Miss Thursday is here. And with her she has brought snow. About five I opened the door to let "I" out and was greeted by the white flakes. Our front yard already blanketed with the white fluff. Brrr, It looks so cold. I use to like it when it snowed. Now I just worry. My daughter getting off work late at night My son driving in this with bad brakes. I wish we all lived in Florida.
I've always loved movies, from the time I was very small. Movies of almost any kind. Growing up Mom always tried to come up with a quarter on Saturdays to go to the movies. A dime to get in. The other fifteen cents for a coke and popcorn. Those were the days. But Mom never wanted you to go on Sundays. Sunday was the Sabbath. I would beg sometimes and she would always say, "What if Christ comes back? Do you think he will come in a Movie theater to get you?" I always wondered if that meant he would collect me there on Saturday but just not Sunday.
I grew up hearing the Bible thumping preachers talking about the rapture. How Christ would come on the clouds, scooping up his righteous and leaving behind the sinners. I was always watching the clouds for signs of his arrival. I wanted to get a quick I'm sorry in. Just in case any stray sins lingered in my young heart.All of those words over the year left me very nervous.
But then a Sunday came when there was a movie on in downtown. At the Fox theatre. I wanted to go. I begged. "Just a dime Mom," I pleaded. "Its Sunday," she said. "What are you going to do if Christ comes? You'll be left behind." There was a tad bit nervousness but the urge to see the movie won out. She gave up the dime and I was on my way.
The movie was a musical. I danced all the way home afterwards. Straight down ninth street, joy in my heart. I got home. Dad was off that day. The car set parked in the driveway. I entered the house to the radio playing. I walked through the four rooms, calling Mom's name. A half cup of coffee set on the kitchen table. Bud's bike on the front porch. Nobody was home. The doors open, music playing. Mom, Dad, Brenda and Bud were gone. The late afternoon sun glistened off the car. Terror rocked my heart. It had happened. Christ had come while I was in the movie. Just like Mom had said. "Good grief" I had been left behind.
Tears sprung to my eyes as I looked around the quiet house. "What was I going to do?" I was only twelve. How would I pay rent, buy groceries. Thoughts raced through my head. "Why," I asked myself, "Couldn't he have least came to the lobby and called my name?" I flung myself down on the couch. Fresh tears flooding my eyes. Then a thought entered my mind. Was there others left behind? Surely there was. There had to be other sinners. The movie house had been full. Then Bea McDonald sprang to mind. I heard talk about Bea, she lived around the corner. A trouble maker. Surely she hadn't been taken. My ace in the hole. She might be a part time sinner but she liked me. Maybe she would at least give me food. Then the realization hit me, they had a television. The Springfield channel played "Howdy Doody and Pinky Lee," five days a week. Maybe she would even let me sleep on her couch. I felt a little better. Though I knew I would miss my family.
Just then I heard the scraping of tire wheels on the gravel driveway. I rushed to the window. It was Helen and Leon Schrocks car. And Mom, dad, Bud and Brenda were getting out of the back seat. Joy flooded my heart. They had returned and in the Schrocks car. Hallalugh,
I rushed out the door, flinging mysef into Mom's arms. "You've come back I gushed. "We only went to look at a house with Helen and Leon," she said. Eyeing me strangely. Of course Mom always eyed me strangely. I firmly believe to this day she thought Aliens from another planet had sent me with the stork on the day of my birth. I was so happy. I hadn't bit the bullet. The rapture had not took place. I had another chance to make it with the Holies.
As we sat around the supper table I beamed at all of them. I loved the chatter. The smell of food. I was not alone. But the one small fact lingered in my mind. "What would it have been like to watch "Howdy Doody," everyday. I never got to find out.
I watch the skies as I send my words into the wind. They mingle with the snow. Oh yes its snowing here too. The sky looks a little funny here this morning. I wish I was Catholic so I could do the sign of the cross. Just in case there is any sins floating around me. I have hopes of making it thorough another day. But for now, I'm outta here.
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