Chapter 19 - THE SAME PEWBy autumn, the community gathering had become routine.
So had Noah and Clara.
They always found the same pew.
Sometimes Clara brought questions.
Sometimes Noah did.
Sometimes they talked about nothing deeper than lunch.
Their families had changed too.
The Bennetts attended a parish charity event with the Monroes.
The Monroes attended a Baptist community picnic.
No one converted.
No one tried.
That surprised several people.
It shouldn't have.
One afternoon, Noah opened his Bible.
Clara looked over his shoulder.
“What are you reading?”
“Psalms.”
“Why?”
“Grandma told me to.”
“Do you always do what your grandma says?”
“No.”
“Good.”
Noah laughed.
Clara touched her cross.
“My grandma thinks your church is too loud.”
“Your grandma is wrong.”
“See? You still judge.”
“Music isn't theology.”
“Tell her that.”
Noah smiled.
Then he said:
“You can still be Catholic.”
Clara looked confused.
“I know.”
“And I can still be Baptist.”
“I know.”
“I just thought we should say it.”
“Why?”
“Because at first you thought one of us had to change.”
Clara remembered.
“You should become Catholic too.
She winced.
“That was kind of bossy.”
“Very.”
“I was eight.”
“You're still eight.”
“Different eight.”
Noah laughed.
Clara became serious.
“I thought if my legs got better, it proved something.”
“So did I.”
“Now I think it proves I got better.”
Noah smiled.
“That's very smart.”
“Thank you.”
“And annoying.”
She ignored him.
“My mom says she still believes God was with us.”
“So does mine.”
“Do you?”
Clara looked toward the front cross.
“Yes.”
Noah nodded.
“Me too.”
“Can we prove it?”
He thought.
“No.”
“Does that bother you?”
“Sometimes.”
“Me too.”
They sat quietly.
Then Clara said:
“Can we pray for each other anyway?”
“Yes.”
“What if Catholics pray differently?”
“You just told me prayer isn't denominational medicine.”
She grinned.
“Right.”
Noah closed the Bible.
“Okay.”
They bowed their heads.
Neither gave a speech.
Noah prayed first.
He thanked God for Clara.
Asked that her legs stay strong.
Asked that she have a good week at school.
Clara prayed next.
She thanked God for Noah.
Asked that his eyes stay healthy.
Asked that he stop worrying about his upcoming math test.
Noah whispered:
“I'm not worried.”
Clara opened one eye.
“You got a seventy-eight.”
“Keep praying.”
She closed her eye again.
Behind them, Rachel and Elena watched.
Rachel whispered:
“Remember when this terrified us?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Elena thought.
“Because I thought if Clara listened to Noah, she'd lose something.”
Rachel nodded.
“I thought the same.”
“Did she?”
“No.”
Elena looked at the two children.
“I think she gained language for asking what she believes.”
Rachel smiled.
“So did Noah.”
At the back of the church, Thomas Avery packed boxes for another food drive.
June Bennett helped.
“You look pleased with yourself,” she said.
“I did almost nothing.”
“Old teachers love claiming credit indirectly.”
Thomas laughed.
“What do you think happened here?”
June looked toward the children.
“Two kids asked a question.”
“And?”
“Four parents panicked.”
“And?”
“Everyone survived.”
Thomas smiled.
“That may be the lesson.”
June shook her head.
“No.”
“What is?”
“That humility didn't destroy anybody's faith.”
Thomas looked at her.
June continued:
“They all thought saying ‘I don't know’ would open some dangerous door.”
“Did it?”
“Yes.”
Thomas raised an eyebrow.
“To what?”
“Each other.”
The sentence stayed with him.
Later, as everyone prepared to leave, Clara remained seated.
Noah noticed.
“You coming?”
“In a minute.”
“What?”
She looked toward the adults.
“I want to ask Mom one more time.”
Noah knew exactly what she meant.
“The question?”
“Yes.”
“We already did.”
“I know.”
“Why again?”
“Because I want to know if her answer changed.”
Noah sat back down.
“Okay.”
Elena approached.
“What are you two plotting?”
Clara smiled.
“Nothing.”
Then her expression turned serious.
“Mom?”
“Yes?”
“So which mom was right?”
Elena stopped.
Rachel, several feet away, heard the question.
May you like
She came closer.
This time, no one looked frightened.
