Silver Springs | Dean Winchester

One

May 1986 | Sioux Falls

Stephanie Singer

Mom knelt beside where I laid in bed, a bible in hand.

"I don't know why you like this story so much sweetie," Mom said midway through reading. "Wouldn't you rather hear the creation story?"

"But I like this one," I said, pointing to the page, and she sighed in reluctance before continuing.

"Then war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels battled against the dragon. The dragon and its angels fought back, but they did not prevail and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. The huge dragon, the ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, who deceived the whole world, was thrown down to earth and its angels were thrown down with it."

"The serpent, is it the same creature as Lucifer?" I asked and she seemed alarmed.

"Yep, Lucifer represents all the bad in the world and in the bible they call him the serpent or a dragon when in reality he was an angel who rebelled," Dad said from the doorway and winked at Mom. "See, I went to church as a kid."

"And the angels fought Lucifer?" I asked and Mom paid close attention to my words. "If Lucifer was an angel once wouldn't he have been their brother?"

"Like Cain and Abel," Dad said and Mom shook her head as she looked at him.

"I don't know why out of all the stories she always wants these types of ones."

"Because they're more interesting than the good samaritan or turning water to wine," Dad said as he walked in. "Although I sure could make some use of the latter."

"Bobby," Mom scolded lightly and pulled the blanket up. "Come on sweetheart, it's time for bed."

"Daddy can you read me a story?" I asked and he sighed as he sat down on the edge of my bed. "Please."

"Which one darling?" he asked, picking up the bible and squinting. "Cain and Abel again?" I nodded eagerly despite Mom's incredulity and he flipped to the book of Genesis. "Adam made love-"

Mom cleared her throat. "We skip over that part."

"Right right," he said and skimmed down, summarising it. "Adam and Eve had two sons, Cain the older brother and Abel the younger one. Cain was a farmer while Abel was a shepherd. God favoured Abel but not Cain, and said to Cain "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it." Now Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let's go out to the field." While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him."

"Good lord," Mom breathed and Dad hid a face of amusement.

"In punishment God told Cain his crops would no longer yield and he'd be a restless wanderer on the earth. Cain knew that whoever found him would kill him for what he'd done and so God declared "anyone who kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over." Then God put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him and Cain lived happily ever after while Adam and Eve had another son to replace Abel, so no harm done I guess."

"Bobby," Mom sighed while Dad winked and patted me on the head. "It's time to sleep now."

"I love you, Mommy," I said and she gave an exhausted smile.

"I love you too, darling."

She leaned down to kiss my head before leaving Dad to tuck me in and it wouldn't be long after the lights went out that I would hear the familiar arguing downstairs and silently I crept down the stairs to listen.