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P.O.W.E.R.* Girl III - Ch. 9 - E Pluribus Unum: Out of the Many, One

by Tonja Taylor  
9/18/2022 / Short Stories


Later, Pearl’s mother said, “All right guys, time to get dressed.”

“Hey Xi,” Pearl said, “gently touching her friend. “You’re coming with us, right?”

Xi turned over. “Nope. I need more sleep. You guys have fun!” she said, her head under the covers.

“Oh, please come,” Pearl said. “You’ll love it!”

“Just like the nursing home deal, you’ll like it more than you think,” Robin said, as she brushed her hair in the mirror.

“I like sleep more than you think!” Xi replied, her voice still muffled under the covers.

“Well tomorrow is Saturday, and you can sleep in,” said Pearl. “I’ll be quiet when I wake up, and you can just sleep all day, if you want. Mrs. Sophia doesn’t need you till Sunday evening anyway, right?”

Xi sighed. “Right. What time is it?”

“5:50. You have 25 minutes till we leave,” said Pearl.

“I gotta have a shower, and maybe some coffee or something,” Xi said, throwing off the covers and sitting up. He hair was sticking out in several directions.

Great! Pearl thought. “I’ll ask Uncle Burt to make you some, OK? So glad you’re going!” she said.

“I haven’t promised anything yet!” Xi said, a little grumpily. She got out of bed and stretched. “I think I could have kept sleeping through the night.”

“Did you dream?” Pearl asked. I know You can talk through our dreams, Daddy God, she thought. Maybe that’s a new way You can get through to Xi!”

“I’m going to take a shower,” Xi said, and went to the closet to get her robe.”I need to figure out what to wear…” she looked through her clothing.

“Just wear jeans and a nice shirt and your running shoes,” Pearl said. “You don’t have to dress up.”

“Cool,” Xi said. “Did you say you were going to ask Burt to make me coffee?”

“Yep!” Pearl said, and went downstairs with Robin to find him.

Everyone but Queen Mother and Ms. Sophia piled into the truck, and as they headed out, Pearl saw Surprise outside the barn with her baby.  

“Oh, I hate to leave Sorpresa!” said Pearl. Waving at the horses, she said, “She’s so adorable! I have more pictures of her on Queen Mother’s phone than anything else!”

“For sure!” said Robin. “She’s the most adorable baby horse I’ve ever seen! And you got your wish—she looks just like Surprise!”  

“She’ll be fine,” said Risa “The Lord answered your prayers for her to look like Surprise, and also to help her, Pearl. He is good, and He cares about the creatures, like it says in Genesis, where He gave the rainbow to Noah and them.” 

“I just want to Sorpresa, horsey smell and all,” said Pearl, and laughed. “Hey Uncle Burt, can we please sing Christmas carols on the way, so I can stop thinking about Sorpresa for a while, and get ready to sing at the party?”

“Sure!” He turned on KLOVE, and lovely Christmas carols floated through the vehicle.

“Turn it up, Unc!” Robert yelled from the back.

“Shhh!” Risa said, finger on her lips.

“All right, Rob, calm, OK?” said Ms. Sophia, hugging him.

He smiled up at her. “I’m glad you’re sitting by me, Ms. Sophia,” he said, and hugged her back.

Pearl started singing with the music, then realized that Xi wasn’t. Pearl poked her playfully on the shoulder. “C’mon, Xi, doncha wanna sing?”

Xi didn’t say anything. She was wearing her dark shades, and her earbuds were in.

Pearl glanced at Robin, on her other side, and Robin peeped over at Xi, then shrugged slightly.

What now, LORD? wondered Pearl. Maybe she’s still waking up.

“You OK, Xi?” Pearl asked. “I’m so excited that you’re going with us. Was the coffee good?”

“Yes,” Xi said slowly. “I was just thinking that God is amazing, ‘cause He must care about little things and big things, us people and animals too.”

Pearl nodded, feeling very excited inside. Help me just listen, LORD. You are working!  

“Yeah, that was amazing to see Sorpresa begin born last night, even if it was late,” said Xi.” She smiled. “That’s cool that God woke you to know that Surprise needed help, and maybe I’m catching up from that. But it was worth it.”

Pearl looked into Xi’s eyes. “Yes, it was a miracle--her birth, and God waking me," she said. "Xi, God does care about every detail of our lives. He is so good, even to those who make fun of Him! And He sure can work that way, through dreams and more. He can do that for you too.”

“Yep,” Burt said. “The LORD can work through dreams. It helps to have a vet friend, too. The LORD impressed me to call her, and I followed her directions to save Sorpresa.”

“Did you learn that as a cop or Marine, Mr. Burt?” asked Xi.

“Turning the baby around? The LORD showed me how to do that, with info from Dr. Moran,” Burt said. “God is faithful, and if we’ll just pray and listen and trust Him, He’ll help us with everything. We may have to wait a few days or weeks or months, but He will answer, when we listen.”

“Hmm,” Xi said. “When should I talk to Him?”

“Any time!” Pearl said. “He never has a busy signal!” She was excited. Ooh, Jesus, I love the way You are working in Xi!

She looked down at her sweater.  “Girl,” said Pearl, poking Xi. “I think your tacky sweater is even worse than mine! I believe you’ll take the cake tonight!”

Queen Mother nodded. “It will be really hard to choose between you girls,” she said, “so I think I’ll just vote for someone else!”

“Queen Mother!” Pearl said, sounding shocked. “How could you?!”

“Maybe I just won’t vote,” she said. “Both your sweaters are truly tacky!”

“Can I vote for my own?” Xi said, and smiled a bit. “And as soon as the contest is over, I’m changing into a hoodie!”

Pearl giggled, looking at Xi’s sweater and then her own. It’s so good to see Xi joking! “Go for it,” she said, looking at the rather large Christmas balls she’d sewn on to the old yellow sweater. “But you may have to explain to the judge just what your, uh, art, stands for--whether you’re Mrs. Claus, or Rudolph, or a strange elf!”

“It is a mixed-up world,” said Robin. “Anyway, I think it will be a tie!”

“At least we’re brave enough to enter!” said Pearl. “I guess you get to vote, Robin, and when we win, we can share the prize.”

“Right,” she said. “You guys are certainly brave, and I’ll take pictures—”

“But not to post anywhere!” said Pearl.

“I might post mine, when I win!” said Xi.

Pearl nodded. At least she’s excited about something! she thought.

Let me try something else, too, she thought. "And Wow, Xi, wasn’t it great that all the people seemed so excited at us singing Christmas carols and giving them church invitations and packages of hot chocolate and soap and toothpaste and stuff at the outreach?”

Xi nodded. “Yeah.”

Pearl tried again. “I think that lady that was sitting in her chair and let us pray for her—I think she got healed, ‘cause she got up and seemed to feel much better!”

“Yeah, maybe” Xi.

She doesn’t seem too interested, thought Pearl. But I know God is working!

Xi looked at her. “I can’t believe it, but it was kinda fun, handing the goodies to those old people,” she said. ‘I thought it would be boring!”

Great! Thank You, LORD, that she had fun! Pearl thought. She is learning to share more, and Queen Mother says there’s healing in doing good!

“When God is moving, it’s never boring,” said Pearl’s mother.

“Right!” said Pearl.

They drove into the church parking lot for the homeschool party. She saw her uncle’s truck. He and Ms. Risa must be in there already. I’m so glad Robert is with them!

Burt got out and helped Ms. Sophia get out, while Lucas helped Robert.

Thank You, LORD, I’ve been wanting to see more friends! she thought, as she said,

“Hey, there’s Jewell!” said Pearl. “Queen Mother, I’ve gotta catch her, OK?” Her mom stopped the car, and Pearl jumped out. She ran after her friend, who was standing at the door.

“Hey Jewell!” I haven’t seen you in while. How are ya?”

“I don’t know,” Jewell said. “All right, I guess,” She looked down and scowled. “I’m not hungry. I think I’m gonna sit in the car.”

What’s up with her? Pearl thought. She’s usually so happy! 

“What is it, Jewell? You shoulda been with us today. We took brownies and hot chocolate and sang carols and gave bathroom stuff to the people at the nursing home. We worked for the LORD, and now we get to feast, as Queen Mother says! It will be good!”

“I know…” Jewell said, sounding sad. She leaned against the side of the building, and waved slightly, as Pearl’s mother and the girls greeted her.

Pearl stood closer, and whispered, “Did I say something wrong?”

Jewell hugged her. “No, nothing like that. I just have to tell you something, and I don’t know how!”

“Phew!” said Pearl. “So just tell me. I thought you were mad at me!”

“No, I’m mad at my mother!” Jewell said, then burst into tears.

Pearl signaled to the others to go past them, but her mother said, “Are you girls all right? It’s cold out here. Let’s go in.”

Jewell shook her head. “I don’t want to.”

Robert stuck his head out, and said, “Hurry, Mama! I’ve been waiting! Brownies and cookies and yummy food!” he said. “C’mon Pearl!”

“Peace, Robert, we’ll be in shortly,” Pearl’s mother said. “Go back in there with your uncle and Ms. Risa, OK? Xi, you girls go ahead. We’ll be right in.”

He nodded, and they obeyed.

“It’s cold out here, sweetie,” said Pearl’s mother to Jewell. “Where’s your mom?”

“At home. I came with Mrs. Raymond.”

“OK, then I’m sure Mrs. Raymond is wondering where you are. Let’s go inside, ladies,” she insisted. “You’ll feel better once you eat some goodies.”

“Ok, but I need to talk private to Pearl, OK, Mrs. Williams?” Jewell said.

“Fine, dear, but keep it short. We’ll have activities after the meal.”

They walked inside, and she hugged them both, then waved and pointed to Xi. “Get your food—before Burt and Robert eat it all!—then sit there. You can talk when you’ve gotten your food.”

Pearl laughed, but Jewell didn’t. She took Pearl’s arm and led her to stand by a wall first, away from the crowd.

Help me help her, Jesus! Pearl thought. “Okay, what is it?” I hope it’s not something terrible!

"She just told us this morning, and I can't believe it!” Jewell said. “I don't like it, either!" She kicked the baseboard by the door. “It made me--what's that word we just learned? Discombobulated!"

Gee, this must be bad! Pearl thought, looking around to see if anyone noticed Jewell kicking. Whoops! Queen Mother is looking this way!. Give her peace, LORD!

“We better hurry, OK? You can tell me, Jewell,” she said, lowering her voice. “You know I won't share it.”

Jewell nodded. "Yeah, but soon, everybody will know!" 

"Ok, spill it. God's bigger," Pearl said.

Jewell just stared at her, then burst into tears. "My mother is…a pastor!" she said, and cried again. 

Pearl hugged her, and noticed that several of the other kids and parents were looking concerned. She made the "OK' sign at them, then pulled back and whispered, "So she’s a pastor? That’s great! What church?"

"That’s great?! No, that’s terrible!” Jewell said. “It's in another city, and we're moving next week!"

"Oh, Jewell, I'll miss you! So that's the deal--you don't want to move, right?"

"Well, I do want to move to this bigger city. There'll be more to do! But I heard of one woman being a pastor, and the people in the town tried to kill her! Besides, Grandpa says women should never be pastors!""

"Hmmm," said Pearl. "Well, if God told her to be one, then she needs to do what He says." 

"Well, I guess, but--" said Jewell.

"OK, here comes my mother," said Pearl. "We'd better get our food."

"But isn't that weird? I thought just men were supposed to be pastors!" Jewell said, wiping her eyes. "And that's what Grandpa says, too."

"Is that your mom's dad who says that?"

Jewell nodded. "Yes. He was a pastor, and he says it was hard enough."

"Jewell, I think it's cool that your mom is bold enough to be a pastor," Pearl said, seeing her mother point toward the food line. "Queen Mother says that we girls can do anything a man can do, except lift big heavy things; plus, we can have kids!"

Jewell just looked at her.

Pearl laughed, and took Jewell’s hand to lead her to get their food. "I have heard of other women pastors, and now we watch one on the internet sometimes. What she says goes with the Bible, which Queen Mother and Uncle Burt say is the only important thing--not whether it's a man or a woman saying it. E pluribus unum."

Tears continued to run down Jewell's face. "Stupid crying!" she said, in a very loud whisper. "It won't stop sometimes!" She slammed her hand on the table, and a few students in the line looked at her. "What are you talking about, anyway, Pearl?”

Pearl laughed. "E pluribus unum. Queen Mother says it's Latin--something like, 'Out of the many, one,' and it's talking about many voices saying the same thing. So as long as your mom is preaching and teaching the Word of God--both the Old and New Testaments, cause Queen Mother says we need both of them, or God wouldn't have given us both, right?--then God can use her. That's what Queen Mother and Uncle Burt and my daddy used to say!"

Jewell stopped crying, and seemed to be listening. She piled her plate high with food, especially chips and cheese dip. “I’m going to come back and get dessert before it’s all gone,” she said.

Pearl continued. “Do you guys read stories about women who are the first to do things--like the first woman pilot and astronaut and other stuff?"

They took their food and sat at the table.

"Yes, it’s neat. But Mom being a pastor is just weird!"

“I like to eat a bite of dessert before I eat the main food," said Pearl, eating a big bite. “This chocolate pie is sooooo good!” How do I help Jewell, Lord? After a few seconds, Pearl said, "What does your dad think?

Jewell stared at her food. “I’m really not hungry,” Jewell said, but dipped a chip in the cheese and took a bite. She swallowed, then said, “He says he doesn't mind.” She laughed a bit. "He said he's just glad God didn't tell him to do it."

"Queen Mother says it's very important for a husband and wife to agree," Pearl said, "so it sounds like they do. But I'll miss you! You've got to email and text, okay?"

"Okay!" Jewell said. "I know you won't tell. I'm not sure Mom is telling anyone in the group, either."

"But we should give you a party," said Pearl, “at our house, if you don’t want this group to know. I'll ask Queen Mother, OK? At least our fams could go out to eat--and your mom could talk about it. Queen Mother is not one, but Daddy was--He started the biker church. So I kinda understand, a little bit."

“Oh yeah!" said Jewell, sounding happier. "That's another reason I'm glad I told you, but mainly ‘cause I know you won’t tell," she said, hugging Pearl. "Thank you for being such a great God-friend!"

"My pleasure!" said Pearl. Wow, Daddy God, Pearl thought I'm so glad others can see You in me!

"Queen Mother says Daddy God is the best Secret-keeper of all, isn't He?" Pearl said. 

"Amen!" said Jewell.

They heard a loud bell sound. “Ooh, I love the sound of bells!” said Pearl. “I’d like to play in a bell choir some time.”

“Okay, kids, finish your meal, and then we’ll have games and announce the winner of the tacky sweater contest and such,” said Mrs. Martin. “Let’s bow our heads for God to bless the rest of our time!”

They bowed their heads as she prayed. Thank You, LORD, for peace for Jewell, Pearl thought. Please help her mom be the best pastor ever, and thank you that my friend trusts me to keep her secrets!

Tonja and her husband live to exalt God. They lift Him up in books (P.O.W.E.R. Girl!; LEGACY; Visions of the King; Your Holy Health; more); presentations; service in church, community, and the world; and via the "River Rain Creative" (309 videos) and "POWERLight Learning" You Tube channels.

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