Previous Challenge Entry (EDITOR'S CHOICE)
Topic: DEVOTED( 02/04/21)
|
TITLE:
Proof | Writing Challenge By Holly Westefeld 02/11/21 |
~
9th Place
 LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT ADD TO MY FAVORITES |
I rub my eyes. Dawn is barely peeking through the curtains.
More pounding.
I stuff my feet into slippers. "I'm coming!"
As I dash down the hall, I nearly crash in to Jason emerging from his bedroom. I look through the peephole, and sure enough there is a police car in front of our house. I open the door. "What's wrong, officers?"
"Angie Appleton?"
"Yes..."
"We have a warrant for your arrest and a search warrant for the premises."
"What in the world for?"
"Subversive activities."
I am tempted to laugh, but they look completely serious. "That's ridiculous!"
The taller officer produces the warrants. "You have the right to remain silent..."
I skim them quickly. Apparently this has something to do with being in the directory of the church my coworker Fran invited me to a couple of years ago. "There must be some mistake. A colleague invited me and I went a few times last year, but haven't been there in months. I never joined."
The shorter officer brandishes handcuffs. "Please turn around, Ms. Appleton."
"Wait a minute._! I get one phone call, right? Not that I know any lawyers, but if you're serious, I need to have my mom pick up the kids."
The officers glance at one another. Shorter officer, his badge reads "Sontag," steps around me and pulls my hands behind my back. Taller officer, badge "Prince" responds. "Ordinarily, yes, but this is a massive operation, and we can't risk you tipping anyone off."
"Then will you call her? You can't just leave Jason and Candace here alone."
Sontag asks, "How old are you, Jason?"
"I'll turn eighteen next Wednesday."
"That's old enough to stay alone and care for younger siblings."
"Mom, what's going on?"
I turn. Candace is peering into the living room.
"There's some kind of mix-up. I should be back soon. Jason, if I'm not here when you get in from school, call Gran."
Candace darts over and throws her arms around me. "My mom's a great mom! Why are you taking her away?"
Sontag gently disengages her arms. "It's not about being a good mom. It's about being a good citizen, grownup stuff."
She turns and throws herself in to Jason's arms, sobbing.
"Chill, Sis. We'll be fine. This means she can't make us go to that church anymore."
I feel like a dagger is thrust through my heart.
"But I like going to Sunday school."
Prince clears his throat. "Let's go, Ms. Appleton."
I drink in one more glance of my children, then follow him to the car. As he closes my door, another car pulls up and two more officers head for the house.
"Family Services will be there soon. Your mother is already in custody."
"What?"
"Do you expect me to believe that you don't know she's been a devoted member of First Baptist for decades? You were raised there."
Of course I know. She hadn't pressed the point, but was thrilled when I agreed to visit Fran's church, saying it was an answer to her prayers. She was happy that I continued dropping Candy off for Sunday school.
Officer Prince turns in to the stadium parking lot, rather than the police station.. "What are we doing here?"
"I told you this is a massive operation."
Apparently, what I had written off as Mom's conspiracy theory, is turning in to reality. I had stopped attending church when Fran had gotten fired for some religious post on social media. As a single mom, I couldn't afford to lose the job, and the increasing push-back from Jason also factored in.
Officer Prince directs me to a seat in the stadium and fastens my handcuffs to it. "I'll be back with the results of the search."
An elderly woman a few seats over smiles at me. "Hello, honey, I'm Ruth. Don't worry. When the time comes, you'll know what to say. Scripture promises us that you know."
"No, I don't know that. They brought me in because apparently a church I visited a few times put my name in their directory."
"Oh, so you have not dedicated your life to Christ?"
"Well, I grew up going to Sunday school..."
"I'm sorry, but the commitment must be your own, not another's."
"Then I'm toast. It doesn't seem that they'll need much proof to deem me guilty of "subversion", and if there really is a god, I have no proof of devotion."
*****
Matthew
10:19 But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say,
10:20 for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
10:21 "Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death.
10:22 All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.
NIV
Accept Jesus as Your Savior Right Now and be Certain of Eternal Life.
Join Us at FaithWriters and Grow as a Christian Writer.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
