By papa55mike
Part~1 That Awful Day.
Saturday, March 13th. The slow, steady rain falls on a small group gathered at Oaklawn Cemetery. They are laying to rest Doug Noble, a beloved husband to Diane and a dedicated father to ten-year-old Sean. His sudden death of a heart attack at age thirty-three shocked the small community of Lavina, Tennessee.
Under the large black umbrella, Sean looks at his mother. She has this glazed look, and he wonders what she's thinking. Sean slowly slides his hand into hers and, with a gentle squeeze, says, "I love you, Mom."
For the first time in days, she smiles at Sean and then replies, "Love you, too."
Sean has made sure to notice everything he can today. It's one of the lessons taught by his Father, watch the eyes and know the person. He's seen the grief in Grandma's eyes after losing her husband at sixty and then her son in his early thirties. Sean has seen the hurt on all the faces today and heard several people say, "It was too soon for Doug. He had so much life ahead of him."
Now, it's late afternoon, and all the people who brought food finally left. Sean had never seen so many casseroles, and he knew his Dad would've had a field day. He loved one-pot cooking and was the self-professed master of the Frittata.
Sean's mind is full of mixed emotions while walking into his room and closing the door behind him. They range from anger to grief. He has this sense that his Father is still here somehow, even though Mom says he's in heaven, but the Pastor says he's asleep in his grave until Jesus returns. Sean wonders who's right.
He glances at last year's Christmas picture with the family acting silly in front of the tree, which will be the last one with his Dad. He always made Christmas special. Suddenly, the flood of tears returns, and Sean falls onto his bed, grabs his pillow, and buries his face.
Gentle fingers begin to stroke Sean's brown hair, and there's a warmth of love in his room. He sees that his Luke Skywalker pillow is no longer under him but a thick white cloth with blue trim. Sean slowly raises his head to see a man sitting on his bed, dressed in that white robe with that blue trim on the edges. His brown hair and beard have streaks of gray, and he has a gentle smile that glows, and the man's big brown eyes shine brightly.
Sean asks, "Who are you?"
"A loving friend who heard your cry. I know your questions, and they all start with why," The man sighs and then continues. "There are many mysteries in life, and only My Father knows the answer. You have no idea how much He loves you, Sean?"
"My Dad?"
"Yes, your Father and My Father. It's also a love that never stops, even after death."
"Will my Mom be okay?"
"Yes, but it will take time. She'll need you to be her strength. Would you give a message to your Mother for Me?"
"Sure."
"Tell your mother it wasn't her fault. It was just Doug's time. Her guilt won't bring him back, and she needs to quit blaming herself."
Sean briefly studies the man and asks, "What's your name?"
The man smiles and replies, "I answer to many names, but most of the world knows Me as Jesus."
"I knew it," Sean's tears return. "You came from heaven to see me. Oh, thank you, Lord." He falls weeping into Jesus' arms again.
"Sean, remember that I will always be with you."
He catches a sob and slowly opens his eyes. He's clutching his Star Wars pillow again and says, "It was too real not to be true, and I need to tell Mom."
Aunt Mary smiles at Sean when he walks into the living room and says, "Hi, sweetie." Auntie is dressed in jeans and a green tee shirt with her red hair pulled back.
"Hi, I need to talk to Mom."
"Sure, she's right there on the couch. I'll be in the kitchen."
Sean climbs beside her on the couch, and there's that glazed look again. He says, "Mom, I had a visitor to my room."
"That's nice, honey," but she never takes her eyes from the flatscreen. Her dark green eyes look so sad, and there are lines on her pretty face Sean has never seen before. Mom is watching her favorite movie, Sleepless in Seattle, but I don't think she sees it.
"Mom, Jesus came to my room."
She blinks her eyes, then turns towards him, asking, "What did you say, Sean?"
"I said that Jesus came to see me. He wants me to give you a message. He said it was Dad's time to go, and you should stop blaming yourself. Your guilt won't bring Dad back."
Her lower lip quivers when she asks, "Who said that, Sean?"
"Jesus."
A red curl falls over her face, and she looks deep into his eyes, then asks, "How could anybody know that? I've never mentioned it to anyone, but it's eating me alive."
"Let it go, Mom."
"I don't think I can, Sean."
"Jesus also said that He will always be with us," Sean wraps his arms around her neck, and she wraps her arms around him. He can feel the Lord's love engulf them both.
Part~2 School
Monday, March 15th. Since Sean was out of school the previous week for the funeral, Mom thought he should go back today. He's bouncing along on the bus while the other kids scream about the past weekend. Nobody seems to notice Sean sitting in his usual spot, which is fine by him.
He's seen our bus driver, Crazy Charlie, sneaking a peek at him. When Sean got on the bus this morning, he shook his hand and said he was praying for his family. Sean couldn't help but smile and thank him. It's incredible to think about the people who secretly care for others. Maybe, a bunch of people have prayed for his family.
Nobody noticed Sean much walking into his homeroom but Miss Carol. She saw him putting my backpack under his seat, then walked over with a pleasant smile and asked, "How are you feeling, Sean?"
"I'm fine, Miss Carol."
"If you need to talk about what happened, I'm here. Don't forget Miss Crystal in Guidance. Her door is always open."
"Thank you, ma'am."
Sean thinks, will this day ever end? It felt like an eternity until lunchtime, and it was finally the last snack break before packing up to go home. Most of the kids have been quiet around him, and he understands. What do you say to someone who lost their Dad?
Tiny was the first to break the silence. His nickname is not because he's tiny, just the opposite. He's a foot taller and outweighs Sean by a hundred pounds. His scraggly brown hair and green eyes always make him want to laugh, but he doesn't dare.
Tiny takes a bite of his chocolate-covered cereal bar and says, "It's a shame your Dad is rotting in that cemetery. He was a nice guy."
"Thank you, I think, but my Dad will soon be in heaven with Jesus."
"Oh, we have one of those Jesus lovers, and I suppose you know Him personally?"
"Yes, I do. Jesus came to visit me the other day," Sean's heart fell to the floor when he said it, even though it was true.
"Get this guy's," Tiny turns to the rest of the class. "Sean says that Jesus came to visit him." The class bursts into laughter. "Don't you know, there ain't no God? It's a crutch for gullible people like you to get through life dreaming. What an idiot!"
"That's your opinion, Tiny."
"No, it's the truth," bits of cereal bar spray out. "My Dad said so. If Jesus was in your room, describe Him, or was He an invisible angel?" Tiny's grating remark got the class snickering.
"He was a man dressed in a white robe with blue trim. He had long hair, a beard, big brown eyes, and was very real. He even hugged me."
Tiny almost choked on his chocolate milk, then cracked up laughing. "Ah, Sean got a hug from Jesus. That's so sweet. You're insane, Sean! I can't wait to tell the whole school."
Sean can hear the names he'll be called tomorrow; Jesus freak, wierdo, idiot, stupid Christian. He's seen them assault others with those names for stating their faith, and he just joined the list.
Laughter filled the room until Miss Carol popped her head in the door, and there was complete silence. With her sinister smile, she says, "I seem to have a class that's forgotten rules when I'm away for a moment. Since it's just twenty minutes until dismissal, the whole class will write fifty times; I will be quiet when the teacher is out of the room! No one gets dismissed until they do. Please don't miss the bus. Tiny, I want to talk to you when you finish since I heard your loudmouth over everyone at the end of the hall!"
The rest of the class moans and groans while Sean starts his tenth line.
At four o'clock that afternoon, Principal Donavon Wiley hangs the phone up from the fifth parent that's called to ask what kind of school he's running and how they can let that boy say he's met, Jesus. Many think it's blasphemy, and that kind of religion shouldn't be allowed in schools. Mr. Wiley rises from behind his mahogany desk, straightens his impeccable tan coat and matching tie, then steps into the hall and asks, "Miss Alison can you bring me the file on Sean Noble?"
"Yes, sir, right away." She turns to the cabinets, wondering why he wants Sean's file. Allison has known Diane since college, and Doug's death was a blow for all. She made sure to hug Diane and Sean before leaving the funeral Saturday. Allison straightens her dark brown hair before walking into his office, saying, "Here you go, Mr. Wiley."
"Thank you. What do you know about Sean?"
"I know he's a good kid, but he's going through a tough time."
"In what way, Miss Allison?"
"They buried his father the other day, and I was at the funeral."
"Yes, I remember now. Mr. Noble had a sudden heart attack, which might explain it."
"Explain what, Mr. Wiley?"
"Sean's sudden radicalism."
"Sean is the least radical child I know. He's a sweet, loving, and polite young man that's a joy to be around. What's this all about?"
"Your wonderful young man is spreading a rumor that he met Jesus. We can't have that kind of religious jargon spreading throughout the school. Talk like that will bring the State, ACLU, and too many other organizations down on our heads. I think he needs to see the school psychiatrist."
"Mr. Wiley, I know it's your first year as a principal. But this is just a crazy rumor one of Sean's classmates started, and it will disappear by tomorrow."
"It might, but we must be sure before letting him back into class. I'll call Miss Crystal and set it up through her, and he's to report to her office until further notice."
"But Mr. Wiley..."
He looks at her sternly, then says, "There is nothing else to discuss, Miss Allison."
"Yes, sir," Allison storms out of his office with a huff.
| Author Notes |
Many thanks to Linda Bickston for the amazing portrait.
I was a Janitor at an elementary school for the last six years I worked before retiring, and the kids act differently around us than the teachers. You hear little quips meant for hurt said by students in passing though they would completely deny saying it. The battle lines have been drawn. I thought it was disturbing to hear an 8-year-old in the third grade say she was an atheist. She hasn't lived enough life to have that view; her parents taught her those views. Many thanks for stopping by to read! Have a great day, and God bless. mike |
By papa55mike
Part~3 The Ambush
Tuesday, March 15th. The breeze blows through Miss Crystal's blonde hair covering her smoldering blue eyes, but Mr. Wiley's gray hair is solid as a rock. He's dressed in a stylish Navy blue suit, sky blue tie, and pocket square with black loafers. Miss Crystal feels underdressed in her Khakis and pink Polo.
Crystal shakes her head and asks. "I still don't see why we're doing this, Mr. Wiley?"
"Do you see myriad faces filing into the building, Miss Crystal?"
"Of course I do," then little Debbie Morris reaches for a hug. Miss Crystal gladly obliges. "Have a good day, sweetie."
"Miss Crystal, we are sworn to protect every child entrusted to us. We can't let a mentally disturbed young man like Sean Noble twist their mind with his beliefs. No matter how outlandish they are." His tone is dry and harsh.
"Outlandish! He's using this vision of Jesus to help cope with his Father's death. That's a lot for a ten-year-old, and I think you're making Mount Everest out of a molehill."
"I don't think you have the qualifications to make that decision, Miss Crystal. Fifty parents have voiced their concerns about having a child who sees Jesus in our school, and that's why Sean Noble is seeing Dr. Phillips. End of discussion."
"Well, it's against my wishes. I've already started a file on this situation with my reasons against it, and believe me, the board will hear about it."
"That's well within your rights. Now lower your voice, and you're alarming the children."
Miss Crystal sees Sean get off Bus #176 and says, "There's Sean. Let me talk to him first."
"Very well," Mr. Wiley replies in an arrogant tone.
Miss Crystal tucks her hair behind her ears, smiles, and says, "Good morning, Sean. I need you to come with me today."
In a panic, Sean spots Principal Wiley studying him and asks, "Am I in trouble? I can't think of anything I've done wrong."
"No, Sean," Miss Crystal tries to calm him. " Mr. Wiley wants you to meet his friend at nine this morning. I'm going to take you, and when you're done, I'll treat you to lunch at Wendy's."
"Can I get a Biggie Bag?"
"Absolutely."
"Deal," Sean grins and follows them into the building.
That afternoon around three-thirty, Dr. Riley Phillips, Principal Wiley, and Miss Crystal gathered around the conference table to discuss the matter of Sean Noble.
Mr. Wiley asks, "Dr. Phillips, what are your findings after seeing Sean?"
"Well, Sean is a bright and imaginative young man. But he could be deeply disturbed. So troubled, he created this imaginary Savior to help with his feelings and guilt. He spoke of the guilt the Mother had, which I believe is his. He may blame himself for his Father's death, leading to this problem."
Miss Crystal asks, "What problem, Dr. Phillips?"
He replies, "His blunt attitude and description of the person was so precise that I believe Sean created another character in his mind. He described his hair and beard, the touch of his fingers stroking his head, the glowing brown eyes, and the intricate blue threads embroidering his robe. Several other symptoms helped verify the diagnosis; Sean seemed disorganized in his thinking and actions. He had a lack of emotional response talking about the death of his Father, and now this delusion of seeing Jesus. There can only be one answer. Schizophrenia."
Miss Crystal rolls her eyes at the ceiling and asks, "Don't you think that's a bit of a reach, Dr. Phillips? Every child in this school is blunt, disorganized, and has a difficult time talking about issues involving them. Also, I can accurately describe the orange in my lunch box, but that doesn't bring it to life."
"And where did you get your Doctorate in Psychology, Miss Crystal?" Dr. Phillips glares at her.
"I take it you're not a Father, Dr. Phillips?"
"No, I am not."
"That explains a lot. Where's your common sense in this situation? Sean lived through his Father's burial two days ago, and he needs time to grieve, not labeled by a quack!"
"That's enough, Miss Crystal," Mr. Wiley shouts. "What do you recommend, Doctor Phillips?"
"I recommend that Sean be expelled from school until a complete evaluation can be performed. It should only take two weeks."
"So," Miss Crystal rubs her eyes, "You want to take away the only normal thing in his life right now, this school. Everything else has completely crumbled around him. There's no place at Sean's home that's not filled with his Father's memories to haunt him, and here is the only place he can find a little peace. If you expel him, you'll do Sean a great injustice that may take him years to overcome. It's up to you, Mr. Wiley."
"I'll sign the papers this afternoon. Will you give me the requirements for Sean's readmittance, Dr. Phillips?"
Miss Crystal slams her notebook shut, rises, and starts for the door.
"Where are you going, Miss Crystal? This meeting is not over." Mr. Wiley groans.
"It is, for me. I'm going to write you a letter of resignation, clean out my desk, then go over to Diane Nobles' house to tell her what you're doing to her son. Hopefully, we can find a good lawyer to sue your butts off!" She smiles, saying, "Have a good evening."
That evening, Aunt Mary, Miss Crystal, and Diane Noble sip decaf coffee in Diane's spacious living room. The setting sun through the blinds casts an orange haze on their concerned faces.
Diane breaks the silence. "I'm sorry you quit your job, Crystal."
"I'm not the only one to quit since Mr. Wiley took over. At least a third of last year's staff has resigned because of him, and the school board has noticed. When they meet this Thursday, I'll give them my report on Sean's dismissal."
Aunt Mary asks, "How did all of this start?"
"Well," Crystal shakes her head. "It started when Sean told his class that he had met Jesus. A classmate nicknamed, Tiny started the rumor on the bus ride home, and it spread quickly. Every kid has an iPhone, and schools are gossip factories. When a rumor gets rolling, it's all over in minutes. We've fought so hard against gossip and cyberbullying, all for nothing."
"It seems like Mr. Wiley has no compassion at all," Diane adds. "How did he become principal of a middle school?"
"Because he was such a great administrator at some massive school system in Texas. The superintendent thought we needed some fresh ideas to help us grow."
Aunt Mary asks, "What's next for Sean, Crystal?"
"He'll have to meet the requirements set up by Dr. Phillips to reenter school - unless Thursday's meeting changes things. I should have stayed at school to fight for Sean, then quit." Crystal sips her coffee.
"I can't send Sean away for two weeks, and we can't be apart now. What about moving to another town, Crystal?"
"That report will follow you when they call for Sean's records. I have a few lawyer friends to call in the morning, but we should wait until after the meeting. They say that religious persecution is coming, and it starts with our children."
"How do I explain this to Sean, Crystal? " Tears fall onto Diane's cheek, dripping off her chin. "He's a good kid who's done nothing wrong."
"I know," Crystal takes Diane's hand in hers. "But God is with you."
"That's what Sean says. But why is He sending all of this trouble on us?"
Aunt Mary asks, "Maybe that's why Jesus came to see Sean?" She shakes her head, saying, "He knew this persecution was coming, and we need to be on guard for the next wave."
"That makes it more apparent that we stay strong and together. Where is Sean, Diane?" Crystal asks.
"He's up in his room. I sure hope he hasn't heard us talking."
He heard every word through the air conditioner vent above them.
Part~4 The Response
Sean gets off the floor, then slowly crawls onto his bed. His mind is reeling again.
I knew that Dr. Phillips was up to something. He kept asking me questions about my feelings after Dad's death. He was very curious about what Jesus looked like, and now Dr. Phillips says I'm nuts or insane.
But I did see Jesus. I remember Him sitting right there and feeling his fingers on the back of my head - the blue trim on his robe. Jesus was here! They will never make me believe He wasn't.
I'll never let them take me away to some crazy people's place. If they do, the doctors will never let me out of there. Mom and Dad didn't know I secretly watched that "Cuckoos Nest" movie where that man was thrown in one of those places. Who wants to hear all that screaming and crying through the night? I don't want my brain fried. I'm not crazy!
There's only one choice. I'll have to run away. But where to? It will take a little planning, but I've got until morning.
~
Sean's phone buzzes him awake at three-thirty in the morning. He slowly wipes his eyes and sees all his preparations after Mom and Aunt Mary looked in on him. His backpack is full of clothes, shoes, and a sleeping bag with the popup tent Dad bought last Christmas strapped at the bottom. They were going to camp out in the backyard this summer, but not now.
He slowly opens his door and remembers there are two rooms to get by - his Mom's down the hall and Aunt Mary's beside the kitchen. Sean hopes to grab a box of cereal bars from the cabinet before leaving by the back door.
Sean lays his phone down on his bed. The message is set to play when Mom opens it in the morning. He can't take his phone with him, or they will be able to track him.
After shouldering his backpack, Sean grabs his Boone and Crockett hiking boots. They make too much noise inside, and he'll put them on outside. He can barely breathe, walking by Mom's room and quickly down the carpeted stairs.
Sean steps on a magazine on the living room floor. He's hoping the sound didn't wake anyone. No one stirs, so he continues his silent journey.
Once in the kitchen, Sean opened the cabinet, looking for his favorite chocolate-covered cereal bars, but all he found were the crunchy ones. They'll have to do. He quietly stuffs them inside his backpack and zips it up.
When he glances around the kitchen, sadness falls on Sean, remembering the good times shared in this room. "Am I doing the right thing?" He whispers to himself, then answers, "If I stay, they'll put me away."
Sean searches for courage in his heart. He punches the code to turn the alarm off, then quietly opens and shuts the door. He slides his boots on and steps into the grass, saying, "The first steps in my new life, I think."
At six-thirty, Diane opens the door to Sean's room to wake him for breakfast. She's determined to keep their schedule besides what's going on.
A bolt of fear stabs her heart when she sees Sean's bed made up and his iPhone in the middle of the bed. Diane quickly opens his dresser, and most of his clothes are gone. She glances in the closet; his backpack, sleeping bag, and tent are also missing.
Diane's hand trembles reaching for Sean's phone. His saddened face fills the screen, and tears line Sean's green eyes, and Diane notices the grief-stricken lines around his eyes. Those few freckles on his cheeks and crinkled nose remind her of Doug.
She gently taps play on the screen. "Hi, Mom. I heard all of you talking in the living room last night through the a/c vent in my room. I don't understand why Dr. Phillips wants to put me away because I saw Jesus. Does anybody believe me? Do you?" Tears begin to fall down his cheek. "I don't want to be put away like some maniac which leaves me no choice but to run away. I love you, Mom. But I can't stay." Sean's finger taps the phone to stop recording.
Diane drops the phone and collapses to the floor.
| Author Notes |
Thank you, Linda Bickston, for the amazing portrait!
Many thanks for stopping by to read! Have a great day, and God bless. mike |
By papa55mike
Part~5 The Aftermath
Wednesday, March 17th. The chaotic scene at Diane Noble's house is finally calming down. The EMTs think Diane had a severe panic attack, but the doctor wants to check her out at the hospital for the rest of the day.
As soon as the ambulance pulls away, two Sheriff cruisers fill the space. Captain Bob Gray jumps out and heads toward the door, with two deputies following close behind. He's been friends with Doug and Diane for many years and was Doug's Scoutmaster when he was in the Boy Scouts twenty years ago.
Mary peeps through the curtains and immediately remembers Bob though he's put on a few pounds and is much grayer around the temples. Mary opens the door to welcome them and says, "Well if it ain't Bobby Gray. How are you, darling?"
Captain Gray's face lights up. "Miss Mary, I haven't seen you in twenty years, and you're as gorgeous as ever."
Mary wraps her arms around Bobby's neck, kisses his cheek, and says, "Let's just say the years have been kind to us." The two deputies behind them both have big smiles.
"How is Diane?"
"The doctors think she had a severe panic attack and should be released this afternoon."
"That's great to hear. I hated to miss the funeral, but I was tied up in something awful. What's this about Sean running away?"
"You boys, come on in, and I'll tell you."
Captain Gray and Mary sit on the couch with the deputies standing by the fireplace. All of them have a fresh cup of coffee.
Mary says, "This has been one of the most challenging times in my life. First, the news that Doug had passed away. I flew in three days before the funeral to help Diane through this. After the funeral, I remember Sean saying that he had seen Jesus in his room, and it seemed to help Diane a little. Sean returned to school on Monday, and then all of this exploded. He was goated into telling his class that he had met Jesus in his room."
"What's wrong with that?" Bob asks.
"Not a thing in my eyes, but there's a lot of parents who don't think the way we do. Miss Crystal, the guidance counselor, said fifty parents called in complaining. They think Sean is disturbed. Mr. Wiley ordered Sean to see Dr. Phillips, the school psychologist."
"I've heard nothing good about that, Mr. Wiley."
"Well, you really won't like this. Dr. Phillips thinks Sean has schizophrenia, and Mr. Wiley expelled him from school until he's had a complete psychological examination. The video Sean left on his phone said he heard us talking about what to do and said he had no choice but to leave."
Suddenly, you can see the anger rising in Captain Gray. The two deputies put down their coffee cups and back up.
He calms down and asks, "Do you know what time Sean left, Mary."
"After they got Diane settled, I checked the security camera, and it was right after three-thirty."
"It's eight-thirty, and he's got five hours on us. I know Sean, and he'll stick to the woods, or somebody would have recognized him by now and called it in. Mary, I could talk to you all day. Are you staying for a while?"
"I don't see me leaving any time soon."
"What about your husband?"
"David left me for his trophy wife five years ago."
"Well, he's an idiot. I'll call you when I get any news," Captain Gray turns to his deputies. "Come on, guys. We got things to do."
Arriving at the Sheriff's office, Captain Gray begins to bark out orders. "Amy, we need every officer on emergency duty, and I don't care if their shift just ended. Get them in here."
Amy's young face sparkles when she answers, "Yes, Captain!"
"Mike, I need you to call the Search and Rescue Units in Milan and Trenton to see if they can help us."
"I'm already on it, Bob. Or should I say, Bobby?" He winks at him.
"I'll Bobby your butt in a minute," smiling, he turns to James. "James, I need you to call Harlon Jones in Paris and see if he can bring his dogs. We might need them, but let's hope not."
"On it, Captain."
Sergeant John Morris walks into the fray and asks, "What's up, guys? I heard the commotion in the back."
"Hi, John," Captain Gray responds. "Can you grab those Carrol County and Lavina city maps and bring them into the conference room? We've got a search grid to layout."
"Sure, who's missing?"
Mike answers, "Sean Noble ran away early this morning."
John stops in his tracks. "Wow, what caused that?"
Captain Gray replies, "It's a long story."
~
Mr. Wiley is sitting in his spacious office filled with Mahogany finished furniture reviewing this month's academic reports. The fifth grade is beginning to fall behind in math, and he'll have to schedule a meeting with all teachers in that group.
Miss Allison walks in with a stack of time-off requests and lays them on his desk. "Here are several time-off requests for the afternoon, Mr. Wiley."
He sorts through them and says, "This is most of the fifth and sixth-grade teachers, the librarians, the coaches, and the school nurses. What's going on?"
"Oh, you haven't heard, Mr. Wiley," her voice is filled with sarcasm, "It seems that Sean Noble heard of your plan to put him away in an insane asylum and ran away early this morning. Finding Sean is gone and watching the video he left put Diane Noble in the hospital. Hopefully, she'll get out this afternoon."
"So, they want the afternoon off to search for Sean. Absolutely not! I'll have to call the superintendent about this problem."
"Oh, that's the other thing I came to tell you. School Superintendent Fredrickson is on line one and desperately wants to talk to you."
"Why didn't you tell me that first?" He turns and grabs his phone.
While she sashays out of the office, Miss Allison whispers, "I guess it slipped my mind."
Part~6 The Gathering
Captain Gray is sipping his third cup of coffee at the edge of his office door. He's watching ten deputies and two of Milan's S&R team preparing for a long afternoon, but he's lost in thought.
Miss Mary called a few minutes ago, saying that Diane was fine and would be released early this afternoon. For a change, there's some good news. Amy has contacted every law enforcement agency in West Tennessee to alert them about Sean, but nobody has reported anything.
He feels for Diane. Her whole world has crumbled in three days. We have to find Sean for her. Bob always wanted a boy like Sean but couldn't keep a wife long enough. None of them liked the law enforcement lifestyle, and right now, he doesn't like it much, either.
Bob sighs, sets his coffee down and calls everyone together. In a somber voice, he begins the meeting. "All right, everybody. We've got a five-mile circle around the Noble house gridded out to the west. That's the direction Sean left this morning. Each one of you has a square mile section to search. Be sure to look for clues; a scrap of cloth, cereal bar wrapper, footprints, or even a broken twig on a tree might give us a direction. Watch your steps. We don't want anybody hurt out there. I'll set up a base in the Noble's backyard, and I need everyone to check in every ten minutes. It's ten-thirty, and there are only nine hours of daylight left. We'll shut it down at sunset. I don't want anybody stumbling around in the dark."
Amy sticks her head in the door and says, "Sorry to interrupt, Captain. But you need to see this."
Bob shakes his head and then says, "What now." The group follows him down the hall to the lobby.
They're greeted by a small group of teachers and coaches coming through the door. Miss Crystal speaks for the group, saying, "Good morning, Captain Gray. We're to help in any way we can."
"Well," Bob smiles for the first time this morning. "We're fixing to hit the woods if you want to pair up with one of our deputies."
Coaches Morris, Harrod, and Bolton, with Mr. Chip, the janitor, raise their hands. It shocked everybody when Miss Carol raised her hand.
They all step forward, and Bob asks Miss Carol, "Are you sure, ma'am?"
"Captain Gray, I'm Carol Bradford, Sean's teacher. It's my fault that this happened," she swallows back her tears. "I had to go to the office to take a call and wasn't there for Sean, and I want to make that right."
"Yes, ma'am. I think we all want to. Why don't you go with those two guys from Milan?" Bob sees how this event has affected everyone differently. Still, he sees hope in their eyes. "Miss Crystal, can the rest of you help me set up a base at the Noble house? Besides, I think when Diane gets home; she could use some smiling faces around her. All right, everybody, let's put this thing in motion. We're wasting daylight."
Miss Crystal says, "I would love to lead us in prayer, Captain Gray. It'll only take a minute."
Bob thinks to himself, what a beautiful bunch of people. "Please do."
Crystal asks, "Will everyone join hands?"
Amy runs out of her cubicle, grabs Bob's hand, looks up at him, and winks.
"Oh, Father in heaven. We humbly come before you, asking for guidance. Please lead us to Sean and protect him until we find him. He's a gentle soul with a hurting heart. Keep us from harm until we meet again, In Jesus' loving name. Amen."
| Author Notes |
Thank you, Linda Bickston, for the fantastic portrait
Many thanks for stopping by to read! Have a great day, and God bless. mike |
By papa55mike
Part~7 Sean's Campsite
The setting sun through the trees shines directly on Sean's tent, but he's sitting by the fire, and there's plenty of firewood for the coming night if he needs it.
His mind drifts back home.
I wonder what Mom is doing right now? Aunt Mary has probably cooked supper for themselves. Manwich on buns with some mac and cheese sure sounds good. A camp meal of spaghetti in a bag will have to do. All I have to do is boil it and put it on a plate. I need to get ready for these kinds of meals from now on.
There's a good for Sean to pick the closed Boy Scout Summer Camp to run away to. It has everything he needs - wood for the fire, bathrooms, showers, and food in the cafeteria. Sean spent the last three summers learning everything about this place, including where the keys are to open up everything.
Sean has followed all of the rules in setting up his campsite. The fire is in the pit, and the tent is more than six feet away from the flames. The only food Sean has is what's cooking, except for the cereal bars in his backpack. That should keep the animals away. He wonders what Dad would think about his campsite.
The pangs of loss begin to drift through Sean again. It always starts in the belly, then permeates his entire body. He begins to shake with grief, and the thoughts of his Mom missing him fill his mind. Sean says, "I'm so tired of tears. Why can't they leave me alone?" He wipes his eyes violently.
Sean slowly pulls the bag of spaghetti from the boiling water with the tongs he got from the cafeteria and lays it on the plate. He cuts the top of the plastic with his pocket knife, then dumps the meal onto a plate.
After tasting his supper, Sean says, "It needs a little salt."
~
Nothing is cooking at the Noble house. Diane, Mary, and Bob are sitting at the kitchen table, nursing the last bit of coffee for the day. They won't sleep tonight.
Bob shakes his head and says, "Don't worry, Diane. We'll find Sean tomorrow. I still don't know where we went wrong, though."
Mary wraps her hand around his and replies, "You did your best, Bob. Please stop being so hard on yourself."
"I do put too much on my shoulders, sometimes. But people expect results from their Sheriff."
Diane says, "He's close by, Bob. I can feel him. The Lord will protect Sean through the night. We need to have strong faith to get us through. I'm glad you're here, Bob. We don't see you much anymore."
"I know. We were great friends for so long. It's a shame to see good people lost so early in life while these Meth cookers in Carroll County destroy lives daily. Why doesn't God take them instead?"
Mary answers, "You have no idea how often I asked the "why" question. When David left me for a woman born the year we were married, questions exploded in my mind. But no answers came, and I expected God to answer at least one."
That brought a smile to all their faces.
Suddenly Bob's phone rang, its John Morris. "What's up, John?"
"I found Sean."
"Where's he at?" Bob asks with a sigh of relief.
"He must have doubled back when he hit the woods and went east. From here, I'd say he has a good spot at the closed Boy Scout camp."
"I told you he was a smart one, John. Please wait for me. I should be there in ten minutes." Bob turns to Mary and Diane. "You were right, Diane. Sean's at the Scout camp on Highway 79."
Diane looks up and says, "Thank you, Lord, for finding my boy."
Mary wipes the tears from her eyes and exclaims, "Well, God answered one of my questions."
"We'll start calling everybody Bob," Diane smiles. "This is one rumor I'll be glad to share."
Captain Gray kills his lights, pulls into the entrance, stops his cruiser behind John's, and then slides out.
"Sean hasn't seen us, Bob. He must have his back turned to the road. Do you want me to go with you?"
"No, I want to talk to him alone. Why don't you go home and get some rest? You've been going for eighteen hours, and I appreciate you giving your all today."
"Thanks, Bob. I think I will sleep now that Sean is at home."
Captain Gray starts the long walk in the dark, wondering how to approach Sean. He knows that Sean is still hurting from the recent events. Which pain do you talk about first?
He sees Sean staring at the stars with puzzled eyes. The fire is slowly dying, but the streetlight gives enough light. "I think your fire is going out, Sean."
Startled out of his thoughts, Sean jumps up and sees Captain Gray. He calms a little, then says, "I was going to let it die for the night. I see you finally found me."
"Yeah, you led us on a merry chase," Captain Gray sits beside Sean. "You should have seen us hitting the woods this morning. I couldn't believe all the teachers and coaches tramping through the woods looking for you, including your teacher, Miss Carol. Miss Crystal led the group to the Sheriff's office, then worked with me at the base camp until dark."
"They all did that to find me?"
"Most people don't see a teacher's love for every student, including me. I've learned several lessons today: one is that a ten-year-old can outsmart an entire sheriff's department, and the other is your Mom's love for you."
"I didn't mean to hurt, Mom. But I couldn't let them send me away."
"Your Mom and Miss Crystal will not let that happen."
"But what about Mr. Wiley and Dr. Phillips?"
"All I can say is that tomorrow night's school board meeting will be a doozy," Bob smiles a little. "Your Dad was a good friend, but I was always jealous."
"Why?"
"Because I wish I had a boy like you. You were so lucky to have your Father, even briefly. He talked about you constantly and was so proud of you. Have you cried for your Dad, Sean?"
"Too many times. That's what started all of this. I was crying on my bed when Jesus visited me. Do you believe that He came to my room?"
"I've seen too much of the ugly side of life to even think about God, but I believe you, and I'm glad He did."
"You're the first, Captain Gray."
"Please, call me Bob from now on. It broke my heart when I heard your Father passed away."
"Mine, too."
"Here's my card, Sean. Please put my cell number in your phone and call anytime. I may not be able to answer right then, but I will call you back."
Sean asks, "Promise?"
"I promise. How would you like to sleep in your warm, comfortable bed tonight? Besides, I think your Mom would like to hug the stuffing out of you."
"It would be better than sleeping on that lumpy ground."
"Great, you get some water and put out that fire while I get my cruiser."
"Yes, sir. Bob, thank you for finding me."
"It was my pleasure, Sean."
The headlights from Captain Gray's cruiser flash across the Country Blue single-family home that belongs to the Nobles. Suddenly the oak front door opens, and Diane and Mary run towards the car.
Sean jumps out and straight into his Mom's arms, and she showers his cheeks with kisses and tears of joy. Sobbing, Mary wraps her arms around them, and they fall to their knees in the grass.
Bob wipes a tear from the corner of his left eye, then turns to open the door of his cruiser.
Mary screams, "Don't you move a muscle, Bob Gray!" She slowly rises and walks over to him. "Bend down a little." Mary wraps her arms around his neck and kisses his left cheek three times, with one on the lips for good measure. "Thank you, sweetie. It was a pleasure seeing you again, and I hope to see more of you."
"That sounds great to me, Mary."
Diane and Sean walk over to them, and Bob asks, "Do you still have my number, Sean?"
"Yes, sir. I'll put in my phone tonight."
"Don't hesitate to call."
"I won't. Thanks, Bob," Sean extends his hand, and Bob gladly shakes it.
Diane speaks up, "I can't thank you enough, Bob. You brought my son home."
"It was my pleasure, Diane. It reminds me of how close I was to you and Doug a few years ago."
"Why does it always come back to Doug and his love for all of us?" Diane shakes her head, saying, "I guess that will never die."
Bob asks, "Are you three coming to the meeting tomorrow night to support Crystal."
"Oh," Diane smiles. "We'll be there."
Part~8 A Challenge issued
Thursday, March 18th. Nobody in Lavina could have expected this meeting would bring so much chaos to their tiny town. It started right after school was dismissed at 2:45. People from neighboring cities began to gather, and it was astounding how the battle lines formed.
On one side of the sidewalk were the parents who wanted God out of our schools. They were carrying signs saying, Take God Out of Our Schools, Ban The Commandments, claiming Christianity is a myth and too much of a burden for our children to bare. In a rage, they're shouting obscenities across the sidewalk.
On the other side, Christians from many local denominations hold Bibles while shaking crosses at the enemy. Some carry signs reading, Turn or Burn Sinner, Go Back to Babylon, and screaming hateful curses back at them and telling those sinners how they will burn in Hell, forever!
Both sides are shining examples for our children.
Thanks to the Jackson Sun and WBBJ Channel 7 for picking up on this local story and showing pictures of Sean Noble everywhere; it took four Sheriffs to get Diane, Sean, and Miss Mary in the building through the protesters.
Once inside the building, Sean asks his Mother, "Did I cause all of that?"
"No, sweetie, that's just people being idiots!"
Most county seats in Tennessee, where they hold meetings, are beautiful old, Gothic buildings from a bygone era. But not Lavina. They have a yellow sheet metal building, usually Clyde's Auction House. Clyde's podium has been replaced with one from the school system, and two folding tables with three chairs hold the School Board. The other folding chairs are filled to the back with local citizens. Nobody in Lavina was missing this meeting.
President Frederickson stood when the protesters entered the building and exclaimed, "We will not have this meeting turned into a circus. If you utter one word, I'll have Captain Gray and his deputies toss you out the door! Is that understood?"
His statement is answered with meek nods from both sides, and they are forced to stand along the walls.
It's been a challenging meeting so far. Principal Wiley had already given his statement and was soundly booed when he finished. They're currently discussing Miss Crystal's report. She concludes her statement by saying, "It all comes down to this. We were so busy protecting our students that we forgot Sean Noble had rights also. Thank you." Crystal returns to her seat beside Diane and Sean in the front row.
School Superintendent Fredrickson says, "Thank you for your report and statement, Miss Crystal. Your passion for the children is commendable, and I want to talk to you after the meeting." He glances around the room and asks, "Is there any other voice to be heard on this matter?"
Diane bites her lip but still raises her hand.
Mr. Fredrickson smiles, then says, "You have the floor, Mrs. Noble."
"Thank you," Diane slowly rises but turns to the crowd. "I want Mr. Wiley to know that I forgive him for his decision against Sean and see that he was only watching out for the other students. But he saw Sean as the problem instead of helping a hurting young man.
"This is a difficult time for our county. Persecution and bigotry begin with a thought that slowly weaves itself throughout our being to form an evil cancer of the soul. We see someone different and immediately slap a label on that person. In Sean's case, it's 'Christian.' That label is all we care about - no one sees the heart or thoughts that exist inside or the love they have for others.
"Many states have taken God out of our schools, and most people don't have the Lord in their homes. It seems that every corner of public life has forgotten He exists. When we turn our backs on the goodness of God, it opens the door for evil to spread hatred for the church, the Bible, and Christians.
"The same bigotry came alive in Germany when Hitler took power in the 1930s, and his hatred for the Jews quickly spread throughout the people. I'm not saying anyone in this room is a Hitler in the making, but that idea began with a simple thought. I will pray for each person in this room tonight, and I hope the Lord fills you with His glorious love.
"But the child we need to pray for is the next victim and the next. For it says in the Bible that with much evil, the love of many will wax cold, and hating Christians will become a part of life," Diane turns back to the school board. "Thankfully, we're not there yet, and it's up to this school board to see that it doesn't happen here. Thank you for your time." Diane slowly turns to Sean and Mary. "It's time to go home." They slowly make their way through the crowd in total silence.
~
The next day, word spread quickly that the board fired Dr. Phillips, and Mr. Wiley was given a leave of absence until he could finish sensitivity training. Then, they would discuss his role in the school system.
Superintendent Fredrickson begged Miss Crystal to return to her job, to which she agreed. Everything seemed to be getting back to something called normal.
That evening, Bob Gray's pickup truck pulls into the driveway of the Noble home. The family had invited him for supper. He slowly gets out, wondering why he had taken the night off. That's when three smiling faces greet him, and Bob finally sees the family missing from his life.
Mary throws her arms around his neck and gives him a peck on the cheek, and he hands her a bottle of wine. Mary exclaims, "Oh, you brought wine. How romantic!" Her smiling face beams.
"I didn't know what we were having, so I brought a Sangria."
"We're ordering pizza to welcome Sean back home." Diane laughs a little.
A twinge of sadness envelops Bob when he sees the joy that Doug came home to every day. He missed his dear friend.
Mary turns and asks, "You okay?"
"Yes, ma'am, never better."
| Author Notes |
A big thanks to Linda Bickston for letting me use her beautiful portraits of Jesus.
Many thanks to all who stopped by to read and for all the help with this story! Have a great day, and God bless. mike |
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