Riverstone - Chapter 7

‘Old Man Jackson’ showed up earlier than normal Sunday morning and almost wore out his horn honking for me in the parking lot. I hurried as fast as I could and by the time I got out our door, three people were standing in their open doorways cursing Mr. Jackson. I hopped in, wishing by then I would have stayed in the room and walked by myself. Now some of Mom’s residents might be upset at me because of ‘Old Man Jackson’.
          I didn’t dare ask why we were in such a hurry. We hardly ever talk coming or going to Riverstone. I was his ‘burden to bear’ as I heard him say once, and I was definitely not a friend to talk to. But this morning he surprised me.
          “If you’re wondering why I’m so early, kid,” he stopped talking as he turned the corner, “I wanted to try to beat your hippie friend to church and see if I can discourage him from joining us today at Riverstone. From all the talk around town, I don’t think he is quite wanted here. He…he needs to move on somewhere else.”
          Somehow, I got a sudden boldness and spoke to Mr. Jackson for the first time in several weeks. “What is everybody’s problem, sir? Does everybody hate welders or something?”
          “You talk back to me like that again, son, and that will be the last time I pick you up at your cheap little motel. Do you understand?”
          I understood. I understood that I would no longer be a ‘bus kid’, and that it was going to be my decision, not his. I would never ride with him again, summer or winter. Rain or sunshine. I was through with Mr. Jackson. He stopped in front of Ricky’s house, one of the other ‘bus kids’, and honked once. He didn’t wait twenty seconds until he drove off. I looked back and saw Ricky flying out his door waving at us. I didn’t say a thing. I felt sorry for Ricky. He hadn’t been to Riverstone in over a month and now he gets left behind the first time he tries to go.
          The parking lot was almost empty when we got there and I snuck in a side door. If I followed ‘Old Man Jackson’ in the front door, he would see me and make sure I didn’t hide behind my special door. I made it through the side hall and the front lobby without being seen. I looked at the clock on the wall and realized it was still a full half hour before Sunday School started. I had a lot of time to stand here and listen.
          One very old man walked in. Stumbled in would be a better way to describe it, and greeted ‘Old Man Jackson’.
          “What got you up so early, Jackson?”
          “You were gone last week. Did you here about the trash that visited here?”
          “Nope,” he said real loud. He doesn’t hear very well. “I’ve been at the house all week. Haven’t talked to a soul.”
          “Well, this trashy looking couple that are shacking up together at the Sunset came last Sunday morning and plopped down on the front row right in front of Inez. She wore less than most do on their wedding night. He had tattoos from head to toe, and looked like some dope dealer. And get this. It was our illustrious new pastor that invited the both of them. He ‘amened’ the pastor the whole time and I heard Sunday night he scared some lady walking in front of the front row. She turned the corner and there he was just laying there. Scared her half to death. He claims to be a welder. Nobody believes that. She has been a ‘hoochi-coochie’ dancer up in New York City. Willard James said he was going to call for a special called business meeting this Wednesday to see what we could do about the situation. Some have said they want a recall vote on the new pastor.”
          “So, why did you say you were here early?”
          “Somebody has got to steer them away if they show up again, and it might as well be me. We can’t have all kinds of ‘motel trailer trash’ showing up here making disturbances.”
          “But isn’t one of those kids you pick up from the Sunset?”
          “I’m through with him. I warned him this morning when he smarted off to me, but I’ve decided already I won’t be picking up any more of those…kids.” I know he wanted to say something more than just ‘kids’, but was scared to use a curse word here in church. The old man walked around the corner toward the church office.
          Several families came in the next few minutes and headed toward the classrooms. I peeked out the small sliver of window and saw Willard James coming up the front walk. ‘Old Man Jackson’ met him at the door.
          “Are they here yet,” Willard asked.
          “No. His truck was still at the motel when I picked up the ‘kid’.”
          “Well, shoot-fire, Jackson. It’s not even Sunday School time, yet. Do you think a couple like that would show up for Sunday School or just church service? You might have wasted your time showing up this early.”
          “Of course you’re right, Willard. I don’t know why I was thinking they would show up this early. I will try to leave class a little early to see if I can confront him.” The two men walked off as other families came in the front door. Just as I was about to slip out of my hiding place, I looked through the small slit again and I saw Jake and the whole Anderson family walking up the front walk. I stepped out quickly and stood at the two glass doors. Jake looked and gave me a big wave and a smile. Ron reached for the door and let them and two other families enter.
          “Hey, bud. Good to see you. I’m sorry I have been too busy the last few days. I’ve missed you.” He gave me a nice hug and so did Pastor Ron. Mrs. Anderson said ‘hi’ and Ronnie Jr. waved as he headed to his class. Ron kissed his wife and she walked off. Ron and Jake walked off and went to the pastor’s office. I went on to class.

*****

          When I got to my class, I sat in my normal chair. The teacher is always late, so we have a few minutes to talk.
          “Yeah, I really like him. It’s sad he won’t be around long,” said Mollie.
          “Who are you talking about?” Chasity asked.
          “The new preacher,” Mollie said. “Didn’t you hear? People all over town are saying he’s probably not going to last as our preacher.”
          I stepped on in. “Do you mean he’s going to quit or get fired?”
          “My dad said, ‘Whatever it takes. We don’t need his kind as our pastor.’ But I told my dad I hoped not. I do like him,” answered Mollie.
          “Why don’t people like him?” I asked. I knew why. I had kept my ears open all week long.
          Marissa, who is one of the nicest kids in the class added, “I have no idea. There is supposed to be some lady who got robbed and had nothing, and the pastor’s wife gave her clothes to help out. I thought that was nice.”
          “You are so ignorant, Marissa. My dad says that if a church hires a pastor, and pays for a pastor, and even gives them a free house, the pastor should take care of the people that helped get him there. Not some man and lady living together or that look like they do. My dad thinks he sells drugs.”
          “He’s a welder,” one girl said. I was glad someone else knew the truth.
          “That’s his cover-up.”
          The teacher walked in and the room got very quite. The teacher was clueless to what had been talked about.
 

*****

 
          When I left class and walked through the lobby toward the auditorium, there was ‘Old man Jackson’ standing there looking for Jake and Collette. I picked up an order of service and pretended to stand there reading it.
          A young lady walked up and started talking to him. “Mr.Jackson, you’ve been standing here for almost an hour and a half. Are you waiting for someone special?”
          ‘Normally I would say, ‘none of your business’, but I will say, I am looking for that new couple that caused such a stir last week. I’m ready to put them in their place.”
          “If you’re talking about Jake, the man who is staying out at the Sunset, you’re too late.”
          “What do you mean?”
          She turned and pointed to the doors leading to the auditorium. “He’s right up there on the front row. He’s praying. You might try it sometimes.” She turned and walked off before ‘Old Man Jackson’ could say what I’m sure he wanted to say. He looked mad. He stormed in and I followed. Just as we did, I saw Jake and Pastor Ron stand up at the very front of the church and once again give each other a big bear hug. ‘Old Man Jackson’ looked like he wanted to spit nails. He sat down in the closest seat available.
          I went and sat in my usual spot. I would have liked to sit with Jake, but sitting on the very first row would have seemed a little weird. Also as usual, Inez sat on the second row, two rows in front of me. Chad and Winnie Wascom sat down beside me which meant that Jimmie was going to be in the nursery again today. Margie and Roseanne Scott sat on my left. The Holman’s sat in front of Chad and Winnie.
          Jake turned around and waved real big at Winnie. She leaned over and sort of whispered, “Thank you for the other night. Jimmie seemed to really love having you there.”
Mr. Holman turned around and asked, “Was he over at ‘your’ house?”
“Yes he was,” she said with a smile. “He helped weld something on the kid’s mini-bike and Jimmie fell in love with him. Jake is so good with kids.”
“We sat and visited at Dairy Queen Tuesday night,” added Margie. “He has such a heart for others, and for God. I had such a good visit with him.”
“That’s good,” said Chad.
The music started and all the people that were still standing and visiting started to sit down. On the last verse of the song, I looked up and saw Inez walking forward. I felt sorry for Jake the first time he met Inez. But now I think he will do OK if she is rude. And she lived up to my expectations. As soon as she sat down, her mouth opened. And loud.
“The Mrs. didn’t make it this morning? Took too much time painting up, huh?” I think the whole church heard her. Some giggled. And some acted like they wished they could kill Inez right where she sat. Jake turned around quietly and put his hand right on her left knee. She jumped when he did. He didn’t answer as loud as she talked, but I heard him.
“Ma’am, If you’re talking about my wife, I have none. If you’re talking about my mother, she died twelve years ago. If you’re talking about the young lady I brought with me last week, a few rude people ran her off.” He turned around and dropped his head like he was praying.
Inez sat up so straight, she reminded me of a peacock. She was not used to people talking back to her. She looked uncomfortable the rest of the hour. Come to think of it, she looks uncomfortable a lot of the time.
For some reason I seemed to listen to what the preacher was really saying in his sermon more than usual. I don’t know if it is just because he is new, or he is a better preacher than the last one or two. It also seemed to me that people were whispering more than usual, but they were doing it closer to each other and I hardly heard any of what they were saying. Or then again, it might have been because I was trying harder to listen to Ron.  
Anyways, after he was finished and they started to sing what they call the ‘invitation hymn’… Let me explain, I think an ‘invitation’ is where the pastor invites people to come forward and join the church. Most of the time, nothing happens. We sing two, sometimes three verses, someone prays, and we leave. Once every six months or so a child will come up and join the church and then get baptized a few weeks later. Today was a little…well… a little different.
As soon as we all started singing, Jake got down and knelt on his knees and prayed facing the front pew. Right there a row in front of Inez. She looked forward a little and then spoke so loud I thought Emmy was going to stop playing the piano.
Inez said, “What’s the problem? That cheap motel not provide beds to rest on?”
          Some people behind me laughed out loud. I heard something to my left that I thought was a laugh, but I didn’t think Margie Scott would laugh at something Inez joked about. I barely looked her way and noticed she was not laughing, but crying. She stood up and patted her sister on the shoulder so she could let her out.
          I thought she was leaving early or going to the bathroom or something. Instead, she started to walk to the front of the church. When she got directly in front of the pulpit, she got down like Jake and cried there on the front pew. She got pretty loud and I heard a few snickers around me. I thought it was sad. She must have been really sad about something, and people were laughing. I know what it is like to be laughed at. I’ve been laughed at much of my life.
          After a few minutes, Pastor Ron came and knelt down beside her and prayed with her. I noticed that Emmy was getting tired of playing the same verse over and over and finally changed songs. Then Mrs. Anderson stood up and joined her husband and Margie on the floor. They cried and prayed there for another two or three minutes, and finally the two ladies got up and sat on the front pew beside Jake, who was now sitting down. Pastor Ron started back up toward the pulpit. He got about half way and Inez spoke up.
          “You don’t have to do that, honey. That is what we pay your husband to do.”
          Mrs. Anderson turned around and gave Inez a look that said to me, “Lady, please stay out of people’s business that don’t concern you.” She turned around and put her arm around Margie’s shoulder. Emmy finally finished playing and Ron stood up to speak.
          “I hope,” he stopped and wiped a tear from his cheek. “I hope everyone felt the presence of God in this place like I did today. God is so Good. Let’s all come back tonight and see what else God has to say to us. Chad Wascom, may you please close this service with a prayer?” I looked over and Chad nodded. He prayed softly and very quickly. Everybody started to move out of their places to the end of the aisles.
          When he finished, Pastor Ron waved and started to say one last thing. “May God go with you all and may he…”
          “Pastor Anderson!” I heard someone yell from the back. It made everybody stop. I looked around like everyone else and saw Willard James pushing through the crowd. “Pastor Anderson!” he yelled again. “May I have everyone’s attention?” By that time, he had it. He walked right up to the pulpit and motioned for everybody to sit down. He then looked down at Ron and Alisa who were sitting on the front row with Jake.
          “Pastor Anderson. Members of Riverside. Being the Chairman of the Deacons of this congregation, I or your pastor, either one, have the right to announce a ‘specially called business meeting’. I call for such a special meeting this Wednesday night at the time of our normal mid-week service. All voting members should try to be in attendance.” He was sounding real professional and dignified in the way he talked. I knew he didn’t talk this way normally. He wasn’t that formal.
          Chad raised his hand. “Willard…um…Mr. James. May we ask what the meeting will be about…so we can pray about it?”
          “That’s a good question, Chad. I and several of the deacons got together yesterday and discussed the rather bizarre week we have had around this church and this town. It has been a rather…how will I put it? …a rather unorthodox first week for a new pastor. There are several sensitive issues to be discussed.”
          “Such as?” Hubert Holman asked.
          “I didn’t want to get too detailed, but let me put it this way. We will discuss a certain ‘strange’ relationship between our pastor and his wife, and a few unwelcome individuals that have made their way into our town lately. Most of you, I’m sure, can probably guess what I am referring to. We talked about having a meeting next Sunday night, but in light of the bizarre goings on right here just a few minutes ago, I feel it expedient to not waste any more precious time. So I officially announce this ‘special called business meeting’ of the members of Riverstone Baptist Church. 7:00pm, Wednesday night. You are all dismissed.”
          I looked over at the Andersons. Alisa was starting to cry and Ron looked like a Mack truck just ran over him. I could see Jake wipe a tear off of his face. As Willard walked past the Andersons, I heard him say, “I hope ya’ll haven’t done too much unpacking.” Alisa put her face in her lap and really started crying. Ron just stood there.