Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Write in the HUMOR genre (04/12/07)
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TITLE: The Perfect Sunday | Previous Challenge Entry
By David Story
04/16/07 -
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Little Chrissy got out of her place in the pew. “We saved you a spot, Miss Cindy. Come sit over here.”
“You saved a place…for me?”
Chrissy smiled. “Yes, ma’am.”
Cindy did a double-take.
Yes, ma’am?
She took her place next to Chrissy and the rest of the children.
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Cindy held open the sanctuary door. She was all ready to give her, “No talking, no running,” speech. But the children simply got up from the pews and proceeded to walk, single-file, out of the sanctuary. Not a word was heard from any of them.
Cindy let the door close as the last child walked through. She began to follow them to Children’s Church, but was suddenly stopped short by a voice from behind.
“Mrs. Mitchell.”
Cindy noticed Sally Montgomery, one of the girls from the youth group. “Can Alicia and I come help today?”
“You want to help, at Children’s Church?”
Sally nodded enthusiastically. “If it’s okay with you.”
“Oh, it’s fine. But isn’t that band performing this morning? You guys have been talking about them forever.”
Alicia piped in. “Eh, they’re okay.”
Okay?
“But we’d rather help you.”
Cindy smiled. “That….that’d be great, girls. Thanks.”
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The children were in their seats by the time Cindy made it to Children’s Church.
After the music (where the kids sang each and every song, did each and every motion, and stayed in their own chairs – each and every one), it was time for prayer.
Little Ricky’s hand quickly came up.
Shy, quiet, never-says-a-word, Little Ricky.
“Yes, Ricky?”
“Can I say the prayer this morning?”
“Why…yes…you may.”
Ricky got out of his chair and walked to the front of the room. Everyone bowed their heads as Ricky let out a prayer that would’ve brought tears to Gabriel himself.
Cindy tried to gather herself as she watched Ricky go quietly back to his seat.
She prepared herself for what was next, a look of disappointment evident on her face. “It’s time for our memory verse. Now, I know that most of you don’t know…”
Justin Tucker’s hand shot up.
No. Not Justin. Not “Nothing-But-Trouble,” Justin.
“Justin, you can’t go to the bathroom, yet.”
“Oh, no ma’am. I want to try the memory verse.”
More hands went up. “Me, too.” “Yeah, and me.” “No, pick me.”
“Okay, Justin. Let’s see how far you can get.”
Justin stood before the group.
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans, chapter five; verse eight.”
Justin proudly plopped down into his seat. And as Cindy stood motionless, child after child recited the memory verse word for word.
The children listened intently as the Bible lesson was given. They asked questions where questions were to be asked, and they listened with great interest…all eyes on Cindy, as she explained what the lesson meant, and how they could all apply it to their own lives.
Their own cute, wonderful, quiet, behaved, and obedient lives.
Sally and Alicia did a wonderful job with the crafts. And while there would still be a gigantic mess to clean up, the children had done the crafts quietly and quickly. Using the glue only as much and when needed. Not yelling out, and no stabbing one another with assorted craft materials or utensils.
When it was all over, every child hugged Cindy on the neck, and every parent came to get his or her child…on time.
And all that was left, was the clean-up.
Suddenly Cindy felt a hand on her shoulder. It was Paul Fletcher, one of the church deacons. “You leave everything like it is, okay? A few of the men are coming in to get it all cleaned up and organized for you.”
Cindy let out a gasp as she quickly exited Children’s Church…
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…the sound of the Children’s Church door closing soon became the sound of Cindy’s alarm clock. She rolled over and hit the snooze button.
She drifted back to sleep and once again entered “dream mode.”
This time her husband was treating her to a romantic getaway in the Bahamas.
Cindy slept the final ten minutes…with a smile on her face.
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Scripture verse taken from the New International Version (NIV).
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