Ring in Mine #3: Nephi and Jerome: Chapter 18
Chapter 18 continues the sequence of four tightly related chapters. There are some real crazies in these chapters. Though the names have been changed and the incidents seem impossible or at least improbable, they are based loosely on individuals and situations that really exist or happened.
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A Promise: Jerry has a special spot in my heart. If I find any of my characters trying to hurt him, I promise to go to the previous chapter and run over that character with a car before I would let them succeed.
--------- Nephi & Jerome Chapter 18
Sunday, the local church leader apologized, but it had come from his superior, President Johnson, that Kazoo Day was no longer a sponsored ward function. The building would not be available this year.
Mary's preschool opened on schedule. One of the first art projects was creating Kazoo Day hats. For music they learned how to play the Kazoo
Benny was a miracle worker. One of his clients donated a huge tent, tables, chairs and patio heaters. (Jerome was sure that Grace had a hand in this.) There would be posters thanking the rental company, Marco's Restaurant, Bertram's Bakery and Luke's moving company. Chief Thompson secured the community park's parking lot for the tent and would provide a police presence
Jerome's contribution was to expand the scope to memorialize all victims of youth suicide from the area. Flyers emphasized this was for all members of the community. Somehow the media learned of the event. There was a press release Benny swears he didn't write. Marco and Bertram had tripled the amount of food.
The Johnson's were not giving up. A letter informed Jerome and Nephi their church membership was on the line. They were to appear in front of a church court scheduled during the Kazoo Day celebration.
Jerome and Nephi would miss the neighborhood parade. Jared and Drake agreed to get things started. Paula promised she would oversee things until her boys arrived.
The church leaders started with the standard "This is a court of love" speech that no one standing where Nephi stood believed. Brother Johnson read the script and verse about the evils of homosexuality. Another member of the council read from the Church Handbook about excommunicating homosexuals.
"To save your eternal souls are you willing to turn from your evil ways, repent of your sins and have your son raised in a God fearing home with a father and a mother?" Brother Johnson asked.
"You have made up your minds haven't you? I will not give up my true love to please your small mindedness. My God would never condone breaking up a loving family. We are children of a compassionate God. Your decision doesn't change that." Nephi stood. "Jerome are you coming?"
This was it. If he walked out with Nephi, he would turn his back on his religion. Did he need his church membership to have a relationship with God? He stood and before he stepped through the door, he looked back at the smug self-righteous Brother Johnson. "I am a child of God. I will pray your Father has mercy on your hateful souls."
Jerome had decided his love for Nephi, Jerry and his God was more important than any church.
If the unseasonably warm weather was a sign of the Almighty's approval, He was very pleased. When the pair arrived at the tent, it was a circus. The media was there. They had filmed the parade through the neighborhood. The media interviewed Paula about the origins of the Kazoo event.
"The original Kazoo Day event was a way to mend bridges after a member of the ward committed suicide. My husband's company, Peter and Sons Landscaping sponsored the event. My adopted sons Nephi and Jerome have continued and broadened the tradition. Peter would be very proud of them."
Family and friends had created shrines around posters of their lost loved ones. Families from outside the neighborhood had brought posters of their own. Benny had provided extra easels.
"What happened?" Paula asked. Nephi and Jerome decided not to discuss the church court until after the event.
Most of the neighborhood was there. The Mayor and Governor were there. Both took a moment to emphasize stemming the growing tide of youth suicide in the community and the state.
It had become an interdenominational event. Marie's priest and Ministers of other churches attended. Some local ward leaders were there but not the council that had met with Jerome and Nephi.
Benny had arranged for local talent to perform. The Answer-the-Question game played an important part of the festivities. There was a magician, bounce-house and balloon artists for the kids.
Participants helped in the cleanup. In no time at all Luke's van was filled with tables and chairs. The dumpster was full and there wasn't a brownie crumb or meatball left.
They all watched the news together even letting Jerry stay up to watch. They hadn't seen Tommy and his mother at the event but she made the news.
"Don't let all this fool you. This is all about a pair of gay men that are losing their membership in the church for their hedonistic evil lifestyle! They are trying to lead us all to Satan."
"I met these two men. They asked not to be on camera; this event was not about them. They asked that we focus on the families and their suffering. We are here to support them and each other. They released a written statement." The reporter said on camera.
"The Kazoo Day event is to bring people together; helping us see beyond the labels and see others as real people with value. Maybe if there was more acceptance and less hate we would lose less of our youth. We are all God's children."
"I asked them about being denied the church's cultural hall. They weren't bitter. The change of venue had allowed them to grow beyond the walls of a single church."
There were interviews with some neighbors. A group of ladies told about Nephi and Jerome inviting most of the neighborhood into their home during the power outage. Mrs. Thompson mentioned about the boys making sure the widows had shoveled walks.
"After hearing both sides I feel that these are good neighbors and Christians even if they have an alternate lifestyle." The television cut to commercial.
The next morning, Nephi and Jerome dressed themselves and Jerry for Mass. Paula wasn't feeling very Christ-like toward her own church that morning. She joined the growing group attending Mass. Marie stopped to pray. Nephi also lit a candle and spent time on his knees.
"What's Daddy Nephi doing?" Jerry asked Jerome.
"Nephi is praying." Jerome answered.
"I want to pray." Jerry announced. Jerome lit a candle and knelt next to his son and listened to his son thank God for his daddies and his grandmothers. He listed all of his friends. He ended asking for a puppy.
"Are you praying daddy? I want to hear."
Dear Lord,
In this time of turmoil thank you for the two men in my life, Nephi and my beautiful son.
Thank you for the loving family I have and forgive those that persecute us for that love.
Help Nephi and me be the best daddies we can be. Help us withstand the storm ahead.
Let your Holy Spirit of Love soften the hearts of men.
Amen
Nephi waited until Jerome and Jerry left for school. There were four types of messages on the answering machine when Nephi checked the next morning. Those cancelling their services, those signing up for services, supporters and crazies. The problem with tape driven answering machines it is difficult to skip messages.
Peter and Sons would have more clients. He enjoyed hearing from their supporters. There were numerous death threats on the tape. Paula heard the last one, it was so graphic it made her sick. Nephi just sat there in tears. He didn't notice Paula taking the tape out of the machine. She was worried, but she knew a cure.
Paula went next door and borrowed Jerry. "Jerry your daddy is sad. He needs you to make him feel better." She gave the little boy specific instructions and a bag of cookies to share with his daddy.
"Daddy Nephi, I've got a problem." Jerry announced. Paula was right. His little boy's problem took precedence over his own. Nephi pulled his little boy on his lap.
"What's your problem?" Nephi looked at Jerry in concern.
"I'm sad." Jerry announced.
"Why are you sad?" Nephi looked into his son's worried eyes.
"Because you are sad." The little boy answered.
"Your daddy is all right." Nephi answered.
"Daddy Nephi, mommy told me no lying. You have tears." Jerry wiped a tear from his dad's face.
"You are coming to help me draw pictures and share my cookies." Jerry climbed off Nephi's lap and pulled on Nephi's hand until he followed. Back in class they were drawing pictures of things that made them happy. Jerry drew his daddies and grandmothers. Nephi also drew his family.
"Now it is story time. You get to read it." Jerry's new favorite book was "There's a Monster at the End of This Book." Nephi read it with funny voices. Jerry had reminded Nephi of what was important. After school, he played blocks and cars with his son. When Jerome came home, he joined the pair on the floor. A new tape was in the machine. Nephi asked Paula about it. She said it was being handled.
The next morning Nephi met with Benny about the client changes. Together they visited the new locations. They reminded those cancelling, their contract required notification in writing. Nephi would need the bigger truck and plow. Benny drove Nephi to the cabin; Nephi drove the truck home.
After Benny and Lawrence each made a copy, the tape ended up in Chief Thompson's hands. The tape's time-stamps cross-checked with caller ID records helped them identify the death threats. The worst calls came from pay phones around the valley.