triple knot my tennis shoes and flush a toilet with her foot. No way was she going to sink in that river. And I was right, she came right back up. And you know what? She came up exactly the same as she went in. Miss Ginny was saying that she was gonna be a different person from now on. I'm glad she was wrong about that. What if she went under like Momma and came out looking like some freaky alien or something? Gross.

And then they cried- Momma and Casey. Casey says that I am a cry baby, but at least I cry for a reason. They just cry for nothing, Women!

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(Miss Ginny)

No, I didn't cry. I thought I might, but I held it together for Rachel and those babies. She didn't even look like the same woman I met last year. She was definitely having a come-apart the day I met her and no one should be judged by their come-aparts, but I'm afraid she was. Not by me or Brother John or Jesus, but a lot of other folks cannot see past it. Like they're so perfect. Like they have never had a bad day or made a bad decision. Ladies were clutching their pearls with one hand and picking up their stones with their other hand the day Rachel and I walked down to the front of that church. All the whispering got her so upset that I thought she was going to run back out of the church.

I might have slipped and given her a secret or two about her judges to keep her head straight. Just a little gossip about those good ladies. Like how Roberta Jones buys cherry pies from the Amish Bakery 20 miles away and enters them into the Church Baking Contest and how Sarah Butler and her sister have been cheating at BINGO for a decade now and how Theresa White killed her first husband. Ain't none of us perfect.

So she did it. She gave her heart to Jesus and went down to the Obed River on a Sunday night to get baptized.

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(Theresa White)

I have a good mind to write a letter. I'd report it to Jesus Himself if He had an earthly address. Watching that woman get baptized in the same waters as my precious niece was sickening.

I was there last year when she had her breakdown or hissy fit or whatever you want to call it. Her check was declined at the Save-Mart and she had to walk out of there with those babies and they were screaming about all of the food that they were leaving behind. Bless their hearts, they cannot help who their Momma is. As soon as she gets outside, she snaps right there in front of the windows of Save-mart for everyone to see. She beats the snot out of the little one- Jimmy? No, something like that. Anyway, she is smacking him and then the older sister tries to stop her so she starts hitting her too.

What a sight! My niece pulled out her phone to take video for some reason, maybe in case the police needed it as evidence. Anyway, Ginny Stuart marched right out of the store and grabbed Rachel's hand and wouldn't let go until she calmed down. Then she got down on her knees and prayed with that girl. Imagine that! A woman her age on her knees on the sidewalk!

I have no idea why such a godly woman has taken up with trash like Rachel. But I feel like I should write a letter. My first husband, God rest his soul, was a Deacon at the church back in the 70's. He could have done something about it. If there was one thing that man was good at it was writing letters.

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(Brother John)

Therefore we are buried with Him by Baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in the newness of life.

-Romans 6:4


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(Rachel)

I don't feel any different. I mean, I am not sure what I was expecting- maybe trumpets or something? The kids looked so scared. I should have explained what was happening to them. But I cannot bear to get their hopes up. This last year has definitely been better. Easier. But, still hard. Sometimes the demons and the angels are banging their drums so loud in my head, I can't tell who is who.

And, I relapse.

Ginny gives me all of these Bible verses about how strong God is and I know I can do it with Him. But then I start to wondering. Wondering why He would even care in the first place.

Ginny promises He does.

He promises He does.

So, we start again. I was hoping that I would come up out of that water and never want to do anything but right again. Or at least that I would know right when I see it.

Ginny says to be patient.

God tells me that He loves me.

At least I got to see the look on Theresa White's face when I came up out of the water and wasn't swallowed up by the depths of Hell mid-baptism.

Leave No Man Behind

Danny had dug the hole- ankle deep and covered in leaves- the day before, when he was setting booby traps for his little brother. It was, he thought, his own stupid fault. Running his tongue over his lips, he could taste blood and grass.

"Just go! Save yourself," he choked on the sob that was rising in his throat. "No reason for us both to get whipped." He tried to push himself up, but his sprained wrist gave way beneath him, slamming his chin into the ground again. He bit his tongue.

"No!" Mike screamed and turned back towards his older brother. He looked down at the Pop-tart on the ground between them. It must have flown out of  Danny's hand when he fell.

The bus's brakes squealed. Both boys blinked away tears and turned towards the yellow beast as it slowly rolled down the street, spitting diesel fumes angrily.

"She'll kill you for sure this time," Mike said, wiping his nose on his sleeve. "Momma said the next time we miss the bus, we're a goner."

"I," Danny swallowed blood, "don't care."

The bus screeched. The doors opened half-way, hesitated, then swung open.

They had 10 seconds to get to the bus.

"I love you, buddy." Mike said and turned on his heel.

"Wait! You're leaving me? For real? Leave no man behind! Ever! Don't you remember anything daddy taught us?" Danny screamed at his brother's back.

Mike shrugged without turning around and disappeared behind the bus.

"I hate you! You're a no good coward. Just like Daddy!"

Five, four, three, two...the doors swung shut. The bus spit smoke and turned the corner just as Danny heard his mother's heavy steps on the front porch.

He didn't look up as she walked towards him. He focused on her bare feet sinking into the grass inches in front of his face. She lifted him up by his backpack straps and carried him towards the house, swinging him like a sack of groceries.

Danny spit blood and closed his eyes, the front door slamming shut behind them.