At Wheeler Homes Chapter 12

                                  Chapter 12

          Jessica’s step-father had to work this Sunday.  He was usually off on the week-ends, but Tommy was out with the flu and he had to fill in for him.  As Jessica’s step-father left for work, the door shutting behind him must have woken up Jessica’s mother, because just a few moments after he left, she came stumbling into the kitchen.  Jessica’s mother didn’t do mornings too well.  She usually got up like a bear just getting coming out of hibernation.  Jessica didn’t say a word, but went straight for a clean coffee cup.  She knew that her mother had to have her morning coffee before anything happened.  As Jessica turned around with the clean cup, her mother was just standing in front of the coffee pot.  Jessica went over and filled the coffee cup and added a little powdered creamer.  She picked up the spoon that her Step-father had just used and stirred the coffee.  Jessica’s mother picked up the coffee cup with both hands and took a sip.

          “Mmmm,” she said.  “Good coffee.”

          “Everything was going to be all right.” Jessica thought.

          Jessica’s mother took a second sip and said, “Have you seen James yet?  He needs to be up and getting ready.”

          “No,” Jessica replied.  “I was going to let him sleep as long as I could and wake him up at the absolutely last minute.”

          “Good thinking,” Jessica’s mother agreed.  Her head was beginning to think a little more clearly.

          “Gloria said that we need to be ready about nine o’clock,” Jessica said.

          Jessica’s mother added, “I’ve seen the church bus go by Gloria’s house before.”

Jessica went over to the cabinets and looked for some breakfast.  She found some chocolate Pop tarts and got them out.  She ate one and got a glass of milk to finish it off.  Then she went upstairs to stir James.  He was usually hard to wake up, and today was no exception.  Jessica had been up bright and early, but that was because she was excited about going to church for the first time.  James, on the other hand was not excited about getting up.  Going to church was Jessica’s idea, not his.  But he finally came downstairs and ate his Pop tart.  James grumbled about wearing clean clothes, but he was actually interested in church too.  But, he couldn’t let Jessica know that he was excited.  He enjoyed Jessica helping him.  James was a little bit lazy – and he knew it.

          Jessica and James were ready, but their mother was still fussing with her hair.  Jessica helped her comb the back.  Jessica assured her mother over and over that she looked simply beautiful.

          They all marched outside to the bright sunny Sunday morning and found Gloria on her back porch.  They all commented on each other’s nice Sunday clothes.  That is everyone except James.  James was not interested in Sunday clothes.

          The bus arrived right on time.  They all got on and were greeted by friendly faces.  Jessica knew some of the kids, but some she didn’t know.  Jessica’s mother was a little nervous because there weren’t many adults on the bus.  But one of the two ladies invited her to sit beside her and they began to talk.  James went to the back of the bus and Jessica and Gloria sat behind the ladies.  After a few more stops, the bus arrived at church.  The driver let everyone off at the side door where a couple more people were waiting to direct newcomers to the right class.  Gloria told Jessica that there was a class for every age group.  James knew one of the boys, and went right with him into their class.  The two ladies took Jessica’s mother with them upstairs.  She seemed to enjoy their company.  Gloria took Jessica to their class and they were greeted at the door by their teacher.  The girls sat down beside another girl that Jessica recognized from school.  A bell rang somewhere outside and the teacher quieted everyone.

          “I’m glad to see all of you today,” she began.  “We have two visitors, so please make them feel welcomed.”

          Jessica was a little embarrassed because the teacher was talking about her.  But she felt honored to be one of the two visitors, so she looked around proudly and smiled.

          The teacher made some introductory comments and talked about the lesson from last week.  Then she handed an envelope to a boy on the front row and asked him to take up the offering.  Gloria whispered to Jessica that the offering was money that the class collected.  Jessica was a little worried, because she hadn’t brought any money, but Gloria was already on top of the situation.  While she was telling Jessica what the offering was, Gloria was putting two quarters into Jessica’s hand.  When the offering envelope was passed to the girls, Gloria put her two quarters in and then Jessica put her two quarters in.

          “Gloria is a good friend,” Jessica thought.  “I already like church.”