Jonathots Daily Blog
(4126)
Sitting Thirty-One
And then all at once, an interruption came to rob the attention from the cause. The priest sank to his knees, seemingly overcome by the desert heat. He grabbed his head as the perspiration poured off his face. The gathered horde of critics moved to his side, deeply concerned for his well-being.
“You see what you’ve done, boys? I’m very tired of your disrespect,” said the suit.
The robe stepped forward threateningly. “You must learn to hold your tongue, young man.”
And the priest, still on his knees breathing heavily, voiced his objection. “My collar does not pinch me.”
He turned to those holding him up, finishing. “I will be fine, my brothers. Just a little too much heat.”
All the adults turned with one disapproving gaze in the direction of the pair of renegade escapees.
Pal stepped forward. “Listen, you should not be here. He’s sick. Just leave us alone. If you are truly men of God, as you say, you need to realize that there’s nothing wrong with love between two friends.”
“Honor your father and mother,” replied the suit.
All the men vigorously nodded their heads in agreement. They had finally found a common axiom which they could all agree upon.
Iz and Pal looked at the four men and then back at each other. Trying to talk to these immovable statues was a fruitless task. It seemed they were speaking different languages.
“Understand this,” said blue jeans. “We were sent to resolve this peacefully. We mean you no harm. We’re not trying to overtake you. But when they come with the rally, they will not be as nice as we have been to you.”
“Why can’t you just leave us alone?” demanded Pal.
“Because you are children,” responded the collar.
“Weren’t you a child once?” queried Iz.
Now standing solidly on his feet, he replied, “Yes. But I’ve put away childish things.” His face was still flushed with crimson.
Iz stopped and held his hands up in the air, requiring a reprieve. Several times the collar, the robe, the blue jeans and the suit tried to speak, but he covered his ears.
When Iz saw that their lips didn’t move any more and silence had settled in, he said, “I guess we’re just not ready to put away childish things—because you grown-ups pack away all of their dreams along with those childish things. We are not ready to be dreamless.”
The robe screamed at the top of his voice, “Is it true there’s a hand grenade?”
Pal was very nervous, but somehow or another managed to remain cool. He glanced over at Iz, who displayed an unsettling, icy stare. “Would you like to see it?” he asked. “Or would you like to hear it?”
The men were not willing to overwhelm the two boys—not at the risk of their own lives. The meeting was over. The committee stared at the unflinching features of the young men. One by one, the invaders turned and walked slowly down the hill.
Collar spoke as he left. “May it never be said that we didn’t try to warn you.”
Pal yelled after them as they trudged along. “How about Joseph and his brothers? They lived in Egypt and lived in peace—Jew and Arab. Did anyone hold a rally and try to stop them? Were they wrong, Mullah?”
There was no more response.
After all, the mission was not about discovering the truth or even discussing the facts. It wasn’t even about redeeming the time. The whole goal had been to get the little boys to do what little boys were supposed to do.
Yet what do you do when you’re old and the young will not listen? What is your recourse when boys grow into men without your permission?
Iz and Pal stood and watched as the men finished their walk and disappeared.
The rally would be in two days. That meant there were forty-eight hours of freedom left—guaranteed space for Iz and Pal.
They decided not to waste a second of it thinking about religious figures who frowned and never smiled…and also resembled melting snow that had no place in the desert.
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Jonathots Daily Blog 
