Stone of Truth by Donna J. Farris
Chapter 5 -Preparing for battle
“Elite Ones are in position around the newspaper office,” reported Eli. “The commander is unaware of their presence.”
“Well done! Instruct them to remain concealed and take no offensive action until Beloved calls. Have Cyrus stand ready to redeem what our enemies have claimed. Like so many others, they have forgotten the gift.”
“As you have commanded, it will be done,” declared the host of holy servants.
When Derrick came down for breakfast the following morning, he discovered the house was empty. Both parents had already left for work. There was a note on the message board stating,
“Derrick, your father and I will not be home until late tonight. There is still some leftover pizza in the fridge for dinner. You know how to make a salad if you are still hungry. When you are done with your homework, you can watch TV until 9:00 pm. Then turn out the lights and go to bed. And don’t forget to activate the security alarm. Your father and I will be in meetings all day so don’t call unless it’s an emergency. Don’t go anywhere and don’t answer the door. See you in the morning.”
Derrick finished his bowl of Coco Puffs. He then spread some peanut butter onto two slices of bread for lunch. Putting the sandwich in his lunch box, along with an apple and a bag of potato chips, he locked the front door and walked three blocks down to Resolution Road to catch the bus.
By the time the school bus arrived at Plymouth Elementary, dark thunder clouds filled the skies. The weather man had predicted severe thunder showers throughout the day, with periods of heavy rain and the possibility of flooding in low lying areas of the county. Severe weather was common in Wisconsin, so Derrick paid little attention to the brewing storm as he walked down the hallway to his classroom.
But not so common were the birds. For some unexplained reason, hundreds of unusually large crows had begun circling the school property. Dozens of black-winged creatures landed on the gym roof. Scores perched on top of the chain link fence surrounding the playground while others rested on telephone lines running up and down the street in front of the main entrance. After first recess, Derrick’s substitute teacher had to repeatedly instruct her fifth graders to ignore the crows and concentrate on their American History lesson.
But the children of Plymouth Elementary were not the only ones troubled by the presence of the birds. The whole town was experiencing the same unusual phenomenon. Like churning waves crashing upon a beach before a storm, flock after black flock had been arriving from the east since daybreak. Their unrelenting caw had the entire town on edge. At one point, downtown traffic had to be re-routed to avoid collisions with a particularly large gathering of birds which had come to roost near Plymouth Press. No one could explain the bizarre behavior of the birds. Even those who had lived in Plymouth their entire lives could not offer a satisfactory explanation for where the crows came from or why they stayed. Eli and Jasmine knew. So did Khan.
It was late in the morning when Trinity finally came down for breakfast. She could not remember a time when she had slept in so late. But under the circumstances, Trin decided she had more important things to worry about than such an occasional lapse of discipline. And besides, it was not like she had anywhere to go. Pulling open the living room drapes, she could see the autumn thunder storm gathering strength just as weather forecasters had predicted.
When Trinity walked into the kitchen she was surprised to find the heart-shaped stone sitting on the counter next to the coffee pot. It was still emitting that same, soft, purplish glow.
“What on earth?” she exclaimed. “How did that rock get on the counter? Jasmine must have put it there last night. That must have been what she meant when she said she would, ‘take care of the gift’. What an odd way to refer to a rock. I wonder what it all means. And I wonder if I will ever see those remarkable creatures again.”
Picking up the stone, Trinity hoped to see the amazing transformation she had witnessed the night before. But nothing happened. It seemed that whether in her hand or sitting on the counter, the stone emitted the same constant, soft light. Trinity then wondered if the stone was transparent. Taking the opportunity to examine it more closely, she held the stone up towards the overhead florescent lights in the kitchen.
Suddenly she remembered the rotten smell of garbage from the night before. Trin knew if an animal had gotten into the garbage cans, the scattered debris needed to be cleaned up right away to avoid attracting other hungry critters looking for an easy meal.
Throwing on her rain coat, grabbing her work gloves and pulling on her boots, Trinity walked out into the garage and opened the outer double doors. Walking around to the north side of the house, she discovered the garbage cans were undisturbed. All lids were secure and she could not detect any bad odors coming from the cans.
“Now who in the world cleaned up the mess?” she wondered out loud. “Did those unicorns somehow take care of this? Boy, they are full of surprises. Well, I don’t care how they did it. I’m just glad there is no mess to clean up out here. I have enough of a mess to sort through today if I’m going to save my career.”
Trinity was buttering her toast when the phone rang. It was her mother. “Good morning, Precious. Have you had a chance to see the morning paper yet?” asked Mrs. Woodard.
“No mom. I’m just now sitting down to breakfast. I slept in rather later this morning,” confessed Trin.
“Well if you are not sitting down, you’d better. Plastered all over the front page is an article about you. Headlines read: ‘Plymouth elementary teacher abuses student.’ The article goes on to say, ‘Outraged parents demand the immediate termination of Miss Trinity Woodard at an emergency meeting of the school board on Friday.’”
“Abuses her students!” shouted Trinity in disbelief. “How could the Press print such a lie?”
“I know honey, but there’s more,” continued the concerned mother. “Edith Simpson wrote the article. It says she has been assigned to cover the story.”
“But Victor Underwood’s been a friend of this family for years. He and Grandpa Eddie still play golf together. He and I sort of went our separate ways after he became Editor-in-Chief of the Press and I began teaching. I didn’t like the kind of people hanging around him all the time. But that’s no reason to allow one of his reporters to publish such a dishonest and slanderous article about me. Surely he knows the story Edith is covering involves her own son. Newspapers have an obligation to the public to honestly report the facts, not twist the truth to fit some kind of personal agenda. What in the world is Victor up to, Mom?”
“Honey, your father and I are not sure, but we feel the same way. And so do many other people in this town. And we think you should speak to a lawyer before the hearing tomorrow. Your father took the liberty of making an appointment with Kurt Yandel this afternoon at 3:00. I hope you are not upset with us. We just can’t shake the feeling that something else is going on behind the scenes and that you should have legal representation at the hearing. Will you meet with Yandel this afternoon?”
“It’s ok Mom, really. I can’t explain why, and you wouldn’t believe me even if I tried, but I agree with you and dad. This is not just about the job of one elementary school teacher. I am convinced there’s more at stake…much more. I’ll be there at 3:00.”
The rest of the morning was very busy for Trinity. She answered call after call from former students, concerned parents and friends, all pledging their prayers and support no matter what happened on Friday. A fellow teacher even phoned to let Trin know he had called the Plymouth Press and asked to speak to the Editor. He intended to demand that Mrs. Simpson be removed from the story due to a conflict of interest. But the receptionist at the paper told him the Editor was not available for comment on the matter. When he asked to speak to Edith Simpson directly, Trin’s co-worker was told Edith was not taking calls either.
Around 11:30 am, Pastor Jamison of Calvary Church of Plymouth showed up at Trin’s front door. “As soon as I
“Pastor Jamison, it is so good to see you. Please, come in,” replied the tender teacher.
“I haven’t driven out your way since the 4th of July picnic,” Jamison said. “Glory Meadows is certainly beautiful in the autumn.”
After pouring the pastor a cup of coffee, the two sat down at the kitchen table.
“Honestly Pastor,” began Trin, “I did not see this coming. Their slanderous remarks have knocked the wind out of my sails, if you know what I mean. One minute I feel like a failure as a teacher and think I should just quit now and walk away. The next minute I am angry that one family could move into town and overnight destroy a lifetime of work. But then I remember that this whole challenge is not about me. It’s about truth…God’s truth. I know someone else, or something else, is after something more than my job. I just sense this in my spirit. What do you think, Pastor?”
“Trinity, as Christians, we know the Bible teaches there are wicked, supernatural beings at work in this world trying to destroy anything related to God’s truth and the knowledge of His sacrificial love for mankind. I believe this is a spiritual attack not only on you individually as a Christian educator but on the very future of Christianity in America. And believers from Portland to Pittsburgh are very concerned by the turn of events here in Plymouth. Many are sensing that a major spiritual battle is being waged against the church-at-large, and that now is the time to stand and publically defend God’s truth like never before or risk losing the right to ever do so again.”
“Well Pastor, I would have to say I absolutely agree,” Trinity replied thoughtfully after a moment of silence. “And if what you say is true, it is frightening to think of what’s at stake during Friday’s meeting. But I’m just one teacher in a small, insignificant town in Wisconsin. And I have to confess, I’m afraid I’m not strong enough to stand against such a powerful enemy.”
Trying to offer a measure of comfort to his congregant, Jamison gently replied, “I understand this may seem like an overwhelming battle. But remember Trinity. Our job is to obey God’s word and trust in His everlasting love. It is His responsibility to fight the battles in heavenly places as we intercede for one another. So...to that end...I am pleased to tell you that several churches have agreed to pray for you and the meeting on Friday. In fact, many Christians have informed me of their commitment to pray and fast around the clock until we see God’s deliverance from this spiritual attack.”
Humbled, Trinity said, “Wow! I don’t know what to say except ‘Thank you.’”
“That’s what the body of Christ is all about my dear friend… which brings me to the second reason for driving out here. Your father told me about the meeting with Kurt Yandel this afternoon. If you’d like, I would be happy to attend. I may be able to add some biblical counsel to his legal expertise as you prepare for Friday’s meeting.”
“I would be honored by your presence and welcome your input,” said Trinity as she reached over and touched her pastor’s hand.
Trin was quiet for a moment. Then looking towards the glowing purple stone on the window sill above the kitchen sink, she said, “Pastor, do you believe in angels? I mean, I know the Bible teaches that angels are actively involved in our everyday lives and have been since the beginning of time. And I am familiar with the scriptures describing how angels sometime appear to people, speak with them and even protect them from harm. But do you think angels always appear in human form or is it possible for them to appear in the form of other kinds of... ah...‘creatures’?”
Chuckling, Pastor Jamison replied, “That’s an odd question. I don’t think anyone has ever asked me that one before. I suppose I would say that angels could take whatever shape God wanted in order to fulfill His purpose. After all, He is God and can do whatever He wants, right? Why do you ask?”
Trinity was not ready to reveal the details of her divine revelation to anyone, not even her beloved pastor. Avoiding a direct answer to his question she simply replied, “No reason in particular. Just curious.”
“Ok...The meeting is at 3:00. How ‘bout I meet you outside Yandel’s office at 2:45?” concluded Pastor Jamison.
“Perfect! See you then.” Trin showed Jamison to the door then went upstairs to get ready. But like a voice recording being rewound and replayed over and over again, she kept thinking about what the pastor said about the scope of the spiritual battle and the need for prayer. So before jumping into the shower, Trinity knelt down beside her bed and prayed.
“Dear Jesus, I know you don’t need mankind to defend your name. Even if every person were silenced, creation itself would still declare your glory. But you do call your people to be witnesses of your truth in this world. I don’t know why you have chosen me to be such a witness at this time. I am just one woman. And to be totally honest with you, I’m a little afraid of what might happen on Friday. I know you are stronger than any of my fears and that you promise to give me the strength to face whatever you allow in my life.
“So I ask you to give me courage, faith, wisdom, and your love as I face the Simpsons. Please change their hearts and minds about what is right and what is wrong, and why. Open their spiritual eyes to understand that you are not trying to strip them of personal freedoms, but that you only want to protect them from harm and give them abundant life now and forever.
“Also, please take care of Derrick during this ordeal. He is such a precious young man and I sense he does not really agree with what his parents are doing. Help him as well to understand why your commandments are important and how much you love him.
“Encourage and protect my current students. Help them not to be afraid of anyone or anything. Help them understand that no matter what happens to me on Friday, they need to be courageous in sharing their faith with their friends.
“Give Yandel and Jamison your wisdom as they prepare for the hearing.
“And God, I know this must be hard for Cameron Mitchell. Please protect him and encourage him as well. Give him and the rest of the school board great wisdom as they listen to the evidence presented and then render their decision on Friday. In Jesus name amen.”
Still at their assigned posts, Eli and Jasmine smiled knowingly at one another. They understood the immense joy each felt as Trinity prayed. And they also knew that the sincere intercession of the saints was their call to arms.
Trinity put the phone on voice mail and left the house at 2:15 pm for her appointment with Yandel. Normally, it would have been a short ten mile drive to the attorney’s office in Sheboygan. But due to the rainy weather, she thought it best to give herself some extra time on the road.
Heading east on State Route 23, Trinity had just driven under the overpass connecting to State Route 57 when the skies became as black as night. A particularly strong cell of thunder clouds suddenly moved into an area just east of Plymouth. In the blink of an eye, torrential rains began pouring from the skies making driving impossible. Trinity had no choice but to pull over to the side of the road and wait for the downpour to stop. After about ten minutes the skies cleared slightly and she was once again on her way to Sheboygan.
Traffic moved slowly as vehicles traveling in both directions tried to safely maneuver around broken tree limbs and miscellaneous debris scattered across the roadway in the wake of the storm. Trinity was greatly relieved when she finally pulled into the underground parking structure beneath Yandel’s office. Taking the elevator to the third floor, it was exactly 3:00 pm when she walked through the double glass doors and into the lobby of Yandel and Meeker, Attorneys at Law. To her relief, both Pastor Jamison and her parents were already present, having driven into the city earlier in the day. Upon Trinity’s arrival, the group was immediately escorted into a conference room and minutes later, Kurt Yandel entered. After brief introductions and everyone had been served a steaming cup of freshly brewed coffee, Yandel began.
“Miss Woodard, I’ve read both the
“As for your case, there is no question in my mind that the newspaper is scandalously at fault for allowing Edith Simpson to remain the primary reporter for this story. Curiously the Editor refuses to assign someone more impartial, leaving us with a substantial obstacle in the realm of public opinion.
“Mrs. Simpson is already using the power of the press to portray you as insensitive to the feelings of children and unable to control in your students. Her article implies you are abusing your students by insisting your views of biblical morality are the only correct views of right and wrong. She goes so far as to suggest that you, not Derrick Simpson, are the liar and the thief. I’m not sure how much worse this could get, but I would not be surprised to see even more damaging articles coming from the Simpson desk before this is over. Presenting the public with such a lopsided story, the Simpsons are attempting to capture the sympathy of the American people and we haven’t even had our ‘day in court’ yet.
“I am sure you can appreciate, Miss Woodard, the difficult position both the principal and the school board are in due to these serious allegations. While they may believe you are innocent of all such charges, they have to be careful not to allow their personal feelings for you cloud their professional judgment. No matter what the outcome, the public must be convinced that a thorough, impartial investigation has been conducted.
“And as far as your personal rights, in this political climate court decisions vary wildly on the issue of anything remotely connected to freedom of religion. Even though our entire western civilization was built upon standards of biblical morality, many powerful people are still hell-bent on removing Judeo-Christian ethics from the public sector – especially public education.
“So, Miss Woodard, having said all that my recommendations are as follows. We all know the commendable work you have done for the past thirteen years as a teacher. There are many outstanding, successful leaders in this community, and indeed across the state, as a direct result of your educational commitments. Why, my own sons are among those currently benefiting from your methods.
“So in your defense I’d like to concentrate on your past accomplishments. You know...remind the public of all the good things you have done for children over the years. Give them examples like Susan Baxter who is now a professor of Ethics at Madison State University. Like Keller Tallman now the CEO of Wisconsin Investments, Inc. And remind them of Anthony Gotelle who was recently elected to the State Legislature.
“Our goal will be to sway public opinion in our favor and create sympathy for your situation with these ‘home-town’ testimonies. We’ll appeal to the local audience first; those who have personal knowledge of and share in the pride of your accomplishments. We’ll appeal to the traditional family values of most mid-westerners. We’ll demonstrate how children taught the Ten Commandments become better students, parents, employees, and contributing members of society.
“And finally Miss Woodard, as your attorney I strongly recommend we avoid any direct discussion about the Ten Commandments as a whole and this ‘absolute truth’ business.”
Trinity straightened her shoulders and took a deep breath. Her eyes moved slowly from her parents to Pastor Jamison. Both sat quietly supportive and silently in prayer for Trinity knowing the difficult decision she now faced was hers alone. After a few moments of reflective silence, Trinity looked again at Mr. Yandel and said,
“I appreciate what you are trying to do. But with all due respect, Mr. Yandel, you do not seem to understand what’s at stake here. This whole mess is about one thing and one thing only. Are there attitudes and actions that are wrong all the time, for all people, in all places, no matter who does them or why?
“Derrick Simpson is of an age when he desperately needs to know what is real and what is not. He wants to know if the ‘whatever makes you feel good’ system of his parents has any real, lasting value. Is the ‘if it feels good just do it’ way of living enough, or is there something more? I believe he already knows that actions have consequences. If left alone, even a child can figure that out. The problem is his parents are telling him no one has the right to hold him accountable for his choices. But the truth is, in a civil society, such a belief leads to chaos and ultimately to the destruction of human dignity.
“Gary Simpson says he relies on human reason and science to determine his moral choices. Edith Simpson relies on her feelings, public opinion and her desire for acceptance.
Both approaches are as changeable as the wind. But more importantly, such methods of determining what is right and what is wrong can be self-destructive. Certainly there is nothing wrong with using the reason and mental capacities God has given to every one of us. The problem is that people like the Simpsons insist on giving mere mortals the final word on human morality.
“Those of us in this room would agree that it is absolutely wrong to lie and steal. The Simpsons would disagree. They claim they have an absolute right to make up their own rules. They are determined to convince the public that any other view is absolutely wrong. Yet at the same time they deny such absolutes even exist.
“So, Mr. Yandel, the issue in question here is not whether or not I have been a good teacher. It’s not about me at all. It’s not about the achievements of former students or even the rights of parents to pass on their personal values to the next generation. And in many ways, it is not even about whether the Ten Commandments belong in public classrooms. This is an attack upon the very existence of God Himself and His rightful authority to rule over mankind. I may indeed lose my job, but I cannot sit back quietly and ignore this issue. At the meeting on Friday, I must address the subject of absolute moral truth.”
Stunned by the boldness of her uncommon Christian convictions, Mr. Yandel replied,
“Miss Woodard, in this day and age the idea of ultimate truth - something that is true at all times in all places and has relevance for all people - is about as extinct as dinosaurs. In fact, nearly three out of four people in this country say there is no such thing as ultimate or absolute truth. And those numbers are not much better among those who attend church and claim to live by the biblical teachings of Jesus Christ. Wouldn’t you agree, Pastor Jamison?”
Deeply grieved by what he knew to be the answer to that question, Pastor Jamison gazed out the window at the storm clouds still swirling overhead. Just then, a massive bolt of jagged lightning flashed across the darkened skies. Within seconds, a loud crack of thunder rumbled through the building rattling the windows and those seated around the conference table. The lights momentarily flickered then went out.
Seeking to relieve the anxiety of the startled group, Pastor Jamison said jokingly, “Well I must say I’ve never heard God audibly respond to a question before, but maybe He just did.”
The group laughed as Yandel’s secretary hurried to set up emergency lighting throughout the room. As soon as her task was finished, those at the table resumed the unsettling nature of their previous conversation.
“Sadly, I would have to agree with your statement, Mr. Yandel. But having said that, you need to know I agree with Trinity. Absolute truth may be tough for many to accept, but that doesn't make it anything less than absolute truth. God is the one who said it was always wrong to lie and steal. And God’s word commands us to speak the truth as we seek justice for everyone in our world. As Christians, we must love people enough to tell them the truth of what’s right and wrong, and the consequences of choosing wrong, whether they want to hear it or not.”
To that Yandel replied, “I understand and agree Pastor Jamis
“That may be so,” responded Pastor Jamison, “But people like the Simpsons do not have the right to force the rest of us to live without God. They say they have the right to live any way they chose and they are partially correct. Our founding fathers established a Bill of Rights which guarantees every citizen the right to the pursuit of happiness. But those guarantees were never meant to include the ‘whatever’ lifestyle and behavior of people like the Simpsons or anyone else for that matter. And they were never designed to destroy the rights of people in this country who do believe in God and seek to live peacefully in submission to His commandments.
“Whether the Simpsons like it or not, there are absolute moral truths that limit the behavior of civilized people. The Simpsons are free to disagree but unfortunately for them, their argument is with God not Trinity. As long as she obeys God’s command to ‘speak the truth in love,’ she will be doing the right thing before God. Unfortunately, we all understand that does not guarantee a favorable outcome on Friday.
“As you have observed, things may get worse. She may lose her job and her reputation. She may never be able to teach again. But Miss Woodard is correct. As a committed follower of Jesus Christ, she must publically defend the truth and leave the outcome to Him. There is no alternative if she is to be obedient in declaring God’s love to the very people determined to erase His name from the history books of mankind.”
As Trinity listened to Jamison’s comments, she realized how grateful she was for this man’s faith, integrity, and courage. Over the years, she had known of many cowardly pastors, too weak to speak out against sin and moral wrong-doing for fear of what might others might think or what may happen to their positions. As Mr. Yandel repeatedly tapped his pen on the table trying to decide how to respond, Trinity said a silent prayer for Pastor Jamison. She asked God to help him remain courageous and strong in the days ahead and continue to use him as a Christ-like example for other men to follow. She also prayed Yandel would privately consider the words of her pastor.
Not convinced, and clearly frustrated with the direction the meeting had taken, Mr. Yandel finally threw up his hands and said, “Ok. Have it your way. My team will prepare a general opening statement, sit with you at the table, and be available to answer any legal questions which may arise during the course of the hearing. If you change your mind on a defensive strategy, let me know before Friday. Either way, we’ll be ready. We’ll meet you at the top of the stairs in front of the County Board of Education Building at 2:45 pm sharp.
“And before I forget, there is an option we have not yet discussed. You are within your rights to bring civil charges against the Simpson for malicious slander and professional malice. You would have a strong case and our firm would be happy to represent you in such a lawsuit. Just let us know if this is something you wish to pursue.”
The meeting adjourned and Yandel’s new clients waited outside his office for the elevator. The group prayed together in the parking lot then each went their separate ways.
Within minutes of their exit, Yandel received an unexpected cell phone call from his wife.
“Kurt, there’s been an accident. Don’t worry. The boys and I are ok now. I was picking up the kids from school when we got caught in that awful downpour. As I was pulling out of the parking lot, another parent leaving the school lost control of her car and slid into the side of the van. Larry had not yet buckled his seat belt and ended up hitting his head on the passenger door. He suffered a small cut on his forehead which needed medical attention. We’re in the emergency room at Sheboygan Memorial now and are ready to come home. But the van had to be towed to the repair shop. Honey, can you come down to the hospital and take us home?”
Relieved, Kurt replied, “Thank heaven you are all ok! I’ve just finished with my last client of the day. I’ll be there in ten minutes.”
Kurt grabbed his overcoat and headed for the door. As he was waiting for the elevator, his secretary came running out of the office into the hallway and said, “Sir, there is a phone call for you on the main line. The caller says it’s urgent and insisted I bring you to the phone immediately.”
“It’s ok, Ms. Carpenter. I’ll take the call,” agreed Kurt.
Yandel closed the door to his private office then picked up the phone.
“Yandel speaking. Oh, it’s you. I told you I would call when she left. No, I wasn’t able to convince her. Jamison was here and as expected, he’s encouraging her to pursue the ‘absolute truth’ approach. I understand. Thank you, sir.”
Pastor Jamison continued to pray for Trinity and Yandel’s firm during his short drive back to Plymouth. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but was deeply troubled in his spirit at the legal counsel Kurt had given Trinity. It wasn’t at all what he had expected. But as he pulled into the church parking lot, Jamison’s thoughts were abruptly turned towards more immediate concerns.
Two large fire engines were parked just beyond the high school wing of Plymouth Calvary Christian School. Several firemen were busy extinguishing the remains of smoldering embers on the outer rim of what appeared to be a large grass fire just north of the gym. With hoses in hand, fire fighters were conducting a thorough, final search through the field to ensure the fire would not re-ignite.
Jamison drove cautiously to the end of the lot and parked his SUV just west of the engines, so as not to hinder their work. The air was thick with the smell of smoke as he opened the car door. Walking to the edge of the charred ground, he stood speechless as he surveyed the images of blackened earth and the scorched gym.
Finding the captain in charge of the incident, Pastor Jamison learned what had happened. During the earlier thunder storm, lightning apparently struck one of the older trees behind the gym splitting the trunk in two. Half of the tree was set ablaze, while the other half crashed into the north side of the building. A corner section of the roof was crushed and windows shattered along both sides of the gymnasium. The school janitor had phoned in the fire and crews were on the scene within minutes. Firefighters were able to quickly contain the fire and prevent any major damage to the facility. Jamison repeatedly thanked the captain and his crews for their quick response. He then thanked God that classes had ended before the fire broke out and that basketball practice had been rescheduled earlier in the day.
As Jamison surveyed the damage, a dozen or so church members were already on site removing piles of broken glass and splintered sections of roofing. Other volunteers, along with a group of neighbors, were working to cover the windows and install a temporary roof on the gym to protect the facility from further weather related damage until more permanent repairs could be made.
As Trinity fastened her seatbelt and pulled out of the parking garage at Yandel’s office, she realized the car was almost out of gas. Filling up at the Shell station closest to the highway on-ramp, it wasn’t long before she was back on the road headed towards Plymouth. Traffic was still moving slowly as state highway crews continued working to remove all the storm-related debris from the roadway.
Realizing her return commute would probably take twice as long as normal Trinity reached over and turned on the radio hoping to tune into her favorite Christian radio station. In order to minimize the static, she had to fiddle with the dial settings for a few moments before locating the best listening position. She then gave herself over to the mood of the uplifting songs, singing along as she continued her return trip.
About three miles outside of Plymouth, Trin heard a loud, explosive sound. All of the sudden h
“Oh great!” she said out loud. “A flat tire!”
“Imbeciles! Idiots!” screamed Khan. “Destroyers are supposed to destroy!” he roared. “Or is that beyond your comprehension, Lieutenant?”
Stomping back and forth along the brick roof atop Plymouth Press, Khan continued his tirade. “Are your troops so stupid they can’t even execute the simplest of plans? Kill the kids! Burn down the school! Flip over the car! Crush her body! Could my orders have been any clearer? Maybe your puny imps should go back to the ash heaps of Gehenna and return to active duty when they’ve learned how to destroy something as fragile and helpless as human life!”
“Commander, you know as well as I what went wrong,” replied an indignant Warwick. “We’ve seen unexpected interventions like this too many times before.”
“All the more reason you should have anticipated their response. You were the one in charge of strife and doubt. You were the one who was supposed to confuse their ranks. But instead, they have successfully consolidated their forces. Their petitions are already hindering our movements. I hold you personally responsible for this fiasco, Warwick!” screamed the furious defeated Commander.
“Not to worry. Victory is close at hand, sir,” declared the still cocky Lieutenant. “Loyal warriors are even now causing havoc within marriages, isolating the enemy thru weather related disasters, disrupting electronic communications, shutting down power across the nation and effectively spreading disinformation among the so-called ‘Prayer Warriors.’ Unaware of our power, ignorant fools may still offer pathetic prayers in small, isolated gatherings. But my forces will soon have the enemy so doubtful and confused, they won’t know exactly what to pray for, much less be able to successfully launch a coordinated frontal assault.”
“That better happen and soon. Do you hear me? Soon! And what about His troops? How do you intend to prevent their interference going forward?” asked the worried and still pacing Commander.
Lieutenant Warwick had long grown weary of taking orders from such an incompetent, cowardly leader. Plotting to eliminate Khan in the heat of battle and elevate himself to the rank of “Commander”, the sinister Lieutenant simply growled, “Watch and learn…sir!”
Defiantly, he then turned and flew away.
Derrick had just finished his math homework when the front door bell rang. Looking out the living room window to see who was standing on his porch, he was shocked to see Jason Baxter. Opening the door, Derrick said rather coldly, “Jason, what do you want?”
“Hi Derrick!” said Jason with a smile. “My mother made some chocolate chip cookies today. After school I asked her if I could bring some over to you. We just live around the corner so she said I could come over as soon as I finished my math homework. It took me longer than I thought, but I’m finally done.”
Rolling his eyes, Derrick replied, “Yea, I know. I just finished my math too. I didn’t think I’d ever get through all the word problems that sub gave us today.”
“Makes me miss our real teacher even more,” Jason said a bit sad. “But hey, can I come in?”
Secretly wishing he could accept the friendship being offered, Derrick replied, “Well I’m home alone and I’m not supposed to have anyone in the house when my parents are gone.”
“Ok. Well, how about we sit on the front porch and eat some of these cookies? Do you think that would be ok with your folks?”
Hesitating for a moment, Derrick said, “Yeah...Ok. Sure!”
Derrick unlocked the screen door, and walked out onto the porch. Sitting side-by-side on the top step, Jason offered Derrick a cookie and the two boys quietly enjoyed their afternoon treat in silence. But Derrick was puzzled. He couldn’t understand why someone he’d been so mean before was now being so nice to him. After reaching for a second cookie, Derrick became very sad and said,
“Jason, what do you think is going to happen to Miss Trin?”
“I’m not sure,” Jason replied. “My mom says she may lose her job.”
“But why?” asked a concerned Derrick “She didn’t do anything really wrong.”
“I know,” Jason said. “But don’t you know? I don’t want to be disrespectful or anything, but your parents are the ones trying to get her fired.”
Derrick was not at all surprised. He knew she was not the first. He sat quietly for a very long time just staring up at the stormy skies. “Jason, can you keep a secret?” he finally asked his new friend.
“If it won’t hurt anyone, I will. What’s the matter?” Jason replied.
“I’m sorry for taking your cookies. My parents would be so mad if they knew I was saying this to you. But no matter what they say, I know it’s wrong to take something that does not belong to me. I think what they are doing to Miss Trin is wrong too, but I don’t know what to do about it. I like her! She cares more about me than my parents ever have.”
“I’m sorry it’s like that, Derrick,” said his compassionate friend. “And about what you did, forget about it. Jesus already forgave you and so did I.”
“Jesus? Who is he?” asked Derrick.
“He is God’s son. He made us and He loves us. He knows everything about everything…what we say and do…the good things and all the bad stuff. He says all our wrong doing is sin. The Bible says our sin keeps us away from God and from his love. But since God wants to be our forever best friend, He sent his perfect son Jesus to earth to take upon Himself God’s judgment for our sin so we that wouldn’t have to.
“Last year at Vacation Bible School I asked Jesus to forgive my sins and come into my life. And boy did I have some sin to confess to him! I did worse things than stealing cookies. One time I pushed my sister out of a tree and she broke her arm. And I used to say terrible things to my parents when they didn’t give me what I wanted. But Jesus forgave me and has been my best friend ever since. If you want, he can forgive your sins and be your best friend too!”
Derrick sat quietly listening as Jason spoke. The two boys ate another cookie in silence then Jason said. “Maybe you could come over for dinner some night when your parents are gone. Let’s ask my mom first and she can call and square it with your mom. My mom makes the best apple pie in the whole world.”
“That would be great! I guess I better go back inside now,” Derrick said. “Thanks for the cookies. See you at school tomorrow.”
Powerful lying warriors and deceiving spirits had been entrenched at the Simpsons’ home for many years. Witnessing the beginning of the end of their dominion on Mockingbird Lane, yet helpless to interfere, Warwick’s soldiers became enraged. Determined to regain the territory just lost, vicious creatures from hell went on the offensive. Lunging at Aza’s soldiers standing guard, the demons repeatedly tried to rip through their shields of light attempting to dig their razor sharp claws into the minds of the young, unsuspecting human prey still sitting on the front porch.
Aza’s orders were clear. Holy Healers were to defend their charge but not destroy the assailants until the appointed time. Four Healers were dispatched to chase the demons into the air away from the home, ultimately forcing their retreat somewhere over Grievance Bay in northern Door County. Meanwhile, a contingent of radiant warriors held their protective positions on the front porch, maintaining a tightly-woven, winged formation around the two young boys.
When Warwick’s soldiers had been successfully routed, Captain Aza dispatched two unicorns to bring news of the victory to Eli and Jasmine. Angelic warriors rejoiced as eternal truth had been declared that afternoon on one small, seemingly insignificant, front porch in rural Wisconsin. However, understanding the nature of the enemy, all remained prudent and alert, knowing the battle was far from over.
Jason Baxter went back to his ho
It was well into the night when Trinity finally pulled into her own garage. She was tired and had not eaten anything since lunch. With so many road hazards and fender-benders that afternoon, it had taken almost four hours for a tow truck to arrive on the scene, tow her sedan to the nearest repair shop, then mount and balance a new right front tire. Walking through the garage door and past the phone on her desk, Trin glanced over at her voice mail messages. She had 23 messages.
“I didn’t think the phone had that much memory!” she chuckled.
Trin decided to change into her pajamas, heat up some leftover chicken noodle soup in the microwave and then listen to her messages. Setting her bowl of steamy soup on the kitchen table, she opened the Evening Edition of the Plymouth Press hoping Underwood had ordered a retraction of Edith’s earlier story. But as Trin unfolded the paper and saw the cover, she dropped her first spoonful of soup back into the bowl.
Plastered across the front page were the headlines, “Teacher steals student lunch to teach moral lesson. Outraged Plymouth parents demand action---by Edith Simpson.”
Trin continued reading the first few lines of Edith’s story. “Plymouth Elementary school teacher, Miss Trinity Woodard, humiliates student before classmates in what she says was an attempt to teach absolute moral values to a reprobate child.”
Unable to believe her eyes, Trin closed the paper and tossed it on the floor. Wanting to catch the latest weather report she then turned on a small TV she kept on the kitchen counter. She caught the tail end of a local news story instead and listened in horror as the reporter stated,
“Child is sent home hungry after teacher steals his lunch. Miss Trinity Woodard, a long-time teacher at Plymouth Elementary School, forced a student, whose name is being withheld to protect the family, to sit quietly while she devoured his lunch. The child was further abused, as he was denied food and water for the remainder of the day.”
Trin changed the channel, but could not escape what had apparently become the biggest news story in the entire state of Wisconsin.
“From the state capitol tonight, Channel 10 News has just learned that an elementary school teacher in Plymouth regularly forces her students to obey what she calls, ‘God’s truth for all people.’ Teacher routinely says parents are liars and thieves.”
Disgusted, she turned off the TV and sat down at her desk to listen to her the long list of voice mail. Almost every single message was from students, parents, friends, and family expressing their concern and support. Many expressed anger over the comments made by the substitute teacher in class that day regarding Christians and the Ten Commandments. One of her current students called to say the teacher had even taken the plaque off the wall. Some parents expressed concerned she might leave Plymouth altogether. The last message sounded like a man’s voice mumbling something that sounded to Trin like a threat. His words were so garbled, she just deleted the message.
Putting the dishes in the sink, she walked upstairs to get ready for bed. “What a day!” she sighed.
As she was brushing her teeth, the phone rang again. She was about to say, “Hi Mom,” when she clearly heard the voice of a man say,
“If you think you are going to win this battle, you’re dead wrong. We’re sick and tired of people like you passing judgment on us. And we’re fed up with you Christians telling the world they are sinners if they do not obey the God of your Bible. The time has come to silence all of you forever.”
Trinity hung up the phone and immediately called her dad. Then she called the Sheboygan County Sheriff’s Office. She also placed a late night call to the state capital.
Even though she was physically and emotionally exhausted, Trinity had difficulty falling asleep. The events of the past two days, the topics of dozens of conversations, thoughts about the meeting on Friday, not to mention the appearance of two unicorns in her woods, all seemed to merge into one gigantic yet indistinct, mental mosaic. And for some unexplained reason, Eli and Jasmine seemed to be at the very center of it all.
“Where are those unicorns? They said that even though I could not see them, they would always be with me. I wonder. Are they in the room with me right now? Where are they standing and if they are here, how do they fit inside these four walls? Were they in the kitchen just now when I was watching TV? Were they at Yandel’s office? Were they riding with me in the tow truck? Can they read my mind?”
Trin knew it was a silly thought but suddenly, she threw the blankets off her body and leaned her head over the side of the mattress. She did not find any unicorns hiding underneath the bed. Gathering up her long curly hair, she laid back down on her bed. Then she remembered one of the things Eli said to her. He had said that both he and Jasmine were on some kind of “divine commission.”
“If God cares enough about this whole Simpson mess to send angelic messengers to protect me and if humans I don’t even know are committed to praying for me, I’d better do some serious praying myself.”
Trinity did not remember the last thing she prayed for that night, but she did remember her dream. She dreamed that Eli and Jasmine were standing on either side of her bed.
Jasmine leaned in close to Trin’s ear and whispered, “Be very courageous, Dear One. Stand and declare God’s truth.”
The dream was so real, Trinity immediately woke up. Opening her eyes and turning on the light, she fully expected to see both flying creatures somehow all squished together and hunched over in her bedroom. She saw no one and went back to sleep.
Eli and Jasmine gave thanks to heaven as their quiet hymns of praise filled her bedroom with soothing melodies. The gentle smell of Jasmine flower petals floated in the air. Heaven knew it was one of Trinity’s favorite fragrances.
However, in woods, fields and meadows of other parts of Plymouth, packs of black wolves howled until dawn. Another round of dense stormy clouds brought rain, clashes of thunder and massive streaks of jagged lightning to the county throughout the night. Winds were fierce at times, rattling windows, and banging shudders against the sides of homes. And Whispering Spirits had a delightful time causing all kinds of creepy, creaking noises in darkened bedrooms, making it frightfully hard for anyone to get a peaceful night’s rest, especially those in the homes along Mockingbird Lane.
Standing erect, with wings fully extended at the edge of the brick chimney was the increasingly deranged and defiant Lieutenant Warwick. Like a ravenous wild animal, he raged throughout the night. Hoping to dissuade any heavenly warriors within earshot from interfering with his grandiose plans, he shouted, “They are rightfully ours! All of them! You have no authority here! To my master they surrendered long ago and ours they forever will be! All hail the Prince of Lies!”
Truthful Ones maintained their covert positions at the Simpson residence, while Holy Healers remained immovable at the Woodard estate. Meanwhile Ryak’s forces patiently held their peace awaiting final deployment.