SECRET SALVATION

by Chad Josey

  His mama had a special glow about her. This was the first time she could show off her new car to her church friends. Joseph could tell how proud she was this morning, as lately smiles from her had been hard to discover.

  Rachel and Liz held their usual Sunday morning gossip session during the drive to church. This gave Joseph the perfect opportunity to inch his right hand into his pocket. Success. He pulled out a small, chocolate peanut butter cup. The crinkling candy wrapper pierced through their conversation, easily getting Rachel’s attention.

  “Joseph, I told you no candy until we get home.” Rachel gave Joseph the you’re in trouble look through the rearview mirror.

  “Mama, I know. But, I love peanut butter cups so much.” He pleaded his case. “The Easter Bunny was extra good to me this year and brought me a lot.”

  “If you get any chocolate on your clothes or my new car, I will be very upset.”

  “Rachel, your car rides very nice, and there’s so much room.” Liz rubbed her hands across the front bench seat between her and Rachel.

  “It’s so much better than Jacob’s old car. That car had seen better days that’s for sure.”

  Rachel glimpsed at herself in the rearview mirror. An unforced smile stared back to her. “I’m happy I could save enough money to finally get a new one.”

  “Mama, what are we having for lunch?” This was Joseph’s second favorite part about Sunday mornings; his anticipation of having a wonderfully cooked dinner. It was this anticipation of a special meal, which made the long church service bearable.

  “Since it’s Easter, when we get home we will have a nice ham dinner with all the fixins.” Liz spoke first before her daughter-in-law could answer.

  “Are we having macaroni-and-cheese?” Joseph jumped from the back of his seat and leaned on the front to look at his grandma.

  “Yes, we are having macaroni-and-cheese,” Rachel said as Joseph turned his stare to her. She gently snatched his left shoulder as she drove. “Now, sit back, and get ready to go inside. We’re here.”

  They drove through the overflowing church parking lot. Dozens of people entered through the front door of the church built during the Sixties, a time when every suburb in Houston experienced tremendous population growth due to the NASA programs. The church was a nondescript, brick building with a tall, white steeple; it was a cookie-cutter church in a cookie-cutter neighborhood.

  Joseph opened his passenger-side back door first and got out, looking down at his pants and his seat. “Mama, it’s all good. No chocolate, nowhere.”

  “That’s good, Dear.” She checked herself one last time in the mirror applying another pass of lipstick before getting out of the car.

  “Why Liz, you’re looking as beautiful as a June bug,” James Unger said as he opened Liz’s front, passenger door.

  Liz smiled and said, “James, you always say the nicest things. Happy Easter.”

  Martha’s husband loved to flirt with Liz. But, then again, James loved anything in a skirt.

  “Happy Easter, Liz… Happy Easter, Rachel,” Martha said between hugs to them both. Joseph made his way to the front of the car to everyone. “And, Happy Easter to you, too, Joseph. Was the Easter Bunny good to you this morning?”

  Joseph stood with his cheeks puffed out. “Yeah, real good.” He muffled a reply due to a mouth full of chocolate peanut butter cups, which he had smuggled from his pocket. He was careful to avoid his mama’s eye contact.

  “Nice car. What year is it?” James asked Rachel, placing his left hand on the top of the car while looking inside the window.

  “Thanks. It’s an ’87. I got it yesterday at Mr. Young’s Used Cars. I couldn’t take our old one breaking down any longer.”

  The pleasant, deep clang of a church bell broke through the crisp morning air, interrupting them. “Time to go inside, Joseph,” Rachel called out as the Ungers started toward the church door ahead of them.

  “That James is something else, isn’t he?” Liz whispered into Rachel’s ear.

  “Hush. They’ve been happily married for thirty years; you home wrecker.” Rachel loved joking with her mother-in-law about James’s obvious advances to Liz.

  “He’s always flirting with me,” Liz said as Joseph stepped in front of them inside the church.

  The Ungers held hands. “Weren’t they adorable,” Martha said to James as they waived to another couple already sitting in a front pew.

  “Rachel looked pretty good… considering,” James said as they took a seat in a middle pew.

  “She sure did. I will say a special prayer for her.” Martha bowed her head as she sat.

  “Where do you want to sit, Mama?” Joseph asked.

  “There’s empty seats there,” Rachel said pointing to the third row from the back.

  Liz entered the pew first followed by Rachel with Joseph sitting on the end. Rachel leaned over to him and whispered in a stern voice in his ear. “Joseph Jacob Bishop, do not open any more of that candy.” Joseph’s full name emphasized the seriousness of her command.

  “Okay, I promise.” He tapped on his front pocket with three more peanut butter cups fighting his temptation.

  The sanctuary filled with people. Organ music reverberated across the pews. The choir entered behind the front altar of the church. Minister Samuel Greene followed.

  Joseph liked Minister Greene. For such a quiet, reserved man, halfway during his sermons, his face always turned bright red. He paced as he preached in front of the congregation. It mesmerized Joseph.

  A packed sanctuary of people reached for their hymnals to sing-along with the choir. Everyone stood. Joseph fidgeted in his space; the candy in his pockets called to him, but he remembered his promise to his mama.

  With the blaring organ music providing cover, Joseph reached into his pocket, slipping out the small, orange-wrapped piece of candy. The music stopped. Crinkling candy paper echoed throughout the church. It was enough to make Rachel grab his hand and give him the stare. He felt six inches tall. “Joseph, shh!”

  Joseph realized he was in trouble and sat while everyone stood. The backsides of the men in their light-colored suit jackets and women in their paisley dresses filled his view. He sulked and swung his legs back-and-forth with his head down.

  Minister Greene welcomed everyone to this morning’s Easter service. The congregation sat. Rachel leaned over to his right ear and whispered, “Joseph, do not get any more of that candy. Pay attention and listen to Minister Greene. He will explain why we celebrate Easter.”

  Joseph lifted his head and looked around. Everyone in the congregation gave Minister Greene their full attention.

  Offering envelopes sat in a holder in the pew in front of Joseph at his eye level. Twenty minutes of flipping pages in the hymnal and then the Bible, Joseph grew bored. He took the envelopes and drew images of birds, rabbits, and Easter baskets in the white spaces.

  He listened to Minister Greene preach. “And, on the third day, Jesus arose from the dead. It is this promise that Jesus lives that gives us salvation today.”

  Doodles of a rabbit carrying baskets overflowing with candy and birds flying above stretched across the envelope. Joseph smiled at his work.

  “It was forty days after his resurrection that Jesus ascended into heaven. Now, the promise is one day Jesus will return. We will not know when, but all us believers will leave with him. We will join him in heaven where we will be with our friends and families once again.” Minister Greene paused a few seconds and then said, “Let us pray.”

  As Minister Greene led everyone in prayer, Joseph tapped on his mama’s right knee. Rachel opened her right eye and peeked down at him. Joseph looked up to her. His eyes filled with tears.

  “Amen,” the entire congregation said. Minister Greene continued speaking in the background.

  “Why are you crying?”

  “Mama, I can’t wait for Jesus to come back.” A single tear fell across his cheek, hanging at the bottom of his chin.

  “Oh, Joseph
…” She positioned her right arm around him pulling him closer.

  “Because that means, I will see Daddy again.” He buried his face into his mama’s dress. She wiped away the tears from his face.

  The congregation stood to sing the last song of the service, while Joseph and Rachel sat in the pew hugging each other. Even though Joseph never had the opportunity to meet his father, there are times a little boy needs his daddy. Liz placed her right hand on Rachel’s shoulder having overheard the conversation.

  With the sermon over, everyone filed out of their pews. The eagerness to go home to finish preparing Easter dinners made the church empty fast.

  Rachel pulled at Joseph’s hand leading him out of their seats. Liz followed. Minister Greene stood in the doorway greeting everyone as they left.

  “Oh, Minister Greene, we loved the service,” Liz said shaking his hand as she passed.

  “And, Joseph, how did you like my message?” Minister Greene patted the top of Joseph’s head much to Joseph’s annoyance.

  “I liked it, but I never learned about the Easter Bunny,” Joseph said with a serious look on his face.

  “Bless you, Rachel. I hope you enjoyed the service,” Minister Greene said taking both of her hands. “I see I was not the only one hot inside here, today.” The minister looked down at her hands glistening with sweat.

  “Sorry, yeah… uh… um… I started to not feel too well during the…” Rachel said stuttering her speech. She swayed side-to-side.

  “Are you okay?” Minister Greene asked, releasing her hands and grabbing her shoulders.

  “Um… what? Huh…” Rachel’s face became pale in an instant. Sweat rolled through her makeup as her eyes lifted into the back of her head.

  Minister Greene stepped closer to her; her body fell limp in his hands. “Rachel? Rachel?” Minister Greene attempted to get her attention. “Grab her. Grab…” He yelled out to James Unger, who stood behind her.

  Joseph was oblivious to what was happening behind him. He walked toward the car, his last two peanut butter cups crammed in his mouth.

  A chorus of gasps behind him caused Joseph to look ahead at his grandma. Liz turned around to the church and screamed, "Rachel!” as she hurried by Joseph.

  Joseph’s eyes followed his grandma as she ran by him toward the church. After Liz had cleared his view, he saw his mama sitting on the ground in the arms of Minister Greene and James Unger.

  “Mama? Mama? … Mama!” Joseph shouted in a panic and shouldered his way through the people crowding around Rachel. “… Mama?”

  3-Graduation

  June 11, 1997

  Pasadena, Texas Graduation Day

  “HURRY UP. You’re going to be late.”

  “I’ll be down in a minute, Grandma. I can’t find my…” Joseph’s response grew faint.

  Liz stood in the living room, holding a video camera in one-hand and car keys dangling in the other. A Hard Rock Café-Dallas key chain spun from her French-tipped nails. Raising her grandson had given Liz a purpose in her life. She dedicated her time in the gym and made healthy choices in her meals. Liz often received compliments by people amazed that she was fifty-nine-years-old when she could easily pass as ten years younger.

  Liz held her camera pointed up the stairs waiting to capture every moment of this special day. While she was happy for Joseph, a touch of sadness crept inside her. Joseph soon would leave for college.

  Joseph bouncing down the stairs drowned away the clanging of her keys. “Okay, I’m ready.”

  “What are you looking for? I have your graduation cap.”

  “Mom’s college pin… I wanted to wear it today to honor her.” Joseph took his graduation cap from Liz as he placed the red pin on his gown.

  “She’d be so proud of you. Her Baby, graduating and going off to the same college she attended.” A beaming smile appeared under Liz’s video camera, hiding her eyes from his view. “All right, well, we need to go. You need to be at the school in fifteen minutes.” She turned off the video camera and pushed Joseph out the front door, closing it behind them.

  Inside the car, all was quiet in stark contrast to the chaos earlier before they had left. The faded-green Oldsmobile rumbled through the neighborhood to the football stadium. Reflection was the reason for the silence: about the day… the events of the past few years… and the longing for his mama to see him graduate.

  “I bet you wish she could be here with you now?” Liz asked.

  Startled as if his grandma had read his mind, Joseph replied, “Uh… yeah? Oh, you mean Mama?”

  “Of course, who else?”

  “For a moment, I thought you were talking about Mary.”

  “Who’s coming to see her graduate?”

  “Her dad’s coming. He told me I’ll be able to hear him when they call her name.” Joseph sat daydreaming out the window about Mary. “Can I have the car tonight?”

  “Sure. I’ll ask Bob if he wouldn’t mind bringing me back home afterward.” Liz and Joseph continued through the neighborhood. “Big plans tonight after graduation?”

  “A few parties with friends. We aren’t sure which ones we’re going to yet, though.”

  Hundreds of teenagers ran through the parking lot in excitement. Heat from the sweltering Texas sun stirred a light breeze through the stadium. Their blue, polyester graduation gowns ruffled in the wind.

  “Hey, let me out here, please. There’s Tommy.” Joseph jumped out of the car before waiting for it to stop.

  Liz found a parking place and walked over to Joseph. “Take our picture, Grandma,” Joseph said as he placed his arm around his friend.

  She reached into her purse and pulled out a small thirty-five-millimeter camera. “Okay, say graduation.”

  “Graduation!” they screamed at the same time. The camera flashed unnoticed as Joseph and his friend gave each other a high-five.

  “Okay, I’ll come find you after the ceremony. Have a good time,” Liz said, placing the camera back into her purse.

  As she turned around to walk to the stadium, Liz felt a hand grab her shoulder. Joseph spun Liz around and gave her a huge bear hug and whispered in her ear. “Grandma, I love you. Thank you for everything.”

  Liz pulled back and kissed his cheek. “It was all I could do. I did it all for Rachel, and I am so very proud of you.”

  Joseph released Liz allowing her to catch her breath. “Okay, I’ll see you in a few hours.”

  Liz turned away and wiped away a single tear falling to her chin. She whispered a prayer. “Rachel, he did it. And, he will make you very proud.”

  The blistering sun on this early June day sat behind the horizon. The graduation theme blared through the stadium. Two hundred seniors marched in front of their proud friends and families. An air of happiness enveloped all in attendance.

  Joseph found his seat and joined his classmates. Everyone scanned the crowd to find their loved ones. From a distance, Joseph saw his grandma sitting in the stands beside Mary’s father, Bob. Her joyful smile was obvious from behind her video camera she held to her face.

  Joseph found Mary in the blue sea of gowns sitting in the back row. He made eye contact with her and mouthed the words ‘I love you’ as she repeated the same to him.

  An hour had passed. Sunset turned to night. Lightning flashed in the distance. The ceremony continued. Then, the big moment arrived. It was time for the graduates to walk across the stage.

  Joseph anticipated hearing his name. His heart pounded. He stepped closer to the side of the stage.

  “Joseph Jacob Bishop,” the principal said, her voice reverberating across the stadium.

  Upon hearing his name, his chest expanded, his shoulders lifted as he stepped up to the platform and over to the principal shaking her hand. With his diploma in his right hand, Joseph rubbed his Mom’s college pin affixed on his gown at his collarbone. He felt his mama’s presence with him.

  Joseph continued across the stage and stepped to the ground. An elderly looking man walked in fro
nt of him wearing a gray jacket and a frayed, black New York Yankees cap. In an instant, the man snapped a quick picture of Joseph. The flash caused Joseph to look away. Joseph ignored the cameraman as his friends laughed, teasing him after hearing his middle name, Jacob, after his father.

  The elderly man was quick to walk out of Joseph’s way as Joseph rejoined his classmates. He gripped tight his diploma inside its blue, leather folder in his lap. Screams of joy filled the stadium. The principal continued with the roll call of names.

  The last row of students stood and made their way to the stage. This was Mary’s group, and Joseph watched smiling as she walked up for her turn.

  Mary smiled at Joe when their eyes met. Her name was next. “Mary Alisha Warner,” the principal said.

  Joseph stood and yelled, “Mary, I love you.”

  Mary looked at him from the stage. Her face was bright red with embarrassment hearing Joseph’s professed love. Their eyes locked until she sat, lost again in the sea of blue gowns. As he searched for her, he noticed his grandma standing on the field beside his classmates.

  Joseph refused to make eye contact with Liz embarrassed she would get too close for his picture. The principal’s voice came over the speakers. It was time for the graduates to stand and turn their tassels on their caps.

  The instruction resulted in a blizzard of blue, graduation caps filling the air. Joyous yells from the students matched the loudness of cheers from the stands.

  Blue caps fell everywhere. The new graduates hugged each other and slammed high-fives across the rows. Happy chaos.

  Joseph broke a rule. Instead of marching out in the same alphabetical order, he pushed through the hugging graduates to find his Mary. As he got to her, Joseph picked Mary up in his arms and spun her around kissing her.

  The graduation march again played signaling the graduates to file back out of the football stadium. Their friends and families in the stands waved and yelled as everyone passed. Joseph attempted to find his grandma, but the maddening crowd hid Liz from his view.