Honeydew; the oddest choice name for a fruit. Julie didn’t see the difference between it and cantaloupe, aside from the color. Nonetheless, honeydew was a glorious combination next to sliced strawberries; where were the most sensational pancake topper of all time. Julie had laid out the griddle and a note for Aaron before slipping out into the early morning heat. More cars had gathered as she’d left their rental lane for the shopping commons. Most, if not all, of the windows were down, letting the sea salt invigorate the drivers on their way to work.
Suckers.Julie couldn’t help revealing. This vacation had been a long time coming, so it felt warranted. She and Aaron had celebrated their three-year anniversary almost four months ago and just nowgetting around to their honeymoon. Anything other then a long weekend had been brushed aside again and again; whether due to work, then family complications… then their own bleeding servants’ hearts needing to help while their church sought new leadership. Well, only two of those things had been controllable.
Oh, Mom. Julie allowed herself the remnant, before shielding it out with her sunglasses. Pushing her full cart outside the grocery store, she was reminded that sunglasses were a futile thing in the sunshine state. Barely after seven ‘o’clock, the sun was promising to prove merciless before noon. Even in February. Well, by then she’d be lathered in lotion and tilted back in a beach chair, the cool water rushing her toes with foam and sand. Julie picked up her pace with the thought of it, nodding to an older woman that passed her.
Clicking open the trunk, she let her gaze wonder over the commons. Work had been done to heighten the curb appeal, with palm trees and a picnic tables surrounding a foundation. Bags going in, Julie hesitated. Then did a double take of the picnic tables. She swept her sunglasses up and about dropped her honeydew. Lord, no.
It wasn’t a defiant ‘no’, or temper-tantrum ‘no’. More of a can’t-believe-what-I’m-seeing-this ‘no’. Because under the corner shade, straddling the bench was the robber boy from two nights ago! The details of that encounter were lazered into Julie’s memory, making the distance and lack of a hoodie irrelevant. His hair and hunched shoulders were unmistakable. So was the fact that he wasn’t alone. He talked with a younger, dark-haired boy, whose hands he scrubbed with a Wet One. Across from them, a girl with staticky light brown hair chewed lazily while drawing on a napkin.
Julie set her honeydew in the trunk, watching them, particularly Robber Boy. He berated the girl to stop drawing and eat. The younger boy crumbled up his own empty wrapper smugly into their fast food bag. Then proceeded to smash the whole thing down with his fist, laughing. Robber Boy watched in exasperation. The fear that Julie recalled, the pale nausea, was replaced with ruddy-cheeked stress.
Her other three bags waited for her, but Julie stayed at she was, fighting the conclusions her mind was jumping to. They’re siblings… right? Minus the hair, that girl’s a freckled clone of Robber Boy. What are they all doing here so early in the morning? Her eyebrows lifted. My money paid for that food, didn’t it?
God was starting to get spooky on her. Julie knew she needed to get her own food home, make a breakfast for her lovely husband, and get to being absorbed in each other like a couple of high school seniors. So why wasn’t she moving?
Julie’s thoughts stopped short, finding Robber Boy eyeing her back. He went rigid a second, then apprehensive- as though caught in headlights, but still curious if the car would ran him over. Then he was leaning over, saying something before getting up and walking over.
God, what are You doing? Julie screamed out her befuddlement.
The younger kids watched intently from their table, as clueless as Julie.
“Thank you.” Robber Boy said, still a few stiff steps away from Julie. His hands were deep in his jean pockets, thumbs tapping nervously. “Again.”
Julie nodded, her bags finally in the trunk. She closed it for the sake of not shaking. “Though I’m worried I only added to the problem.”
Robber Boy looked like he understood her thinking. “You didn’t. It- it was a stupid thought. One I won’t have again.”
But you still have that gun? Julie assumed, She purposefully hadn’t checked that night, but people didn’t commit robberies with paper cups. That backpack had plenty of hiding spots-
“I’m Devin.” He blurted, still standing awkwardly before her. Like he wanted this conversation to move forward and he didn’t know how.
Do what you do best. Encourage.
“Julie.” Julie dispelled with her last name, knowing it’d make him more comfortable. She stuck out her hand. Devin shrunk back, caution rising like the Berlin Wall. Julie licked her lips, knowing they went dry when she was uncertain. “Shake hands when you meet with someone. Show you have manners and they’ll hold off judging you for a few minutes.”
That didn’t convince Devin immediately, but his grip was firm when he did shake. He occupied his other hand with showing her bills and change from his pocket. He looked and sounded reluctant, but held it out anyway. “Here. Here’s what’s left.”
Ok, Julie relaxed for the first time. So You did give him some firm footing.
Question was, did she have the same footing? Because God was pressing the next question on her lips, rallying against her instincts yet again. Honestly, she felt she was back in a highchair and God was the one with the forkful of stewed carrots. She motioned with her chin to Devin’s little friends. “You guys are on your way to school, right?”
Devin’s ears reddened. “We’re… getting there.”
Julie’s arms folded, waiting. A breeze rattled her cart and pushed a few plastic bags under the cars around them. Cars of people minding their business and going about their day. Why wasn’t Julie joining them?
“Look, our mom-“ Devin started, stopped, and then made his chest swell up; the same determination from the gas station. “Her shift got changed, I had to get them breakfast… we’re going to be late.”
He stopped, putting a lid on any further personal information. Then the desperation showed in his eyes; less intense, but just as deep. And Julie couldn’t say no to it because God wouldn’t.
They need school.
So get them there! Julie told Him.
I am.
Ugh, the ultimate holy one-liner!
“I think we both agree that we’re terrified and that this is a poor decision.” Julie’s keys were out, cool against her sweaty palm. “You don’t go around asking strangers-“
“I don’t.” Devin insisted, hair shaking wildly with his head. “No one else would give me the chance to ask anyway. I thought… you would. I-I don’t mind if I’m late. But theycan’t be.”
Julie sighed, waiting another second for God to deviate her from this. Nothing happened, prompting her to unlock the doors. “They will be if you don’t get them over here.”
This brought the first positive emotion to Devin’s face. Hope. Julie moved to the driver’s side before he saw her face crack with panic. She jammed her key into the ignition, letting the air conditioning hit her head-on. Lord, is this You or me?! I can’t tell!
Devin had the backpacks and his siblings gathered in five seconds, but hesitated to open the car door until Julie nodded. Well, at least he exercises some caution!
The doors flew open and Devin demanded seatbelts as they all sat. He eyed them, then Julie. She could see his brain trying to convince him that this was okay- or even safe. Julie felt an odd kinship in their discomfort as she pulled out of the commons. “Alright, lead the way.”
The certainty in Devin’s directions told her that he was local- or at least Google Maps efficient. Julie tried to watch his backpack and the road, but gave up when the traffic grew heavy. Her other hitchhikers fiddled with their packs. The girl struggled with a flat surface for her napkin and the boy moved his feet over every surface. “Where do I put my feet up?”
“I said not to talk.” Devin told him, eyes on their next turn. The girl scoffed and Julie had to hold off her own outburst. Devin swallowed timidly. “We appreciate this, Julie.”
Julie braked and watched him. Lord, what are You doing? For him? For me?
Devin squirmed, eyeing the time on the dashboard. “We’re almost there.”
‘Almost there’ was another eight minutes of uncomfortable silence; with the occasional whisper from behind. Julie’s prayers unraveled when she saw the school. Buses unloading, kids slamming van doors, and kindergarteners’ backpacks slumped off their shoulders. Julie’s chest tightened again, “Ok. This is you.”
Devin got them out, said something; by his face it was encouraging. Then they did a three-way high-five, followed by a finger snap- even the youngest!- and two fingers over their hearts.
They have a secret handshake! Julie’s speculations melted. Lord…
Just trust that they need this.
Devin waved his brother and sister inside, then came back. Julie waited, and then rolled down the window. Devin pointed across the way. “The high school’s one block up and over. I can walk.”
“You sure you won’t be late?”
“I’ll be fine.” Devin looked back at the school. “I just didn’t want them to be late.”
Julie didn’t have to guess. “So the school doesn’t call your parents.”
How Devin might have reacted, he stopped himself and gave Julie a half smile. “Thank you, Julie.”
“Devin.” Julie leaned over the counsel. She saw now his tired eyes and posture. He was what, fifteen? What caused him to have to act so much older? She sighed, at a loss. “I’m praying. Fro you and them.”
She said it in earnest. And Devin clearly didn’t know what to do with it. He nodded curtly, taking off between cars and onto the sidewalk. Julie could only watch him a moment before horns started egging her out of the loop. Chest heavy and a burn in her throat, Julie drove back to town. Back past the commons and eventually, her and Aaron’s getaway. Like there would be any getting away from this.
THE END?
Not sure why, but these characters wouldn't leave me alone. They represent those times in your life where God PRESSES something on your heart and DEMANDS action. Not because He needs our help, but because He wants us to be involved with other another. He wants us to grow and gain wisdom. Things that can happen through the most bizarre circumstances.
That doesn't encourage reckless behavior, but it does encourage leaving one's comfort zone. Talking to people you never imagined or noticed before, working in a place you didn't count on, having the guts to say something- OR having the maturity to say nothing. God brings it on us, unannounced and unprepared at times. Question is, what will we do with it?
