Five Minutes

Our school was spotted with brown and peach skin colors. Few people had something extra. Most of the children were Christians. If you were anything else, you dared not say. Everyone with their ponytails pinned up with bows talked about their church retreats. “Oh Mary-Clare your idea for the new crosses on our youth group shirts was great!” Kerrie-Taylor would say. “Where were you?” I would frequently get asked. I was catholic and did not attend Southern Baptist churches unless I stayed the night with a friend that attended. “Why don’t you go to St. Alogousions?” the kids at school asked. I never wanted to go to catholic school. I hated Monday mornings after Sundays that everyone, except myself, spent together.

It was after our first subject we had break. Kerrie-Taylor and Mary-Clare were on top of rubbing it in that I did not get to eat with everyone at the pizza polar after Sunday school. “Oh, that’s right you were at…what’s it called?” Kerrie-Taylor asked. I rolled my eyes with my head bowed “Mass…” barely slipped through my clinched teeth.

After our break the teacher announced that we had visitors from Gideon’s. “They are leaving a gift with you,” Mr. Magee informed us. “Are you getting one?” I heard Mary Clare ask.

I turned around to see she wasn’t speaking to me. The young girl looked at me in embarrassment. My fists balled. I was enraged that these girls looked down on those that were not Southern Baptists.

When it was the girls turn to walk to the front to get her Bible from the Gideon lady she stood up. Her throat must have closed because nothing was coming out of her except the short breaths she was taking in and out. I watched as every eye threw stones at the girl. I shot out of my seat and said “we don’t believe in that!” Her face lightened, my anger was relieved, She and I became friends after that. I had to return home to tell my father how I denied our beliefs. I did and do believe and know now that maybe I should have just simply said something to divert the attention from the young Jewish girl. The hate that is even passed through religion is seeded so deeply. Something that represents love has a face of war. Did I stand up for what I believe in or did I stand against it? Did the anger of my peers grow legs and crawl into in me? The Jewish girl smiled while my throat closed. I will never know if I made matters better until I am in another life; until I face the one I denied to stand for no man left behind.

- J. Ellzey