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Climbing the ladder she felt it vibrate. Rather a nervous feeling came over her but as she ascended to the roof she felt better again. Heights had never been a problem. Oho' the world looked really good from up here. He had needed her again. He had called to her and she was not to reluctant, but roofing was an absolute mystery even to her, and she hung around mostly helping when the boys had moved out on their own.
Whew it was hot up here. No wonder he seemed so cranky, his jungle rot was probably acting up making his feet and arms feel cruddy and itchy. Some times his malaria flaired up too when he got hot like this. Well and then he was a fireman too. But he said the adrenaline rush usually staved off any discomfort when he was in his 'trun-outs' and on the scene of a fire. Yeah he was her hero forever that dad.
She held the shingles as directed. At the pitch of the roof in this one spot, the cone he had called it, he had been afraid of loosing his balance if he tried to reach to far for everything. She wanted to dance on the ridge, she saw herself like a roof sprite, or nyade or something from Tolkein....But that would be so foolish. She smiled. Then she asked him her really big question. The real reason she had come up to be with him.
Would he be at her baptism? 'No' he'd said. Her fifteen year old heart fell flat. He looked at her as he hammered. Then he turned back to his task and spoke. His voice sounded so funny, half angery, but it was tinted with concern too. He didn't believe she was sincere about this, this decision for babtism. He was worried she was only doing it for 'social reasons" oh! Oh! she was so stunned. She lost her words,... But fought back up to courage enough to say ''it was not social". That was not the reason. The rough unsympathetic texture of the shingling was suddenly annoying. She wanted to cry she felt so hurt that he would think that this huge decision was social. "We already baptised you, we raised you the way we thought best, in your mothers' faith" I agreed to that when I married her. I made that choice''. He had said in a funny voice. I was to learn that voice as I continued on my journey to adulthood. "This is my choice".... she almost raised her voice to loud. Oh this was a hard converation. He was not going to stop her. He just thought she was ""kinda' getting brainwashed by her new friends."" Careful now she told herself, easy words here. She shifted her weight and he cautioned her. "It would be a mean fall."
She had asked him then if he maybe wanted to get down and talk. He gave that pained look he sometimes had when it was bad timing. He almost always took advantge of their time alone to talk imortant subjects."I have to finish this...that's why your'e up here." She'd asked what else she needed to do. "Hold the tacks' he had said, afraid, if they got knocked off it would not be possible to finish. "It's 'sposed to rain tomorrow". There had been that little hint of what he called the 'Washington Hillbilly' in his voice. Looking around for 'tacks' she said that she didn't see any'' in a frown and a grimace he'd pushed the roofing nails into her hand." 'oh you meant 'nails'." Those are 'roofing' 'tacks'! He'd informed her, said they're different than nails... for amoment he was genuinly patient as he'd had her see, shown her carefully, the wide really flat little heads'. Nodding she had crawled with him inch by inch foot by foot. Shortly they were finished.
He held the top and coached her going down the ladder, told her to stop before she got all the way down.
Holding on as directed a bag went flying past her head and hit the grass below, this was followed by a hammer and a few unused shingle panels. He laughed a smug laugh. He was not really happy, she knew that. When finally they were both on the ground he said he was bathing and going to have a cold beer. Oh he was hot for sure she knew, he only drank one or two sixpacks all summer. He said it calmed the malarial jitters he got sometimes. Now secretly pleased that this beer would irritate mom, she said nothing. She checked to make sure his quinine water was there for him too.
As he peeled out of his shirt and placed it in the washer she asked. 'Could she go to Flee's house ? She'd ride her bike and save the drive. He told her to be home by dinner. As he peeled off his under shirt....he spoken crisply in a funny voice. 'He didn't care if she did it, he meant the baptism, He'd have to work and wanted to support her mother. She knew he meant her "church" moms church, he had not attended for years and years. Neither had mother, it was a funny puzzle.
""Faith is a private matter"" that's what he'd said. She had looked at him ..... his look was odd sort of worried but pleading, and yet he was not ging to change his position. Oh! a light bulb went on. He was a Believer, yes, yes, he was, he was! He hadn't quit church, he had gone underground! Just like the early church did into the catacombs. Oh my he didn't quit God, he'd quit moms' church.... All the little things over the years he had said about his mothers church and faith, and his grandfather's being a minister as he grew up. He wasn't catholic, but he wasn't anti-faith...he was underground and being ""private"" so as never to offend mom. oh..! What a secret to have. Oh man.... she was half pleased mostly shocked.
She had said she would be back on time...she knew the consequences if she wasn't. Oh wait until she told Flee'. Flee' would understand and never say a word to a soul. Flee' never gossiped! Out the door and on the five speed. It was good to feel the wind blow her hair off her face...... Yeah, real good feeling.
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Posted by lampoil on 2008-05-08 00:22:21 | Rating: | Views: 146
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I am trying... ty
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Posted by lampoil
on 2008-05-08 03:11:21
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Good story. I can relate. When I hear my husband say he would never step foot in a church again I thought I'd die. Then one day I heard him telling our children TRUTH. Right then I knew God was still in him.
Also his oldest son is in a band. There are some pretty shady lyrics and looks about this band. I started wondering what he really believed. A few nights ago he had on some of the Rage Rock playing in his room. I thought to myself "Oh dear Lord" the next think I know he is listening to bluegrass gospel. Then it changed to a different Christian music. I was shocked! But so glad to know he had a taste for something real. I was praying the words would sink into his heart.
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Posted by anotherdaze
on 2008-05-08 09:05:21
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Yeah I think we have a lot of underground believers... how's it going Daze??
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Posted by lampoil
on 2008-05-09 20:23:49
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Is this a true story?
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Posted by sharetheword
on 2008-05-13 23:21:47
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Yes Sharetheword, it's my father.
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Posted by lampoil
on 2008-05-14 15:08:52
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great post
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Posted by lostarm
on 2008-05-14 22:54:36
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thanks lostarm :)
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Posted by lampoil
on 2008-05-14 23:36:46
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Thank you for sharing what must have been a defining moment in your life. I wish more fathers would realized that coming our from underground would be so beneficial to their children.
I do believe that our sons walk with the Lord has been greatly influenced by my husband. It definitely made life easier for me in their teenage years and even now as our family has so much in common in the Lord. Pics of our family are on my blogspot blog
http://devotionalprayerjournal.blogspot.com/
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Posted by sharetheword
on 2008-05-15 22:43:17
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It's a great post. I loved how you developed the characters and how well you expressed the underlying emotions.
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Posted by tanna
on 2008-05-17 01:17:06
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Thank you Tanna I appreciate your comment
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Posted by lampoil
on 2008-05-17 03:14:13
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It was good that your father finally realized how important you being baptized, was to you....and then, to find you had his support, after all! :)
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Posted by Alice
on 2008-06-07 00:04:04
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thanks Alice its' nice when people come visiting and reading.
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Posted by lampoil
on 2008-06-10 11:34:10
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