“Keith Bradley. I’m a high school science teacher at Bradley Central School.”
“Mr. Bradley, when did you first become involved in teaching the Bible as Literature at your school?”
“Two years ago.”
“Can you give us some background on how you got involved in the project?”
“We had a new Literature teacher at our school, Ms. Talia Ramin, who showed my father the government’s requirements for the class.”
“Your father? Who is that?”
Keith hesitated. “My father is the school Principal, Joshua Bradley. He assigned me to co-teach the class with Ms. Ramin.”
“What was his reason for doing that? I mean, I can see Ms. Ramin, as a Literature teacher, conducting the class, but what qualifications did you as a science teacher bring to the class? Were you there to keep an eye on a somewhat flighty, first-year teacher?”
“I was there to contribute, at Ms Ramin’s request and direction, geologic, meteorologic, and technological supporting evidence for the authority of the Bible as historical and scientific truth.”
Jenny Kaine scowled. “You mean you advanced theories about how some people claim the Bible has some factual basis.”
“I mean the Bible is a book of science,” Keith said. “Ms. Ramin and I taught the course based on treating the Bible as fact and other literature as having some points of agreement and parallels but many significant differences. Other cultures created myths to support a church-state union with the ruler as god to the people and the high priest as controller of education and culture. That is the historical core of Secular Humanism with the pretense stripped away. Secular Humanism is just as much a religion of mythology as any other false belief.”
Jenny Kaine opened her mouth, closed it, balled her hands into fists, and then shook her fingers out straight again. “Humanism elevates all of us,” she said. “And it gives people freedom to believe what they want – for each person to embrace his own truth.”
“A very smart person once said, ‘The Bible has all the truth — about History, about Science, about everything! Truth is truth. How can there be different kinds of truth?’” Keith replied. He was very aware of Talia’s increasing rigidity beside him, but she relaxed slightly when he quoted her words from the first day of class.
Jenny Kaine said, “You were supposed to instruct students objectively and in equal proportions about comparative world literature and religions, and instead chose to indoctrinate them into your narrow, exclusionist views.”
“I guess you didn’t read the course guidelines and requirements,” Keith said, “or you’d know that the method of teaching and course content was entirely discretionary. However, since you claim it was narrow and exclusionist, I’ll explain to you that Ms. Ramin included hundreds of examples of other kinds of literature in the course. She said more than once that her purpose ‘is to teach the truth, or how to figure out what’s true, versus what people just make up out of their own heads and insist are facts, without presenting evidence.’”
“So I could go online, and view your course uploads to the Repository site, and confirm that claim of objectivity?”
“Good luck with finding out anything on that site about anybody’s Bible as Literature classes,” Keith said.
“But each participant was encouraged to upload study materials,” Jenny Kaine insisted, “and received free tablets with free wifi allowed everyone to share the knowledge gained from the experience. Are you saying that’s not correct?”
“We weren’t encouraged, we were required, to make those uploads. Nonetheless, I’m saying the site doesn’t work – searches are redirected and no one I’ve talked to has been able to view more than a tiny fraction of what was uploaded.”
“But the tablets? Aren’t you grateful for the provision of those study tools? Free, unlimited wifi, permanently the property of you and your students. The Department of Education has been very generous with you.”
Keith had to force himself to stay calm and consider how to respond to that, for the first time since Jenny Kaine had entered the room. Every other answer had come with relative ease, but his own weariness and the atmosphere of evil that permeated the room with the woman’s presence was making him physically ill.
“I’m going to answer that, and then we are done with the Bible as Literature Class and the Repository. You’ll find another subject or the interview is over.”
“Fine.”
“People need to look at a history lesson if they get offered something free … the city of Troy, and a certain horse they ought to have been more wary of accepting.”
“That’s all you have to say?”
“On that subject, yes.”
“All right then. Shifting gears, per your request. Rumors are swirling that the School Administrator Appreciation Gala this year will have some surprise honorees. They have heard officials were pressured by threats of lawsuits into acknowledging certain … should I say … less than stellar people …?”
Keith stood up, holding onto the table edge. “I can’t speak about all the honorees but I do happen to know one who made that list. I remember part of what he said when someone tried to make him violate his creed and conscience in the name of government compliance. ‘Then you might as well arrest me right now. I’ve been an educator for thirty years. My father was one before me. I will not submit, and don’t think I’m going to resign in protest. Here I take my stand. I can do nothing else.’”
Everyone else in the room besides Jenny Kaine stood up and clapped.
Even the videographer tipped his camera back, said, “I’m outta here,” shoved a data chip at Jenny Kaine, and left the room.
She stared after the man for a full minute, swiveled, took in the still-standing group, and settled her eyes on Keith. “See you next week,” she said, and was gone.
Keith slowly lowered himself into the chair, vomited, and watched the world turn black around him.
Chapter One Hundred and One – A Matter of Trust
Keith sat in a wheelchair in the airport terminal and let the kids, chaperones, and Precious Treasure residents who had agreed to come swarm around him. Just a week ago he had been far less able to take the hugs and the handshakes. His recovery after the Jenny Kaine incident had been set back with a low grade fever that wouldn’t quit for days. At least now he realized how stupid he had been to test his limits so needlessly. Part of the problem, he had to admit, might have been a spiritual attack from whatever demons hung around that woman. Everyone had admitted feeling depressed and ill in her presence.
So the wheelchair was a concession to need and humility, as much as Keith had wanted to walk along with the flow of new arrivals out to the bus Drew had specially-equipped for the occasion. In fact, he wanted to jump around and dance with the kids – or even tiptoe the crazy out of them, but he sat and grinned and watched people get Baby Cherub kicking and hear their screams of delight.
“You’re gonna wear a hole in Mrs. Bradley’s belly,” he finally said. “Mamas and babies need rest. Simmer down. Get on the bus.”
His grandmother and father finally found a path to him. Grandma Bradley enfolded him in her arms first, rolling close in her power chair. “Oh, my heart,” she whispered. “My heart. I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t come back to us.”
“Grandma,” Keith whispered back. He held her close and breathed in the eucalyptus scent like it was sweet perfume. “It’s okay. I made it.”
He stood up to embrace his father. “Dad, I am never again going to doubt that miracles are real.”
“You certainly had one for yourself,” his father said. “You look better than I could possibly have hoped.”
“That wasn’t the biggest one, in my book. You’re here, and you’re free.”
His father wet his chest with tears. “I thought we’d see each other in heaven,” Joshua Bradley said. “Never imagined anything like this. God’s angels bear us up, don’t they?”
“They
do.” Keith nodded. The bus ‘knelt’ to receive the wheelchair and power chair and got under way to the hotel.
Talia had planned a formal dinner at the hotel and Keith couldn’t believe how good all the kids looked in tuxes and gowns. They toasted with sparkling cider, over and over, every blessing from God in the past year. Keith saw that Jayna finally looked to have climbed out of her depression, and she had told him her family was much-improved, though they had chosen not to make the trip.
Keith managed to make it through one gentle slow dance with Talia after dinner. Afterwards he sat and watched her, shimmering around the room in a sky blue maternity gown with crystal bead patterns, dancing with a few students, her uncle, and David and Jiggly before collapsing beside Keith.
“This night is perfect,” she whispered. “Everyone we love is here in this room. Everyone except Dan.”
“Guess he had to go back to duty sometime,” Keith sighed. “Look at those two.” Naddy and Sophie swirled past.
“And look at Drew and Anne.”
Keith followed Talia’s nodding head to where the two stood on opposite sides of the main entrance, severely dressed in black, but looking across the doorway at each other and swaying slightly to the music.
“She never realized until she dropped back into his life that trust works both ways,” Keith mused. “All these years they were apart. They’ll work it out, I guess.”
“And their the biggest challenge will be trusting themselves with each others’ hearts again,” Talia said.
“Mrs. Holden and the Sheldons and Gregorys came,” Keith observed. “They’re trying to make nice and pretend to be a family again. Tim and the kids look skeptical. And look at Lisa hanging on to Gail. Lisa begged so hard to be approved as a chaperone. Now I see why.”
“It’s Adam and Stephen I’m really worried about,” Talia said. “I’m so glad that cousin of theirs finally took them in, but Adam looks miserable with his parents. Should we go over there?”
“Naw, because he’s on his way over here,” Keith said as Adam broke away from his mother and father and pushed through the dancers to Keith and Talia. The Gregorys followed with stormy expressions.
“Hey, Mr. and Mrs. Bradley,” Adam said, suddenly nonchalant as he ground to a halt in front of them. “Thanks for doing this. It’s great.”
“We’re so glad you could make it, Adam,” Talia said.
Keith shook hands with him when he wanted to hug him.
“Yeah, I turned eighteen last month, so the judge who let my cousin take care of us said it was my decision, whether I came or not, even if my parents did try to stop me.” Adam turned uneasy eyes toward his mother and father as they passed through the crowd and approached at a more dignified pace.
“Understand you had some sort of accident,” Adam’s father said, reluctantly accepting Keith’s proffered hand as he stood up and blocked their path to Adam. The boy retreated behind Keith’s chair.
“Stuff happens when you hang around really old buildings,” Keith said with a shrug. He saw David watching him – plotting to fix that hitch in my shoulder with more sensei magic –and stood up a little straighter.
“Exactly. That’s why we didn’t want Adam to come on this trip,” Mrs. Gregory snapped. “It’s much too dangerous. Every person on your expedition has been seriously injured, haven’t they?”
“We’re all alive and thanking God,” Talia said.
“God could have protected you, if He really existed,” Mrs, Gregory retorted.
“Do you like roses, Mrs. Gregory?” Talia asked.
“I grow them,” she answered. Her expression softened. “They send me test varieties and I’ve created some hybrids that have won awards.”
“I’d heard that,” Talia nodded. “Do you have any without thorns?”
“Without thorns? There are a few varieties of thornless roses. But the thorns protect the roses. They have a purpose. Roses grow stronger and more beautiful with the protection of their thorns.”
“That’s what troubles in our lives do for us,” Talia said. “We grow thorns to protect ourselves. Without them, God couldn’t make us strong enough to love and serve Him.”
Mrs. Gregory sniffed and turned away.
Her husband said, “Kids aren’t flowers,” but his expression was uncertain.
“No, they’re not,” Keith said, trying not to wobble and finally admitting to himself that he had to sit down. “But you can’t protect them from everything. You need to teach them to protect themselves.”
“Don’t lecture me about taking care of my kids,” Mr. Gregory snapped. “I tried to be a good father.”
“Tim Holden thought he was a good father too,” Keith said. “But we were wondering why you left your children scared and alone for two days.”
Mr. Gregory rotated his head and stared everywhere but at Keith. “We were all upset by what happened at the school board meeting. We – we had high hopes for our children’s future. It seemed like … like the school was failing them. We sought counsel and guidance from someone who helped us focus our goals for our children in the past. Adam was seventeen years old. Why would he panic just because he had to babysit his brother for a couple of days while we tried to learn how to help them?”
“For Gods’ sake, that stupid police officer put us in handcuffs! That judge threw us in jail! Our children had run off! Our plans were falling apart!” Mrs. Gregory’s voice rose above the musicians. Everything stopped and they became the center of attention.
Mrs. Sheldon rushed over. “Sweetie, what have you been saying to them?” she demanded, digging her fingernails into Mrs. Gregory’s shoulders and pulling her away. “This is not the time or the place. Everything is being taken care of.”
“Well, I hope it works out better for you than your attempt to take care of me, Carol,” Tim Holden said, appearing suddenly beside Keith with his arms around his children. They clung to him and cringed when their mother joined Mrs. Sheldon.
“You need to keep your mouth shut, Tim,” his wife said, stabbing a finger at his chest. He paled and backed up. “Remember that anything you say might make it easier for me to get my children back. If you start making those insane accusations again –!”
Tim tightened his lips, squeezed his children’s shoulders, and the three of them vanished from the ballroom. His wife stood there looking lost until Mrs. Sheldon and Mrs. Gregory surrounded her with their arms and led her away.
Keith looked around and saw that Adam still stood behind them. His father had started to follow the group of women but he stopped and turned back with anguish in his eyes.
“Adam … I don’t understand what I did wrong,” he said. “I’ve tried to call you, and your cousin won’t even let me talk to you. He got a Restraining Order against us. I’m sorry … those days … they’re like lost time to me … It sounds crazy, I know, but can’t remember why we didn’t just go home.”
“Mom left me a note,” Adam said, his voice shaky. “She said ‘When we get home, you better have your tablet.’ So I got it out, but you guys didn’t come. I was playing a game on it and when Stephen got up, he wanted to eat. I said wait, because I wanted to finish the level.
“Stephen tried to get his own breakfast, but he spilled cereal all over the kitchen, and milk, too, and I – I just got so mad at him, I – Dad, I hit him. I hit Stephen. He cried so hard, and I kept saying I was sorry – that was the first time I called Mr. Bradley. I didn’t – I didn’t tell him what I did to Stephen, but I said we were scared, and didn’t know where you guys were. He tried to call Cousin Eddie but he was at work.
“I made Stephen go lie down on the couch, and I kept telling him you’d come home soon. He went to sleep with his blanket and I kept playing the game. I didn’t even realize it was getting so late. Stephen woke up and said he was hungry again. I just wanted to win that next level. Before I knew what was happening, I saw my hand up in the air, like I was going to hit Stephen again.
“That’s when I called Mr.
Bradley again. I only told him it seemed like the tablet was making me want to do crazy things. He said lock it up someplace, but the only door key I had was for the house. I had to get away from the tablet.
“Mr. Bradley said he was coming to get us, so I locked the house up, and I didn’t even think about just having my shorts and flip-flops on, and Stephen still being in his pajamas. I didn’t want to get you guys in trouble, but Officer Johnson showed up with Keith, and he said Stephen and I were unsafe and abandoned. What was I supposed to do? Mr. and Mrs. Bradley warned us about the tablets, that they were causing trouble, but mom said I had to have it. When they arrested you, Cousin Eddie came to get us, and he and Officer Johnson testified to the judge so we could stay with him.”
Tears gathered in Mr. Gregory’s eyes. “I don’t know what happened,” he said, his gaze traveling back and forth between Talia, Keith, and Adam. “That night … What did Tim tell you happened?”
“We’re not going to give anyone ammunition to hurt Mr. Holden or his children,” Talia said.
“I never wanted to hurt anybody. I’ve lost both my children – Adam told us tonight that he’s going to stay with Eddie, and work to get custody of Stephen. Isn’t there something I can do to make this right?”
“Maybe you should start by figuring out what really happened that night. Maybe you need to go back even further, and figure out what’s been going on since you moved your family to our town,” Keith suggested.
“What?” Mr. Gregory scowled. “My wife pestered me for six months to move there. She said she wanted to get the kids away from bad influences in the city. What’s moving to your town got to do with anything?”
“Everything!” Adam practically screamed. “Mom ruined everything! I loved the school – the teachers were so nice, and the kids wanted to be my friends, for the first time in my life. Both the Mr. Bradleys were so cool, and Ms. Ramin – she taught us all this stuff about the Bible and history, and Mr. Bradley just knew everything about history and science and so much stuff! And because of you guys we couldn’t even go to school anymore.”
The Great Thirst Boxed Set Page 62
