25 November 2023, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2231: no safety belt

Image by OpenIcons from Pixabay

“See, Dad, all I'm saying is, Col. Lee next door is a lot like some of our Jubilee-of-the-mountain mountain relatives. God doesn't discriminate between races, so it's good that he can feel good about God being good, but he still needs Grandma Gladys to knit him a belt, because with no safety belt, he may jump up, get too excited, and end up falling out again.”

Sgt. Vincent Trent was doing his best to keep it together … as ever, his baby daughter eight-year-old Gracie Trent was just calling it like she saw it.

Making matters more complicated was her tell-it-like-it-is counterpart, baby Ludlow grandson five-year-old Lil' Robert Ludlow.

“But, Gracie, if you put a safety belt on him, how would he do what he needed to do, because, see, God knows little kids are going to go to sleep without help, but Cousin Harry kept us all awake and see, we know God has to be really good because He saves at midnight when we are sleeping and puts brothers back together as they do as He tells them to do, because, see, I got that! George and I don't fight any more either because God is good -- I felt that!”

“But see, God cares about you learning too, so that was your part!” Gracie said. “See, this is how it is: God is not just teaching people who are just able to sit there and stay awake listening to people, because that's also why He gave adults lots of coffee before church.”

Mrs. Melissa Trent had to walk away on that one.

“We were going to this one church in New York that had coffee in the lobby when you came in, and I'm telling you, Rob, people were all over that coffee like you are in your grandfather and Cousin Harry's lap in the morning without loving the people involved.”

“That's kinda deep, Gracie,” Lil' Robert said, “because, see, coffee is a lot like milk [because he was not getting more than three drops of coffee in his milk], and while I like milk I really like Papa and Cousin Harry, and I like talking with you, Uncle Sarge, and Bruh Melvin your grownup son!”

“Well, some people love coffee without the people, especially before church,” Gracie said.

“But if you love a thing more than you love people,” Lil' Robert said, “isn't there something missing?”

“Which is why people go to church every week to try to get it,” Gracie said.

“But we don't do that – we love God and we love people and we love church,” Lil' Robert said.

Gracie considered this.

“And this is where we need you, Dad,” she said.

“According to the book of Acts,” Sgt. Trent said, “Christians are supposed to love God and love each other because we are the church, but … but some local churches have gotten lost along the way.”

“Which is why they need coffee,” Gracie said.

“And why Papa is out here telling preachers that they need to pay for music because they don't care what they are talking about and no one else does either,” Lil' Robert said.

“You know, maybe your Cousin Harry does not need a safety belt,” Gracie said. “Maybe he just needs to do more real church like we do, where it is OK – but Mrs. Lee is just going to have to workout more, because she's too little to hold him.”

“I need to get in on whatever workout she is going to be doing, because, see, being three foot six when you have a real tall soul just ain't it because people don't ever give me credit,” Lil' Robert said.

“I see you, Rob,” Gracie said.

Lil' Robert wrapped his arms around Gracie.

“I love you too!” he said.

Sgt. Trent just embraced them both.