by B. C. Harris
Although I struggled most of the night with the questions I have about my mother’s involvement in what is happening, I still believe in her innocence.
“There were two giant figures in history who had a direct impact on modern day religion,” Mr. Kraviak states, a trace of enthusiasm in his voice this morning. “The first of these two men was Akhenaten who was the ruler of Egypt from 1352 to 1336 BC.”
An Egyptian ruler? I thought we left Egypt a few weeks ago.
“You might remember that we talked about Akhenaten when we were learning about Egypt a few weeks ago. Can anyone tell me more about him?”
Mr. Kraviak asked a question. I stop breathing. My classmates have also stopped breathing. We are in a collective shock. The last time Mr. Kraviak asked a question, our class erupted in turmoil.
Suddenly Martha blurts out, “I can.”
Yes, of course she can. Martha is like a river that the rains have been feeding over and over until it’s ready to burst.
“Yes,” she says loudly again. “Yes, I know something about Akhenaten.”
“Continue please,” Mr. Kraviak says as eager as the rest of us to see Martha bubbling in anticipation of being able to speak in our ancient history class.
“Akhenaten was married to Queen Nefertiti. In his reign he brought about an enormous religious revolution. He told the Egyptian people that there was only one god instead of there being many as they had traditionally worshipped. Akhenaten told his people that there was only one god whose name was Aten. Aten was the sole god. He was the sun god.”
Although it appears that Martha could keep talking until the earth stops spinning, Mr. Kraviak stops her.
“Yes, that’s correct. Akhenaten’s ideas were a complete shift in the history of religion. Up until his rule, people believed in many different gods. Akhenaten changed that, but as we learned when we were studying the Egyptians, his rule was short and his ideas did not prosper.”
“And now we’re going to learn about Constantine,” Martha shouts out.
Mr. Kraviak smiles.
“Yes, today we are going to learn about Constantine.”
Although Martha begins to talk, Mr. Kraviak cuts her off. He shifts into his normal mode of teaching. Perhaps he feels that his one question was enough for today.
“Constantine ruled from 307 to 337 AD. It was Constantine who made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire. This was a very unusual thing for him to do because up until this time, the Christians were often tortured and persecuted and even killed for their beliefs,” Mr. Kraviak says, looking directly at Susan Michaels.
I think he’s beginning to walk on very thin ice by mentioning religion in this class after we were warned by Ms. Cathbert that talking about religion at our school was forbidden.
“It is said that before a major battle, Constantine saw a vision of a cross of light in the sky above the sun. After winning the battle, Constantine thought that the God of the cross, that of Christianity, might be a very useful religion for him to support. After all, everyone believed it was this God who helped him win the battle.”
I look at Jamie. He’s busy writing something. He’s completely absorbed in whatever he’s doing.
“Like the Egyptian ruler Akhenaten, Constantine declared that there was only one God instead of a pantheon of them. These were both significant moments in ancient history.”
As Mr. Kraviak pauses for effect, Martha jumps in.
“But neither of these rulers completely eliminated the other gods that people believed in.”
Mr. Kraviak nods for Martha to continue, but she doesn’t need any encouragement. She’s off and running at the races.
“Even though Constantine made Christianity the official religion, he still believed in other gods. I read that he believed more in the power of the sun god than he did in the Christian God.”
Jamie is furiously writing. What’s he doing?
“Yes, you are correct,” Mr. Kraviak replies to Martha. “Even though Constantine publically stated that Christianity was the official religion, the reality is that he still worshipped the sun god. In fact, many of the coins that were minted during Constantine’s reign show his face with the sun’s rays radiating from his head. This is a symbol of the sun cult, the worship of the sun god. The reality is that Constantine believed he was the true god, the sun god.”
As Mr. Kraviak takes a deep breath to prepare for his next onslaught of information, I hear, “Oh my God.”
It’s Jamie.
“Excuse me,” Mr. Kraviak says to Jamie.
“Oh my God,” Jamie mutters under his breath as he looks at me.
“Is something wrong?” Mr. Kraviak asks Jamie.
“No, no, it can wait,” Jamie says.
Martha jumps from her seat, taking advantage of the the momentary silence.
“Mr. Kraviak,” she begins, “when Constantine died, his body was placed in a church where there was a statue that suggested he was a god himself.”
“Yes,” Mr. Kraviak says.
The two of them have forgotten about the others in our class, although at the moment that’s probably a good thing, because Mr. Kraviak doesn’t see Jamie slipping me a piece of paper across two rows of students.
Mr. Kraviak continues, “Constantine’s body was placed in the Church of the Holy Apostles at Constantople. In life and death, Constantine used the imperial titles of Invictus, which meant unconquered and also Sol which referred to the sun god. Constantine considered himself to be the unconquered sun god. By accepting Christianity as the state religion, he was indirectly stating that there was only one God, but that one God was the sun god, who on earth was none other than Constantine himself.”
The bell rings to end our class.
I unfold the paper that Jamie delivered to me.
Across the top of the page is the word SANTTONNICE, the name that the New Messiah in Rome has given himself. Underneath this name, Jamie has printed CONSTANTINE, the Roman ruler we have been learning about in today’s class.
I don’t understand what Jamie is trying to tell me.
“Emily,” I hear Jamie’s voice as I’m still staring at the names on the paper. “Santtonnice is an anagram. Take the letters in Santtonnice and rearrange them and you have the name Constantine. Constantine saw himself as the sun god, ready to conquer the world.”
Before I respond to Jamie, someone calls my name.
“Emily…”
It’s Michael. He looks like he’s about to tell me something that I don’t want to hear.
“I just got a text from Drew. He said that Jasmin was called out of class and never returned. When he wandered by the main office at the end of class, he noticed several police officers there.”
- 28 -
HOMELESS
Drew, Jamie, Michael and I sit together in the cafeteria awaiting Jasmin’s return. While Jamie and Michael are busy discussing the possible significance of Santtonnice’s name being an anagram for Constantine, Drew is talking about storming the office to rescue Jasmin.
I’m not sure I can handle what I’m facing. As I touch the emerald around my neck, a big part of me wants to use the emerald to take my mother and me on a vacation, somewhere far away where we can escape our current problems. I wonder whether such a place exists on my planet.
The cafeteria today is unusually quiet. It seems like I’m not the only one who is exhausted. I think the drama in Rome is taking its toll on everyone. There are endless reports in every form of the media talking about a new world war. World war? Who needs that?
I’m scared. As I glance around the cafeteria, the other students look nervous. The mindless banter and sometimes crude jokes among the students have been replaced by a solemn and collective anxiety.
“That’s it,” I hear Michael exclaim, bringing me back to the reality of the conversation at my table.
As I turn my thoughts back to my friends, I see a look of victory in the eyes of both Jamie and Michael.
Jam
ie leans across the table as though he has something important to tell me.
“Constantine,” he begins, “introduced Christmas. It was Constantine who decided that Jesus Christ was born on December 25th.”
“He wasn’t born on December 25th?” I say.
“No,” Jamie says. “No one knows exactly when Christ was born. Most experts think it was probably in the early spring, but no one knows for sure. The Romans celebrated Dies Natalis Solis Invicti, which means birthday of the unconquered sun, on December 25th. This was the birthday of the pagan sun god Mithra. Constantine, believing he was the sun god, took this date and announced it would be the official birthdate of Christ, even though Constantine considered himself to be the sun god who people were really celebrating on this day.”
Michael joins in. “The winter solstice that occurred anywhere from December 21st to 25th depending on the country, was celebrated by many ancient societies. The most familiar location might be Stonehenge in England where the large rocks were arranged so that the sun on the winter solstice would shine its rays through its entrance as the sun set.”
“So?” I say, not quite understanding what Jamie and Michael are inferring.
“Perhaps,” Jamie says, “Santtonnice is planning a big event for the sunset that occurs on December 25th, four days from now.”
”Emily,” Drew whispers forcefully to me.
I follow his gaze to the door of the cafeteria. Standing there are the two police officers from last night and Ms. Cathbert. Druel and Cathbert look like they’re really going to enjoy whatever is going to happen next.
If I thought the cafeteria was quiet before, it has now turned into a tomb.
Cathbert scans the cafeteria as though she’s searching for someone. Even before her penetrating eyes find me, every student in the cafeteria is already staring at me.
Ah ha. Cathbert’s face lights up. She’s found me.
Touching my emerald, I think about escaping. Then I realize I need to know what’s going on. What are the police doing at my school?
Before Cathbert reaches me, I proudly stand. I hold my head erect. I walk directly towards the vice-principal and the two police officers.
“Looking for me?” I say sarcastically to Ms. Cathbert. I’m in no mood to play the nice timid teenager who cowers in the presence of a power wielding vice-principal.
My directness sets her back for a moment, but she quickly recovers.
“Yes, come with us,” she says, her thin lips twisting into a smug grin. I remember how she cowered in the presence of my mother the last time we were together. Now she’s acting brave in front of the two police officers. Besides, her only opponent now is a shy fifteen year-old girl.
As Ms. Cathbert turns abruptly, leaving the cafeteria as though she’s a Roman emperor celebrating a victory over a mighty enemy, I follow. The two cops fall in behind me, but not before I catch the smirk on Druel’s face. Robarts smiles at me like everything is going to be okay. Good cop. Bad cop.
As we walk towards the main office, any students in the hallway part as though a major criminal is being taken into custody.
I know I should be frightened, but I’m not. If I was a little confused last night about the accusations that the police officers were inferring in their talks with my mother, I’m now convinced of my mother’s innocence. I’m seeing firsthand how authority operates. There’s no doubt in my mind that it’s self-serving, rather than attempting to uncover what really happened. Ms. Cathbert and the two police officers are not looking for the truth; they are motivated by a desire to wield their power.
As we enter the office, Ms. Cathbert unexpectedly drops her stern persona, the one that she demonstrated in front of the other students in the cafeteria, the one that said, “Look at me. I’m the all-powerful vice-principal.”
“Emily,” she begins sweetly, “can I get you a drink of juice or water?”
Good cop. Bad cop.
“What is it that you want?” I snap.
Ms. Cathbert looks at the two cops as though she’s awaiting instructions from them.
“We’ll take over now,” Druel replies, her eyes dismissing Ms. Cathbert.
Cathbert shrugs in a manner that suggests she’s disappointed that she’s not going to be a part of the action.
Sergeant Roberts touches my arm. I jump away from him.
“A sensitive one, are you?” the female officer says.
I smile at her. I’m a lot tougher than you think, I say to myself.
The muscular male cop walks into Cathbert’s office. I’ve been here before. I know I’m expected to follow him
As we enter the office, I notice a woman, someone whom I have never seen before, sitting in the corner as though she would rather be somewhere else.
The door shuts loudly behind me. I turn in its direction, quickly noticing that Druel has closed it in a manner that suggests I’m now her captive. Cathbert is standing dejected outside, refused entry into her own office.
“Emily, this is Catherine Bentley. She’s from social services,” Robarts says by way of introduction.
The woman, maybe in her mid-thirties, short, a little overweight, with straggly shoulder-length brown hair that looks like it could use a wash, stands and offers her hand as though I’m a starving street kid who needs a dollar to make it through another day.
I ignore her hand.
Robarts looks shocked by my reaction. “Sit down please,” he says to me as he makes himself comfortable behind Cathbert’s large wooden desk.
I decide to stand.
Miss Social Services returns to her seat.
Druel leans up against a wall opposite me, trying to look tough.
“Emily,” Robarts begins, “we have bad news for you.”
Bad news? My father disappeared when I was four. There’s an alien in Rome who wants to kill me. Someone tried to strangle my Grammy. My best friend thinks that my mother kidnapped her. Bad news? Shoot. I’m ready.
“We’ve just finished talking to your friend Jasmin. She has confirmed again that it was your mother who kidnapped her yesterday.”
Robarts waits for my reaction. There’s none. I know my mother is innocent. I can imagine Druel bombarding Jasmin with questions, both yesterday and today, until she broke. She told them what they wanted to hear. Not necessarily what really happened. Up until yesterday, I believed in the integrity of the police; not anymore. The last twenty-four hours have taught me that some cops use their power to crush the innocent because that’s sometimes easier than trying to convict the guilty.
“Emily, the news gets worse.”
I suppress my anger. I fight the growing fear that I’m beginning to lose hold of my feigned confidence.
“That’s not all,” Druel says, kicking me when I’m already down.
Robarts continues, “Your mother has been identified by one of the workers at Splendid Gardens as the mysterious woman who was present last Saturday when one man was murdered and your grandmother was almost killed.”
Roberts pauses. I know the news is about to get worse.
“Your mother has been arrested. She has been charged with the murder of the worker at Splendid Gardens, the attempted murder of your grandmother, the attempted murder of the security guard at the Westside Hotel, and the abduction of your friend Jasmin.”
I feel like I’m going to be sick.
Miss Social Services leaps to my rescue. She grabs my arm to prevent me from collapsing.
Robarts continues, “Because you’re only fifteen, and it appears that you have no relatives who can help you…”
I try to keep from fainting.
“… you will have to be taken into the care of social services. They will find a new home for you to live until…”
Until? Until what? Until my mother finishes spending the rest of her life in jail?”
“I feel sick. I need to go to a washroom,” I say. I’m not lying.
Robarts nods at the social services woman. She escorts me from the room.
I’m not even permitted to go to a bathroom by myself.
My life is over.
- 29 -
ESCAPE
As I sit in a spotless bathroom adjacent to the main office of the school, I wonder what I’m going to do next.
My mother has been arrested. Now all I have to do is save my mother from a lifetime in prison while I save the world from an alien maniac in Rome. Just a normal teenager kind of day.
I catch a glint of light bouncing off my emerald. I remember Squirt and Radwin. I left them in the basement of my house this morning, never thinking that I might not be returning there. I need to help them.
Although my mind is racing, I know for sure that I’m not going to leave this school with the social services woman. Perhaps she’s really nice. Perhaps she really helps kids who are abused or who are unable to help themselves. Although I may be homeless, I’m not helpless. After all, I’m the Keeper of the Emerald. It’s time to begin to use its power.
Taking out my cell phone, I text Jamie.
My mother has been arrested. I know she’s innocent. They’re placing me in the control of social services. I don’t intend to obey this. I’m sure that the police will search my home for any clues that might help them in their arrest of my mother. I can’t let them discover our S O S chat room on my computer. Is there someway I can destroy the computer before they get it?
“Are you okay?” It’s the social services woman.
I feel victimized. How demeaning is it to be escorted to a bathroom as though I’m a criminal even though I’ve done nothing wrong?
“Yes,” I reply, pretending to sound weak, even though my strength is returning.
Holding the emerald in my hands, I imagine being in my basement. Confidently, I whisper, “Sandarium, my basement.”
I picture myself spinning in the chair at my desk, watching Squirt bounce on the couch while Radwin is glued to the TV news.
- 30 -
ON THE RUN
As Squirt does a somersault high off the couch, I realize I’m back home.