Harmonious Defiance

Abigail’s alarm went off at 7 am that Sunday. She rolled over to turn it off. She laid there on the bed for a minute or two. “I’ll get up now,” she mumbled, forcing herself out of bed. She stumbled to the bathroom and turned on the light, yawning. Without thinking, she brushed her teeth and braided her hair. She put on a Sunday dress, a white one with pink flowers, with a cream-colored shawl. She loved this one. Her mom gave it to her. Her mom had died two years ago. She thought of her 12th birthday, where her mom had given her that dress. That was her last birthday with her mom. A few tears sprang to her eyes. It still hurt, sometimes. She quickly wiped away the tears. It wasn’t the right time for that. It was now 7:30. Her little sister, now 10, was just waking up. Her dad, the pastor, had woken up around 6 am to go to the church and pray. Abigail began to make breakfast. She flipped four pancakes, adding some chocolate chips and strawberries on top. She poured some chocolate milk and had the table set by the time Arabella walked into the dining room. After they prayed, they ate the delicious pancakes, talking about their dad, church, and God. Abigail picked out Arabella’s dress, a green one with a white bow, and while Arabella got dressed she painted her nails. Abigail braided Arabella’s hair, and painted her nails, and applied a tiny bit of lipgloss to her lips, at Arabella’s request. Abigail and Arabella put on their church shoes and waited with their Bible bags on the front porch for their dad. He drove up in his little blue car, honking his squeaky horn. He pulled up to the steps, and stepped out, carefully avoiding a puddle. He was wearing his favorite suit and had gelled his black hair. Abigail and Arabella both had brown hair, like their mom. “Ah, my beautiful girls,” their dad said. “Good morning, Daddy,” Arabella said. “Have a nice sermon planned?” Abigail asked. Daddy chuckled. “Of course I do.” He looked at them both intently, before his eyes began to glisten. “You both look so much like your mother. And you have her beautiful heart,” he said. Arabella smiled. “Thanks,” she said, before giving her dad a hug. Abigail smiled too, but it was a bit of a sad smile. She still missed her mom. The girls climbed into the back of the car. It smelled like cinnamon, which was Arabella’s favorite. Daddy had picked out the scent just for her. It was a short drive to church, perhaps ten minutes. Abigail, spotting her friend Ruth as they drove up, was the first one to jump out of the car. “Bye!” She called to her dad and Abigail. “Have fun!” Abigail called back. “Pay attention, ok?” Her dad asked. Arabella smiled, looking back. “I always do.” Abigail walked slowly to Sunday School. She greeted everyone along the way, trying to remember everyone’s name. Sometimes it was difficult. There were so many people who new her, and she was expected to know all of them. But, she loved seeing an old widow smile when she remembered her name, or a little baby giggle when she tickled her belly. There were some perks to being a pastor’s daughter. She sat down by her friend Damica in Sunday School. She had her cornrows up in a bun, and was wearing a pale yellow dress that contrasted nicely with her brown skin. “Hi,” she said, pushing her Bible bag underneath her seat. “Hey,” Damica said. “How was your morning?” she asked Abigail. “Good,” she replied. “I made strawberry chocolate chip pancakes.” Damica grabbed her stomach and said “I only had a Honey Bun.” She looked over at Abigail. “Imma need to come over to your house for breakfast next time,” she said, smiling. Abigail smiled back at her, laughing a little. The teacher, Mrs. Hye, walked in. “Good morning class,” she said brightly. “Good morning, Mrs. Hye,” the class said back in unison. “Today we are going to continue our study of Genesis,” Mrs. Hye said. Abigail pulled out her Bible and turned it to Genesis. “You know, I’ve heard Joseph’s story over and over, but every time it gets me,” Abigail said to Damica as they walked to the sanctuary after Sunday School. “Those brothers were so mean to him,” Damica replied. “But, God uses Joseph to save Egypt, and all the kingdoms surrounding it,” Abigail said. “Slave turned Savior,” Damica agreed. Damica and Abigail went their separate ways once they got in the sanctuary. Damica sat with her family and Abigail sat with her sister and her aunt. “Hey Aunt Casey,” Abigail said as she sat down. “Hey, Abigail,” Aunt Casey said in a cheery voice. Arabella sat down next to Abigail, echoing what Abigail had said. “Hi, Aunt Casey.” “Hello dear,” Aunt Casey replied. “How was Sunday School?” “Good,” Arabella said. “We learned about Moses and the plagues today.” “I learned about Joseph,” Abigail said. Aunt Casey smiled. “I learned about Jesus, and His love for us,” she said. “You know girls, Jesus says He is the light of the world. He also says we should be beacons of light to those around us. How ‘bout we try to be a light to those around us today?” Aunt Casey asked. “How are we supposed to be light?” Arabella inquired. “By loving people, and being an example of Jesus to them,” Aunt Casey answered. “Good morning, everyone,” their dad said from the pulpit. “Good morning,” the congregation replied. “Why don’t we sing a few songs today?” he asked, although everyone knew that they were going to sing. They all stood and looked to the screens on either side of Abigail’s dad. They sang I Need Thee Every Hour, Come Thou Fount, and Victory in Jesus. While the offering plate was passed around, Abigail sang, quietly, the words to His Eye is On the Sparrow. She dropped a 5 dollar bill into the offering plate, before passing it to Arabella, who added a dollar and a quarter. “And I sing Because I’m happy,” she sang. “And I sing Because I’m free.” Aunt Casey and Arabella joined in. “If his eye is on the sparrow,” their voices went down an octave in unison when they sang “sparrow.” “Then I know He watches Me.” Their dad, once the offering plate had been passed to everyone, began to read the announcements. They were going to have a Potluck on Saturday. Abigail made a mental note to make brownies. “Open your Bibles to Acts chapter-“ their dad began, before he was interrupted. “I have a gun,” was the call. Abigail whipped around to see a man holding a gun, waving it around the crowd. Fear struck her heart. He was wearing all black, and his very greasy hair was pulled into a ponytail. “You all will recant of your faith,” he boomed. “Or you die,” he finished. Everyone in the congregation simply stared at him, too scared or shocked to respond. Abigail put her hand on Arabella’s shoulder, who was trembling. She looked over to Damica, who was cradling her baby brother. “You heard me!” The man screamed, spit flying from his mouth. “Recant!” No one moved. The gunman’s face was turning red. Slowly, Aunt Casey began to stand. He pointed his gun at her. Abigail shook her head to tell her no. Why would she do that? A single drop of sweat glistened on Aunt Casey’s brow. Then, she did something no one would have guessed. She sang. “Some glad mornin’ when this life is over I’ll fly away.” Her beautiful alto rang out clear and true. She sang beautifully. Soon, their dad’s voice joined hers. “To a home on God’s celestial shores I’ll fly away.” His baritone was loud and carried nicely, overlapping Aunt Casey’s voice. A few people here and there stood up, some trembling, others sweating. “I’ll fly away, oh glory I’ll fly away When I die, Hallelujah, by and by I’ll fly away.” The gunman looked too shocked to speak or to shoot. He had expected immediate obedience, not harmonious defiance. Abigail stood up, remembering what Aunt Casey has said to them just a few minutes earlier. “I’ll be the light,” she whispered to herself. “Just a few more weary days and then I’ll fly away.” Abigail’s sweet soprano encouraged Damica, and her family, to stand and sing. Soon, the whole congregation, even the children, were standing to sing. “To a land where joy will never end I’ll fly away.” Some people were crying openly, others were trembling. Abigail closed her eyes, not wanting to see the fear, and scared that she might cry as well. “I’ll fly away, oh glory, I’ll fly away.” The gunner began to shoot openly into the crowd. His gun overpowered the singing, so the Christians just sang louder and louder. Abigail didn’t look. She didn’t want to see. She grabbed Arabella’s hand, afraid she might fall if she didn’t. “When I die, Hallelujah, by and by I’ll fly away.” As they sang those words, Abigail didn’t feel scared anymore. She knew where she was going when she died. And it was so much more beautiful and wonderful than this world ever could be. Soon, Abigail, Aunt Casey, and Arabella were the only one’s singing. Then just Abigail. As she sang the last beautiful words of the song, she thought with a smile, Can’t wait to see you, Momma. Can’t wait to meet You, Jesus. “When I die, Hallelujah, by and by I’ll fly away.” Then there was silence here on earth, but joyous music and dancing in Heaven.